MFA 2011 All Art ADMISSIONS freak-out forum!!!!!!!!

[colbz]

has anyone ever blew the interview but have gotten in? i had an interview that just didn't go well. i was generalizing my answers. i rambled on and on. i asked an idiotic question. one of the interviewers was an artist i have seen give talks and whose show i am seeing in a couple of days (been eagerly waiting). i got star struck i think and terrified.

aww I'm sure it seemed much worse to you than it really was. I always think I'm horrible at public speaking, and then when I once saw myself doing it on video I looked fine. I have the same problem, when I'm nervous I'm just not myself and I say un-intelligent things, but o well. I would just not worry about it, really it always seems far worse than it actually is!

[colbz]

nothing to be embarrassed about, i am expecting my rejection from them any day now... just part of the process. You have an acceptance and many people have to try several years before they get in... NO one gets accepted everywhere....

Thanks for the pep talk, yea I am happy to have one. I've actually been taking my rejections well....Haven't cried, haven't had a drink, I've just looked at the letters, said, "o well..." threw them in the trash, and then forgotten about them 5 minutes later! It's actually weird. I thought I would be emotional about it but I really haven't been. Now I am expecting probable rejections from Hunter and SVA in particular. Just wish I could be refunded on those pricey application fees.

[inscho]

just got the call.....I've been accepted to Tyler!!!!!!!!!!!

[trri]

Do you mean calls for interviews by mid-March? Or notifications of decisions? One person on here said they had an interview with USC March 5th.

For the USC applicants,

I just phoned both Roski and the general graduate department, and no decisions at all have been made, but people should start receiving calls by mid-March.

(Which might mean next week?)

[bat]

Ya... if you look at that person's post history, it looks as if that might have been a typo or something of the like... weird business.

USC was pretty clear that they hadn't made any kind of selection yet.

And someone else on this board believes that USC usually does interview, so it'll probably be invites to interview we'll be getting soon. (Hopefully!)

USC Roski's ph# is 213-740-2787 (ask for the grad office) if you want to ask them about it. They're a friendly bunch.

Oh, and,

"The Office of Admission provides official notification of admission decisions by mail only." So they tell me.

Do you mean calls for interviews by mid-March? Or notifications of decisions? One person on here said they had an interview with USC March 5th.

Edited March 14, 2011 by bat

[trri]

Thanks

I'm hoping that was a typo. I went to the info session at USC and they definitely said they interview everyone they might possibly accept by phone.

Ya... if you look at that person's post history, it looks as if that might have been a typo or something of the like... weird business.

USC was pretty clear that they hadn't made any kind of selection yet.

And someone else on this board believes that USC usually does interview, so it'll probably be invites to interview we'll be getting soon. (Hopefully!)

USC Roski's ph# is 213-740-2787 (ask for the grad office) if you want to ask them about it. They're a friendly bunch.

Oh, and,

"The Office of Admission provides official notification of admission decisions by mail only." So they tell me.

[luckyfriend]

Here's my dilemma, if anyone has any input: so far, I've had no rejections, one interview, one more scheduled for tomorrow, and two acceptances. Both acceptances are accompanied by really generous, almost identical offers. They include tuition waivers, fellowships, scholarships, assistantships, etc. They're essentially "full rides" and they're paying me on top of that. Way, way better than what I had expected. I feel really lucky. I would've been overjoyed to be accepted with just enough funding to allow me to attend. What's amazing is that after I told each of them that I had another offer, both schools are saying they can give me a bit more money.

I'm freaking out though, because one school is really pressuring me to decide within the next couple of days. They just made me the offer about a week ago, and I feel pretty rushed, because I haven't heard back from all the schools yet. They already gave me a deadline that passed because I said I needed more time, and it was extended until next week. They didn't exactly say that the offer would be retracted if I didn't decide though, but they are starting to sound more stern about it and making me feel a bit guilty. Their program is really great, and I don't think it would be a mistake to go there, even if I was pressured into it.

Any thoughts? Are they being too pushy too quickly? Am I being dumb allowing myself to be pressured, or am I being arrogant by thinking I could possibly get a better offer?

[wannaknow]

would you be willing to say what schools you are talking about?? If they are a member of the graduate council they cant MAKE you decide until the 15th of April... I seriously doubt they would retract your offer that would be really unethical. this is a HUGE decision to make and to be rushed or pressured into it would not be ideal. Just tell them your concerns about making a hasty decision and let them know how interested you are in their program while still explaining you feel like you need more time.

Here's my dilemma, if anyone has any input: so far, I've had no rejections, one interview, one more scheduled for tomorrow, and two acceptances. Both acceptances are accompanied by really generous, almost identical offers. They include tuition waivers, fellowships, scholarships, assistantships, etc. They're essentially "full rides" and they're paying me on top of that. Way, way better than what I had expected. I feel really lucky. I would've been overjoyed to be accepted with just enough funding to allow me to attend. What's amazing is that after I told each of them that I had another offer, both schools are saying they can give me a bit more money.

I'm freaking out though, because one school is really pressuring me to decide within the next couple of days. They just made me the offer about a week ago, and I feel pretty rushed, because I haven't heard back from all the schools yet. They already gave me a deadline that passed because I said I needed more time, and it was extended until next week. They didn't exactly say that the offer would be retracted if I didn't decide though, but they are starting to sound more stern about it and making me feel a bit guilty. Their program is really great, and I don't think it would be a mistake to go there, even if I was pressured into it.

Any thoughts? Are they being too pushy too quickly? Am I being dumb allowing myself to be pressured, or am I being arrogant by thinking I could possibly get a better offer?

