MFA 2022 Freak Out Forum

[wheely]

12 hours ago, lazuli. said:

I got a call on the 8th and I think on March 11th they'll send official letters

Congratulations -- and thank you for sharing this update

[moolala]

8 hours ago, RyanV said:

Congratulations!

 

just wondering what it was about the Parsons program that made you pull your application. 
 

Currently accepted to

Parsons fine art,

Pratt Photo, 

Saic photo,

sva photo

Parsons is feeling high on my list but I’m an international student and don’t know anyone who has been through these programs. Would love any insight.

hi!

 

nothing wrong with parsons program, i just had another first choice that answered me right away! i also don’t want to complicate the parsons admin people’s lives so withdrawing seemed easiest

[wheely]

5 hours ago, wheely said:

Congratulations -- and thank you for sharing this update

Ugh, painful waiting for the waitlist/rejection information.

[impliedpaste]

16 hours ago, moolala said:

just submitted a deposit and declined the other offers i received! its official now!!!!

 

quick summary  

saic-accepted

tyler-accepted

u oregon-accepted 

parsons-interviewed, attempted to withdraw app but the coordinator's email no longer seems to be active?????

cranbrook-accepted + going!

 

 

Which departments did you apply to? 

Edited March 11, 2022 by impliedpaste

[oli_czhang]

I’m losing my mind a little here but has anyone heard anything back from MassArt’s or Pratt’s sculpture department? 

[chunkeymonkey]

20 hours ago, seelamfa22 said:

Did you receive your letter already? I haven't yet.... uh-oh...

I haven't either!! 

[Antisocialprintmaker]

Did anyone else get an email saying they’re in the final round of applicants for FSU? I thought my interview went really poorly, but they just emailed me and invited me to their prospective student event and to congratulate me on being in the final round. The prospective mfa student event is April 1, so it feels a little late in the application season

[HJAn]

On 3/10/2022 at 12:21 PM, nobodyok said:

Just received acceptance to UPenn! ? My first and only acceptance of 7 applications. Anyone else receive acceptance--my letter had no mention of scholarship or financial support beyond what FAFSA qualifies me for (Federal Direct, Federal Work Study, Federal Grad Plus), so wondering if anyone else's did?

Congrats!! I've been waitlisted. It's one of my top choices so I'm hoping for a slot to open up...

What other schools did you apply to? - if you don't mind me asking

[Itty Bitty]

SAIC versus MICA for Low Residency Studio MFA? Anyone have an opinion?

[elizpicle]

Hi! I just got an admission from Pratt Interactive Arts! I'm an international applicant btw.

Didn't have an interview and the email was in the spam folder. 

It was sent on March 10th but I saw the email today. So if you haven't check the spam folder yet check it!

[eatyoveggies]

9 hours ago, Antisocialprintmaker said:

Did anyone else get an email saying they’re in the final round of applicants for FSU? I thought my interview went really poorly, but they just emailed me and invited me to their prospective student event and to congratulate me on being in the final round. The prospective mfa student event is April 1, so it feels a little late in the application season

I think maybe that implies you are on their waitlist? bc they sent out acceptances a bit ago. it is pretty late tho i agree

[slickjaketheruler]

Rejection from VCU via snail mail.

[Eric from America]

12 hours ago, Itty Bitty said:

SAIC versus MICA for Low Residency Studio MFA? Anyone have an opinion?

Hey, congrats on getting accepted to both SAIC and MICA low residency! I was accepted at SAIC low residency a couple years ago, as well as SAIC Film Video New Media Animation and SAIC Art & Technology, so I know quite a bit about SAIC. I was living in Detroit at the time which made SAIC pretty easy to visit. I did not apply to MICA so I don't really have a first-hand comparison between the two.

They are both really well-respected schools, so you probably can't go wrong either way, and your decision is probably going to be based on your own personal preferences. Like, I remember there were several SAIC faculty members (Lee Blalock, Claudia Hart, Gregg Bordowitz, etc. etc) I was really interested in working with who were then teaching in their low residency program. So, if all else seems equal, your decision might come down to which school has the most faculty that are most interesting to you. Oh, and, they are obviously in different locations, which maybe allow you to do different things when on or near campus and which maybe attract students from different locations. 

