MFA 2026 Freak out Forum

[smallfood]

I'm in painting, just got an interview invitation from Columbia 2/5--they said it's for a half-hour interview that can be either in-person or online. Also got the rejection in the portal from Northwestern.

I'm nervous bc I feel liked I messed up the only other interview I had. I don't know if I'll know what to say if they ask me about how my art fits into the contemporary art world, or how specific I need to be about my influences from art history TT. Any thoughts?

[artluv]

Also received a Columbia invite just now in case this info is helpful

[smallfood]

53 minutes ago, mfa2026letsgooooo said:

Here’s my list so far.

Penn — Interview

MassArt — Interview

Yale — Rejection

Northwestern — Rejection

Carnegie Mellon — Rejection

Starting to get even more worried. Anybody else?

Yup, I'm on the journey to radical acceptance of whatever the outcome is. My friend said that it's okay if all the art schools reject me as long as I don't go into politics after haha.

[mfa20262026]

53 minutes ago, artluv said:

Also received a Columbia invite just now in case this info is helpful

What medium did you apply for?

[1234paint]

Congrats on the Columbia invites! does anyone know if they send out other invites later / another round? 

For context, visual arts / painting: 

Columbia - nothing

Yale - nothing

MICA LeRoy - interview 

[sloan]

6 minutes ago, 1234paint said:

Congrats on the Columbia invites! does anyone know if they send out other invites later / another round? 

For context, visual arts / painting: 

Columbia - nothing

Yale - nothing

MICA LeRoy - interview 

From my understanding, Columbia Painting sends only one round of interviews. I think it's like 20 people interview.
Has anyone been invited for Columbia printmaking?

[Slyy]

Applied to UGA, GSU and LSU.

GSU and LSU deadlines were Feb 1st, so I don't expect to hear back from them so soon.

but UGAs was Jan 1st and when I went to the UGA MFA Q&A they said we should here back from them by the 3-4th week of Jan. Nothing yet, feeling nervous. but my status is still pending on the website. UGA is top choice, they only except 10 people a year, I applied for Design. wondering if anyone has been interviewed or rejected by them yet. If you have been interviewed, what was it like and what kinds of questions did they ask you? 

 

[SocialKonstruct]

5 hours ago, 146sba said:

Would you mind sharing if this was this cylce? I see you're in creative writing so it may not be applicable to me (painting) but this silence from yale is killing me

My table above shows the Fall 2023 entry cycle. So not this round. But Yale hardly changes and honestly is probably much harder now to enter in as we are under the Trump regime.

[MFAnxiety]

I applied to Rutgers and Hunter for sculpture. I really wanted Columbia, but with their new president and collaboration with current administration, I didn’t think it was worth it especially with their lack of funding. Has anyone heard back from these programs? I’m starting to lose faith 😞

Edited February 5 by MFAnxiety

[artluv]

1 hour ago, photophotophoto said:

What medium did you apply for?

Painting

[ferretpalace]

Just checked my Hunter application  portal (no email prompt) and it says "Application Status: Decided" but there is no further letter, rejection or interview. I am so confused. Does anyone else have this? It is for painting. 

Edited February 5 by ferretpalace

[MFAnxiety]

Mine just says submitted :(. However I’ve heard of people getting accepted with no interview.

Edited February 5 by MFAnxiety

[MFAnxiety]

Actually I got the same thing. Just called admissions, they said the result will show tomorrow 

[Moodyapplier]

27 minutes ago, MFAnxiety said:

Actually I got the same thing. Just called admissions, they said the result will show tomorrow 

UHG SAME… something about “decided” feels so much scarier. Has anyone been through apps with Hunter? Does this generally mean rejected or is it a toss up? I don’t know when they sent interviews out but I did not get one. 

[MFAnxiety]

Im hoping for acceptance but preparing for denial . What medium did you apply for😟

[lrnpntng]

4 hours ago, jobahza said:

Yeah I'm starting to get worried. Here's my list

 

UW-Madison - Interview & Waitlist

U of Minnesota - Interview (still waiting for results post interview)

U of Arkansas Interview Tomorrow

Ohio State - Rejected

Carnegie Mellon - Rejected

UConn - Program Cancelled 

UIC - Still Waiting 

U of Arizona - Still Waiting 

U of Oregon - Still Waiting 

whats your concentration?

[Moodyapplier]

6 minutes ago, MFAnxiety said:

Im hoping for acceptance but preparing for denial . What medium did you apply for😟

Painting. Me tooo I’ll cross my fingers for all of us in here 

[jobahza]

33 minutes ago, lrnpntng said:

whats your concentration?

filmmaking, photography, performance - interdisciplinary with the focus to make some films and do some experimental projects but also be a better educator and empower young people! 

[sloan]

yale painting is out in the portal.

Edited February 5 by sloan

[smallfood]

Just got yale portal update, was rejected 2/5

[Floatyboi]

Anyone heard anything back from UCLA painting or UC Berkeley? Does Berkeley give interviews?

[Emolibra97]

10 minutes ago, Floatyboi said:

Anyone heard anything back from UCLA painting or UC Berkeley? Does Berkeley give interviews?

I've read in this forum that UCLA is pretty scattered when it comes to updates. Each discipline reaches out at different times. Berkeley does give interviews and I believe those happened like 2 weeks ago.

Edited February 5 by Emolibra97

[wind55]

Did anyone apply to Pratt by the Jan 5th early deadline / heard back? 

[Lyssartist]

Has anyone heard anything from Cornell? Or know when they typically reach out? Thank you in advance for any info. Sending good vibes to you all! We’re in it together!

[ceramics233]

Has anybody heard from UCLA or VCU for ceramics interviews?