MFA 2025 Freak Out Forum

[Noreligion24]

3 hours ago, applicator0 said:

Has anyone heard back from NYU Steinhardt yet? 

I haven't heard back yet. I was interviewed as well

[kamlee]

For those of you who have heard back from programs that have offered to provide a financial package, have those packages been very helpful? I got a couple offers for half tuition but that’s still so expensive with all the costs involved and was wondering if you are all feeling the same. I got a very generous package from one school but other than that I feel like the financial help (although I’m grateful for any help at all) really didn’t cut costs that much in the grand scheme of things it seems. Just trying to get a scope of how things are going for you! 

Edited March 12 by kamlee

[paintstress]

24 minutes ago, kamlee said:

For those of you who have heard back from programs that have offered to provide a financial package, have those packages been very helpful? I got a couple offers for half tuition but that’s still so expensive with all the costs involved and was wondering if you are all feeling the same. I got a very generous package from one school but other than that I feel like the financial help (although I’m grateful for any help at all) really didn’t cut costs that much in the grand scheme of things it seems. Just trying to get a scope of how things are going for you! 

I got offers for around 30% funding, i feel like i could probably negotiate for higher but even then i doubt theyd raise it enough for it to be actually possible for me to go. Im considering just reapplying next year. this cycle i was so excited by the idea of going to grad school that i only really applied to really expensive name brand programs and now that things are getting real im realizing i cant actually afford it. Next year i think i'll be prioritizing funding. I'll also probably have a stronger portfolio so even if i get accepted into the same programs (which are programs that look amazing and i wish i could go this year!) hopefully i'll get more than 30%.

[mmav]

Is anybody having whiplash with choosing programs? I'm considering between two right now with the difference mainly in funding and focus. I'd love to get thoughts! (also @kamlee hope this also provides some perspective for what kinds of fully funded offers there are -- all of the programs I've gotten accepted or waitlisted at are public research universities so they're all tuition remission, the amount of stipend/salary for TAship differs)

About me: BSA in Biology 2023, new media focus with interests in expanding social practice (interest in Southeast Asian contemporary art/history). My goals for my time in an MFA program are to expand my theoretical/research background for my work (so schools with strong departments outside of just art), and gain more technical skills in new media (creative coding, microcontroller, sensor interactivity etc etc). I'd love for a cohort to also be an asset in helping me grow/providing valuable and nuanced crit.

PROGRAM 1: UC Santa Barbara

• FINANCIAL PACKAGE: 
  • 1st year: 32k fellowship (no TA required, but if spots are available, could TA for extra $$)
  • 2nd year: 5k summer stipend, guaranteed TA spot for academic year ($3,777k/month for 20hrs/wk) + 10k stipend
  • guaranteed spot in grad housing (rent is fixed at $956/month)
• PROS:
  • Livable wage, would not have to take loans or get a second job for either years
  • decent sized studios
  • Santa Barbara is gorgeous. The beach is literally right there.
  • 1.5 hr drive (w/o traffic) from LA
  • UCSB has a Media Art Technology MS/PHD program that I could cross register with to take electives that would provide me opportunities to expand my new media toolkit
• CONS
  • interdisciplinary program (not entirely a con, but I've met some of my potential cohort and current grad students at the site visit they flew us out to, and I'm not sure if they're the kind of fit in terms of medium and content for what I'm trying to do with my practice. The professors are very kind and warm, but also not fully new media focused although some are adjacent to that area. 
  • they don't seem to have a strong theory department/program (the professor who used to run it in the MFA program retired a few years ago and curriculum kind of went with him).

