MFA 2025 Freak Out Forum

[Kalonde]

I was frustrated waiting on one of my references to submit their letter just to realize that I put in the wrong email address for 3 of the schools....I hope my application doesn't get thrown out. I'm so embarrassed

[frogpainter]

22 hours ago, prosthetic_head said:

Is there anyone else on here who applied to printmaking? Even in previous years' threads there seem to be few of us!

Congrats on all the interviews so far 😊

I am mainly a painter but I'm also interested in printmaking! Which schools did you apply to? 

[freshman2024]

22 hours ago, Kalonde said:

I was frustrated waiting on one of my references to submit their letter just to realize that I put in the wrong email address for 3 of the schools....I hope my application doesn't get thrown out. I'm so embarrassed

From other posts I've seen on reddit, I think a graduate committee is aware sometimes recommenders can forget to upload, or something like this happens. I wouldn't agonize over it too deeply. What schools didn't get the letter? I think most prioritize the portfolio and interview over anything else. 

[Kalonde]

1 hour ago, freshman2024 said:

From other posts I've seen on reddit, I think a graduate committee is aware sometimes recommenders can forget to upload, or something like this happens. I wouldn't agonize over it too deeply. What schools didn't get the letter? I think most prioritize the portfolio and interview over anything else. 

SAIC and Carnegie Mellon, also Cranbrook but the application deadline hasn't even come yet so that one is fine.

[eatsomeveggies]

I applied for risd painting, anyone knows when we'd expect to hear back regarding interviews?

[prosthetic_head]

On 1/25/2025 at 9:39 AM, frogpainter said:

I am mainly a painter but I'm also interested in printmaking! Which schools did you apply to? 

RISD, Yale, SMFA, Tyler, VCU and SUNY Purchase! I've only heard back from SMFA so far. My portfolio is mostly collage and mixed media but hoping to get more into the print realm within a program.

[VanillaYogurt]

16 hours ago, eatsomeveggies said:

I applied for risd painting, anyone knows when we'd expect to hear back regarding interviews?

I think someone here already got an interview for RISD painting, don't know anything more than that!

[sundayscaries]

just got an interview request from Sam Fox 

[mfadoom]

On 1/24/2025 at 7:01 PM, Freakie said:

Hi! Long time lurker, first time poster.

I applied to:

OSU Painting (interviewed)

Northwestern (interview)

U of Chicago (interview)

RISD Painting (interview)

SAIC Painting (crickets)

MICA Hoffberger Painting (crickets)

U of Oregon Eugene Painting (crickets)

Staedelschule (crickets)

Haven’t heard about any rejections or acceptances yet!

hiii-- i got an interview with Stadelschule two years ago and it wasn't until the summer. I thought it was a rejection since I never heard from them, then got an email to complete a very obscure task, and then after this task was completed then I got an interview, around end of June/ early July. Hope this helps!

[FreakinOut24]

On 1/24/2025 at 10:18 AM, Oscar25 said:

Has anyone heard back from UC Davis? 

I have not heard back from Davis yet.

[boltcutter]

I was accepted to MassArt today! I can't believe I'm so close to actually getting to go to grad school....

I have an interview with SMFA next week.

Really hoping to hear from RISD, but the past three years they didn't invite interviews for sculpture until February 1st/2nd so I'm trying not to be nervous.

Nothing from Boston University yet but their applications closed on 1/15 so I think it's still early.

[eatsomeveggies]

54 minutes ago, mfadoom said:

hiii-- i got an interview with Stadelschule two years ago and it wasn't until the summer. I thought it was a rejection since I never heard from them, then got an email to complete a very obscure task, and then after this task was completed then I got an interview, around end of June/ early July. Hope this helps!

 

Edited Monday at 11:45 PM by eatsomeveggies

[frogpainter]

8 hours ago, prosthetic_head said:

RISD, Yale, SMFA, Tyler, VCU and SUNY Purchase! I've only heard back from SMFA so far. My portfolio is mostly collage and mixed media but hoping to get more into the print realm within a program.

Nice! I had some screen printing in my portfolio but most of it is painting so I applied as a painter for the schools I had to pick a discipline for, but I'm really hoping to be able to learn more printmaking in grad school. I applied to VCU too, I actually live in Richmond (kind of worried that puts me at a disadvantage though lol) so if you have any questions about the school or the city feel free to ask!

[Freakie]

16 hours ago, mfadoom said:

hiii-- i got an interview with Stadelschule two years ago and it wasn't until the summer. I thought it was a rejection since I never heard from them, then got an email to complete a very obscure task, and then after this task was completed then I got an interview, around end of June/ early July. Hope this helps!

I have been scouring the internet trying to figure out more about the application process for months. So helpful. Thank you.

[freshman2024]

Hey so I've been panicking over funding all morning. I got into a fully funded program, hyped it's my top choice. Does anyone know if trump can pull funding? feel like crying lol. 