And, OK, I'm looking at MICA's website and it looks like some key differences between the two are: 1) MICA is a three year program, SAIC is a two year program. 2) Both schools have online classes during the fall and spring, along with in-person summer classes, but MICA also has a short in-person winter session. SAIC had the option of taking electives during winter session or during the summer, and if you chose to do them during the winter session that could be in Chicago but also could include study trips to New York or Los Angeles (I was applying pre-covid, so I'm not sure about study trips lately or currently). 3) SAIC would connect you with a mentor that was local to you for studio visits, etc during the fall and spring. I don't see anything local like that from MICA, but like I said, I know a lot more about SAIC so maybe I'm just missing that. 

So, assuming they cost roughly the same money-wise, those seem like the key differences.

I hope that's helpful. Like I said, both very well-respected schools, so you probably can't go wrong and it will come down to your own personal preferences on what matters most to you. Good luck on your decision, let me know if you have any other questions, and good luck wherever you end up!

 

 

 

 

[CactusWren22]

On 3/10/2022 at 11:13 AM, nobodyok said:

Oof.. I guess that means they offered me nothing. lol. My list financial aid only includes the Federal Loans I can get through FAFSA. Did yours include more than that?

Got into the MFA program at Penn (found out Monday). Pretty much received the same offer (just take out student loans to pay for it) lol. Still waiting for UCLA (I applied with a Photo concentration) to establish basic communication. Might end up just applying to MFA programs with rolling deadlines.

Edited March 12, 2022 by CactusWren22

[The-Fourth-Dimension]

7 hours ago, CactusWren22 said:

Got into the MFA program at Penn (found out Monday). Pretty much received the same offer (just take out student loans to pay for it).

YUP!

This seems to be the same with applicants across the board. COVID disrupted and ravaged academics from 2020 through present time and American colleges have decided to lower admissions standards for applicants from around the world. Because of this massive increase in demand and the decrease in supply, schools have cut stipends, grants, fellowships, and many other perks. Not just that but they've significantly reduced admission rates in every subject.

 link--->As Applications to Colleges Skyrocket, Acceptance Rates Dip<---link 

If you look at prior years on the GradCafe there have been WAY better seasons for admissions and perks, by far. From most people I've been private messaging on the board, this year has been pretty sucky, especially for those who have applied more than once.

There are artists who are in their 5th and 6th application season who have been admitted to colleges in the past but continue to put off admission in hopes for a better deal next year, and some of them not only didn't get a better deal this year but didn't get admitted anywhere at all and I'd wager that it has something to do with the schools lowering admissions standards and that encouraging everyone to apply. The schools now have more options, and sometimes much better options at grad just by encouraging applicants in general.

If I were an admissions counselor at high school or community college I would tell an applicant to try to negotiate with financial aid, but if loans are all you've got and you've got a solid plan that you intend to follow through with then you should take the loans and attend grad at the school that takes you because its just going to get even more competitive over time, especially since Harvard has dedicated that it is keeping admission standards low for the next 4 years, no matter what.

All colleges follow Harvard so expect that rule to be adopted by everyone. Seems like it's just going to get exceptionally more competitive over the next 2-4 years.

 link--->A Competitive Year for Grad Students<---link 

I, like several other students, lucked out with admissions to top tier school like USC, others were admitted to programs in the same vein like Stanford, RISD, UCLA, and Fresno Community College. If you didn't get into your "dream" school... So what? Fuck it. Go with the cards you were dealt and make some bad-ass art anyway, ya know?

Personally, I think the lowering of academic standards is a good thing in the arts because the art world in the United States has become FAR too academic, philosophical, political, tedious, and condescending for its own good. The quality of American art is terrible right now, just AWFUL. For every 100+ pieces of straight up shitty art I see, there is one that I think has merit and is done well.