PROGRAM 2: UW Seattle New Genres

• FINANCIAL PACKAGE: 
  • the way they broke it out was really confusing but basically it shakes out to be about $18k per year (that's including TA ship salary). There's potential to get travel money/grant money once you're in the program, or directly try to work with a professor as a research assistance for more money. I've brought the UCSB offer to them to negotiate and they're working on the response right now but I doubt they can match (also due to just all the funding questions higher ed instiutions are facing with the Trump policies against DEI etc etc)
  • Rent in Seattle is crazy expensive. Def more around $1.5k a month (that's WITH roommates)
  • I would def need a second job/or loans.
• PROS:
  • I really like the vibes of the new genres faculty and department. Flint (the chair) is super warm and attentive and has been working with me to answer my questions and connect me with grad students and faculty. I know that the faculty are strong advocates for their students and are invested in supporting their success. They're also a younger demographic, still in the the midstage of their practices/teaching careers.
  • They connect students to new media specific opportunities like residencies etc. 
  • UW Seattle is a top tier research university with adjacent programs in AAPI studies and CS and Design departments that are hella strong. They also have a PHD program in DXArts (basically new media art tech stuff) that you could cross register classes at as an MFA.
  • Based on what Flint told me about the current cohort and potential incoming cohort (they accept 3 new genres ppl per year), I align with the kind of content and mediums those people are doing more than the UCSB cohort. I could see myself having really interesting convos and collaborations with them.
  • They have an established theory dept, with theory classes specifically for new genres (and just in general more new genres specific curriculum vs a interdisciplinary program)
  • Seattle is a bigger city than Santa Barbara -- more DIY scene to explore there
• CONS:
  • Seattle is expensive and the package requires me to be more scrappy with funding
  • Further away from large art centers like LA (although they do fly out their grads to bigger cities for gallery visits etc)

 

Sorry if this is long, but I feel like I'm going crazy trying to decide...I've gotten into VCU as well but their program is less funded than UW's (only 7k a year really) and doesn't have an "it" factor to draw me away from the more funded programs. I'm waitlisted from UC San Diego but I know they are 3 year fully funded with TAships that pay the same rate as UC Santa Barbara.

I'm torn between the insanely well-funded UC Santa Barbara offer (that the UW chair himself said was a very rare opportunity to do an MFA debt free), and the potentially better intellectual fit of UW...I'm interested in pursuing PhD programs in new media (of which both schools have) and teaching (again, both programs provide emphasis and training for teaching)....I know I'm extremely lucky to be in this position during my first app cycle but lowkey kind of wish the "right" choice was easier to make. I'm going to get connected with UW current students to really get their feel for how they're affording life and if the program is worth that. But I'm also confident that I could still succeed at either program, it's only a matter of what I'm willing to sacrifice more.

Any feedback/insight would be really appreciated! I didn't realize how neurotic this part of the process was going to make me.

Edited March 12 by mmav

[Turtle222]

How are you all going about asking for more financial aid? Are you emailing the financial aid department or the department you applied to? 

Does anyone have advice on what to say? I know bringing up other offers is helpful but are you asking for a specific amount?

[tjsgh]

7 hours ago, applicator0 said:

Huh, weird. I don’t have a portal update yet and I just checked. Would it be bad form to email and ask? 

Also, may I ask if you interviewed?

I had an interview with them two weeks ago and haven't heard from them yet. My portal says “In progress”.

[sarinnn]

1 hour ago, Turtle222 said:

How are you all going about asking for more financial aid? Are you emailing the financial aid department or the department you applied to? 

Does anyone have advice on what to say? I know bringing up other offers is helpful but are you asking for a specific amount?

I first emailed the financial aid department and was told to contact my program director and the director of financial services. They were very helpful and told me to explain my situation in detail; so things like how much would I be bringing in savings, any incoming debt, etc. I think it's very important to have a specific number you are after and outline competing offers. Personally there's only so much debt I'm willing to take on based on the monthly payment I would have after graduating, so I've been using that to guide my steps forward. 

[sarinnn]

@mmav personally I would probably go with UW, having a cohort of people who are doing similar things was really important for me applying to these types of programs. I applied to a small interdisciplinary program that's geared towards individual development (not much collaborative work) and didn't realize how important a cohort was to me until the interview. Also, take with a grain of salt but from what I've seen Seattle seems like a good place for new media/art and tech work specifically. Maybe not an artist hub like LA but might be better for establishing a niche. 

