labmouse

Concordia. Although living in NY could be great, where else can I live, learn to speak French while studying Art and not have it cost a mint?

I've just gotten off of Concordia University's waitlist. Concordia has an international tuition of 10k. Even if I don't get any funding, with living expenses, I wouldn't need to take out more than 20k to go to school for a year. The program is 2.5-3 years long, with me looking at 60k max in loans. I'm in contact witht he school and will find out more about my aid package tomorrow. Parsons has name recognition in the US that Concordia(which is in Montreal) does not have. I have 16k in scholarships, but that leaves me with 18k to cover tuition and 13-17k for living(including food, housing(mostly on campus since I'm really far away to apartment hunt)transportation and insurance). Parsons is a two year program, with me looking at between 31k-35k a year, a worse case scenario of 70k in debt when I'm done. I have been thinking about each program more and have been wondering if I should go with the better aid package, since I'm planning on teaching.

I can't get anything additional in aid. looks like I'm going to Parsons (or Concordia..I love Montreal)

I got into Concordia! I'm not sure if I'll take it, three years for am MFA, maybe funding after the first year via scholarships and bursaries? I have to call tomorrow to get a better idea of the financial picture. If I do decide to go then French lessons this summer!

It looks like it will be Parsons!

I don't think that I will be able to go to SVA at all. I've tried to extend the date that I have to pay the deposit and it's a no go. Although I am an Independent Student and currently unemployed, I would only get more loans. Today I heard back from the Chair of the department, who is a lovely person and put a lot of care in his response to me. There is no way I can afford to carry loans of that caliber. Thankfully, I was accepted to Parsons.

I'm seeing what I can finagle for funding before I commit. I might wind up at Parsons instead.

I think it depends on your discipline. I'm in Fine arts and Parsons was quite generous, whereas NYU gave no funding at all. Hadley, I've been looking at alternatives to New School's grad housing in an effort to save a few dollars and also to have a bit more privacy. It seems that the school has a lot of Open singles/doubles and triples.

graphikchik, Thanks for the words of encouragement. I am partially worried about negotiating correctly. I don't want to alienate the people, but I do need to ask before it is too late.

I feel positively nauseated by the financial aid process right now. The school that is currently at the top of my list in terms of program and prestige is only offering 5k in aid, the rest is loans. I'm going to try to negotiate, but it feels like I have a large stone around my neck as I attempt this. I might have to just accept another school.

I am waiting on my financial aid package from SVA before I make my final decision. I am in the Computer Art MFA.

Thanks for the Article. I have been wondering who I needed to contact about negotiating additional funding.

Ouch. Sorry to hear that. In the worse case scenario, you could try and cover one year and apply for outside funding like the Jacob Javits Fund for your second year. That's my overall plan to help minimize my costs for Grad school.

Pointedears, is there any way you can negotiate funding or any mention of funding for your second or third year? From what I recall of Cal Arts, they're not too big on letting grad students teach, but maybe you can get work study aid in another way? So far, everywhere except for NYU has offered funding of some sort. I guess that I am just very hesitant to say to anyone "Go ahead and incur over 100k in loans."

I was just reading the results board, did anyone get anything from NYU this year in Aid? It seems like no one was given financial assistance, no grants, scholarships or anything.