MFA Painting 2010!

[andimags]

I also wanted to address an earlier comment by RKSim, when I mentioned tailoring my SOP to individual schools... Here's what was said:

I think that tailoring your SOP for each school is a must. The way I wrote mine last year, and plan on doing so this year, is having a ready-made statement about my personal work, and a little additional material on "why grad school now?" (which every school seems to ask). But from there, you need to sell yourself to the specific school. Mention what you like specifically about their program and show them that you have done the research on their school and that you are serious about applying.

^

That's exactly what I did. I don't think that having a ready-made statement about your work and then cutting and pasting various reasons why you want to attend a particular school is necessarily wise. What I intended when I said "tailoring" was something more akin to linguistic shifts. Some schools might prefer you have a command of postmodern language in order to lightly discuss particular elements of your work in a contemporary context, while other schools might imagine that to do so is unnecessary for a painter (after all, isn't it the critic supposedly the one with the verbal firepower? [not my viewpoint, but one I could possibly play along with to attain my preferred ends]).

I would love to hear some commentary on this...

[lazycatfish]

Essays=statement of purpose.

Ive had about four physical studio visits in the past two months and endless conversations with anyone I can get to talk about all these questions. That includes curators off various rank, artists, and professors who are currently teaching at schools (Yale, Columbia, etc...) All of them say that tailoring makes sense, considering programs are all unique, and stress a range or philosophical and historical predilections. (also, scarily, they stress that your recommenders should also be tailored, and your pool of recommenders should be far bigger than the three you will use) They also stress framing your work in a contemporary context and this, for some schools, would mean tossing around postmodern jargon. That said, I think its apparent if you are talking about your work in ways that you aren't fully versed in, it will reflect on you poorly. Stick with what you know, but reflect your awareness. Being honest but but convincing, direct and lucid, and self aware are all very very important. Furthermore, your have to remember, no matter what type of work you make, that this is 2010 and most critics, curators, dealers, even artists, rely on the TEXT to explain to them what they are looking at. Although many many artists work in ways that can stand without supporting material, its important to recognize and work within the standards that prevail at the moment--at least to get you in for an interview where you can further explain yourself in person and make a strong case for your abilities. They go through half of the applicants in one afternoon at many of these schools.... so you need to hit hard when they glance.

[andimags]

Awesome reply, thanks Lazycatfish.

My UT Austin application just went with a blow on the dice. Can I get a BOO-YAH?

[Crayons574]

How's everyone doing with their applications/deadlines? Finally got all my things in...sigh of relief!

[andimags]

Every time I send something off or think about it, I get extremely freaked out and feel like I might have to barf, but other than that, it's nice knowing that my end of the deal is done.

[MichelleRaminPaints]

If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same way. Three months of work on these apps and they are finally finished and sent off! Such a sense of relief but mixed with extremely high anxiety. Now we wait... I'm already freaking out and its only been two days. No idea how I'll be a month from now... I guess that's why I signed up for this blog. Cheers and good luck!

[Crayons574]

I know all the deadlines haven't passed yet, but I was wondering if anyone knew when we would start to hear back about acceptances, rejections, or interviews? Good luck to all of you!

[paydaygabe]

I feel the same as everyone. This is my second round of applications (was rejected to 5 schools last year after 1 interview and 1 post-bacc offer), and am hoping for a better time this go round. I feel as though I have matured so much from my first time experience. Anyway, to respond to the question above - I started to receive letters last year by mid-Feb.

I sent apps to:

MFA Painting -

Yale, SAIC, UNC Chapel-Hill, RISD, Wisconsin-Madison, Ohio State, University of Kansas, Cornell, VCU

Wish me luck. I wish you all luck as well!

[RKSim]

As for the discussion of statements, it sounds like what we are all getting at (to a certain extent) is to be honest. I'm applying to a variety of programs, mostly sculptural, and I do not have an undergraduate degree in visual art. Finding three recommenders was a long-term challenge, where I essentially had to build relationship with my recommenders (not solely for this reason..). Tailoring my recommendations would have been impossible. Further, responding again to lazycatfish, the professors I met with at UT Austin even mentioned that it would be wise to acknowledge my weaknesses and the need to improve in certain areas. So don't be afraid to list areas where you might not be well-versed..

I can't imagine applying to 30 schools. I applied/am applying to 11 this year, and after all the essays, I honestly don't think I could have approached them differently (from my mentioned readymade + modify approach). Tailoring the linguistics would have been insanely difficult for me, as I was completely OCD over just about every single word that I put in them. The UT austin essays were good to write, and I really appreciated that they didn't have a word limit (not that I wrote a book or anything..) Andimags, maybe we'll be piers?! good luck.. they take 6 painters, and 1 or 2 sculptors per year, so you've got a better chance than I do.

Also, it's significant to mention that everyone I've talked to about the application process has mentioned that your portfolio is the most important thing. by far. As Andimags mentioned, it's the critics that need the verbal firepower. A colleague of mine also had an interesting theory about visual artists, being that they express themselves through their art because they have a difficult time expressing themselves otherwise.. it is their outlet. This comes from his personal experience working with other artists..

And on an unexpected note.. I got my phone call (the call) from UCSB today.. they are recommending me for admission and a fellowship. I was blown away as I am still working on three other applications, and their deadline was only 10 days ago! Can you believe this!? Further, it was a postmark deadline, and they probably only received my portfolio on the 5th or the 6th.

