manti Posted February 14 Posted February 14 On 2/13/2025 at 11:04 AM, Sleepyguy said: Curious if anyone who’s having success this application cycle would be willing to share their SOP/portfolio? This is my second unsuccessful application cycle, curious to see how successful applications are organized. One thing I did to prepare is look at current and recent MFA students' websites of programs you're interested in and see what work they were making in the time period that they would have applied. I also read their bios/artist statements and found commonalities in how they talked about their work and what kind of work they were making. I would like to stay anonymous so I cannot share my own work, sorry.
intheclerb Posted February 14 Posted February 14 I'm waitlisted at VCU ceramics just found out. Couldn't be more stressed about getting in I also applied to Alfred ceramics, but haven't heard anything, please let me know if anyone has heard from them!
Oscar25 Posted February 15 Posted February 15 Just got into UH Manoa!! GAship, full tuition & stipend VanillaYogurt, dj_buckweed07, intheclerb and 5 others 8
Yaah Posted February 15 Posted February 15 (edited) Has anyone heard back from NYU? I wonder if I would have been rejected if I hadn’t received the interview email yet.. Seems like many didn’t apply to this school. Edited February 15 by Yaah Plausiblefox 1
Plausiblefox Posted February 15 Posted February 15 On 2/13/2025 at 2:57 PM, paintstress said: has anyone else heard back from columbia and ucla for painting? i saw that two other people on this thread have heard back from columbia, so i think its probably a rejection from me. ucla only contacts your references to ask for letters when you have made it to their shortlist and none of my references have mentioned anything to me (and i'd like to think they would) so i think its a rejection too. overall im not the most upset about the results since its my first year applying and i got two interviews, i just wish columbia and ucla would just flat out reject me already : / not looking forward to having to do this again next year but unless i get an almost full ride ill probably have to wait another year and to save up. I heard back from Columbia painting for an interview on 2/3 and it seems like the interview dates are pretty set. But also I learned in an info session with them that their scholarships are about 10k/year if you get one, so no where near covering their high tuition. It is definitely not an affordable option.
nanaaaa Posted February 15 Posted February 15 For anyone wondering, SVA sent out scholarship emails yesterday!
nanaaaa Posted February 15 Posted February 15 3 hours ago, Yaah said: Has anyone heard back from NYU? I wonder if I would have been rejected if I hadn’t received the interview email yet.. Seems like many didn’t apply to this school. Haven't heard back either unfortunately, last year I got my interview invitations at the end of February but. believe someone here on this thread said that interview invitations were already sent out
figg Posted February 15 Posted February 15 Has anyone interviewed for SAIC's Performance department last year? I'm curious about what kind of questions were asked
sillygooseart Posted February 15 Posted February 15 I just saw for one of my applications, that I’m assuming I was rejected for, I was supposed to check off representative work to say it’s my own work! I can’t help but wonder if they caused problems in my other apps. This whole time I thought checking that off meant my work is purely based off realism.. oh well lol
Painter55 Posted February 15 Posted February 15 @Sleepyguy I read your post about having a second unsuccessful application cycle. I'm sorry to hear. This is also my second application cycle and the results have been not what I expected. The first application cycle (two years ago) I only applied to two programs at which I knew current MFA students. Denied from both, but my recommenders didn't come from the art world. This year, my recommenders are all pretty successful mid-career artists and curators, and my portfolio is completely new work closely following a theme. I applied to a handful of programs of similar rank/reputation/caliber. I networked like crazy. Attending lectures, portfolio reviews, there are even some professors in a small organization I am a part of. What I noticed is absolute silence from programs from which I only talked with students and no professors. Interviews, warm outreach, and offers from programs at which I networked with the faculty organically. I'm honestly shocked at this result. It makes me feel like getting an interview isn't based on merit at all, and rather who you happen to know. I know this is just my personal experience and I'm sure there are people out there who got interviews based on their amazing portfolios/recs alone. Has anyone out there had this experience? What do people think the importance of networking is? I know on Yale's website (I didn't end up applying) it says explicitly to not contact faculty or students in regards to getting information about the programs. There is obviously a way to go about networking that isn't being too aggressive. I just want to gather people's thoughts. thanks and best of luck to everyone Kalonde 1
