volumen

Curious how the non-state school funding had been this year. How does SVA compare to Parsons, for example....

Has anyone heard from Bemis?

I feel for you.....to have to decide now. It is so hard to know what schools is right....have you talked to any students there now? or know someone who graduated from there? it doesn't mean if others have a good experience and a good program that it will sway you. for me, more info is just better. I find it useful to talk to anyone who went through or are in grad program. that way, you hear from them what is important. Any painters coming out of there who you like?

i hate to be always thinking about money and awards....i must sound obsessed. but until money issues are resolved, we cannot go back to thinking about art. but maybe this is good practice for post grad life. One cannot separate the realities of living from our art practice. jkroman: does that mean they are essentially giving you 1 semester paid per year ($8850) and a stipend of $4300 each year? That means you only need to borrow for 1 semester tuition and rest of living? So a little over $20,000 a year? You can always apply to scholarship next year. Does anyone else think it is almost impossible to get outside scholarship since we don't even find out decisions until April, when all applications deadlines are over. geez.

To the OP, why did you choose those 3 programs in the first place....maybe that will help figuring it out. I have never heard of PAFA till now. To lrg, that is great! UCLA is strong. What is the substantive fellowship you got? Was Columbia giving you nothing?

Agree we don't know what you are looking for or what your work is like, so difficult to say what's a better fit. You should check out the current show at the Hunter building. Some things I did in the process of deciding: go online and see some students' work this and past year, see if there are professors I am excited about from either school, talk to people who went to different MFA programs (not necessarily the one I am applying to) to see what grad school is like for others. Obviously the school thinks you fit in their aesthetics and like you. I also went to Hunter open studio - some work primed for Chelsea (not saying that's good or bad), some work I spot outside studio and did not even interest me enough to go in, and some genuine experiments going on there. There are just generally more painters in any schools (in my experience), so no surprise I liked a couple of the students' work there. Pratt was not on my list to check out, even there are some good artists teaching there, but that is just a personal preference having to do with location and my aversion to "art school".

I have decided to go for my Masters that is partially funded. I have undergrad student debt, but I just don't want to work another year. I have all the time to work after grad school. I am going to school not in the hopes of getting a better paying job, as I will likely make less if I teach then what I have been making in my career. I can always go back to the career, but I am less and less excited about it, so time to do something exciting.

I think it would be wise to do a sublet for 2 months - with or without roommate. get settled to moving to another country and then find a more permanent place for yourself after feeling out different neighborhoods. it will be difficult to rent a place without being in ny in person. but sublets are more lenient. have a trusty friend visit and vouch for you. depending on your living habits....being close to nyu is a plus but a change of scenery is always beneficial for the mind. so you are not stuck with a 5 block radius for years. i cannot imagine why a phD student would want to have roommates. unless you know them personally, it would be too much of an distraction. you can form friendships in more constructive ways. though having horror ny roommate story is a rite of passage.

Isn't skowhegan's name The Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture? A few people I know who have been there are mostly painters.

I am sort of in a similar situation but for MFA Fine Art - I think you have to ask yourself what would make you happy in the next 17 months not being in school and learning. To me, that is sooooo far away. Yes, my art will get better if I work at it. But as of today, I rather go to school then wait. Not sure if your craft will be better if you are not in an architecture program though. Could you do an internship and work part-time at a non-related job? Or will you feel deflated.

Now that all schools' acceptances are in....Curious about your (and anyone else's) decision, and funding info (if you are willing to share).

I hear that sometimes it's once a month, sometimes twice a month. But I don't know if it's going to be difficult if everyone wants, say, a particular teacher. I counted 120 studios today (on their map). That is a lot of students and I am sure faculty cannot see everyone?

Very curious to see if any rejection or acceptance letters this year mention # of applicants and accepted students? And if anyone has info for last year, please share....!

got rejected too......saaaaad. makes me doubt whether i will get in any mfa if i don't take the one i got this year....anyone else feels that way?

If hunter does not give funding, other school might end up be cheaper? what are you guys' views on the program....not much individual attention, as the class is huge? peer support? a bit of help-yourself since some students start in fall, some spring? does that create a pecking order? i had wanted to go to hunter, but largely due to its reputation. but then checked out the faculty list and did not recognize most names. how important is having well-known artist to you? sorrry this has become a bundle of questions......