MFA 2025 Freak Out Forum

[Kalonde]

Applied in painting for:

Yale

Rutgers

Carnegie Mellon (have heard some negative things about this program after applying so I don't know how I feel about that now)

SAIC

Cranbrook (app deadline hasn't passed yet)

 

It's my first year applying and while I think I have a good portfolio I'm not so sure I did my best work on the apps since I finished them very last minute after my solo show.

[manti]

Current freak out level: checking the analytics of my website. No new hits. Chat, am I done for? 🫠

[Jwack]

I’ve been doing that for weeks lol. Had some hits a few weeks ago but nothing recent 😬

[mmav]

22 hours ago, dj_buckweed07 said:

Sweet!! What medium? 

Transmedia/new media...mainly installations. Just finished my UCSB interview. For that one, they said that they're going to review the selection of interviewed people, narrow down the selection and invite/fly out the next round to interview/chat in person and then do final selections-- the timeline was "the next few weeks".

[FreakinOut24]

Hi everyone, congrats on all the interviews and for applying in general, the process is brutal! This is my third time applying.

I applied to sculpture or interdisciplinary programs.

I have gotten interview requests from UT Austin (interview tomorrow in sculpture/extended media) and UCSD (interview being scheduled for end week of February.)

I have not heard back from Stanford or UC Davis which I'm thinking I have been rejected by considering the past timelines and other 2025 posts I've read about interview requests. 

I am still waiting to hear from Yale, Tulane, UCLA, and Cornell. 

Has anyone heard from Stanford? 

Best of luck to everyone!

[prosthetic_head]

Well, I got a last minute fee waiver to CCA, so I guess I'm writing some new essays tonight!

 

Not sure if anyone here applied to UNM, but they should be contacting applicants next week. I got my BFA there and highly recommend their program (photo and printmaking, at least!)

[Frank0000000]

13 hours ago, Kalonde said:

Applied in painting for:

Yale

Rutgers

Carnegie Mellon (have heard some negative things about this program after applying so I don't know how I feel about that now)

SAIC

Cranbrook (app deadline hasn't passed yet)

 

It's my first year applying and while I think I have a good portfolio I'm not so sure I did my best work on the apps since I finished them very last minute after my solo show.

I applied to carnegie  for painting too! what have you heard about their program? 

Best of luck with your first cycle! I always hear the portfolio is the most important piece, and if you’ve done a solo show I bet they’ll love that too!!🤘✨

[sillygooseart]

3 hours ago, Frank0000000 said:

I applied to carnegie  for painting too! what have you heard about their program? 

Best of luck with your first cycle! I always hear the portfolio is the most important piece, and if you’ve done a solo show I bet they’ll love that too!!🤘✨

I applied to CMU as well and I saw some posts in last year’s forum and on Reddit from last month. To sum it up the students aren’t very kind to each other and are put against each other, there’s not rly a curriculum or courses for grad students, the faculty aren’t helpful and don’t like their jobs and they don’t engage with the students. It almost sounds more like a bad-energy residency. I doubt I’ll get in anyways but hearing more concerning things than positive about a program is alarming to me!

[Kalonde]

4 hours ago, Frank0000000 said:

I applied to carnegie  for painting too! what have you heard about their program? 

Best of luck with your first cycle! I always hear the portfolio is the most important piece, and if you’ve done a solo show I bet they’ll love that too!!🤘✨

 

56 minutes ago, sillygooseart said:

I applied to CMU as well and I saw some posts in last year’s forum and on Reddit from last month. To sum it up the students aren’t very kind to each other and are put against each other, there’s not rly a curriculum or courses for grad students, the faculty aren’t helpful and don’t like their jobs and they don’t engage with the students. It almost sounds more like a bad-energy residency. I doubt I’ll get in anyways but hearing more concerning things than positive about a program is alarming to me!

What they said^ plus even though it's supposedly tuition free people ended up with mountains of debt.  I don't remember if anybody is applying there but I've heard MICA isn't great either

 

[sundayscaries]

56 minutes ago, sillygooseart said:

I applied to CMU as well and I saw some posts in last year’s forum and on Reddit from last month. To sum it up the students aren’t very kind to each other and are put against each other, there’s not rly a curriculum or courses for grad students, the faculty aren’t helpful and don’t like their jobs and they don’t engage with the students. It almost sounds more like a bad-energy residency. I doubt I’ll get in anyways but hearing more concerning things than positive about a program is alarming to me!

I’m not in the program but I live in Pittsburgh/know some of the profs/the guy I dated just finished the program. I think our initial vibe read is accurate, but it seems like a program anyone can really grow in. Pittsburgh has a lot to take advantage of from what I know. The only reason I didn’t apply is because I want a change of scenery.

[sillygooseart]

1 hour ago, sundayscaries said:

I’m not in the program but I live in Pittsburgh/know some of the profs/the guy I dated just finished the program. I think our initial vibe read is accurate, but it seems like a program anyone can really grow in. Pittsburgh has a lot to take advantage of from what I know. The only reason I didn’t apply is because I want a change of scenery.

That’s comforting to know that it’s a program anyone can grow in! Thank you 

[Kalonde]

2 hours ago, sundayscaries said:

I’m not in the program but I live in Pittsburgh/know some of the profs/the guy I dated just finished the program. I think our initial vibe read is accurate, but it seems like a program anyone can really grow in. Pittsburgh has a lot to take advantage of from what I know. The only reason I didn’t apply is because I want a change of scenery.

That's really good to know! I wish I had been able to visit but I had a super busy year