[blasphemousbunny]

hi all, longtime lurker here and i need help making a decision.

i was accepted to CalArts (still waiting on potential finaid package), SAIC with no funding, Hunter CUNY with a scholarship of $5000 every semester, and waitlisted at University of Chicago. i work in installation, sculpture and performance for reference. i'll also add that i'm from a car city but i am all in favor of public transportation and would love to mostly use public transit.

so my dream school since I was young has been SAIC but $80K a year in this economy sounds like im going to be signing myself up for poverty. i visited the campus and the staff and students are wonderful, but im concerned about the debt. 

and Hunter is great - i visited last month. but i'm a sculptor and it feels more like a painter school. i know it's basically free and it's frickin New York and anything is possible is New York! plus i have a community of artist friends who are currently working there and doing quite well for themselves, so i know it is possible. i don't know if it's all in my head but when i visited, i felt the lack of community/comeradery between students and the small tiny wood and metal shops for hard sculpture. also, half of the campus is on the other side of NY... how am i supposed to transport sculpture around efficiently? i'm just struggling with envisioning myself in that academic setting happy. this one is tricky.

now CalArts: i think feels quite abstract for me because i haven't visited yet. my family loves the idea of California, since there's opportunity for me to work in Hollywood entertainment - which although is not fine arts, is actually quite promising for me since i have skills in acting/music. i come from a big car city so i'm not excited about having to drive myself around LA. 

UGH i need HELP!!

[thenightowl212]

1 hour ago, blasphemousbunny said:

hi all, longtime lurker here and i need help making a decision.

i was accepted to CalArts (still waiting on potential finaid package), SAIC with no funding, Hunter CUNY with a scholarship of $5000 every semester, and waitlisted at University of Chicago. i work in installation, sculpture and performance for reference. i'll also add that i'm from a car city but i am all in favor of public transportation and would love to mostly use public transit.

so my dream school since I was young has been SAIC but $80K a year in this economy sounds like im going to be signing myself up for poverty. i visited the campus and the staff and students are wonderful, but im concerned about the debt. 

and Hunter is great - i visited last month. but i'm a sculptor and it feels more like a painter school. i know it's basically free and it's frickin New York and anything is possible is New York! plus i have a community of artist friends who are currently working there and doing quite well for themselves, so i know it is possible. i don't know if it's all in my head but when i visited, i felt the lack of community/comeradery between students and the small tiny wood and metal shops for hard sculpture. also, half of the campus is on the other side of NY... how am i supposed to transport sculpture around efficiently? i'm just struggling with envisioning myself in that academic setting happy. this one is tricky.

now CalArts: i think feels quite abstract for me because i haven't visited yet. my family loves the idea of California, since there's opportunity for me to work in Hollywood entertainment - which although is not fine arts, is actually quite promising for me since i have skills in acting/music. i come from a big car city so i'm not excited about having to drive myself around LA. 

UGH i need HELP!!

still lurking here myself (until I see updates on UCLA). I can speak on Hunter, but if I may, perhaps a better question to ask is what each program could do for you during and post-grad? Hunter is certainly more geared towards painting, and given how large the program is, it may not have the type of community you'd find in other grad programs. (According to them, they have over 100 studios, so yeah, definitely large)

However, New York hosts several spaces and opportunities for you to apply post-MFA as a sculptor. In terms of while you'd be there, a U-Haul or a friend's car can usually do the trick while in the city. You'll probably make friends in the program, too, and can ask for accommodations given your type of art practice,

But, back to my point, maybe the answer on where to go is gonna be based on what you're goals are. Or the experience you desire? Perhaps even waiting to see what your financial aid packages will be, or even if waiting another year to apply would be worth it. Hope this helps

Edited March 13 by thenightowl212

[blablah]

Does anyone have opinions on Columbia vs Yale painting/printmaking? I know the Columbia program very well but don't know so much about Yale. So I know the pros and cons of Columbia but I am curious about the perception of the two schools in relation to each other from an outside opinion. 

[freshman2024]

I just started straight up asking the programs I'm between if the funding is going to be affected with Trump, hopefully they're transparent. I really cant take out loans, planned this entire year trying to get in a funded program feel awful right now that it could all blow up. 

