MFA 2013 Waitinglist Support Group

[Ren Adams]

Just an update--

 

I went ahead and contacted MICA with an email indicating my continued interest in the program. In it, I asked if there was a realistic chance that I would be bumped up from the waiting list--and whether or not there was a numbered order. The admissions representative sent me a wonderful letter in return, which was uplifting and detailed. He indicated there is no numbered order and that each time a fully accepted student decides not to attend, they do a "mini review" of the wait list and choose the best fit for the spot. He said the summer low residency program has very little space, but he also did not make the waiting list sound hopeless (sounded like a short list, at least).

 

He invited me to stay in touch once a week, rather than the "we'll call you" implication of the formal letter I received in the mail. He went to a lot of trouble to explain the process and that I may realistically have results I can use for decision making in the next week or two, which is a relief.

 

If you're thinking about touching base with the school you're wait listed with, do it. I hesitated at first because I didn't want to be a bother, but the gracious and informative response I received helped ease the process!

[Ren Adams]

Hello all! I was waitlisted at SAIC, and I share your ambivalence; really feel the program is perfect for me.

One of the linked articles here suggests writing a letter to the Director of Admissions (or whoever signed your letter) indicating continued interest; sounds like it couldn't hurt.

 

Congrats! That's fantastic news.

[querida]

Thank you, Lucia and Ren!

I will definitely take Ren's advice and write an email. SAIC did not provide me with much information; the letter says that they will provide me with more information once they determine if there is space in the class, but there's no mention of when that might occur, or whether their wait list is in numerical order.

 

A question on formality: who should I address the email to, if sending it to the office of graduate admissions? 

[Lucia Werd]

A question on formality: who should I address the email to, if sending it to the office of graduate admissions? 

 

Look at who sent you the letter informing you that you were on the waiting list. That is usually a good place to start.  Unless you know the person that specifically takes care of the MFA applications in that school.  I'm guessing the director of the program could be a third option. 

[red_190]

I'm also waitlisted on MICA, and they say usually they accepted from 5 to 10 students on the waiting list. Although I don't know if it's for the whole college or each individual department.

[Kelly Anna Yllek]

Two waitlists now, Only thing keeping me sane is its better than outright rejection

[jwu]

ok, question, do waitlisted applicants get an official answer before or after April 15th??

or it depends on each program??

[Emoree]

you won't necessarily get any answer by april 15th.  i just called IUB and she said she's going to try to get an answer from the remaining accepted students next week so there'd be time for any accepted waitlisted people to make a decision by april 15th, but it's definitely not guaranteed.  they could theoretically call you the day before the semester starts.  crazy.

 

for me, one good thing she said is there is only one other waitlisted person besides me!  woohoo!  but also that half of the accepted people have already replied that they will be attending.  i think the chances of a spot opening for me are pretty low since it's such a good school with pretty low tuition, i'd be surprised at anyone declining (but still holding out hope)...

[Kelly Anna Yllek]

Depends on the program I'd say, I saw a few people on here say they were accepted off the waitlist sometimes weeks before classes began. I was told I had to accept being on the waitlist before the 15th for UW and for UO it was two weeks after being sent a letter in the mail to officially sign up for waitlisting. 

[Lucia Werd]

ok, question, do waitlisted applicants get an official answer before or after April 15th??

or it depends on each program??

I would say don't hold your breath before April 15.  Some schools wait for all the answers, then review how many and who they will take off the waiting list to complete the group.  And if you're not in that second row, you could still be chosen if the waitlisters say no after their 2-3 weeks to reply. etc, etc.  You can see how this can go on for a while...

I was told to expect something more around mid-may for the university I'm waitlisted (Concordia in Montreal)

[jwu]

I would say don't hold your breath before April 15.  Some schools wait for all the answers, then review how many and who they will take off the waiting list to complete the group.  And if you're not in that second row, you could still be chosen if the waitlisters say no after their 2-3 weeks to reply. etc, etc.  You can see how this can go on for a while...

I was told to expect something more around mid-may for the university I'm waitlisted (Concordia in Montreal)

thanks, that explains a lot. totally makes sense from the programs point of view, they want to accept the most fit candidates.

 

by mid-May, don't people have already taken offer from other programs?

or people who get in off the waiting list in May or even later are 1, people who don't get anywhere else, 2, people who accepted the offer from another school but decide to waste the deposit money and accept the second offer off the waiting list??

[Lucia Werd]

thanks, that explains a lot. totally makes sense from the programs point of view, they want to accept the most fit candidates.

 

by mid-May, don't people have already taken offer from other programs?

or people who get in off the waiting list in May or even later are 1, people who don't get anywhere else, 2, people who accepted the offer from another school but decide to waste the deposit money and accept the second offer off the waiting list??

 

Or people who only applied to one school that's their top choice (which is my case )

[jwu]

Or people who only applied to one school that's their top choice (which is my case )

ah, you are right, forgot about that...

