MFA 2024 Freak Out Forum

[Copperpot]

Can anyone shed light on how the second choice option at UCLA works? Do people ever get into the second choice, etc?

 

Also, a friend of mine got an offer from Tyler print. Just wanted to let anyone who is waiting for news know.  

[Guest]

Anyone have some thoughts on questions to ask faculty? I have a few standbys but always like hearing what other people ask. I know this is competitive so totally understand if people are uncomfortable sharing these. 

 

[connie 08]

Has anyone interviewed with SVA yet? I would to hear about your experiences with this! 

[Copperpot]

25 minutes ago, Gkrenz said:

Anyone have some thoughts on questions to ask faculty? I have a few standbys but always like hearing what other people ask. I know this is competitive so totally understand if people are uncomfortable sharing these. 

 

I always ask about how the school is engaging with the local community and/or what opportunities do students have within the local gallery scene. 

[Gamja]

Hello all, I am applying to 8 schools in the US and Canada in painting/fine art:

- Yale

- hunter

- SVA 

- saic

- pratt

- vcu 

- UofT (Canada) 

- OCAD (Canada)

I had my SVA zoom interview yesterday, and wanted to share the experience with you.

It was super casual, and it went on for 30minutes (it was supposed to be 20) with one professor. He was very kind and briefly explained the program, and asked me to explain my process and what I have been working on as he was looking through my portfolio. I talked about what is integral to my studio practice, my plans for the next work, and what I hope to learn at SVA. Then he asked me about my professional experience and that’s when I explained why I left my job to apply to grad school this year. Because the duration of the interview was pretty short, I tried to keep my answers as concise as possible. He seemed very fond of my work, and kept on mentioning how I am a great candidate and that I should ask for more financial support as soon as I receive my acceptance letter. He was also very curious about other programs that I applied to, and told me that he teaches at both SVA and Yale, which kind of got my hopes up for Yale LOL *sigh* 

Edited January 29 by Gamja

[CactusWren22]

On 1/25/2024 at 7:16 AM, kjsdhl212 said:

Has anyone heard from Wisconsin, New Mexico, or Arizona?  Just wanted to check since I have not and going by past year threads they seem to schedule interviews pretty quickly.

I also applied to the University of Arizona MFA program. Haven't heard back yet.

[Chelsea H]

On 1/25/2024 at 10:31 AM, Chelsea H said:

General question: if you’ve been tapped for an interview, how quick was the turn around between submitting the application and being contacted to schedule? 
I’m applying to Carnegie Mellon (January 16), MICA’s Leroy E Hoffberger (January 19), and Cranbrook (not submitted yet, due February 1) and I’m totally psyched out waiting to hear back… even though it’s only been 9 days for CMU.

Any clues for with gauging the process timeline would be a help!! 

Just got offered an interview from MICA!! The dates were either Mondays or Fridays for the next 3 weeks. Lots of time slot options still open. Fingers crossed to hear from CMU soon and later Cranbrook! 

[mfaapplicant]

Just got an interview invitation from RISD D+M. They only allow applicants to select the date, but don't allow requests for any specific time of the day, which is kinda weird...

Edited January 29 by mfaapplicant

[iamscared]

Anyone got a email for an interview for RISD digital +media yet 

Edited January 30 by iamscared

[iamscared]

1 hour ago, mfaapplicant said:

Just got an interview invitation from RISD D+M. They only allow applicants to select the date, but don't allow requests for any specific time of the day, which is kinda weird...

Do you think they sent all the interview invites already. Should I be worried I didn’t get one and it’s been an hour since you posted 

[mfaapplicant]

35 minutes ago, iamscared said:

Do you think they sent all the interview invites already. Should I be worried I didn’t get one and it’s been an hour since you posted 

I don't know if they have sent out all the invites, but I am pretty sure I am not the only person who received this email. They provided three different dates for me to choose from (the earliest one is this Thursday) and also mentioned that there are people from other time zones who might get their interview scheduled early morning/late night (which is not my case).

This invite is definitely earlier than I expected. Last year D+M sent out invites around the second week of February.