[She Ate]

10 hours ago, blasphemousbunny said:

hi all, longtime lurker here and i need help making a decision.

i was accepted to CalArts (still waiting on potential finaid package), SAIC with no funding, Hunter CUNY with a scholarship of $5000 every semester, and waitlisted at University of Chicago. i work in installation, sculpture and performance for reference. i'll also add that i'm from a car city but i am all in favor of public transportation and would love to mostly use public transit.

so my dream school since I was young has been SAIC but $80K a year in this economy sounds like im going to be signing myself up for poverty. i visited the campus and the staff and students are wonderful, but im concerned about the debt. 

and Hunter is great - i visited last month. but i'm a sculptor and it feels more like a painter school. i know it's basically free and it's frickin New York and anything is possible is New York! plus i have a community of artist friends who are currently working there and doing quite well for themselves, so i know it is possible. i don't know if it's all in my head but when i visited, i felt the lack of community/comeradery between students and the small tiny wood and metal shops for hard sculpture. also, half of the campus is on the other side of NY... how am i supposed to transport sculpture around efficiently? i'm just struggling with envisioning myself in that academic setting happy. this one is tricky.

now CalArts: i think feels quite abstract for me because i haven't visited yet. my family loves the idea of California, since there's opportunity for me to work in Hollywood entertainment - which although is not fine arts, is actually quite promising for me since i have skills in acting/music. i come from a big car city so i'm not excited about having to drive myself around LA. 

UGH i need HELP!!

Did you get a separate email from hunter on financial aid? I just got their acceptance email.

I also got in as a sculpture, I got to see the MFA Show and I really like the work thats coming out of that program.

I'm between Hunter and Columbia and it is most likely going to come down to cost/financial aid

[bluemargo96]

39 minutes ago, She Ate said:

Did you get a separate email from hunter on financial aid? I just got their acceptance email.

I also got in as a sculpture, I got to see the MFA Show and I really like the work thats coming out of that program.

I'm between Hunter and Columbia and it is most likely going to come down to cost/financial aid

I am currently waitlisted at Hunter but also between those two schools so curious what you end up deciding! I have heard a lot of waitlisted students get in, which is a bit of a red flag to me because it means a lot of accepted students end up going elsewhere... 

Not sure what the turnover for Columbia's waitlist is like.

BTW, Columbia's MFA show opens at the end of the month.

Edited March 13 by bluemargo96

[KPCT123]

12 hours ago, blasphemousbunny said:

hi all, longtime lurker here and i need help making a decision.

i was accepted to CalArts (still waiting on potential finaid package), SAIC with no funding, Hunter CUNY with a scholarship of $5000 every semester, and waitlisted at University of Chicago. i work in installation, sculpture and performance for reference. i'll also add that i'm from a car city but i am all in favor of public transportation and would love to mostly use public transit.

so my dream school since I was young has been SAIC but $80K a year in this economy sounds like im going to be signing myself up for poverty. i visited the campus and the staff and students are wonderful, but im concerned about the debt. 

and Hunter is great - i visited last month. but i'm a sculptor and it feels more like a painter school. i know it's basically free and it's frickin New York and anything is possible is New York! plus i have a community of artist friends who are currently working there and doing quite well for themselves, so i know it is possible. i don't know if it's all in my head but when i visited, i felt the lack of community/comeradery between students and the small tiny wood and metal shops for hard sculpture. also, half of the campus is on the other side of NY... how am i supposed to transport sculpture around efficiently? i'm just struggling with envisioning myself in that academic setting happy. this one is tricky.

now CalArts: i think feels quite abstract for me because i haven't visited yet. my family loves the idea of California, since there's opportunity for me to work in Hollywood entertainment - which although is not fine arts, is actually quite promising for me since i have skills in acting/music. i come from a big car city so i'm not excited about having to drive myself around LA. 

UGH i need HELP!!

CalArts MFA grad here. Lurking due to applications at southern california PhD programs. Just noting that CalArts is in Santa Clarita - not LA. It's very quiet and suburban. Many students tend to live in Santa Clarita rather than making the commute up, and I would not describe the area as a big car city per se. You'd still need a car in Santa Clarita most likely, (though maybe the bus would work) but I just wanted to mention that the campus area is not the LA-proper highway intensity you're imagining.  