[Lucia Werd]

ah, you are right, forgot about that...

It seems to be the exception, not the rule. Most people on this forum are applying to many schools. It's a gamble, because if you're not chosen, you have to wait a year. But this is where I want to go (and where I can go, because some places are just financially impossible for me) so elsewhere would be a second choice anyway.

[DaniDevotchka]

you won't necessarily get any answer by april 15th.  i just called IUB and she said she's going to try to get an answer from the remaining accepted students next week so there'd be time for any accepted waitlisted people to make a decision by april 15th, but it's definitely not guaranteed.  they could theoretically call you the day before the semester starts.  crazy.

 

for me, one good thing she said is there is only one other waitlisted person besides me!  woohoo!  but also that half of the accepted people have already replied that they will be attending.  i think the chances of a spot opening for me are pretty low since it's such a good school with pretty low tuition, i'd be surprised at anyone declining (but still holding out hope)...

 

Hey Emoree,

I think we messaged each other about being on the Indiana waitlist back in February (that feels like a lifetime ago doesn't it?). Anyway, I've just (5 minutes ago) emailed IUB and asked to be removed from their waitlist because I accepted an offer to Arizona State University..... soooo you should be on a waitlist of one now. I've got my fingers crossed for you! Good luck! 

[beards]

On 3/28/2013 at 12:04 PM, jwu said:

ok, question, do waitlisted applicants get an official answer before or after April 15th??

or it depends on each program??

 

WashU's deadline to accept their offer is April 5, instead of April 15 so they might notify some people on the waitlist before the 15th depending on how they do things

[Britt0131]

I'm on the MFA RISD wait list for their photography program. I was so excited to even get an interview! It is a bummer to wait though. I have been accepted to another school CCA so I can't accept my offer until I find out more for RISD which will be end of April. I just want to start planning for this fall! The summer is fastly approaching and this is a big move.

Edited March 31, 2013 by Britt0131

[Emoree]

Hey Emoree,

I think we messaged each other about being on the Indiana waitlist back in February (that feels like a lifetime ago doesn't it?). Anyway, I've just (5 minutes ago) emailed IUB and asked to be removed from their waitlist because I accepted an offer to Arizona State University..... soooo you should be on a waitlist of one now. I've got my fingers crossed for you! Good luck! 

 

hey there, did you apply for printmaking or painting?  i am waitlisted for their printmaking program.  it would be awesome if you were the other alternate for printmaking but i have a feeling you applied to the painting program?

[DaniDevotchka]

Oh crap you're right! The bit about the crossed fingers still applies!

[Emoree]

Poop!  This is one of the rare cases where i would rather be wrong!    But oh well, I guess there's still hope.  thank you for the good wishes! And congratulations on Arizona, I've heard they have a very good printmaking program so i suspect their other programs would be great, as well.

[Guest]

I would say don't hold your breath before April 15.  Some schools wait for all the answers, then review how many and who they will take off the waiting list to complete the group.  And if you're not in that second row, you could still be chosen if the waitlisters say no after their 2-3 weeks to reply. etc, etc.  You can see how this can go on for a while...

I was told to expect something more around mid-may for the university I'm waitlisted (Concordia in Montreal)

 

What program are you waitlisted for? I'm on the list for Photography and I know that the accepted bunch have to give their answers by April 1st... so I was kinda hoping to get an answer by the 2nd. Are you saying it's wishful thinking? haha

[Lucia Werd]

What program are you waitlisted for? I'm on the list for Photography and I know that the accepted bunch have to give their answers by April 1st... so I was kinda hoping to get an answer by the 2nd. Are you saying it's wishful thinking? haha

Sculpture. But each department have their own dates I think. I was told to expect something by mid-may. Here in Canada we don't have the standard of April 15 as a date like in the US, it seems to be a free for all sometimes for the dates :/

But if you were told that the result date was April 1st, then you might get an answer soon depending if the comitee needs to meet again or not. I hope you get it! Photography has interesting facilities and the Hexagram research center that grad students can use. Good luck!

Edited April 1, 2013 by Lucia Werd

[Guest]

Sculpture. But each department have their own dates I think. I was told to expect something by mid-may. Here in Canada we don't have the standard of April 15 as a date like in the US, it seems to be a free for all sometimes for the dates :/

But if you were told that the result date was April 1st, then you might get an answer soon depending if the comitee needs to meet again or not. I hope you get it! Photography has interesting facilities and the Hexagram research center that grad students can use. Good luck!

 

Thank you! Best of luck to you too!

[Lucia Werd]

Csts, did they give you a waiting list order number or not?

[Emoree]

still waiting to hear from IUB :/  they've had some prospective students visit this week, and half of the accepted students have already accepted... i really really hope someone declines (and soon!) ....  argh...