[iamscared]

5 minutes ago, mfaapplicant said:

I don't know if they have sent out all the invites, but I am pretty sure I am not the only person who received this email. They provided three different dates for me to choose from (the earliest one is this Thursday) and also mentioned that there are people from other time zones who might get their interview scheduled early morning/late night (which is not my case).

This invite is definitely earlier than I expected. Last year D+M sent out invites around the second week of February.

I am not sure if I should accept they probably rejected my application since they sent out the invites today. I’m not sure if they do it all at once or as they go through the students. When did you submit your application? I did it right at the due date Jan 4

[mfaapplicant]

7 minutes ago, iamscared said:

I am not sure if I should accept they probably rejected my application since they sent out the invites today. I’m not sure if they do it all at once or as they go through the students. When did you submit your application? I did it right at the due date Jan 4

I submitted my part of the application around 1/1, got language waived around 1/3. One of my recommenders completed their letter on 1/5... (that's when they marked my application as complete)

Edited January 30 by mfaapplicant

[iamscared]

4 minutes ago, mfaapplicant said:

I submitted my part of the application around 1/1, got language waived around 1/3. One of my recommenders completed their letter on or shortly after 1/4... (that's when they marked my application as complete)

I hope that because you submitted ur application earlier means they are going in order right now by dates submitted. I’m so stressed I keep checking my emails. Are you an international student or domestic ? 

[Guest]

Hey everyone. I'm having a hard time figuring out what I should ask at the end of the interviews. what do you usually ask?

[Anxietyismymiddlename]

Just received an interview call from the director for 3-year GD MFA 

[thegradiest]

congratulations!! from where? 

[coolgirl]

26 minutes ago, Anxietyismymiddlename said:

Just received an interview call from the director for 3-year GD MFA 

I just got the interview email from RISD for the 2 year graphic design program! My first response back from schools, I'm super pumped. What'd they say over the phone? Do the 3 years go through the same interview process?

Edited January 30 by coolgirl

[Anxietyismymiddlename]

Sorry forgot to mention, from RISD. I got an email. Not an actual call haha. They just said they're excited to talk to me and sent me a bunch of resources regarding their previous year exhibitions. I don't want to get too excited as I still have to figure out my finances. Depends completely on the amount of scholarship they would offer.

[coolgirl]

12 minutes ago, Anxietyismymiddlename said:

Sorry forgot to mention, from RISD. I got an email. Not an actual call haha. They just said they're excited to talk to me and sent me a bunch of resources regarding their previous year exhibitions. I don't want to get too excited as I still have to figure out my finances. Depends completely on the amount of scholarship they would offer.

Gotcha! Best of luck with your interview and I hope you get great funding! Are you applying anywhere else?

I was getting super anxious seeing people get interviews, so this is such a relief.

[sweet dreams]

Congrats to everyone getting interviews! so exciting!

anyone hear from SAIC or MassArt painting/drawing?

[Chelsea H]

23 hours ago, Chelsea H said:

Just got offered an interview from MICA!! The dates were either Mondays or Fridays for the next 3 weeks. Lots of time slot options still open. Fingers crossed to hear from CMU soon and later Cranbrook! 

CMU just sent a rejection, RIP 🥲

[chanu2v40]

On 1/23/2024 at 10:18 PM, Phynch said:

Been lurking here for a few weeks as the freak out has been building in I'm my head. This waiting is the worst!

I applied to 10 MFA Photo programs from a variety of levels as this was the 1st cycle I've applied. 

Parsons New School
RISD
Pratt 
Cranbrook
SAIC
University of Arizona
Columbia College
University of Oregon
Hunter College
RIT

So far no word from anyone. GHAAAAAAA!

I saw cowboyheehaw got a response from a different department at Parsons, and some other people are getting interviews with SAIC. The departments are different but it makes the waiting even harder.

Doing this multiple times seems so insurmountable right now! Everyone who's done this multiple cycles I tip my hat to you. I gotta say that this is so much tougher mentally and time management wise then I was expecting. For a bunch of artists, a discipline not known for paper pushing, we all should be proud.

University of Oregon reached out to me yesterday for an interview request. Hopefully you heard something, too! 

[btwnthetides]

8 minutes ago, chanu2v40 said:

University of Oregon reached out to me yesterday for an interview request. Hopefully you heard something, too! 

What's your medium?

[chanu2v40]

Ceramics