MFA 2025 Freak Out Forum

[Kalonde]

1 hour ago, paintstress said:

Just had my MICA painting interview, i think it went well although i did stumble quite a bit on one specific question and i dont know if my answer was what they were looking for 

still no word from columbia painting though i did see at least two other people in this thread mention receiving interview requests for painting, its probably a no for me im guessing 😕

do you mind sharing what the question was? I'm not interviewing there but I'm trying to prepare for all sorts of questions I may get

[Kalonde]

2 hours ago, sillygooseart said:

Just got my Carnegie rejection! It was expected anyways 

As others have said you might be better off given what's out there about the program. I got an interview but I'm on the fence about scheduling or just bowing out

[swordfish111]

just got an interview request from ucla sculpture 

[paintstress]

15 minutes ago, Kalonde said:

do you mind sharing what the question was? I'm not interviewing there but I'm trying to prepare for all sorts of questions I may get

sure! they send me four questions ahead of time, two that were mica specific (explaining their curriculum of having visiting historians and artists) 

1. how did you get to where you are in painting (i talked about my undergrad but then they asked more about pre undergrad too in the actual interview)

2. [mica specific information] based on this, how do you work in a group setting? share an example of how you engage in a group setting

3. [mica specific stuff] our expectation for intellectual engagement within the field of painting is high, Can you share an experience that has prepared you for this kind of environment (they didnt ask me this)

4. why mica why grad school now

some extra questions they asked

1. why painting specifically 

2. something about how i interact with other mediums since the program is largely painting focused? i was panicking at this point a little because i had audio issues so im not super sure what the question was but they seemed satisfied with my answer.

 

 

[manti]

21 minutes ago, Kalonde said:

As others have said you might be better off given what's out there about the program. I got an interview but I'm on the fence about scheduling or just bowing out

Even if you have no intention of going I think you should absolutely interview just for the experience

[mmav]

Made it to the final stage of interviews for UCSB!! They're flying me out for their campus visit/studio tour, final interview, etc at the end of this month.  I had no idea MFA programs did this kind of thing, I only thought fancy PhD programs did, so this is a good sign about the funding of this program I guess.  Makes the CMU rejection and waiting on other programs feel less daunting, learning a lot through this app process about what I want to prioritize in a program (perceived prestige vs funding and culture)

[prosthetic_head]

43 minutes ago, mmav said:

Made it to the final stage of interviews for UCSB!! They're flying me out for their campus visit/studio tour, final interview, etc at the end of this month.  I had no idea MFA programs did this kind of thing, I only thought fancy PhD programs did, so this is a good sign about the funding of this program I guess.  Makes the CMU rejection and waiting on other programs feel less daunting, learning a lot through this app process about what I want to prioritize in a program (perceived prestige vs funding and culture)

Amazing, congrats! Sort of wishing I had applied to a UC program. It's pretty wild how much I've learned in the last month or so after thinking I had it mostly figured out through all the research I did leading up to submitting apps.

[intheclerb]

I'm waiting to hear from Alfred ceramics, has anyone got an interview there? I heard maybe they don't interview, but it was from a friend who went 10 years ago.

[freshman2024]

4 hours ago, mmav said:

Made it to the final stage of interviews for UCSB!! They're flying me out for their campus visit/studio tour, final interview, etc at the end of this month.  I had no idea MFA programs did this kind of thing, I only thought fancy PhD programs did, so this is a good sign about the funding of this program I guess.  Makes the CMU rejection and waiting on other programs feel less daunting, learning a lot through this app process about what I want to prioritize in a program (perceived prestige vs funding and culture)

Do you know what their stipend offer is? I cant find a super clear answer. 

[figg]

Got interview requests from Yale, Hunter, RISD, SAIC 

Edited February 7 by figg

[kamlee]

1 hour ago, figg said:

Got interview requests from Yale, Hunter, RISD, SAIC 

This is so exciting! Congrats! What program are you applying for? I’m also interviewing at RISD & Yale. 

[figg]

47 minutes ago, kamlee said:

This is so exciting! Congrats! What program are you applying for? I’m also interviewing at RISD & Yale. 

Sculpture! What program are you applying for?

[sara-z]

17 hours ago, sarinnn said:

I just interviewed with digital media, they said they were wrapping up their interviews and we would hear back in early March

omg, risd must have rejected my application. I never got an interview invitation. I'm so sad.

[nanaaaa]

17 hours ago, paigethecat said:

Just got an Interview for SVA!

congratulations!!! what department?

[sarinnn]

2 hours ago, zxc1010 said:

omg, risd must have rejected my application. I never got an interview invitation. I'm so sad.

It definitely sucks when you work hard on the application and you're emotionally invested in a specific program. I'm also preparing for potential rejection/wait-list since I don't have much experience or an impressive background. All we can do is try our best and hope that they see our efforts, but you still worked hard regardless

[figg]

Did anyone have an interview for RISD Sculpture last year? This is my first time applying for an MFA, so I'm really curious about the questions they asked! What kind of questions should I prepare for? Interview preparation is really tough..

[sillygooseart]

18 hours ago, mmav said:

Made it to the final stage of interviews for UCSB!! They're flying me out for their campus visit/studio tour, final interview, etc at the end of this month.  I had no idea MFA programs did this kind of thing, I only thought fancy PhD programs did, so this is a good sign about the funding of this program I guess.  Makes the CMU rejection and waiting on other programs feel less daunting, learning a lot through this app process about what I want to prioritize in a program (perceived prestige vs funding and culture)

agreed with the other person who responded! And if you get an offer and don’t go someone off the waitlist can 

[sillygooseart]

Just got an interview request for Purchase! Super excited bc I love this program.. interviewed with the art history dept back in January 

[dj_buckweed07]

Yay congrats! Same here:) what other schools have you applied to?

[prosthetic_head]

I got an interview at Purchase as well! 

[sillygooseart]

44 minutes ago, dj_buckweed07 said:

Yay congrats! Same here:) what other schools have you applied to?

 

14 minutes ago, prosthetic_head said:

I got an interview at Purchase as well! 

Congrats to both of you! I applied to CMU (got the rejection) Amherst (expecting a rejection) and UAlbany

[Morallycorruptfayeresnick]

Anyone here interview with UCSD?

wondering what questions they may ask 🥲

Edited February 7 by Tumadre01

[kamlee]

14 hours ago, figg said:

Sculpture! What program are you applying for?

Graphic design! 

[sarinnn]

Curious how people are feeling/coping post interviews. I've done 3 so far and while I haven't bombed yet I've definitely stumbled a lot. Trying not to ruminate too much but I'm waiting until March for final decisions... I might go a little crazy!

[Silentscreaming]

On 2/6/2025 at 1:58 PM, paigethecat said:

Just got an Interview for SVA!

Same!! Excited and nervous