MFA 2022 Freak Out Forum

[beeebeeeebeebeebo]

I got in touch with the director at UCONN, they are still reviewing applications, and no given date to receive a decision by.

[Eric from America]

4 hours ago, dazedandconfused99 said:

Hi all, it is my first time posting but this forum has been so helpful to me throughout this process! I am a sculpture applicant and here is where I am at in the process - 

Stanford - Rejected
Yale - Rejected
Berkeley - Rejected
SAIC - Accepted
UCLA - Accepted
VCU - Accepted, 10k stipend
RISD - Accepted
CMU - Waitlisted 

I wanted to know if anyone had any opinions about VCU, RISD, UCLA and SAIC, specifically the sculpture programs? I am leaning towards RISD but I know VCU and UCLA are supposedly ranked higher. Thanks! 

Hey @dazedandconfused99 those schools -- VCU, RISD, UCLA, and SAIC -- are all great schools. I went to VCU for Kinetic Imaging (new media/time based art) and also took sculpture classes and classes with sculpture students so maybe I'm biased here. I can agree with what @slickjaketheruler is saying. And also, VCU's "Accepted + 10k stipend" would probably make my decision for me. I mean, all four are great programs, three of them want you to pay them, and one of them wants to pay you $10K? I'd take that $10,000!

[Hjuoollpphhfcvn]

I think maybe it depends on what you want to do. I have spoken with three graduates from vcu and two current students and they all told me that vcu was lacking in connections, so the program and faculty is great, super supportive and all, but maybe after graduating is not so great due to the fact that you don't have man y opportunities to link with others during your studies. I'm not sure how relevant this is really because if you are proactive of course this isn't a real setback. However, it is an important fact when in comes to make an informed decision. 

[Madamshaay]

Please has anyone heard from GSU? MFA 

[eatyoveggies]

2 minutes ago, Madamshaay said:

Please has anyone heard from GSU? MFA 

Yes- I heard from drawing& painting. Interviewed on 2/20 and was waitlisted 2/22. 

[Madamshaay]

5 minutes ago, eatyoveggies said:

Yes- I heard from drawing& painting. Interviewed on 2/20 and was waitlisted 2/22. 

Okay, thank you.

did they tell you how far down the list you are?

the Grad Cordinator just told me I’m on the waitlist when I sent a mail. If there an official email sent informing those on the waitlist?

I applied for MFA Graphic design and I’m an international student 

[eatyoveggies]

9 minutes ago, Madamshaay said:

Okay, thank you.

did they tell you how far down the list you are?

the Grad Cordinator just told me I’m on the waitlist when I sent a mail. If there an official email sent informing those on the waitlist?

I applied for MFA Graphic design and I’m an international student 

The area head (who I interviewed with) emailed me, but nothing official other than that. He said I should hear more as the April 15th decision deadline comes closer and people start rejecting their offers. I don't know where I am on the waitlist, and I didn't ask, but only about 8 interviewed for 2-3 spots.

[Madamshaay]

3 minutes ago, eatyoveggies said:

The area head (who I interviewed with) emailed me, but nothing official other than that. He said I should hear more as the April 15th decision deadline comes closer and people start rejecting their offers. I don't know where I am on the waitlist, and I didn't ask, but only about 8 interviewed for 2-3 spots.

Thank you. Wasn’t called for an interview so I take it as a rejection.

[Madamshaay]

Please who has heard from FSU MFA? I was interviewed and sent an email that I made it to the final round of Applicants. Please what does this mean and any idea when we should expect to hear from them?

I sent emails but no response.

Any information will be appreciated 

[eatyoveggies]

42 minutes ago, Madamshaay said:

Thank you. Wasn’t called for an interview so I take it as a rejection.

well you applied to a different department, perhaps they are doing something different? sometimes when one department interviews, another doesn't. so if the grad coordinator told you that you're on the waitlist i would assume its true. And for your FSU inquiry above, I was also interviewed by them and accepted about a month ago. I would assume that 'final round' means you're waitlisted there

[Madamshaay]

5 minutes ago, eatyoveggies said:

well you applied to a different department, perhaps they are doing something different? sometimes when one department interviews, another doesn't. so if the grad coordinator told you that you're on the waitlist i would assume its true. And for your FSU inquiry above, I was also interviewed by them and accepted about a month ago. I would assume that 'final round' means you're waitlisted there

This makes me feel so much better, thank you. I would love to attend GSU.

congratulations! 
This anxiety is driving me crazy  

[eatyoveggies]

29 minutes ago, Madamshaay said:

This makes me feel so much better, thank you. I would love to attend GSU.

congratulations! 
This anxiety is driving me crazy  

Thanks! Yeah It's driving me crazy too..  Hoping that these next few weeks will bring lots more movement on the waitlist. Fingers crossed for you for GSU! it seems like a great program.

[Madamshaay]

12 hours ago, eatyoveggies said:

Thanks! Yeah It's driving me crazy too..  Hoping that these next few weeks will bring lots more movement on the waitlist. Fingers crossed for you for GSU! it seems like a great program.

Thank you! I really appreciate the encouragement 

[SocialKonstruct]

On 3/23/2022 at 5:28 AM, dazedandconfused99 said:

Hi all, it is my first time posting but this forum has been so helpful to me throughout this process! I am a sculpture applicant and here is where I am at in the process - 

Stanford - Rejected
Yale - Rejected
Berkeley - Rejected
SAIC - Accepted
UCLA - Accepted
VCU - Accepted, 10k stipend
RISD - Accepted
CMU - Waitlisted 

I wanted to know if anyone had any opinions about VCU, RISD, UCLA and SAIC, specifically the sculpture programs? I am leaning towards RISD but I know VCU and UCLA are supposedly ranked higher. Thanks! 