[mfadoom]

32 minutes ago, Freakie said:

I have been scouring the internet trying to figure out more about the application process for months. So helpful. Thank you.

there really isn't any i think that's intentional lmao they have to keep their esoteric appearances. 

[eatsomeveggies]

On 1/24/2025 at 7:01 PM, Freakie said:

Hi! Long time lurker, first time poster.

I applied to:

OSU Painting (interviewed)

Northwestern (interview)

U of Chicago (interview)

RISD Painting (interview)

SAIC Painting (crickets)

MICA Hoffberger Painting (crickets)

U of Oregon Eugene Painting (crickets)

Staedelschule (crickets)

Haven’t heard about any rejections or acceptances yet!

Hii congrats on all the interviews so far! Do you know if risd usually sends out interview invitations for all the finalists at the same time? i applied for painting as well

[Oscar25]

54 minutes ago, freshman2024 said:

Hey so I've been panicking over funding all morning. I got into a fully funded program, hyped it's my top choice. Does anyone know if trump can pull funding? feel like crying lol. 

Congrats on getting in to a fully funded program!! I don’t think he could? You could call the graduate admissions office to check? 

[prosthetic_head]

15 hours ago, frogpainter said:

Nice! I had some screen printing in my portfolio but most of it is painting so I applied as a painter for the schools I had to pick a discipline for, but I'm really hoping to be able to learn more printmaking in grad school. I applied to VCU too, I actually live in Richmond (kind of worried that puts me at a disadvantage though lol) so if you have any questions about the school or the city feel free to ask!

Rad! It's probably my top choice other than RISD, so I'm really hoping I hear back. I attended the virtual info session for painting+printmaking and it was only myself and one other person so I hope that means it's not too competitive this year lol. I've never been to RVA but it seems like a great town.

 

1 hour ago, freshman2024 said:

Hey so I've been panicking over funding all morning. I got into a fully funded program, hyped it's my top choice. Does anyone know if trump can pull funding? feel like crying lol. 

My first thought too when I read the news this morning lol... but congratulations on your acceptance!! That rules!
Federal funding may or may not affect your situation, depending whether your institution gets federal funding? for example I wonder if federal Pell grants thru FAFSA will be affected--but that doesn't apply to us going into graduate programs anyway. I'd probably just contact the school. 

[frogpainter]

28 minutes ago, prosthetic_head said:

Rad! It's probably my top choice other than RISD, so I'm really hoping I hear back. I attended the virtual info session for painting+printmaking and it was only myself and one other person so I hope that means it's not too competitive this year lol. I've never been to RVA but it seems like a great town.

I went to the in person open house both last year and this year and there were definitely more people this year (probably like 15 or 20?) which worried me at first that it'd be more competitive, but seems like not all of them were that serious of applicants, like a few people I talked to were on the fence or planning on applying next fall. Also just curious, did VCU give you an application fee waiver for attending the info session? I got one last year but not this year, and wasn't sure if it was since I got one before (which is fair lol) or if they just didn't give them out anymore 

[frogpainter]

2 hours ago, freshman2024 said:

Hey so I've been panicking over funding all morning. I got into a fully funded program, hyped it's my top choice. Does anyone know if trump can pull funding? feel like crying lol. 

Ugh I've been worrying about this too, but congrats for getting in!! I'm not sure, I'm just hoping that taking away funding would fuck with everything across the board too much for them to do it, but seeing everything with the NIH scares me. It honestly makes me question if I should have even applied this year, but I'm trying not to be too defeatist since things are so uncertain now who knows what will stick and what will be blocked or reversed. 

[prosthetic_head]

12 minutes ago, frogpainter said:

I went to the in person open house both last year and this year and there were definitely more people this year (probably like 15 or 20?) which worried me at first that it'd be more competitive, but seems like not all of them were that serious of applicants, like a few people I talked to were on the fence or planning on applying next fall. Also just curious, did VCU give you an application fee waiver for attending the info session? I got one last year but not this year, and wasn't sure if it was since I got one before (which is fair lol) or if they just didn't give them out anymore 

I did not get a fee waiver! None of the schools I applied to offered them 🙄

[emmanimate]

just got my rejection from OSU! not all that shocking since I know that interview invites went out a few weeks ago, but still hurts especially in the wake of all the roughness in the u.s. today. I only applied to fully funded programs, but I’m incredibly nervous about the state of student aid (as I’m sure most of us are). 
 

Hope everyone’s doing okay!

[boltcutter]

I got an invite for RISD Sculpture. I'm shaking out of my skin I'm so excited and nervous. 

[DTW-LGA]

1 hour ago, boltcutter said:

I got an invite for RISD Sculpture. I'm shaking out of my skin I'm so excited and nervous. 

Congratulations!! You've got this!