All of these people have done a fine job consoling you and advising you how to improve your work and try again, but few have addressed the reality of your current debt and how to deal with it while waiting to reapply. I only have $100k (I feel weird using the term "only" for a debt that size...but you've got me beat) and this is how I dealt with it during my year off. I discovered that if you take classes part-time you can defer making payments on your loan (it doesn't matter if it's federal or private.) You can take these classes at a state university for in-state rates or a community college for their small fee, and it will be far cheaper than what you would be paying on your loan per month. You can take more art classes, or try something new that has always interested you or that you think might benefit you in some way. I actually discovered a new major in my year off and have applied to grad schools for that instead this time round (not that I'm suggesting that you give up on art, I was unsatisfied with my undergrad major and looking for a change, you sound quite passionate and dedicated to yours.) You may still have to be accepted to a department as a post-baccalaureate student, but in my experience, that isn't difficult. And then, you can work either full-time, or maybe part-time, on the side to pay for living expenses (which is what I'm doing.) Alternately, along the lines of the Americorps/Peacecorps recommendation, if you were willing and able to uproot for a while, I know several people that paid off sizable portions of their student loan debt by moving to Asia and teaching English as a Second Language. You can find tons of TESL programs online for various countries through various organizations, and it's an experience that could change your life forever. You might even be inspired artistically by a foreign environment, who knows? Just some ideas from my life experience that I thought you might find beneficial. Good luck!