[wannaknow]

OOOHHH I'm so nervous to find out about PennDesign funding tomorrow. I have heard it is often not great... I'm bracing myself while still hoping for the best.

[luckyfriend]

i have a question: what do you do if you are accepted by one program (U Mass Amherst) which has given you a deadline to accept in the next week...but are stil waiting for responses from 2 schools?

what would happen if i were to accept the first place, and then if i get into the other two schools and decided to go there instead, take BACK MY ACCEPTANCE??

i just don't want to be in a position where i jeopardize my acceptance because i'm waiting on two other schools who may not even accept me......

is anyone else in this position?

and U Mass has only told me there's a strong likelihood of giving me TAships for all 3 years, but cannot guarantee....what is that?? aren't they supposed to offer you some kind of guarantee/financial package when they give you an acceptance?

I have a similar thing going on. I'm being pressured to decide at one school where I've been accepted, even though I haven't heard back from all the schools to which I've applied yet. I was accepted at one other school, but they're not rushing me. I already got a small extension on their deadline, so I think you should try that. I figure if I accept, I can always un-accept later if a better offer comes through (although the offer is great, and I really like the school). I'm not sure what they could do to me. I'm not paying them anything because all my tuition is being waived, so I can't see how they could financially penalize me. I hope you're in a similar situation. Good luck!

[baja318]

Anybody ever hear of a program that didn't offer first-year funding until mid-summer?

[luckyfriend]

would you be willing to say what schools you are talking about?? If they are a member of the graduate council they cant MAKE you decide until the 15th of April... I seriously doubt they would retract your offer that would be really unethical. this is a HUGE decision to make and to be rushed or pressured into it would not be ideal. Just tell them your concerns about making a hasty decision and let them know how interested you are in their program while still explaining you feel like you need more time.

Thanks; your advice about not letting myself be rushed actually makes me feel a little better.

I'm sorry if I'm paranoid, but I don't want to name the schools, and I kind of cringe when I see everybody else naming theirs! I'm sure people on the graduate committees have better things to do than read these forums, but one never knows. Why would we want, for example, people from one school seeing how many other schools rejected us? Or, why would we want to reveal to one school the precise details of an offer from another school? It seems like it could only hurt us.

Of course, we don't use real names, but still. Why take chances?

[jsm]

Wow, congrats!

just got the call.....I've been accepted to Tyler!!!!!!!!!!!

[shark]

aww I'm sure it seemed much worse to you than it really was. I always think I'm horrible at public speaking, and then when I once saw myself doing it on video I looked fine. I have the same problem, when I'm nervous I'm just not myself and I say un-intelligent things, but o well. I would just not worry about it, really it always seems far worse than it actually is!

i hope you are right. i keep re-running it in my head and the dumbest things i've said re-run much more often than the ones that made sense. if i get in-- it will be a miracle.

[Chestertittechno]

Anyone with news from tulane?

[va. woolf]

put on the wait list at penndesign.

[L333makes]

has anyone who interviewed at purchase last week heard anything or have any idea when we'll hear? i'm crossing all of my fingers and toes...!

[joonam]

has anyone heard anything from Cornell?

i know some people got waitlisted but has there been any acceptance or rejections

[savethewolves]

has anyone who interviewed at purchase last week heard anything or have any idea when we'll hear? i'm crossing all of my fingers and toes...!

I haven't heard from SUNY Purchase yet either since the interview... Here's hoping for us both!

[Chestertittechno]

Hey, how are the graduate painting studios like at jmu?

thanks

I graduated in 2007, we might have crossed paths! If it was Cole, then it was probably me. Though it could have been Ken or Susan, too, I guess!

[kimpusity]

Yes. They sent me an automatic letter telling me that "there was a change in my status" and giving me a link. Once there I downloaded the rejection letter. Anyway, it is for the New Genres program.

@kimpusity

Via email?

Did anyone else apply to UCLA sculpture? Any word? I've not heard a peep and it seems all other departments have been in contact with applicants.

[colbz]

I went to JMU for undergrad. The grad studios are kinda small, I won't lie. I would sneak a peak in those studios whenever I could to see the work. If you have any other questions about the program....I kind of know a lot about it as I would talk to the MFA students a lot, and would even listen in on their critiques, etc etc.

Hey, how are the graduate painting studios like at jmu?

thanks

[paintymess]

Hey, how are the graduate painting studios like at jmu?

thanks

When I was there in 2007 they looked pretty nice. They were in a separate building across the street from the main studio building, where there is also an art gallery (where I had my first show). You might ask colbz though if that's still how they are since she graduated more recently. Congrats on your acceptance there! I transferred 3 times during undergrad, finally ended up at JMU and looooved it.

Edited March 14, 2011 by paintymess

[paintymess]

I went to JMU for undergrad. The grad studios are kinda small, I won't lie. I would sneak a peak in those studios whenever I could to see the work. If you have any other questions about the program....I kind of know a lot about it as I would talk to the MFA students a lot, and would even listen in on their critiques, etc etc.

You're right, they might have been small.. at the time I had nothing to compare them to having not seen any other graduate studios really.

Also correcting my other post, I transferred twice not three times.

[colbz]

Yea kinda small compared to others I have seen....but there are definitely nice galleries...and many schools wouldn't give students an entire gallery to themselves for an MFA thesis show, but JMU does!

You're right, they might have been small.. at the time I had nothing to compare them to having not seen any other graduate studios really.

Also correcting my other post, I transferred twice not three times.