lady rainicorn

I graduated almost 7 years ago, and I can say that I definitely needed the time to figure things out, and to live a little. Right after undergrad, I was deeply invested in non-art-related academic research and then lived in another country for a couple of years, all the while keeping a pretty steady studio practice. Those experiences outside of art really informed my work, and by having had to fight for the time for studio work, it really sharpened my discipline, and readied me for a graduate program. I think at this point in my life, I will get the most out of a program, more so than if I had only waited one or two years. However, everyone has their own timeline, but I will say, don't feel bad if you've been out for a while.

Cloverinthecan- Thank you!! I am getting so nervous about the interview, so this helps a lot. I've actually already had a critique with the chair of the visual arts department and chatted in person with the head of the specific department/discipline I'm applying through--though it doesn't seem to make me feel any less anxiety! How was their interview style? Conversational? Aggressive? Laid back? Phew, thank goodness I have all types of crazy interests that all tie into my work, I'm just hoping I don't draw a blank (no pun intended) when actually confronted with questions. O_O Again, thank you for your help! Also, what did you think of Columbia's summer intensive? Hi Catsinspace! I'm actually staying with a friend in nyc, and just taking a day trip to New Brunswick on Wed to meet with a professor and hopefully chat with current students that are around. Let me know if you want to meet up as well and discuss what we (as prospective students) think of it all. I'm feeling so overwhelmed with this entire process!!

Hi cloverinthecan- I actually received a phone call from Stephen Westfall first, and I just got the official letter in the mail the other day. Good luck with your application!!!!!

My friend who applied for Hunter's works on paper department received the interview email. I also applied through that dept and I confirmed by phone that I wasn't on their interview list. I haven't heard any news regarding RISD printmaking. O_O

Looks like it's a no-go for Hunter. I called, and they confirmed that I was not on the interview list. So far, one acceptance, one interview, and one tentative rejection. Not bad!

Hey miyamoto81- I plan on visiting the Rutgers campus on Wed March 13th. I'll be meeting with a member of the printmaking faculty. If you have any interest in also meeting up, I can shoot you a pm and send along my personal info, and details once they've been finalized. Thanks for all your help so far!

Hahaha. Hilaaaaarious!

Yes, thank you, this is super helpful! Would you be able to elaborate on the differences between Columbia and Rutgers? I am really familiar with Columbia's program structure, but not as much with the details of the program at Rutgers. I've seen the studios at Columbia, I didn't think they were terribly small, though not all studios are created equal. I'm curious to check out the printmaking facilities at Rutgers, from what I've heard, they're supposed to be great. I can't wait to visit!

What did you think? Did you meet with current students and faculty? I'm going to try and visit next month.

I still have the "MFA" after my program name.

Congrats! Ditto for me as well with regards to Columbia.

Just so you know, I don't think that they are updating the application statuses in real time... I got the call from Stephen Westfall informing me of my acceptance last week, and I just checked, my online application status still says "no decision." Oy vey! Haha, holy cow, so who did you invite?!^^ Man, I hope I don't get asked any questions like this if I actually get an interview. I've been thinking about this question since you posted it, and I'm still debating on whether or not I would invite Max Ernst, Lenore Carrington, and Dorothea Tanning over for drinks and surrealist parlor games, or over a humble meal discuss the state of our country with Kurt Vonnegut, Karl Marx, and Howard Zinn. CNBC posted an article last month, "25 of the Most Outrageous Interview Questions," with regard to job interviews however, but my favorite one was, "A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?" Tee hee. And congrats btw gweaver on your VCU acceptance, how exciting!

Thank you so much for the thoughtful response!! I also applied to the other usual suspects: Hunter, RISD, and Columbia. I probably have a shot in a million of getting in to any of those schools, but I guess I'll see what happens in the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted with regards to how it all pans out, which will probably lead to more questions! Again, thanks for your kind and thoughtful response!

Thanks miyamoto81! That's so kind of you! I have some questions about the program, and I'm sure this is info that other prospective candidates would like to know, so public forum it is! Feel free to answer what you can, no pressure to answer them all! 1.) What is a typical week like? For example, how often do students meet faculty/week, how many class hours are generally taken, and how often are critiques? 2.) What is the general breakdown with regards to medium? I've heard that the program is very painting-heavy. However, I'm a printmaker/works-on-paper person (who is also looking to try animation if possible...). How interdisciplinary is the atmosphere? 3.) What is the difference (hours and pay) between a part-time lecture position and a TA position? If grad students are allowed to run their own course, do they create their own curriculum or does the school supply a pre-approved syllabus to follow? 4.) Do out-of-state candidates receive much aid from the school? Is there a general trend in financial aid awards? Or does the program give out little aid? 5.) Are students tight with one another? I really want to attend a program that promotes a strong community within its grad students... 6.) What would you say to prospective candidates to win over their hearts with regard to Rutgers? I'm still waiting to hear from 3 more schools, all of which have their own strengths and weaknesses. I'm curious what you think. Thanks so much! I'm sure I'll have more questions, but we can start with these for now!

