Visiting the School before applying: help me please!

[caitlingm]

Hello--

I am new to the grad cafe but I have applied for an MFA once before. Well, I am reapplying because I was not totally satisfied with my results so I'm going for it one more time. I am visiting New York City in a few weeks and I am going to looking at schools and trying to put a face to my name, hopefully for a better shot this year. What is the most successful way to conduct a visit? What are the best things to ask? How can I get professors and students to really want me in the program just from a visit? I should mention I have been asking around and in NYC prospective students are NOT allowed to sit in during critiques or lectures because that is considered giving away a free service apparently. So that's one hurdle. Here is where I am applying to and hoping to visit during my trip:

The School of Visual Arts

New York University

Columbia

Queens College

Hunter College

Any tips, advice or helpfulness in general is immensely appreciated!

[michaelwebster]

Make sure that your friendly and energetic. Try to do as much research as you can into the programs before you arrive so you can ask more intelligent questions. A good question would be about the philosophy and direction of the program and how they see themselves growing over the next two years. Make sure not to say anything that could be considered offensive to the program. At one of my interviews a few years ago another interviewee asked about a social division between the 1st and 2nd year grad students; NOT a good question. Obviously you're not there to point out the flaws, just take mental note of them for yourself later.

Most schools will let you go to crits after you've been accepted, but since almost anyone can visit, they want to protect the level of discourse in a crit from getting weird with someone who doesn't know what they are talking about.

[JustinjSmith]

Do all MFA interviews have to be in person? what if you apply to multiple states?

[michaelwebster]

Do all MFA interviews have to be in person? what if you apply to multiple states?

Usually its not required, but rarely do people get accepted if they didn't go to the in-person interview. The only exception is overseas applicants, they don't expect people to fly overseas for the interview.

[caitlingm]

Thank you for your suggestions, michaelwebster!