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 Thursday at 07:16 PM 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.