MFA 2019 Freak Out Forum

[KGrrr]

45 minutes ago, Karisjns said:

Okay y'all, I am absolutely confused/flabbergasted.

I just got an interview invitation from SVA after hearing nothing from them since I turned in my application in January???

They have already sent out waitlists, rejections and acceptances in my department (fine arts/painting) several weeks ago.

This is weird and unexpected.

Congrats!! And I feel ya, this whole process is weird and stressful, especially at this late date. I'm waiting for two more schools and realizing I can't assume anything since obviously their results aren't out yet.

I interviewed with UARK way back in February (ultimate rejection) and I had NO idea the whole process would be stretching on so long. Haha, thought I'd know either way much much sooner.

[tee_lemon]

I just received an acceptance with tuition remission, but now I’m even more stressed out as this is my second acceptance, (still waiting on two schools, including one of my top choices). I know its been said many times on this forum to not take out debt to get an MFA but I’m sort of leaning towards another program where I got a decent scholarship but the tuition is still fairly high. I believe the other school to be a much more competitive higher ranked school but I’m still so nervous to take out massive loans to fund it. I’m trying to justify the costs to myself with things like: I’ll be in a city where there is more potential for networking, it will look better on my resume, etc. But I still don’t know. Ah! Hoping I make the right choice in the end. 

How is everyone else coping with funding? 

[Karisjns]

5 minutes ago, tee_lemon said:

I just received an acceptance with tuition remission, but now I’m even more stressed out as this is my second acceptance, (still waiting on two schools, including one of my top choices). I know its been said many times on this forum to not take out debt to get an MFA but I’m sort of leaning towards another program where I got a decent scholarship but the tuition is still fairly high. I believe the other school to be a much more competitive higher ranked school but I’m still so nervous to take out massive loans to fund it. I’m trying to justify the costs to myself with things like: I’ll be in a city where there is more potential for networking, it will look better on my resume, etc. But I still don’t know. Ah! Hoping I make the right choice in the end. 

How is everyone else coping with funding? 

I personally will take out a loan for school so that I can comfortably live while having sufficient supplies to work on my practice.

But for me, I am extremely low income and could not have received a higher education without loans, so I really didn't have a choice.

[SpillToBuilt]

17 minutes ago, tee_lemon said:

I just received an acceptance with tuition remission, but now I’m even more stressed out as this is my second acceptance, (still waiting on two schools, including one of my top choices). I know its been said many times on this forum to not take out debt to get an MFA but I’m sort of leaning towards another program where I got a decent scholarship but the tuition is still fairly high. I believe the other school to be a much more competitive higher ranked school but I’m still so nervous to take out massive loans to fund it. I’m trying to justify the costs to myself with things like: I’ll be in a city where there is more potential for networking, it will look better on my resume, etc. But I still don’t know. Ah! Hoping I make the right choice in the end. 

How is everyone else coping with funding? 

Personally, I would go with the free school unless their program seems super bad, which I would doubt since why would you apply there in the first place?  Then again, if the debt-burden school is in an area you plan to stay and build a career in, then you do have a tough decision ahead of you. Of course, this depends on the amount of debt... $20k or so is manageable to me if the program is that much better. Any higher and I would have to consider whether it is really worth it. Just my two cents. Good luck. 

Edited March 20, 2019 by EastCoastPhoto

[Karisjns]

16 hours ago, ackey said:

Waitlisted at MICA Mt Royal! Since I never heard anything after the application deadline, I had written them off as a rejection. I'm honestly a little confused by the timeline though, since I wouldn't hear if a space opens up until mid-April through even possibly late July, and it seems like I would need to have my mind made up about any other schools by April 15? 

How likely is it to get into a school off of their waitlist, and how many people does MICA usually waitlist?

I also got into SVA, but I'm not sure if it will be financially doable with the amount of aid I received ?

 

How much did you receive to SVA if you don't mind me asking?

[Karisjns]

Rejected from Columbia College Chicago after a very short interview with them last month.

No email, just randomly checked my portal and it was put on there last week.

Today is a whirlwind.

Edited March 20, 2019 by Karisjns

[artperson]

7 hours ago, Lemon2Lemonade said:

artperson, did you hear from Colorado or Maryland? 

I called Colorado and it sounds like I wasn't a first selection candidate and am on a waitlist. I'm assuming Maryland is a rejection since they typically reach out to students in end of February to early March. Either way, I received tuition remission and an assistantship from Umass amherst and really love the location and am excited about the interdisciplinary program, so even if I hear back from Maryland, Colorado, or Oregon it won't make a difference at this point. 

[MjamesPDX]

For some reason my google analytics isn't working right... I have an art station account and I can see on their end that I'm getting big website hits even as recent as this morning, but on google I'm not getting any information.. 