Thanks! I applied through printmaking, with a focus on etching in my portfolio. However once in school, I will probably expand out to include, in general, works on paper, painting (my degree was actually in painting), and depending on where I go, maybe attempt to experiment with some animation if feasibly possible... Best of luck, I hope you hear some good news soon!!!^^

Accepted via phone call for Rutgers!! Woo!!

Aww, that's sweet! Yesterday I was feeling a lot of anxiety and so my boyfriend brought home Mexican food, haha. Nothing like queso to calm those nerves!!

Eligibility for non-US citizens: http://studentaid.ed.gov/eligibility/non-us-citizens General eligibility: http://studentaid.ed.gov/eligibility/basic-criteria

I feel ya! The other day I saw an email from Columbia's School of the Arts, and it was just a departmental news announcement. Then today I see Columbia School of the Arts again in my in-box, and this time it was a time line of how the rest of the admissions process will go. At this rate, if I actually do get the real thing, I'll be so desensitized that I hope I don't miss it! O_o

You have a while to wait for Columbia. They probably won't send out interview invites until around the first week of March. O_O

Me tooooooo. ㅠㅠ

Though to play a little bit of devil's advocate, I also have a friend who is in quite a bit of debt from her education, and she doesn't regret her choices at all. I watched her work grow immensely, and now her career is starting to blossom. I don't think I would want to be in as much debt as her, but to each his own. I know what it's like to pay off $40K from undergrad, and I wouldn't have changed a single decision in my past, because the circumstances of my education led me down a really interesting path. I think the risks are a case-by-case basis, depending on what you want your MFA experience to be and lead to. Regarding teaching, I've been told by various frustrated faculty that they've seen perfectly qualified candidates get passed up for positions because someone (who maybe wasn't as good of a teacher) had a fancy well-connected school on their resume. Is it better to be in debt but have more freedom of mobility or to be in less debt but not have as many windows of opportunity? As for the art market, if the art world was a pure meritocracy, then I think the answer to this question would be easy. But the art world is the largest unregulated market in the world, and so networking, connections, and branding are key. But again, I think it depends on what your individual goals are. I don't think all schools are for everyone. I'm still trying to decide what school would be best for me. I'm just hoping, come spring, I will have the luxury to decide!

Thanks!! Yeah, Hunter is a total gem! I admit I was wooed by Columbia's spiel (and I do have quite a few art crushes on past grads), but I think the reality is that even if I was accepted into their program, I would never be able to afford it. The following article was published on this issue in the New York Times in 2004 and it's still applicable today, 8 1/2 years later: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/24/nyregion/arts-students-at-columbia-paint-a-bleak-money-picture.html "You find as you go deeper and deeper into the waiting list, you are starting to take students who can pay." "Peter Smith, who was the dean of the School of the Arts from 1987 to 1995 and is now retired, said that if something does not change soon, the consequences could be dire. 'The school will be in danger of becoming a place where only the wealthy and the foolhardy will decide to go.'" I still think Columbia's program structure is amazing, but I'm disappointed that it's available to only the financial elite. Damn my middle class roots! Siiiigh. Come on Hunter, accept meeeee! ^____^

Beware users of the term "academic art." I believe it CAN mean art related to any academy (past or present), but "academic art" is a term that is generally assigned to a style of art that concerns itself with the Academy, specifically the Académie des Beaux-Arts. If one says the term "academic art," neoclassicism and romanticism should be the specific styles that come to mind. However I think the conversation on this forum is more concerned with art being made within our current institution, which is a very different thing from the Academy.

It probably depends on the school, their registration policies, the department, and what the applicant pool looks like. So I don't know that there is an easy answer to that question or an easy analysis of admissions statistics (unless you can find them broken out by department, which you should be able to for schools if you contact the registrar). I imagine though that race doesn't factor in heavily with graduate school admissions, as so much of the decisions are based on the artwork presented and how the admissions committee wants to "craft" their incoming graduate class dynamic. However I do believe that they also don't want to bring in, by accident, an entire class of just one race. However I do think that minority status could play a larger role in determining scholarships and financial aid. For instance I know that RISD's presidential scholarships specifically target those who are underrepresented in the field. According to RISD's website, "Highest priority for this award is given to African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and other candidates who are significantly underrepresented in academic and professional fields, as an incentive to make a commitment to careers as artists, designers or educators."