MFA Painting Decisions

[Aligator2]

Which schools are people choosing between/leaning towards?

[mtung]

Made the official call to Hunter earlier this week.

[julieopp]

My decision came down to CalArts vs. Hunter for painting.

Here were the pros and cons of each, as I saw it:

CalArts:

Good:

Beautiful campus with great facilities

Very strong reputation as an art school

Fun and friendly interview day

Bring your dog to the studio, and class

Liked LA

Bad:

Studios not open, or had to be rented during summer

No major distinction between undergrads and grads

Post-studio emphasis, didn't seem to care about painting

Smallish studios, not ideal for a painter

Expensive, even with the $10k scholarship they offered me.

Didn't like Valencia, didn't like a 40-minute commute from Echo Park

Hunter:

Good:

Great location - Love NY

High-caliber faculty

Giant studios

Cheap cheap cheap

3-year, part-time program

Strong emphasis on painting

Bad:

Very large and somewhat impersonal program

No fancy facilities

disorganized

So in the end, I chose Hunter over CalArts. Even though the name may not be as strong, I thought there was a much stronger emphasis on painting. Great opportunities for networking with the other students. Huge, although not private studios. Requires you to be a self-started which I think is good practice for life after school. And cheap, because I hate the idea of graduating with debt!!

Starting next spring. Message me if you are also going to Hunter!

[jkroman]

So... here it is. I got accepted to VCU for painting. They told me the standard offer is:

1 semester paid + $4300 Stipend

The rest would be up to me. I would assume if I set up Virgina residence I would get in-state the second year.

What do people think of this program and this deal? Just trying to get all the options I can get. Thanks for all the help.

[volumen]

So... here it is. I got accepted to VCU for painting. They told me the standard offer is:

What do people think of this program and this deal? Just trying to get all the options I can get. Thanks for all the help.

I feel for you.....to have to decide now. It is so hard to know what schools is right....have you talked to any students there now? or know someone who graduated from there? it doesn't mean if others have a good experience and a good program that it will sway you. for me, more info is just better. I find it useful to talk to anyone who went through or are in grad program. that way, you hear from them what is important.

Any painters coming out of there who you like?