[bluemargo96]

6 hours ago, blablah said:

Does anyone have opinions on Columbia vs Yale painting/printmaking? I know the Columbia program very well but don't know so much about Yale. So I know the pros and cons of Columbia but I am curious about the perception of the two schools in relation to each other from an outside opinion. 

I don't know anything about printmaking but my understanding is Yale is considered the gold standard for MFA programs and will be more affordable. 

[tooold4artschool]

1 hour ago, KPCT123 said:

CalArts MFA grad here. Lurking due to applications at southern california PhD programs. Just noting that CalArts is in Santa Clarita - not LA. It's very quiet and suburban. Many students tend to live in Santa Clarita rather than making the commute up, and I would not describe the area as a big car city per se. You'd still need a car in Santa Clarita most likely, (though maybe the bus would work) but I just wanted to mention that the campus area is not the LA-proper highway intensity you're imagining.  

True, Valencia is very suburban, a little walkable, and has some good transit options.  However for someone who has never been there, the OP should know that it is basically on the I-5 freeway.  Yes, you can cross the 10 lanes of freeway on the overpass to a giant strip mall with lots of local and national chain restaurants and stores.  Yes, you can walk down the hill to the paseo system and hike or bike for 30 miles without crossing a street.  A longish walk, or short bike ride will take you the "Town Center" in Valencia or "downtown" in Newhall.  The train from Newhall gets you to DTLA in less than an hour.  The bus to UCLA/Westwood is clean and easy and less than an hour as well.  You would need a car to go anywhere else outside Santa Clarita.  As far as the school building, the animation space is great, and some of the shops and grad studios are great, but the rest of the facility is pretty old and drab, and shockingly institutional.  The sense of community is great, and there's something to do on campus every night.  KPCT123 is correct though, CALARTS is not in LA and often feels a world away.  

[drpaints]

On 3/7/2025 at 12:05 PM, freshman2024 said:

Just got accepted into UConn. 

So far for full funding: 

Ohio State 

Indiana Bloomington 

Kent State 

UConn

 

I went to visit OSU and really enjoyed it, and they've offered the best package so far. Does anyone else get nervous about being in a red state with the current Trump attacks on higher ed? It's one of my only holdouts for committing to OSU. 

For UConn, what discipline did you apply for, if you don’t mind? I applied to painting but have not heard a thing back from them.

[freshman2024]

Just now, drpaints said:

For UConn, what discipline did you apply for, if you don’t mind? I applied to painting but have not heard a thing back from them.

Sculpture / ceramics! 

[blasphemousbunny]

9 hours ago, tooold4artschool said:

True, Valencia is very suburban, a little walkable, and has some good transit options.  However for someone who has never been there, the OP should know that it is basically on the I-5 freeway.  Yes, you can cross the 10 lanes of freeway on the overpass to a giant strip mall with lots of local and national chain restaurants and stores.  Yes, you can walk down the hill to the paseo system and hike or bike for 30 miles without crossing a street.  A longish walk, or short bike ride will take you the "Town Center" in Valencia or "downtown" in Newhall.  The train from Newhall gets you to DTLA in less than an hour.  The bus to UCLA/Westwood is clean and easy and less than an hour as well.  You would need a car to go anywhere else outside Santa Clarita.  As far as the school building, the animation space is great, and some of the shops and grad studios are great, but the rest of the facility is pretty old and drab, and shockingly institutional.  The sense of community is great, and there's something to do on campus every night.  KPCT123 is correct though, CALARTS is not in LA and often feels a world away.  

Yes - I’m aware that CalArts is an hour away north of LA and I’ve accepted that I’ll need a car for CalArts. I’m bringing up LA to say that if I go to CalArts, I will definitely have to travel into LA to maximize my opportunities… which sounds like a headache just thinking about it. 

[applicator0]

Starting to get antsy about NYU… anyone have any news?

[nanaaaa]

Pratt decisions are out! 

 

[ps27fh]

anyone received their financial aid package from Yale yet?

[Plausiblefox]

Is anyone else still waiting on a decision from Columbia painting? They seem to be rolling out admissions by medium. 

[sillygooseart]

Put down my deposit for suny purchase  : ) fingers crossed funding doesn’t get pulled or some other unfortunate thing happens