MFA 2025 Freak Out Forum

[sillygooseart]

  On 3/17/2025 at 2:51 PM, ray2 said:

Any word from UMass anyone? Or should I just give up at this point 

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I never got an email but I checked my portal and the rejection was there about a month ago 

[ray2]

Hmmm… still says pending for me but not sure what to think. I saw they’re having some funding issues in other departments though. It’s my top choice so I hope something pulls through but it’s a tough season for sure

[sillygooseart]

  On 3/18/2025 at 10:41 PM, ray2 said:

Hmmm… still says pending for me but not sure what to think. I saw they’re having some funding issues in other departments though. It’s my top choice so I hope something pulls through but it’s a tough season for sure

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Good luck! You could email them to check in if you haven’t already

[sgw12345]

anyone hear from Pratt painting?? I interviewed 3/12

shitting bricks over here

[nonamenon]

Anyone still waiting to hear from Columbia? I interviewed on 2/15. I emailed admissions and they said they should send all the remaining decision letters by the end of last week or early this week. I can imagine the whole campus is going through a lot of turmoil right now and that could be delaying things but I'm wondering if I haven't heard by now this just means I was rejected lol.

Edited March 19 by nonamenon

[podperson]

  On 3/11/2025 at 1:10 PM, Kalonde said:

I believe I'm waitlisted at Rutgers, so if I am accepted it is between that and Cranbrook Painting. Anybody out there know how these 2 compare based on reputation and student experience? Moreso Rutgers since I'm pretty familiar with Cranbrook. Rutgers has faculty I'm interested in and I like that it's connected to a larger university. These would both be free but I would have to move for Rutgers and I already live in Michigan

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I got accepted at Rutgers and I felt a little mislead -- they call themselves free but what that seems to mean is free tuition. I still have to live in NJ for two years on a loan which is by no means going to be an option for me and is not what I would call "free". I should have done more research but it bothered me that i felt that was not super clear upfront. I'm doing one more call with the faculty on friday but am planning on declining the offer. 

[Kalonde]

  On 3/19/2025 at 4:15 PM, podperson said:

I got accepted at Rutgers and I felt a little mislead -- they call themselves free but what that seems to mean is free tuition. I still have to live in NJ for two years on a loan which is by no means going to be an option for me and is not what I would call "free". I should have done more research but it bothered me that i felt that was not super clear upfront. I'm doing one more call with the faculty on friday but am planning on declining the offer. 

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Yeah I remember them specifying that they don't give stipends or anything which is why I've been teetering on them regardless of being waitlisted 

[mmav]

I've been talking to a bunch of faculty at the different programs I got into, as well as past professors and mentors, and one of them gave me a really prudent piece of advice when choosing where to go that I wanted to share: "A big factor is finishing school without debt so you can devote as much energy to making work and exhibiting as possible. The ability to spend a year or two after school pursuing residencies and traveling for shows is key to leveraging your grad school projects into a career."

 

[freshman2024]

  On 3/19/2025 at 4:33 PM, mmav said:

I've been talking to a bunch of faculty at the different programs I got into, as well as past professors and mentors, and one of them gave me a really prudent piece of advice when choosing where to go that I wanted to share: "A big factor is finishing school without debt so you can devote as much energy to making work and exhibiting as possible. The ability to spend a year or two after school pursuing residencies and traveling for shows is key to leveraging your grad school projects into a career."

 

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Completely agree with this. Everyone's financial situation is different, but I had to work so much to do my nyc rent, barely any artwork was getting made. I cant imagine finishing a program, being in the same boat and adding in a loan payment. 

[Cowbot]

Has anyone heard back from Yale re: financial aid? 

[thenightowl212]

  On 3/19/2025 at 4:33 PM, mmav said:

I've been talking to a bunch of faculty at the different programs I got into, as well as past professors and mentors, and one of them gave me a really prudent piece of advice when choosing where to go that I wanted to share: "A big factor is finishing school without debt so you can devote as much energy to making work and exhibiting as possible. The ability to spend a year or two after school pursuing residencies and traveling for shows is key to leveraging your grad school projects into a career."

 

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Can I ask for some guidance, I'm gonna follow up on this, I feel like my time between undergrad and grad this fall has allowed me the opportunity to do so much of that already. Even during grad, I'll have two shows coming up featuring work made during this year in solid spaces (I don't feel comfortable sharing them publicly but can do so privately). What exactly would the best way of approaching grad school would be? I have my own goals focused on art making, but I feel as if a lot of the advice I received hasn't been centered on post-grad life to those whose journeys may be different

Edited March 19 by thenightowl212

[Plausiblefox]

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

Yeah, I'm still waiting too. I interviewed for painting 2/28. I don't have a lot of hope left at this point. But I did look back through last year's forum and it looks like people found out 3/20 last year so maybe by the end of this week hopefully.