prosthetic_head Posted February 15 Posted February 15 1 hour ago, sillygooseart said: I just saw for one of my applications, that I’m assuming I was rejected for, I was supposed to check off representative work to say it’s my own work! I can’t help but wonder if they caused problems in my other apps. This whole time I thought checking that off meant my work is purely based off realism.. oh well lol Wait, what? For the Yale painting app they requested you choose one "representative work" which I interpreted as being the one I feel best demonstrates what i'm trying to do. I didn't check that box for any works in any other applications, lol ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ @Painter55 it sounds like your application is probably significantly stronger this time around! In my experience so far, I'm only getting responses from interdisciplinary programs vs. schools where I had to choose a discipline and I can assume it's based on the type of work i'm making. "who I know" hasn't been a factor for me--I had a great portfolio review with one school, was invited to interview, and my interview with them went poorly (maybe partly because it was my first one) I've never spoken to any of the faculty at the other two schools where I've been invited to interview. without knowing where you applied to I think it's probably unfair both to them and to yourself to conclude that networking is the only reason you're hearing back. Painter55 1
Painter55 Posted February 15 Posted February 15 (edited) @prosthetic_head knowing that you got interviews at places you didn't network with gives me hope. I'll definitely look over the schools and see if there are other factors that seem to trend towards acceptance or rejection. I think interdisciplinary programs vs. specific discipline could also be a factor for me, since Painting is so oversaturated. I'm thinking about what you said about it being unfair to conclude that networking is the only reason I'm hearing back...I agree it's probably unfair to conclude that's the only reason, but I think it's definitely a huge factor. The programs I applied to are all very similar in size/ curriculum, maybe slight pedagogy differences, but all critical. I only applied to 7 schools, so that's too small of a sample size to conclude anything. I think we can be honest here and agree that if you got 10 applicants and you've met 1 previously, you might lean on choosing that candidate if you had a good interaction with them. It just seems like human nature to me. Maybe I'm just cynical. Congratulations on your interviews. This process is crazier than I thought it would be 😂 Edited February 15 by Painter55 prosthetic_head 1
Oscar25 Posted February 15 Posted February 15 1 minute ago, Painter55 said: @prosthetic_head knowing that you got interviews at places you didn't network with gives me hope. I'll definitely look over the schools and see if there are other factors that seem to trend towards acceptance or rejection. I think interdisciplinary programs vs. specific discipline could also be a factor for me, since Painting is so oversaturated. I'm thinking about what you said about it being unfair to conclude that networking is the only reason I'm hearing back...I agree it's probably unfair to conclude that's the only reason, but I think it's definitely a huge factor. The programs I applied to are all very similar in size/ curriculum, maybe slight pedagogy differences, but all critical. I only applied to 7 schools, so that's too much of a small sample size to conclude anything. I think we can be honest here and agree that if you got 10 applicants and you've met 1 previously, you might lean on choosing that candidate if you had a good interaction with them. It just seems like human nature to me. Maybe I'm just cynical. Congratulations on your interviews. This process is crazier than I thought it would be 😂 So far 2/3 of the places I interviewed, I networked with one faculty member. I think it can help a little because it humanizes your application/shows your interest, but I don't think it's the sole reason. Painter55, prosthetic_head and yellosloth 2 1
mmav Posted February 15 Posted February 15 I also did not network at all with any of the schools I interviewed with and got accepted into-- I actually didn't reach out to faculty at any of the schools I applied to at all (or go to info sessions, but that was mainly due to my insanely busy fall schedule). I think my strategy was to really do a lot of research into the specific faculty of each program to make sure that there was overlap with their work/medium and mine, and was specific about how the resources at that school could help me get where I want to be in my practice. My portfolio itself was only 5 separate pieces that didn't necessarily all tie together into a common theme, but I think were strong completed pieces on their own that had a life outside of just me making it (they were in exhibitions, entered for open calls etc). prosthetic_head and Plausiblefox 2
dandyline Posted February 15 Posted February 15 Good luck to SAIC interviewees today! Biru and Plausiblefox 2
kamlee Posted February 15 Posted February 15 I just got an (unofficial) acceptance letter into RISD’s GD program from the design faculty! This is my dream program & school so I had to stop by and share my excitement. I’m wishing everyone here good vibes as you continue with interviews! I hope you all get accepted into the program you hope for ✨ nanaaaa, ArtsyAF, VanillaYogurt and 7 others 10
paintstress Posted February 15 Posted February 15 had my SAIC interview today and thought it went well but not amazingly, definitely started remembering important points i prepped for but completely forgot in the moment the second i left the interview haha. im now waiting to hear back from ucla on whether or not im getting an interview, rejcted from yale and northwestern and presumably columbia, interviewed for mica and saic.