You can't just throw dirt in a corner, fill a pair of women's pantyhose with cotton, then stare into a camera looking grim and expect that to have any impact or weight to the working class people we create art for. And if you aren't creating art for the working class people, who are you making it for? Yourself? Other academics? The privledged and wealthy? The New York art gallery leisure class scene? If that's the case, you don't need grad school or even undergrad anyway.

 link--->Fatboy Slim - The Rockafeller Skank<---link 

The art I've seen coming from students of other nations is wonderful. It's almost like they paid more attention in their art classes or something instead of being mad at what some fool says on Twitter. Kind of amazing how that works.

I'll be taking out loans to attend USC, I have no grand delusions about it. I'm doing it for the people, and because I need a graduate level degree, MFA in specific, to teach at university. So it all works out. Plus, Los Angeles kicks ass, and I want to be in that sort of high energy and competitive environment.

I hold out hope for those of you still waiting. It's a crummy feeling, I know. We'll all get through this!

 

?Love one another. Help one another. Elevate one another. Adopt animals.?

 link--->Adopt a kat, A TERMINATOR KAT<---link 

Edited March 13, 2022 by The-Fourth-Dimension
The quantum cycle is calling to you via supercharged electrons. Can you hear it?

[Strawberrycat]

1 hour ago, The-Fourth-Dimension said:

YUP!

This seems to be the same with applicants across the board. COVID disrupted and ravaged academics from 2020 through present time and American colleges have decided to lower admissions standards for applicants from around the world. Because of this massive increase in demand and the decrease in supply, schools have cut stipends, grants, fellowships, and many other perks. Not just that but they've significantly reduced admission rates in every subject.

 link--->As Applications to Colleges Skyrocket, Acceptance Rates Dip<---link 

If you look at prior years on the GradCafe there have been WAY better seasons for admissions and perks, by far. From most people I've been private messaging on the board, this year has been pretty sucky, especially for those who have applied more than once.

There are artists who are in their 5th and 6th application season who have been admitted to colleges in the past but continue to put off admission in hopes for a better deal next year, and some of them not only didn't get a better deal this year but didn't get admitted anywhere at all and I'd wager that it has something to do with the schools lowering admissions standards and that encouraging everyone to apply. The schools now have more options, and sometimes much better options at grad just by encouraging applicants in general.

If I were an admissions counselor at high school or community college I would tell an applicant to try to negotiate with financial aid, but if loans are all you've got and you've got a solid plan that you intend to follow through with then you should take the loans and attend grad at the school that takes you because its just going to get even more competitive over time, especially since Harvard has dedicated that it is keeping admission standards low for the next 4 years, no matter what.

All colleges follow Harvard so expect that rule to be adopted by everyone. Seems like it's just going to get exceptionally more competitive over the next 2-4 years.

 link--->A Competitive Year for Grad Students<---link 

I, like several other students, lucked out with admissions to top tier school like USC, others were admitted to programs in the same vein like Stanford, RISD, UCLA, and Fresno Community College. If you didn't get into your "dream" school... So what? Fuck it. Go with the cards you were dealt and make some bad-ass art anyway, ya know?

Personally, I think the lowering of academic standards is a good thing in the arts because the art world in the United States has become FAR too academic, philosophical, political, tedious, and condescending for its own good. The quality of American art is terrible right now, just AWFUL. For every 100+ pieces of straight up shitty art I see, there is one that I think has merit and is done well.

You can't just throw dirt in a corner, fill a pair of women's pantyhose with cotton, then stare into a camera looking grim and expect that to have any impact or weight to the working class people we create art for. And if you aren't creating art for the working class people, who are you making it for? Yourself? Other academics? The privledged and wealthy? The New York art gallery leisure class scene? If that's the case, you don't need grad school or even undergrad anyway.

 link--->Fatboy Slim - The Rockafeller Skank<---link 

The art I've seen coming from students of other nations is wonderful. It's almost like they paid more attention in their art classes or something instead of being mad at what some fool says on Twitter. Kind of amazing how that works.

