Anyone know these 4 Florida art programs?

[nitekitty]

Background:

Basically, I worked as a professional for many years stifling what I really wanted to do with my life, and now I finally am moving towards those goals.

 

Long story short I want to stay in the state of florida, I just received my MFA in creative writing, currently working on my writing (and getting short stories published), working on my visual art, and meanwhile would like to work towards a book of graphic narrative and would like to teach art.  (Taught writing and liked it, but I'm leaning towards art).

 

I applied this past year (while finishing my creative writing thesis-- I know, super dumb, and exhausting) to three schools:  Penndesign, SVA, and FIU.  SVU was my dream school (and I took some summer classes there) but even if I had gotten in I probably wouldn't have been able to afford it.  Didn't get into Penndesign either.  I could understand why (my portfolio was sort of all over the place since I was in the middle of a writing thesis), and both Penn and SVA got back to me within a month of applying.  FIU took FOUR months for a bunch of applicants to hear back we didn't get in.  The whole scenario was highly unprofessional.  I thought I knew FIU pretty well until then........

 

The Current state of affairs:

Now I'm applying to ten different schools for Fall 2014, some florida schools included............but I keep coming back to wondering what has been the experience of others at the schools below?  How attentive or mentorly are the faculty?  How skilled are the faculty?  How are the facilities?  And the programs' philosophies in regard to painting, illustration, and mixed media?  And how well do any of these schools prepare students to become surviving artists versus simply teachers?

 

FIU

USF

University of Miami

FSU

 

Any thoughts, regrets, good points on any of the four mentioned I'd be very appreciative of.

 

Best,

Nitekitty