MFA 2025 Freak Out Forum

[ps27fh]

1 hour ago, tryinggg said:

As someone who is hoping to be admitted off the waitlist, please email the school rather than wanting for the deadline to pass

I second that. 

[boltcutter]

On 3/25/2025 at 12:51 AM, tooold4artschool said:

Curious about the protocol for declining admissions.  Is it customary to send an email, call someone, or just let the deadline lapse?  

I sent emails to whoever I was in contact with - the people that interviewed me and/or the admissions lead - right before formally declining the spots via the website. 

[crazayk8]

On 3/22/2025 at 11:57 AM, StrangeConfinedSpace said:

Hello everyone, I am in a bit of a situation. 

So far I have been accepted into one program with a full GA, though I am waitlisted for two, one of them was my top school . The School I was accepted in is only giving me until April 1st for a reply, I am assuming the others won't reach out until after the 15th. Is it unprofessional to accept at university and then de-commit? I am very fond of all of the schools that have reached out but if one of my waitlisted schools reaches out I would prefer to go there. 

 

I know that is long and confusing haha.

Hello! I am in the same situation and it's driving me mad. The school I was accepted to that is offering funding would like an answer today but I don't think I will hear if I'm off the waitlist from the other two (one being my top choice) until a week or more out. I would rather not accept and then rescind but I feel like I have no choice since the timelines aren't aligning. If any one can shed some light on this or their opinion I would be super grateful!

[sillygooseart]

So, I have a weird situation. What would you do if a school forgot to tell you that you were accepted? Cause it’s rly putting me off a program. I already put my deposit down somewhere else that I love, but I’d graduate debt-free (besides undergrad) to the program that forgot me. I’d appreciate any opinions : )

[mmav]

2 hours ago, sillygooseart said:

So, I have a weird situation. What would you do if a school forgot to tell you that you were accepted? Cause it’s rly putting me off a program. I already put my deposit down somewhere else that I love, but I’d graduate debt-free (besides undergrad) to the program that forgot me. I’d appreciate any opinions : )

Did they not email you the notice and you only found out after reaching out? Maybe schedule a call with some professors from the program to get the vibes there-- like if this snafu is just an unfortunate administrative issue or if it's indicative of some other dysfunction in the department. Graduating debt-free (in this economy too) is definitely something to consider, but not at the cost of a program that would be detrimental to your goals.

[sillygooseart]

Just now, mmav said:

Did they not email you the notice and you only found out after reaching out? Maybe schedule a call with some professors from the program to get the vibes there-- like if this snafu is just an unfortunate administrative issue or if it's indicative of some other dysfunction in the department. Graduating debt-free (in this economy too) is definitely something to consider, but not at the cost of a program that would be detrimental to your goals.

I actually toured with the school before and it took a while to schedule with multiple cancellations (through no one’s direct fault, just a lot of illnesses on both sides). I’ve talked to people who went there and they loved it, but what they’re doing now doesn’t really line up with what I want, or they aren’t even working in the field. I found out students were accepted/waitlisted much earlier this month. I reached out, expecting a rejection, and that’s how I found out they forgot about me. It’s possible it’s some dysfunction but not critical? I’m not sure really. I’m leaning towards my original decision even with the debt 

[Jwack]

Has anyone received a rejection from UCSB? It’s the only school I haven’t heard from, still says submitted when I check the portal.

[bluemargo96]

Has anyone committed to Columbia visual arts MFA?

[kamlee]

Is there anyone else who has committed to RISD graphic design MFA? I’d love to connect with you! 

[freshman2024]

18 hours ago, sillygooseart said:

I actually toured with the school before and it took a while to schedule with multiple cancellations (through no one’s direct fault, just a lot of illnesses on both sides). I’ve talked to people who went there and they loved it, but what they’re doing now doesn’t really line up with what I want, or they aren’t even working in the field. I found out students were accepted/waitlisted much earlier this month. I reached out, expecting a rejection, and that’s how I found out they forgot about me. It’s possible it’s some dysfunction but not critical? I’m not sure really. I’m leaning towards my original decision even with the debt 

Debt free is big, but so is feeling good about where you're going. The way they've handled this seems odd to me, maybe talk to someone and say it feels odd to you too. As for people not working in the field, I think thats pretty common for people with studio art degrees, wouldnt read too much into that. They just stopped communicating after your interview or? 

[sillygooseart]

1 hour ago, freshman2024 said:

Debt free is big, but so is feeling good about where you're going. The way they've handled this seems odd to me, maybe talk to someone and say it feels odd to you too. As for people not working in the field, I think thats pretty common for people with studio art degrees, wouldnt read too much into that. They just stopped communicating after your interview or? 

My interview was a tour that I requested. I’m local to the area so I wanted to see before I applied. So yeah, they stopped contacting me after the tour/interview in late October. Then everyone else heard back early March so I assumed I was rejected, but hadn’t heard anything. When I reached out and they told me I was accepted, they forgot to change the dates and tried to play it off. It does feel all very weird though!! 

