MFA 2022 Freak Out Forum

[SadPainter]

3 minutes ago, Ponygurl said:

Did they tell you you’re on the waitlist? I haven’t heard anything since my interview and am assuming I’m on a waitlist or they’re just waiting a long time to reject me lol

It’s totally different department to department! I applied for painting. And I had to email to find out. Last year I heard nothing until March 26th and that’s when they sent acceptances too. 

[ABLBDB345]

2 hours ago, slickjaketheruler said:

It’s really just incredibly competitive school. Print is looking at 2-3 people this year, and since 2 offers have been given out with a full ride being one of them pending, who knows if I’ll actually get one based on other applicants.

Yes! I also remember during their info session they said they had a more limited amount of spots than usual because some people deferred last year due to covid. I applied to Tyler for printmaking and never heard anything so I've assumed and made peace with rejection at this point. Weird that they haven't sent anything though!

[Ponygurl]

Just now, 1800goodluck said:

It’s totally different department to department! I applied for painting. And I had to email to find out. Last year I heard nothing until March 26th and that’s when they sent acceptances too. 

Oh I’m painting also! Did you reach out to who you interviewed with?

[SadPainter]

2 minutes ago, Ponygurl said:

Oh I’m painting also! Did you reach out to who you interviewed with?

I first reached out to admissions! 

[Ponygurl]

Just now, 1800goodluck said:

I first reached out to admissions! 

I just called them and they told me they couldn’t give me any information like that

[indigo_parrot]

Has anyone heard back from Pratt, UCLA, or Columbia painting yet? Ive heard back from all other schools, (got rejected form some and admitted to others) it's my first round applying and it seems pretty late in the game now. Just wanting to know at this point!!

[Amiaaa]

First congratulations for everyone!

Some info about my application: I have been rejected by some schools, got interviewed by CalArts and SAIC. The only offer I got now is from SAIC but without scholarships. No heard from UCLA and Columbia but I assume both rejection.

I really like SAIC but the tuition is too much for me... I'm thinking about either not go to grad schools for now and work for several years, or take the offer with student loans. Is it worth taking on a lot of debt to go to graduate school? I was graduated in 2020, and the salary of the job I can get for now is not much... Will grad school make any difference (for my future career and my personal projects)? What else can I expected from grad school? 

One of my tutor didn't go to grad school and think it's not necessary to go to grad school to become an artist. But my all other tutors have attended the grad program. I'm wondering if your guys can give me some suggestions?

[lilyxia99]

4 hours ago, thatdesigndude said:

Accepted to ArtCenter MFA in graphic design! ?

Congrats!! Still waiting here?

[Frank14]

3 hours ago, Amiaaa said:

First congratulations for everyone!

Some info about my application: I have been rejected by some schools, got interviewed by CalArts and SAIC. The only offer I got now is from SAIC but without scholarships. No heard from UCLA and Columbia but I assume both rejection.

I really like SAIC but the tuition is too much for me... I'm thinking about either not go to grad schools for now and work for several years, or take the offer with student loans. Is it worth taking on a lot of debt to go to graduate school? I was graduated in 2020, and the salary of the job I can get for now is not much... Will grad school make any difference (for my future career and my personal projects)? What else can I expected from grad school? 

One of my tutor didn't go to grad school and think it's not necessary to go to grad school to become an artist. But my all other tutors have attended the grad program. I'm wondering if your guys can give me some suggestions?

I'm in a similar position and wondering the same thing. I've only been accepted to MICA (Multidisciplinary) which is really expensive. It just doesn't seem feasible to leave school with so much debt. I've talked to my art history professors, my partner, and friends who've gone to grad school who all agree that it's a huge risk to pay such a big price for grad school, especially when there are cheaper options available.

Basically I'm just hoping on of the two schools where I'm waitlisted, SFSU and University of Montana (both painting), will accept me because they're much cheaper. I'm trying to rationalize that it wouldn't be a big deal to just reapply next cycle but that is a disappointing prospect ?

[achach]

9 hours ago, thatdesigndude said:

Accepted to ArtCenter MFA in graphic design! ?

congrats！I've been accepted to same program today, are you going for it?

[imnotsure]

I interviewed for Rutgers and got waitlisted.

Interviewed for UCLA Feb 9 and I'm assuming I didn't get in because people seemed to have gotten responses already and I haven't gotten anything  ?

[imnotsure]

I interviewed for Rutgers and got waitlisted.

Interviewed for UCLA Feb 9 and I'm assuming I didn't get in because people seemed to have gotten responses already and I haven't gotten anything  

[thatdesigndude]

1 hour ago, averach said:

congrats！I've been accepted to same program today, are you going for it?

Congrats to you too! I will visit ArtCenter and CCA in April, it’s impossible to decide until I see these campuses in person.

The $40k annual scholarship from CCA would be very hard to turn down...

[achach]

12 minutes ago, thatdesigndude said:

Congrats to you too! I will visit ArtCenter and CCA in April, it’s impossible to decide until I see these campuses in person.

The $40k annual scholarship from CCA would be very hard to turn down...

wow that's quite attractive scholarship, tough decision for you to make. good luck for the visit!

[ricecake]

Hi everyone. Congratulations to all accepted applicants!

