Photography MFA programs 2013

[AmandaBR]

Hey all!

I'm new to the forum and will be applying to photo MFA programs for fall 2013. I would prefer a 2-year program with funding for teaching assistantships. Hoping for a program that welcomes alt photography and has film facilities.

I have taken several years off since last being in school and feel a little out of touch as far as the best programs to apply to and even what to include in my portfolio. I applied to several programs last fall and was appalled not to be accepted to any of them. Rethinking where to apply and also what to submit.

I am from Montana, so very open to smaller schools/cities and some preference for schools in the West.

Suggestions welcome!

[Curious12345]

SFAI has awesome facilities, UCLA had decent ones when I visited, RISD had good equipment and facilities, USC doesn't...at least not at their grad studios...CCA does...those are all I can remember right now.

[123_Nap_Time]

If you'd like to stay in the west, you might want to look at University of Washington, they have a two year program. University of Oregon is two years also I think.

Good luck!

[123_Nap_Time]

Also, I'm looking for 3 year programs... so if you hear of any of those would you let me know?

I'm already looking at these 3-years so far:

Columbia College in Chicago

University of Georgia, Athens

VCU

RISD

[cui cui]

If you'd like to stay in the west, you might want to look at University of Washington, they have a two year program. University of Oregon is two years also I think.

Good luck!

UO is a 3 years one.

[123_Nap_Time]

Hey Amanda, not trying to hog your topic here, but I went back and looked at my grad school research spreadsheet for 2 year schools, heres everything I have confirmed (it seems like most programs are two year):

UCLA, has a darkroom, has teaching opportunities

University of Chicago

Cal Arts

RISD

California College of Art, CCA has great facilities, pretty much anything you'd want!

MICA

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, color and B&W darkroom

SCAD

Tulane, has a darkroom, don't know about teaching opportunities but they do offer all accepted grad students a stipend

Columbia University, has a B&W darkroom, no color

Mass Art is two year

I know a lot of these schools aren't in the west...

Sorry I don't know more!

[123_Nap_Time]

Thanks Cui Cui!

AmandaBR my googeling-superstitiously-while-at-work skills are a little spotty but I think most of the other info is correct, sorry about that!

[123_Nap_Time]

anybody know if Arizona State is 2 year or 3 year?

[AmandaBR]

Thanks, 123. For three-year programs:

U of Oregon in Eugene is a three-year program with a good reputation. So are U of Colorado in Boulder and U of Minnesota in Minneapolis. U of Alaska in Fairbanks is a fairly new program and looks interesting. U New Mexico in Albequerque and Arizona State in Tempe are both very prestigious programs.

I visited Boulder (brand new labs, very nice) and Albequerque (little stuck on themselves, grad advisor was chilly and lab manager didn't have time for me).

For myself, I'm a little reluctant to go to California. Tuition generally seems higher, and cost of living is also much higher than most other places in the West. Convince me otherwise if you know of a school where that's not the case.

I am looking at two-year programs at WSU in Pullman, as well as Boise State and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Edited August 28, 2012 by AmandaBR

[cui cui]

anybody know if Arizona State is 2 year or 3 year?

2-year.

You can also consider USF if you are looking for 3-year programs.

[AmandaBR]

Cost is also an unavoidable factor, and I find that state schools are much more affordable than private ones.

For example, tuition at WSU is about half that at CCA or MICA, and they strongly emphasize their graduate assistantship opportunities (while the other two don't mention them at all). Boise State is even more affordable, and they also put an emphasis on teaching assistantships.

Cost of living is also much more affordable in a place like Pullman, Wash. than I imagine it would be in Baltimore or San Francisco.

Just saing ...

[AmandaBR]

Does anybody know anything about the programs at:

University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Iowa

University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

or University of South Dakota?

They all seem to have photo MFA programs, but I know nothing about their reputation, atmosphere, etc.