[mmav]

17 hours ago, Jwack said:

Has anyone received a rejection from UCSB? It’s the only school I haven’t heard from, still says submitted when I check the portal.

I think UCSB has almost completely finalized their cohort. I'm in a group chat with some people who got offers and 3 of them have officially committed, one will by next week, and the total cohort this year will only be 5 spots

[Jwack]

Thanks! Definitely assumed rejection, it’s just the only one I hadn’t heard back from yet. Thankfully I got accepted to my favorite program so doesn’t really matter I guess just wanted to officially check it off the list.👍🏻

[mmav]

19 minutes ago, sillygooseart said:

My interview was a tour that I requested. I’m local to the area so I wanted to see before I applied. So yeah, they stopped contacting me after the tour/interview in late October. Then everyone else heard back early March so I assumed I was rejected, but hadn’t heard anything. When I reached out and they told me I was accepted, they forgot to change the dates and tried to play it off. It does feel all very weird though!! 

Yea I'm not sure how I feel about them just forgetting you like that. At all of the schools I got into (except Parsons lmao) professors in the program repeatedly reached out to me via email or phone calls not only to notify of my acceptance, but in the weeks following to initiate conversations about their programs and made very active efforts to answer any questions and help paint a better picture of the program. That kind of intentionality was really nice to see and made me feel like whatever decision I made I would still have professors who were invested in my growth. Do you feel like you would be supported in that way with that program?

[sillygooseart]

35 minutes ago, mmav said:

Yea I'm not sure how I feel about them just forgetting you like that. At all of the schools I got into (except Parsons lmao) professors in the program repeatedly reached out to me via email or phone calls not only to notify of my acceptance, but in the weeks following to initiate conversations about their programs and made very active efforts to answer any questions and help paint a better picture of the program. That kind of intentionality was really nice to see and made me feel like whatever decision I made I would still have professors who were invested in my growth. Do you feel like you would be supported in that way with that program?

I’m not sure tbh! I was told by an alumni that the program it’s very residency-like. I did hear from the other program after my interview multiple times in the short period between my acceptance and interview.  

Edited March 27 by sillygooseart
Typo

[finediningandbreathing]

Wait listed at Cornell today

Anyone who got in please keep me updated ❤️💔 

[squid05]

Just found this freak out forum. Definitely needed - felt like I was bumming everyone in the other forum with my UNCG anxietyyyyy. Need answers!!! 

[tooold4artschool]

In at Parsons, waitlisted at CalArts.  The Parsons program is perfect for me and I am beyond excited to start, but I live one mile from CalArts and my community is here.  Any advice about the schools or decision-making that might help me would be appreciated.  

[bluemargo96]

On 3/28/2025 at 7:30 PM, tooold4artschool said:

In at Parsons, waitlisted at CalArts.  The Parsons program is perfect for me and I am beyond excited to start, but I live one mile from CalArts and my community is here.  Any advice about the schools or decision-making that might help me would be appreciated.  

I believe calarts is better regarded maybe ask where on the waitlist are you and see if you can figure out what the chances are of getting off?

[tooold4artschool]

On 3/26/2025 at 6:02 AM, tryinggg said:

As someone who is hoping to be admitted off the waitlist, please email the school rather than wanting for the deadline to pass

I hear you.  I just declined my #3 choice and below.  

Edited March 30 by tooold4artschool

[mmav]

I just declined all of my offers except the one I'll probably accept, and the waitlist so if you were on the waitlist for VCU KI, UW Seattle New Genres, or Parsons DT a spot opened up.

[Inthestu]

I’ve been lurking on the forum for a while and was wondering if anyone has heard back from NYU? I know they said mid to late March but today is the last day of March lol. Hope everyone is doing well!

[blasphemousbunny]

On 3/12/2025 at 10:56 PM, 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!!

Update:

- SAIC is giving me 35% merit & grant money, leaving me to take out 65% in loans.

- CalArts is giving me 60% in merit-scholarship money, leaving me to take out 40% in loans. 
 

- Hunter is financially feasible. I’m still worried that it’s not going to have facilities to support the full extent of sculpture/performance/installation that I work in. 
 

Can someone who’s gone through these schools add perspective?  

[freshman2024]

5 hours ago, blasphemousbunny said:

Update:

- SAIC is giving me 35% merit & grant money, leaving me to take out 65% in loans.

- CalArts is giving me 60% in merit-scholarship money, leaving me to take out 40% in loans. 
 

- Hunter is financially feasible. I’m still worried that it’s not going to have facilities to support the full extent of sculpture/performance/installation that I work in. 
 

Can someone who’s gone through these schools add perspective?  

I cant speak to the other two, but I felt like hunter had poor facilities overall. But maybe reach out and ask if they have specific things you want, I was interested in larger ceramic work, they have really no ceramics facilities. 

[applicator0]

20 hours ago, Inthestu said:

I’ve been lurking on the forum for a while and was wondering if anyone has heard back from NYU? I know they said mid to late March but today is the last day of March lol. Hope everyone is doing well!

I’m still waiting too 😕 no idea what’s going on there