MFA 2013 All Art ADMISSIONS freak-out forum!!!!!!!!

[DaniDevotchka]

Hey everyone! Great to hear all of your good news!

 

Has anyone heard anything from University of Washington-Seattle yet? I applied to their 2-D program and haven't heard a peep from them.

[jacquelinelate]

Just got accepted to Herron's painting & drawing program! So excited!

[chefgummydee]

Making the trip to interview with them this weekend. What did they ask??

 

 

Anyone have advice as some of us prepare for Hunter's interview day this Sunday? 

 

Tips from anyone who's gone through the process before?

How long should we expect to be there?

 

It was pretty straightforward. Questions on why you're interested in Hunter, explain your work, explain the relevance of art history, where you see your work going. Stuff like that. Obviously they'll probably expound on your answers and that could cause the interview to morph. For example i mentioned certain artists in my response to the Art history question and was then asked to explain how these two seemingly different artists related to each other. They could also ask you to elaborate or clarify parts of your statement of intent. Hope this helps. 

[Babar_Suleman]

Just saw that some of you were asking about Pratt's Communication Design decisions. Last year I got into the program and received the acceptance March 24. I think it's safe to assume they will follow a similar schedule this year.

 

Also I received an acceptance from Carnegie Mellon's design school on March 14 last year. Any CMU applicants here?

 

I turned down both my acceptances because I wanted to play out my chances with the Fulbright scholarship (which I managed to win, thankfully). This year, in addition to CMU and Pratt, the Fulbright committee has applied to Parsons and IIT Institute of Design on my behalf as well. Does anyone have any info on when either of these two schools send their decisions?  

[emeliej]

yay!  i got a call from Herron saying I'm accepted!  they're going to email me some info early next week.  yayyyy!  yayyyy!!!!!  i was feeding my animals and the dogs started to dance around when they realized how excited i was.  yayyyyyy!!!!!!

 

congrats! I got the same call/info from grad admissions today although I received a call last week from photo specifically too. can't wait to hear what they have to offer

[SkeezySquid]

I have a weird request. About a month ago, I was browsing either this topic or maybe a related topic, and I had seen someone's website that I thought I had bookmarked but apparently, did not. I'm having trouble relocating it. It was a series of very stylized, almost iconic, figures. I remember a few had especially long eyelashes and, in the charcoal drawings, the underdrawing was very apparent. I wish I had saved the link. Does anyone happen to have it?

[gweaver]

I have a weird request. About a month ago, I was browsing either this topic or maybe a related topic, and I had seen someone's website that I thought I had bookmarked but apparently, did not. I'm having trouble relocating it. It was a series of very stylized, almost iconic, figures. I remember a few had especially long eyelashes and, in the charcoal drawings, the underdrawing was very apparent. I wish I had saved the link. Does anyone happen to have it?

haha, i am sure that is me! goweaver.tumblr.com do you have work up?

[tilt@jjfab]

Ahhh. Like minty mouthwash for the mind. Got my UCLA rejection this morning.

[SkeezySquid]

haha, i am sure that is me! goweaver.tumblr.com do you have work up?

Indeed it is! Thanks. Your work is utterly killer.

[nirvana4me2]

Just got accepted into Herron VCD program! Just a day before my birthday! Woot!

[nudibranches]

gweaver, how did you hear from tyler yesterday? phone call? did they sound like they had made all their decisions? Pretty much the only viable option I had left, bummed not to have heard yesterday too.  great school, congrats on that. 

[JustinjSmith]

Got my first rejection this morning. Thanks UCLA!

 

still waiting on UCirvine, UCSD, CSULong Beach and MICA

[relentlesslemons]

any more news clay people?

Anyone going to NCECA?

Edited March 14, 2013 by relentlesslemons

[Erpnope]

congrats! I got the same call/info from grad admissions today although I received a call last week from photo specifically too. can't wait to hear what they have to offer

 

I met Stefan Petranek this past weekend and it made me wish I had applied to that program! He's really cool, very chill dude. Good luck with funding!!