By the way, I haven’t heard any thing yet from the most favorite school. But some schools admitted to me in Fall 2022. 
So, I am planning to apply again for the best school for me through going to other MFA school.  In other words, I need to go to MFA for three years. 

Are there some people thinking about that?? I think it is not worth for me to continue applying again in the my country…

And also I am an international student, so it will takes one year for getting used to live in the US by English. Therefore, my ideal is to live there for three years. Of course there is the money problem ?‍?lol. 

[Loleagle]

On 3/10/2022 at 7:30 PM, 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!! 

 

 

I did visual arts undergrad at columbia and I’m currently at hunter & bard MFA . Bard hasn’t been amazing lately but I think it will be really good this summer. Columbia is a very very diff vibe than bard so just depends what you are looking for. On a $ note —I’m doing hunter and bard for less than the cost of one year at columbia MFA so it is a very pricey school.

[RyanV]

1 hour ago, Googlyeyes said:

I did visual arts undergrad at columbia and I’m currently at hunter & bard MFA . Bard hasn’t been amazing lately but I think it will be really good this summer. Columbia is a very very diff vibe than bard so just depends what you are looking for. On a $ note —I’m doing hunter and bard for less than the cost of one year at columbia MFA so it is a very pricey school.

Do you know have some of the issues with studio space and access to faculty that were in the news in 2018 at Columbia been rectified or are there still problems there?

[Loleagle]

10 minutes ago, RyanV said:

Do you know have some of the issues with studio space and access to faculty that were in the news in 2018 at Columbia been rectified or are there still problems there?

I graduated in spring 2020 so I can’t speak to post lockdown things but …in spring 2020 students were still complaining constantly about faculty. They had almost no access to Sarah sze and Justine kurland and 1/3 of adjunct faculty are recent columbia MFA grads (which was fine for me as an undergrad). The studio situation was slightly better because they put netting across all the ceilings . but hopefully that has improved and hopefully they can connect you with current students. 

[imnotsure]

Do y’all know if schools submit all the acceptances for all the MFA offers at the same time? Or do they send it based on the discipline if the program is divided into different ones

[nobodyok]

On 3/13/2022 at 2:08 PM, CactusWren22 said:

I'm still considering Penn (I'm going to visit on the 25th) they really responded positively to my portfolio which is pretty cool. I don't know anyone who applied to UCLA with a Photo concentration whose been contacted by the school lol (I'm not sure what's going on). This is my first cycle of MFA apps and we did pretty good.

Hi CactusWren22, I meant to ask you. When you heard last Monday about Penn, was it by a phone call? I just spoke with someone else who asked what faculty called me to deliver my acceptance, but I only found out via the portal on Thursday. I didn't have any missed voicemails, but am paranoid I missed a call somehow.  

[Thursdayhasnofeel]

howdy has anyone heard back from Tyler sculpture?

[Faxma]

Hi all, 

 

Did anyone hear back from Yale regarding financial aid? 
 

Thanks ❤️

[oli_czhang]

Guys I got in Pratt sculpture wish ya’ll luck!!!

[hibiscusleaves]

Hey all!

Now that I have heard back from all of the unis I've applied to here is how my 2022 applications went:

applied to - mfa graphic design/mfa studio art with a concentration in graphic design

Profile - international student, first time application, undergrad in geophysical engineering, will be graduating in june. 4-5 internships, hackathon wins, strong motivation letter, good rec. letter from co-workers.

Yale - accepted, need based full tuition

VCU - accepted, full tuition, 10k a year

Cranbrook - accepted, 50% tuition

Umass Amherst - accepted, 11k a year, health, dental and vision insurance

MCAD - accepted, 50% tuition + 6k a year

CCA - accepted, 50% tuition

MICA - accepted, 25% tuition

SAIC - accepted, 20% tuition

RISD - rejected

SVA - rejected

GSU - rejected after interview

I remember writing a reddit post about how stupid i feel for applying to yale when i'm not qualified for it. Just a few minutes ago I accepted my Yale offer. No words can describe how happy I am! It was actually hard saying no to VCU as their program is as amazing as Yale's, but the resources and centers that Yale offers align with my career goals better, so i decided to choose it after a long time spent on comparison. They accepted only 8 people this year and i'm very very happy to be one of them.

RISD and SVA rejected me as their programs are more focused on commercial design whereas my work covers experimental design, so I completely understand. my GSU interview was very stale and boring, the professors had only 15 mins as they were in between classes and they didnt really seem interested in what i  have to say, so i knew i would be rejected. 

My advice to mfa applicants would be to talk to the alumni or the current students of your desired program. I spent 2 years getting my portfolio reviewed, working on improving it, talking to ppl studying at my top choices and i for sure know i wouldnt be able to get into my desired programs without it. 

i'm very thankful to the gradcafe community as you guys helped me stay sane during the waiting period! i hope all of you will get into the best program suited for you

[minidragonfly]

Just received e-mail acceptance to Pratt for fine arts/printmaking with a scholarship of $14,000/semester ☺️

Also received a rejection letter from VCU finally haha

Please let me know if anyone is able to successfully ask for a decision extension for Pratt... I'm highly interested in Pratt but still hoping to hear back from RISD as I'm on their waitlist

Edited March 15, 2022 by minidragonfly