[mmav]

  On 3/19/2025 at 11:05 PM, thenightowl212 said:

Can I ask for some guidance, I'm gonna follow up on this, I feel like my time between undergrad and grad this fall has allowed me the opportunity to do so much of that already. Even during grad, I'll have two shows coming up featuring work made during this year in solid spaces (I don't feel comfortable sharing them publicly but can do so privately). What exactly would the best way of approaching grad school would be? I have my own goals focused on art making, but I feel as if a lot of the advice I received hasn't been centered on post-grad life to those whose journeys may be different

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What do YOU want to get from grad school? For me, it was primarily time/space/resources to dig into a general research niche I'd already developed the beginnings of an outline for -- I knew I wanted to gain xyz technical skills, and do a overseas research trip inbetween the two years. I'm interested in pursuing a PhD after, so I wanted a program that would allow me the freedom (time and resource wise) to build towards that. For me, having a fully funded program and no debt would just make me working towards those goals psychologically easier (the award at the program I'm leaning towards is giving me a salary stipend without requiring me to TA my first year). Time to flesh out and create new work during grad school is something I'm prioritizing. If you're prioritizing gallery representation, that's another thing that some of those more expensive private schools have. 
Maybe you envision yourself teaching with an MFA, maybe you want to be a full time working artist, or you want to go into the gallery scene, or arts admin/museum scene...ask questions about how a program can help you get there. Some schools have teaching fellowship pipelines for grads, some have prioritized applications to certain residencies, some are part of larger R1 research institutions, some have studio visits from NYC/LA art scenes, etc

Edited March 20 by mmav

[thenightowl212]

  On 3/20/2025 at 12:52 AM, mmav said:

What do YOU want to get from grad school? For me, it was primarily time/space/resources to dig into a general research niche I'd already developed the beginnings of an outline for -- I knew I wanted to gain xyz technical skills, and do a overseas research trip inbetween the two years. I'm interested in pursuing a PhD after, so I wanted a program that would allow me the freedom (time and resource wise) to build towards that. For me, having a fully funded program and no debt would just make me working towards those goals psychologically easier (the award at the program I'm leaning towards is giving me a salary stipend without requiring me to TA my first year). Time to flesh out and create new work during grad school is something I'm prioritizing. If you're prioritizing gallery representation, that's another thing that some of those more expensive private schools have. 
Maybe you envision yourself teaching with an MFA, maybe you want to be a full time working artist, or you want to go into the gallery scene, or arts admin/museum scene...ask questions about how a program can help you get there. Some schools have teaching fellowship pipelines for grads, some have prioritized applications to certain residencies, some are part of larger R1 research institutions, some have studio visits from NYC/LA art scenes, etc

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Thank you so much for writing this! I truly appreciate it, upon reading this, I realize a big issue I've come across with these programs in talking to them is it being centered around the money and tuition post-admittance

For me, it was primarily to focus on growing my practice. I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum where I've started showing in a couple of places but have been meaning to critically challenge the ideas.

Nevertheless, i'm gonna consider this even further, thank you!

[mmav]

  On 3/20/2025 at 1:09 AM, thenightowl212 said:

Thank you so much for writing this! I truly appreciate it, upon reading this, I realize a big issue I've come across with these programs in talking to them is it being centered around the money and tuition post-admittance

For me, it was primarily to focus on growing my practice. I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum where I've started showing in a couple of places but have been meaning to critically challenge the ideas.

Nevertheless, i'm gonna consider this even further, thank you!

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Yeah of course! If that's what you're looking for, I'd recommend meeting up with professors in those programs and ask them about the specific philosophy or curriculum of the program -- ie, how grad seminars work, who teaches them, are there theory classes available, etc. You get a good feel for the vibe of a program (and what they're focused on) by talking to the people who teach in them

[figg]

anyone received their financial aid package from Yale? 

[intheclerb]

Was anyone reading this accepted to VCU ceramics? I'm waitlisted and wondering if I have a chance at a spot. If you think you're not accepting let me know 😭

[Turtle222]

  On 3/20/2025 at 12:41 AM, Plausiblefox said:

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

Yeah, I'm still waiting too. I interviewed for painting 2/28. I don't have a lot of hope left at this point. But I did look back through last year's forum and it looks like people found out 3/20 last year so maybe by the end of this week hopefully.

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I was accepted into the painting department a couple of weeks ago 

[painforever]

APPLY TO THE EMERGING MEDIA | DIGITAL STUDIES MA AT RUTGERS-CAMDEN - Is Rutgers sending it to all non admitted students? :DD 

 

[tooold4artschool]

  On 3/20/2025 at 7:55 PM, painforever said:

APPLY TO THE EMERGING MEDIA | DIGITAL STUDIES MA AT RUTGERS-CAMDEN - Is Rutgers sending it to all non admitted students? :DD 

 

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Yep, I think so.  I got one.  

 

[applicator0]

Going to be really obnoxious and ask one more time if anyone has any update or news on NYU. I interviewed early Feb.  I know I should just be patient but it’s hard because I can’t find many people online who also applied NYU MFA. 

[nanaaaa]

  On 3/19/2025 at 3:35 AM, sgw12345 said:

anyone hear from Pratt painting?? I interviewed 3/12

shitting bricks over here

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I received my acceptance last week via email 

[sillygooseart]

I don’t want to cause a panic but I’m seeing in other programs (mostly sciences/phds) schools are rescinding acceptances for those who haven’t put down their deposit yet because of funding cuts. I don’t know if this will happen with fine arts as well

[sgw12345]

  On 3/21/2025 at 8:06 AM, nanaaaa said:

I received my acceptance last week via email 

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Got mine yesterday phew! Congrats!

[tooold4artschool]

Accepted at Parsons, and I am interested in any feedback anyone has on the program or faculty.  I did my due diligence beforehand, but any candid advice is appreciated.  TIA.