Rankings only mean so much. To be honest, if you find a cohort of people you want to work and hang out with, that would be much more meaningful here.

[SocialKonstruct]

21 hours ago, Hjuoollpphhfcvn said:

I think maybe it depends on what you want to do. I have spoken with three graduates from vcu and two current students and they all told me that vcu was lacking in connections, so the program and faculty is great, super supportive and all, but maybe after graduating is not so great due to the fact that you don't have man y opportunities to link with others during your studies. I'm not sure how relevant this is really because if you are proactive of course this isn't a real setback. However, it is an important fact when in comes to make an informed decision. 

Geography for me is going to be the largest factor when I apply this fall to graduate programs. Things have changed so much during the past year but I will update that in a future thread here.

[Ponygurl]

On 3/20/2022 at 2:52 AM, Shade54 said:

Planning to email them today

 

On 3/20/2022 at 2:52 AM, Shade54 said:

Planning to email them today

Any updates?

[ABLBDB345]

On 3/13/2022 at 7:52 AM, Danais said:

Hi , I had my interview with Columbia , painting on the 11th of March. You already received a letter?

@Danais, wondering if you've heard anything yet? I interviewed for Printmaking March 10 and haven't heard anything yet, not sure if I should assume rejection at this point...

[minidragonfly]

3 hours ago, Ponygurl said:

Any updates?

@Ponygurl I emailed RISD about their printmaking waitlist on March 10 and got this response:

”Each department has a small waiting list with a handful of applicants. There is no internal ranking system to the waiting list.”

Hope this helps. So nerve wracking…

[Ponygurl]

1 minute ago, minidragonfly said:

@Ponygurl I emailed RISD about their printmaking waitlist on March 10 and got this response:

”Each department has a small waiting list with a handful of applicants. There is no internal ranking system to the waiting list.”

Hope this helps. So nerve wracking…

Thank you! I’m clinging to any info I can get. And you’re telling me! My heart has dropped every time I get a gmail notification since January lol do you think risd accepted the amount of people they take or say accept 12 and take 10 

[Shade54]

42 minutes ago, Ponygurl said:

Thank you! I’m clinging to any info I can get. And you’re telling me! My heart has dropped every time I get a gmail notification since January lol do you think risd accepted the amount of people they take or say accept 12 and take 10 

I got the same response. I'm kind of giving up on waiting

[Ponygurl]

Just now, Shade54 said:

I got the same response. I'm kind of giving up on waiting

What do you mean!

[limpcigarette]

On 3/23/2022 at 10:21 AM, slickjaketheruler said:

I live in Richmond and love everything I’ve seen come out of VCU’s sculpture + extended media program. You get a really cool space to show your MFA thesis work in. What I’ve noticed they do differently than other programs, is that they really prize work that is reflective of experience and feeling rather than object making (so lots of installation work that I’ve seen come from the program in both the sculpture and craft program). I think your best bet would be to look at the MFA catalog and ask yourself if you see yourself and your practice in the types of work students are coming out from. 
 

I’ve attached the show I saw in person from 2018, which feels like the strongest I’ve seen come from the program. 

https://issuu.com/vcuarts/docs/vcuarts_2018_mfathesiscatalog_pages

I did part of my undergrad at VCU so can also vouch for VCU's Sculpture program. I was lucky enough to know all the people who are included in this thesis catalog. I am not sure on what their specific experiences were, but can say that the work coming out of the program is amazing!

[Shade54]

9 minutes ago, Ponygurl said:

What do you mean!

What i mean is I will forget about RISD, and accept The new school offer

[refereemandem]

RISD's waitlists are ranked. Last year I was told by the Painting MFA Program Director thru email that I was at the Top of their ranked waitlist. It didn't work out last year, so I applied again this year. The faculty also ranks the initial accepted students, the program director told me this in a phone call this year. 

I've attached the words, that I've sent to the admissions office email address. This transcript of my email summarizes the communications I've had with RISD over the last month. I hope this information will help current and future RISD applicants make informed decisions. I've contacted as many current, former, and prospective RISD students as I could, so that I could also try to make an informed decision about the financial aspect of attending RISD.  

In this day in age,  time and money equal freedom. I think it's very important to keep that in mind, when a prestigious programs cost is so high. It's also important to remember that we are artists already, with or without going to a graduate program. This path may or may not work out for me, but I am happy that I tried my best. I am also grateful that there is a resource like this forum, where we can have these transparent conversations. In the end, know your worth, and do your best to advocate for yourself.

 

 

 

[flowr]

Hey everyone, I thought I'd give a wrap up here and solicit opinions now that I've heard back from (nearly) everywhere and now am just left to stress over decision making.

SAIC Art and Tech - Accepted, 20% scholarship

NYU ITP - Accepted, $10k scholarship (plan to decline)

USC Interactive Media and Games - Accepted, not hearing back from financial aid office, plan to decline

UC Santa Cruz Digital Arts and New Media- Accepted, full tuition + small stipend

UC Santa Barbara Media Arts and Tech (MS) - Accepted, no word on funding yet

MIT Media Lab - rejected

UCLA DMA - rejected

Georgia Tech Digital Media - still no word

I think I'm deciding between SAIC and UCSC. I feel like SAIC has such great resources and I really like the studio model, but it's hard to pass up a fully funded program. Does anyone have opinions on UC Santa Cruz Digital Arts and New Media program? I really click with some of the faculty and looks like some impressive alumni but I get the impression that the program is less organized/established, so I'd love to hear other impressions if anyone has any .  Thanks!