[lemons]

Was out of time yesterday to respond to your question, sorry about that I did visit and apply to Art Center. I think they have an amazing faculty and are very strongly theoretically based. One of my goals in applying to Socal schools (since I live here) was touring, sitting in on a crit and meeting with a faculty member if possible. The price tag for Art Center is pretty overwhelming especially since they offer equal funding to all students (which is extremely nominal, something like 3k the 1st year and then another 1k or so additional each year) as opposed to need or merit based funding. I sat in on a critique with one of the writer/theory professors and watching his brain work was amazing on an intellectual level, very stimulating. However, one of the aspects that was very important to me in sitting in on crits was the student engagement/dynamic, and I was very disappointed with that. The crit was one part discussion about a critical writing and one part crit in a student's studio. In both parts students seemed quiet and a bit careless, the teacher really had to ask questions to get anyone to speak up. In the studio crit, only 2 people out of 12 (or so, I can't remember exact #) spoke abou the student's work, and it was very nominal. I was shocked. A couple students were even texting the whole time and completely disengaged. I understand people have off days and crits are quieter sometimes, but for me part of the MFA experience is community and critical dialogue; learning, challenging and growing all together, from the whole experience. I love the idea of Art Center in that it is rigorous academically and the teachers push you, but for 18k+ a trimester, I would definitely consider sitting in on another crit before I committed. 

 

Thank you - this is incredibly helpful! That is too bad to hear about your crit experience - and very strange too. Given how all-consuming this application process is, the program you choose should be equally all-consuming -  I can't imagine going to school to just sit and text and not pay attention. Hopefully the crit you saw is not indicative of the entire program. How was the student work? The trimester thing is odd, and incredibly expensive. So yes I would have to carefully consider this too before accepting. 

 

I'm going to visit tomorrow so I'm excited to see it all for myself. In the meantime, I was also just accepted to SAIC! No word on funding yet, but I am definitely leaning towards going there. I'm weighing the option of A. staying in LA for my MFA at Art Center, which will certainly open up more opportunities here with such an amazing faculty, or B. going to Chicago, which is a very prestigious program but more removed from where I would be trying to build a life, since I would most likely move back to LA afterwards. Thoughts on the benefits of location v. prestige? (Not saying the Art Center isn't prestigious, because it is, but SAIC is certainly a bigger name.) Anyway, hopefully you get my point. 

 

I was also just rejected from UCLA, which I'm trying to ignore, ha. 

[jljr07]

Nope! Not a word!

I read through their confirmation email that says when they make their decision and it says "any time between Mid-to-late March, with most people getting a response by the 1st of April"

Still, so eerily silent on their part.

Have any Pratt communication design people had interviews, or any contact at all from the school?

 

I had 2 interviews with Pratt for the MFA Communication Design a few weeks ago, and got my acceptance through e-mail on Monday. My guess is they should be finished sending letters out soon.

[Lucia Werd]

I'm going to visit tomorrow so I'm excited to see it all for myself. In the meantime, I was also just accepted to SAIC! No word on funding yet, but I am definitely leaning towards going there. I'm weighing the option of A. staying in LA for my MFA at Art Center, which will certainly open up more opportunities here with such an amazing faculty, or B. going to Chicago, which is a very prestigious program but more removed from where I would be trying to build a life, since I would most likely move back to LA afterwards. Thoughts on the benefits of location v. prestige? (Not saying the Art Center isn't prestigious, because it is, but SAIC is certainly a bigger name.) Anyway, hopefully you get my point.

 

I've actually done some research on that as part of my Master's thesis in Art Education.  I was looking at the transition of students from school to the 'real world'.  What I actually found was that the students that had the greatest difficulty adapting were the one who moved after their studies.  The contact you make with your peers and the art scene during your MFA is very beneficial afterwards (of course that applies to people who make the effort to create those connections and learn about the professional art scene of their city and the resources available to them). 