dhjin Posted February 15 Posted February 15 Got accepted into RISD's MFA in GD!!! 🎊 dj_buckweed07, Oscar25, sillygooseart and 3 others 6
kamlee Posted February 15 Posted February 15 17 minutes ago, dhjin said: Got accepted into RISD's MFA in GD!!! 🎊 Me too! Congrats 💫 prosthetic_head and Oscar25 2
dhjin Posted February 15 Posted February 15 8 minutes ago, kamlee said: Me too! Congrats 💫 YAY!! Congrats to you too! Feeling so good right now 😄😁
prosthetic_head Posted February 16 Posted February 16 6 hours ago, Painter55 said: @prosthetic_head knowing that you got interviews at places you didn't network with gives me hope. I'll definitely look over the schools and see if there are other factors that seem to trend towards acceptance or rejection. I think interdisciplinary programs vs. specific discipline could also be a factor for me, since Painting is so oversaturated. I'm thinking about what you said about it being unfair to conclude that networking is the only reason I'm hearing back...I agree it's probably unfair to conclude that's the only reason, but I think it's definitely a huge factor. The programs I applied to are all very similar in size/ curriculum, maybe slight pedagogy differences, but all critical. I only applied to 7 schools, so that's too small of a sample size to conclude anything. I think we can be honest here and agree that if you got 10 applicants and you've met 1 previously, you might lean on choosing that candidate if you had a good interaction with them. It just seems like human nature to me. Maybe I'm just cynical. Congratulations on your interviews. This process is crazier than I thought it would be 😂 Absolutely--I do think it can be an important factor, for better or worse. You were smart to make connections during the application process! I applied to 7 as well, including Yale which I'm sort of wishing I had replaced with another program. I didn't know that painting is the most competitive discipline across most schools and as someone applying in printmaking, which is often combined with painting, I think the odds were stacked against me there. Oh well! I hope things work out for you this year! I got an email last night inviting me to interview at CCA, so I'm very happy about that. Only waiting on VCU--sounds like only some of their departments have scheduled interviews? and expecting a rejection from RISD. Congrats to you all who received acceptances!!!!! sillygooseart 1
sillygooseart Posted February 16 Posted February 16 8 hours ago, prosthetic_head said: Wait, what? For the Yale painting app they requested you choose one "representative work" which I interpreted as being the one I feel best demonstrates what i'm trying to do. I didn't check that box for any works in any other applications, lol ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ @Painter55 it sounds like your application is probably significantly stronger this time around! In my experience so far, I'm only getting responses from interdisciplinary programs vs. schools where I had to choose a discipline and I can assume it's based on the type of work i'm making. "who I know" hasn't been a factor for me--I had a great portfolio review with one school, was invited to interview, and my interview with them went poorly (maybe partly because it was my first one) I've never spoken to any of the faculty at the other two schools where I've been invited to interview. without knowing where you applied to I think it's probably unfair both to them and to yourself to conclude that networking is the only reason you're hearing back. If they worded it that way then you may be fine! It could be different for every program. prosthetic_head 1
caliphoton Posted February 16 Posted February 16 Has anyone applying for MFA Photo got interviews from RISD, UCLA, Columbia, Pratt and SVA yet? Dead silence so far and it's freaking me out
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