I'll be taking out loans to attend USC, I have no grand delusions about it. I'm doing it for the people, and because I need a graduate level degree to teach high school. So it all works out. Plus, Los Angeles kicks ass, and I want to be in that sort of high energy and competitive environment.

I hold out hope for those of you still waiting. It's a crummy feeling, I know. We'll all get through this!

 

?Love one another. Help one another. Elevate one another. Adopt animals.?

 link--->Adopt a kat, A TERMINATOR KAT<---link 

(I mentioned it before, but you don't need a graduate level degree to teach high school. You need a Bachelor's degree and a Teaching Credential to teach highschool in California, which is a totally different program from an MFA. A graduate degree can raise your pay as a high school teacher, but it's not required, and you still need to go through getting a credential, which is a 1-2 year program in itself usually. Just trying to help so there's no confusion there.) 

[The-Fourth-Dimension]

2 minutes ago, Strawberrycat said:

I mentioned it before...

You did, indeed, and I remember you did.

As a matter of fact, my homeboy Nate who is a high-school teacher told me that I can start substituting with a Bachelors Degree alone, right now. I think I'm gonna do that in L.A. during grad-school. I'm gonna substitute at high-schools because it seems kool, and there's a grip of work and it pays okay for a grad student.

With my post, I still want to teach kids for a little while, but I need to end up at the collegiate level.

I corrected what I wrote.

See? What would I even do without you correcting me up ?????

[lilyxia99]

? Feeling so anxious while waiting for other results...

[Strawberrycat]

22 minutes ago, The-Fourth-Dimension said:

You did, indeed, and I remember you did.

As a matter of fact, my homeboy Nate who is a high-school teacher told me that I can start substituting with a Bachelors Degree alone, right now. I think I'm gonna do that in L.A. during grad-school. I'm gonna substitute at high-schools because it seems kool, and there's a grip of work and it pays okay for a grad student.

With my post, I still want to teach kids for a little while, but I need to end up at the collegiate level.

I corrected what I wrote.

See? What would I even do without you correcting me up ?????

Ah okay, sounds good then! Substitute teaching is great, I know a lot of people who have done it and really liked it! And I believe the pay has gone up in a lot of places since covid. 

Haha just looking out! 

[thatdesigndude]

5 minutes ago, lilyxia99 said:

? Feeling so anxious while waiting for other results...

Ugh I hear you. I’m hoping to hear back from ArtCenter within 10 days based on what I saw on the results search

[lilyxia99]

15 minutes ago, thatdesigndude said:

Ugh I hear you. I’m hoping to hear back from ArtCenter within 10 days based on what I saw on the results search

Yeah... It makes me hard to focus. I really should calm down, and I don't want to dump my anxiety on people though I am probably already doing it... Anyway, some of my other results should be coming in the following week I hope

Edited March 13, 2022 by lilyxia99

[worldcleft]

On 3/11/2022 at 8:30 AM, lazuli. said:

Just got into Bard and Columbia MFA, both painting. Super nervous about it as I'm coming from abroad and haven't visited the campuses physically.

Any intel greatly appreciated!! 

 

 

If money is not an issue for you, then the financial burdens of Columbia and Bard won't be a niggling factor.
Bard recently had to overhaul its faculty, but otherwise friends who have been thru it highly recommend it.
There are some barriers for internationals, given that internationals have less room to stay in the US and mingle with the rest of the Bard cohort outside of the low res summer sessions.
Columbia had issues with the studios couple years back -- flooding, broken ceilings, etc. You would want to check with recent students about what the current status is.

[Danais]

On 3/11/2022 at 6:30 AM, lazuli. said:

Just got into Bard and Columbia MFA, both painting. Super nervous about it as I'm coming from abroad and haven't visited the campuses physically.

Any intel greatly appreciated!! 

 

 

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

[Mfanymph22]

So far I've heard nothing back from only Columbia expanded media /sculpture . . .anyone else waiting or has an answer?

[Danais]

53 minutes ago, Mfanymph22 said:

So far I've heard nothing back from only Columbia expanded media /sculpture . . .anyone else waiting or has an answer?

did you have an interview?