(two ways to take) Rejections

[Xibalba]

To those receiving rejections and who are troubled by them:

Sorry to hear that. I know it can be difficult and I wish you better news in the future.

Rejections are, as someone already mentioned in another thread, so much a part of being an artist. Sure, a very small number of individuals move easily from one step to the next. For most folks the road forward is paved with rejections (or failure of some sort) before (if!) it becomes a smoother ride. So if rejections get you down, the artist's gig isn't the road for you. Those rejections have to be shrugged off, or better, transmuted into fuel to move forward. The fundamental requirement of the artist is, after all, to make art, not to apply to things.

Someone posted the Petersons link: http://www.petersons...te-schools.aspx (search program name + mfa, e.g. "usc mfa" for admissions info). So quickly, take a look at the average age of students enrolled:

Columbia, 27

USC, 27

Cranbrook, 27

CalArts, 27

Yale, 28

RISD painting / sculpture, 29

Carnegie Mellon, 29

CCA, 30

Hunter, 30

Bard, 34

VCU, no data

UCLA, no data

SAIC, no data

This is the average. I know folks in their 40s who have just recently gotten their MFAs from some of these schools.

That's the competition!: People who have been working hard for a long time and who have been out of undergrad a minimum of 5 years, on average, but perhaps 8-10 years or more, developing their work.

This is the 5th time I have applied to schools. Yes, the FIFTH time. Last year I did not get in to grad school but did attend one of the most selective residencies for emerging artists. This year I have an interview at a top tier school. I expect to get in and feel I've earned it by working towards it for the last 5 years. I finished undergrad 5 years ago. I started applying before I was ready because I didn't know what I was doing and didn't know that I wasn't ready. This moment of readiness comes for different people at different times; in my case, despite graduating summa cum laud, I did not have a BFA and my grasp of contemporary art and my studio practice had significant catching up to do. I have been fortunate to have created opportunities along the way which allowed me to grow and helped me to become ready.

From my own experience, I can say that I had to face 2 facts when I did not get in to the top graduate programs. I learned to take rejection 2 ways: the first being bad luck, as chance plays a significant role in the application process (as in everything in life) and it was not my turn; and second, that my work was not sufficiently developed. I continued to work on the 2nd to mitigate the 1st: you can develop your work so that chance plays less of a role. You always have the option of going to a second tier school sooner; you will still get a great education and have success. Or a third tier school even sooner... but your chances of success may be reduced.

We all know that the top graduate programs are more selective than any Ivy League law school. We are competing to be part of a service class who produces luxury goods for the wealthy. Only the insane, the stupid, the backward, the selfish ego driven, the social climbers, the already-wealthy, ....or the passionate and self-selected creators who have NO other choice or no other interest in life choose this narrowing, winding path.

For them... for me, for us, failure/rejection is bread and success is wine. Have fun, eat up, and party on. Good luck to you all; may your glasses be more full than empty.

Edited March 13, 2011 by Xibalba

[bethanyr]

This was so eloquent and insightful! I have pretty much gotten all rejections as this is my first time applying. It really upset me for awhile, but then other good things started happening outside of grad school applications that made me realize it was not a complete waste. My one acceptance almost two weeks ago STILL has me giddy and excited, and whether or not I am financially able to afford it this time, just ONE acceptance was such a confidence booster.

Best of luck to you this time around. This is very inspiring that you have continued to work hard and know exactly what you want to do. On these forums at times it can feel as though you are the only on not getting acceptances or interviews, and it is good to take a step back objectively and look at the tiny amount of people who actually get in from the sea of applicants.

[hr_watson]

Thanks for this. This was my *fourth* year applying, with no luck. I did get into the RCA but unfortunately, I just can't afford it - they offer no assistance to foreign students.

You mind telling us where you're interviewing and which residency you attended?

Cheers.

To those receiving rejections and who are troubled by them:

Sorry to hear that. I know it can be difficult and I wish you better news in the future.

Rejections are, as someone already mentioned in another thread, so much a part of being an artist. Sure, a very small number of individuals move easily from one step to the next. For most folks the road forward is paved with rejections (or failure of some sort) before (if!) it becomes a smoother ride. So if rejections get you down, the artist's gig isn't the road for you. Those rejections have to be shrugged off, or better, transmuted into fuel to move forward. The fundamental requirement of the artist is, after all, to make art, not to apply to things.

Someone posted the Petersons link: http://www.petersons...te-schools.aspx (search program name + mfa, e.g. "usc mfa" for admissions info). So quickly, take a look at the average age of students enrolled:

Columbia, 27

USC, 27

Cranbrook, 27

CalArts, 27

Yale, 28

RISD painting / sculpture, 29

Carnegie Mellon, 29

CCA, 30

Hunter, 30

Bard, 34

VCU, no data

UCLA, no data

SAIC, no data

This is the average. I know folks in their 40s who have just recently gotten their MFAs from some of these schools.

That's the competition!: People who have been working hard for a long time and who have been out of undergrad a minimum of 5 years, on average, but perhaps 8-10 years or more, developing their work.

This is the 5th time I have applied to schools. Yes, the FIFTH time. Last year I did not get in to grad school but did attend one of the most selective residencies for emerging artists. This year I have an interview at a top tier school. I expect to get in and feel I've earned it by working towards it for the last 5 years. I finished undergrad 5 years ago. I started applying before I was ready because I didn't know what I was doing and didn't know that I wasn't ready. This moment of readiness comes for different people at different times; in my case, despite graduating summa cum laud, I did not have a BFA and my grasp of contemporary art and my studio practice had significant catching up to do. I have been fortunate to have created opportunities along the way which allowed me to grow and helped me to become ready.

From my own experience, I can say that I had to face 2 facts when I did not get in to the top graduate programs. I learned to take rejection 2 ways: the first being bad luck, as chance plays a significant role in the application process (as in everything in life) and it was not my turn; and second, that my work was not sufficiently developed. I continued to work on the 2nd to mitigate the 1st: you can develop your work so that chance plays less of a role. You always have the option of going to a second tier school sooner; you will still get a great education and have success. Or a third tier school even sooner... but your chances of success may be reduced.

We all know that the top graduate programs are more selective than any Ivy League law school. We are competing to be part of a service class who produces luxury goods for the wealthy. Only the insane, the stupid, the backward, the selfish ego driven, the social climbers, the already-wealthy, ....or the passionate and self-selected creators who have NO other choice or no other interest in life choose this narrowing, winding path.

For them... for me, for us, failure/rejection is bread and success is wine. Have fun, eat up, and party on. Good luck to you all; may your glasses be more full than empty.