 

There is a general bias that an MFA earned in a prestigious school or abroad (here in Canada, I know it's very 'fashionable' to have a degree from a European country for example) is a plus.  There is undoubtedly benefits in learning from different sources.  And you can also take into account the psychological effect of having a prestigious school on your resume on the reading people will do of your work (the work of a famous artist will be more valued because of his or her fame.  There is a great experience a recognized writer - who's name I forgot - did on that.  He published a book that was written in the same style and quality than his other novels, but because he used a pseudonym , the book did ok, but not nearly as good as his other books.  He could see that with a good 10-15 years of work under that pseudonym he would probably gain the recognition he had now.  But had this book come out under his real name, it would have been a immediate success praised by critics). 

 

I think you have to think about what you want out of your career.  If you want to teach, a well know school - along with teaching experience - might also be an asset on your resume.  If you want to develop contacts with artists and the art scene, you'd better do it in the city where you wish to work and live. 

 

Unless of course you want to study a particular 'thing' or with a particular artist.  In that case, the choice would be easy.   

[chefgummydee]

Got my first rejection this morning. Thanks UCLA!

 

still waiting on UCirvine, UCSD, CSULong Beach and MICA

 

I too am waiting on MICA. What program are you applying for at Long Beach?

[gweaver]

gweaver, how did you hear from tyler yesterday? phone call? did they sound like they had made all their decisions? Pretty much the only viable option I had left, bummed not to have heard yesterday too.  great school, congrats on that. 

 

hey! sorry saw your message but I have a terrible wireless connection at my studio. I heard through email, it was really informal, sent from Margo's iphone, just a heads up about acceptance, more info to come later kind of thing. I wouldn't give up hope if I were you! The email was so unofficial... I'm sure you still have a shot. I really like your work!

[gweaver]

Indeed it is! Thanks. Your work is utterly killer.

 

Thanks a ton! good luck with err'thang!

[ArsenicYellow]

Rejected from Syracuse. No big deal though, someone from my university is already in the program so it was unlikely they'd want two people from the same university at the same time in the same department.

Plus is was one of my plan Bs

Edited March 14, 2013 by ArsenicYellow

[designerd]

I had 2 interviews with Pratt for the MFA Communication Design a few weeks ago, and got my acceptance through e-mail on Monday. My guess is they should be finished sending letters out soon.

 

I'm a longtime lurker so I figure it's about time I set up an account and actually contribute to the discussion, particularly since I have some Pratt MFA Communication Design info. I heard from Jeff Bellantoni (the department chair) today and he said that the official letters of acceptance should go out tomorrow (I think they're sending them via snail mail). I received an early admission email as well, but to those who didn't you shouldn't necessarily freak out... I only had one interview, as opposed to jljr07's two, and I got my email last week so it doesn't sound like the admissions process is exactly the same for everyone. Fingers crossed for everyone who's waiting to hear back!

[nudibranches]

hey! sorry saw your message but I have a terrible wireless connection at my studio. I heard through email, it was really informal, sent from Margo's iphone, just a heads up about acceptance, more info to come later kind of thing. I wouldn't give up hope if I were you! The email was so unofficial... I'm sure you still have a shot. I really like your work!

 

Oh word, thanks. who knows, keepin my fingers crossed I guess, it sucks to not have anything locked down.  would be cool to be in the same program, I dig your paintings a lot too.  Having been working as an artist in NYC for a while, I know I wouldn't turn down full funding and a stipend though, I have a lot of incredibly talented friends and none of them got a deal like that.  You should feel really proud. Can't tell you how many RISD and yale grads I know in NYC who are struggling with debt and don't have decent paying jobs.  Where are you working out of now?

[thumbprint]

Called UCSB and spoke to Carol cus I hadn't heard anything. She was very prompt about calling me back and very kind in saying no. Apparently almost all of their offers of admission have been met with "yes" so there probably isn't going to be a waitlist. 

[ptsd-2013]

Rejected from Syracuse. No big deal though, someone from my university is already in the program so it was unlikely they'd want two people from the same university at the same time in the same department.

Plus is was one of my plan Bs