 

Edit: Nevermind, figured it out lol

Edited March 20, 2019 by MjamesPDX

[Lemon2Lemonade]

18 minutes ago, artperson said:

I called Colorado and it sounds like I wasn't a first selection candidate and am on a waitlist. I'm assuming Maryland is a rejection since they typically reach out to students in end of February to early March. Either way, I received tuition remission and an assistantship from Umass amherst and really love the location and am excited about the interdisciplinary program, so even if I hear back from Maryland, Colorado, or Oregon it won't make a difference at this point. 

That's fantastic news, congrats! So happy for you!!

[Gabbberz]

Anyone hear back from Columbia MFA in printmaking? I interviewed on Monday of last week. Getting nervous lol

[DitDot]

On 3/18/2019 at 9:08 PM, Ais said:

As an international too, I found it really helpful to email a couple past students from the programmes I applied to; I got some very detailed responses and it's lovely how willing artists are to help each other. They gave me very helpful insights into their experiences, the pros/ cons/ struggles of the programme and the sort of artist they think it bests suits (some even took the time to look at my website). This really helped me envision how I would find being on the MFA.

Hope that helps and good luck deciding :-D 

I eventually decided to go with RCA xD, since I like the location more. I didn’t email any of the alumnus in the same program yet, planning to find one to ask about the overall atmosphere at school and such. Thanks for your advices!

[Xxanderr]

3 hours ago, Nik2 said:

Which program?

Painting/Drawing

[defcalm]

4 hours ago, calmly waiting said:

Has anyone received rejections from UIC photo or VCU photo/film? Could really use some closure!

I received an acceptance email from VCU photo+film on March 9th. I had to decline because of logistics + my first choice was offering funding. 

[Lemon2Lemonade]

Got accepted to Herron School of Art (IUPUI) today (full funding + scholarship). Don't know what to do now, I had it all figured out before.

[calmly waiting]

55 minutes ago, defcalm said:

I received an acceptance email from VCU photo+film on March 9th. I had to decline because of logistics + my first choice was offering funding. 

Sweet, thanks for the response. Also congrats on getting funding at your first choice; that's awesome.

[Bodys]

Waiting on one last school, and on one waitlist. Does anyone have any advice on reaching out for a status check? Is there a polite way to ask without being annoying? Or should I hold off and stay patient?

[SerpentSkort]

5 hours ago, rosch said:

How was your interview? Did they tell you when we’d hear back?

I thought it went really well! Was told I should hear this week.

[darsenbehelm]

4 hours ago, tee_lemon said:

I just received an acceptance with tuition remission, but now I’m even more stressed out as this is my second acceptance, (still waiting on two schools, including one of my top choices). I know its been said many times on this forum to not take out debt to get an MFA but I’m sort of leaning towards another program where I got a decent scholarship but the tuition is still fairly high. I believe the other school to be a much more competitive higher ranked school but I’m still so nervous to take out massive loans to fund it. I’m trying to justify the costs to myself with things like: I’ll be in a city where there is more potential for networking, it will look better on my resume, etc. But I still don’t know. Ah! Hoping I make the right choice in the end. 

How is everyone else coping with funding? 

Congrats! If it's GSU, I too got accepted and it was a school I didn't get a chance to visit while applying. I'm making the trip down to Atlanta next week to check it out. It being a 3 year program, tuition remission, a small stipend plus 2 years of teaching experience if you want it is about as good as it's going to get for me. 

It depends on what your plans are for afterwards, but 3 years to focus on my art in a huge international city without going into considerable debt is a go for me. I'm still going to have to take out some dough for living expenses however.

 I'll make my decision after I visit, and I'm still waiting to hear back from Oregon. . . . 

[defcalm]

1 hour ago, calmly waiting said:

Sweet, thanks for the response. Also congrats on getting funding at your first choice; that's awesome.

Thank you! Good luck to you and hope you get an acceptance to one of your faves too.

[ackey]

5 hours ago, Karisjns said:

How much did you receive to SVA if you don't mind me asking?

I got $12,000 a year in merit scholarship. I'm happy to receive the scholarship, but cost of living with the remaining cost of the program would definitely result in me taking out more loans than I feel comfortable with

[Roof1234]

has anybody heard from Columbia painting? thank you!

[SerpentSkort]

Wait listed at Tyler.

[SerpentSkort]

Accepted to the Art Video program at Syracuse with a 60% scholarship! Pretty sure I’m gonna accept this offer

[rosch]

Just now, SerpentSkort said:

Accepted to the Art Video program at Syracuse with a 60% scholarship! Pretty sure I’m gonna accept this offer

I was just about to post the same thing. I got a 60% scholarship too — congrats!!!! I’m still deciding between this and RISD. They’re very different programs, but I’m leaning towards RISD right now. 

[Pallavi.Daga]

Does anyone have an idea how the AAS Program of Graphic Design at Parsons is? How does it compare to a conventional MFA or MDes program? (Pratt/UIC/MICA/NCSU) 

Any leads would be appreciated.