Good luck everyone!

[andimags]

I am insanely jealous of you, that's why it took so long for me to respond. That's so freaking awesome that you already know that you got in (and a mother-effing fellowship consideration??? crikey). So, yeah, I would love to get into the same schools and check out your work, holmes! Let's bro up!

[andimags]

Also, I have a plan for diverting my anxiety in the mid-Feb letter time. From the 11th to the 22nd I'm taking a trip to AZ and New Mexico. Tickets were dirt cheap, I had the time off from teaching (Jewish school is awesome!), my homeslice is there, and i wanted tp see the anthropomorphic ass-mountains for myself. Fuck you, letters! I don't even want to read you! (My boyfriend will be diligently checking the mail, or I will kill him.)

[andimags]

Addendum- If you "warn" me for using swear words on this message board, you are a shitty motherfucking artist and should go cry and slit your wrists like a good little poseur.

It's the stress talking. Also, it's really fun to type. I feel better now! OK, everybody on here should be using lots and lots of curse words, otherwise, what in the fuck is this board good for?

[andimags]

RKSim, I just checked out your website. I am sorry I was jealous. Your work is killer and I am super stoked for you to go to the awesomest grad school EVER. If you don't get in to all of them, I will be so personally offended that I will write them eloquently angry letters on your behalf.

[Spaced Out]

I applied to 8 schools this year. This is my first time applying to MFA Painting programs. It was in my mind to do it for about 5 years and I finally decided to go for it. I tried to go for a diversified approach. The schools I applied to are :

California College of Arts,

Berkeley,

School of Art Institute of Chicago,

UW Madison,

RISD,

Pratt

Hunter

Virginia Commonwealth University

I really cant afford to have more college debt so I am hoping I can get a full ride somewhere, but I know that is likely more difficult to do with the more prestigeous private schools.

Any advice on how to "Play the game" of getting funding out of schools?

[Spaced Out]

I was just reading RKSim's post about statements and it made me feel a bit better. I was really OCD on my statements too even though I knew the portfolio was the most important component I wanted to make sure I sounded somewhat intelligent. Im starting to freak out a little bit waiting to hear back from schools, I guess I just have no idea what to expect.

[colbz]

I'm just wondering, how did you all go about narrowing down your schools? I mean, I know what the top MFA painting programs are, but I want to apply to ones that are less selective as well. I feel like it's like a lottery! What I am saying is, how do you go about finding your "safety schools?" For college it was different, because a degree is a degree, but for an MFA program I feel like it really matters where you go. What schools are not ranked in the very top, but are still worth it?

[Spaced Out]

I'm just wondering, how did you all go about narrowing down your schools? I mean, I know what the top MFA painting programs are, but I want to apply to ones that are less selective as well. I feel like it's like a lottery! What I am saying is, how do you go about finding your "safety schools?" For college it was different, because a degree is a degree, but for an MFA program I feel like it really matters where you go. What schools are not ranked in the very top, but are still worth it?

Look at the faculty work and student work and even work from past MFA students. I feel this is the best route to take. I will not deny that the status of some schools played a part in my decision but I didnt apply to any schools in the end that I was unsure about. This of course is based on what I could fins online and talking with friends and former classmates. I struggled with a huge list when I started out but as I went on I just trusted my gut. I want to go to a school that wants me for me, not for the person I think they want me to be...if that makes any sense. Hope this helps...

[colbz]

Look at the faculty work and student work and even work from past MFA students. I feel this is the best route to take. I will not deny that the status of some schools played a part in my decision but I didnt apply to any schools in the end that I was unsure about. This of course is based on what I could fins online and talking with friends and former classmates. I struggled with a huge list when I started out but as I went on I just trusted my gut. I want to go to a school that wants me for me, not for the person I think they want me to be...if that makes any sense. Hope this helps...

Yea, that all makes sense. It's just that there are 1800 MFA programs in the US....according to a book that my professor is letting me borrow, although that book is from 1999. I's so hard because I don't even know how to begin narrowing it down. I know I want to go near a big city, so I started with that...but a ton of them are near big cities. I tried ruling out a few states that I refuse to live in, but that still leaves a huge list. PS. has anyone heard anything about The School of Visual Arts in NYC? My friend went there undergrad but my graduate school books don't have it.

[grad_wannabe]

Yea, that all makes sense. It's just that there are 1800 MFA programs in the US....according to a book that my professor is letting me borrow, although that book is from 1999. I's so hard because I don't even know how to begin narrowing it down. I know I want to go near a big city, so I started with that...but a ton of them are near big cities. I tried ruling out a few states that I refuse to live in, but that still leaves a huge list. PS. has anyone heard anything about The School of Visual Arts in NYC? My friend went there undergrad but my graduate school books don't have it.

some questions to ask yourself:

1) what kind of work do you make? do you paint, take photos, make videos, installation, textiles, sculpt, etc? What schools are especially strong in those areas you work in?

2) who are your favorite artists? where did they go to school? who are THEIR favorite artists? where did THEY go to school?

3) are you strict in your medium? some schools, like Yale, have clearly defined boundaries between departments. Others, like USC, are more experimental and interdisciplinary.

4) what kind of art do you WANT to make? do you want to be a commercial artist or a fine artist? Do you want to make magazine ads (you'd want a school like Art Center) or do you want to show in galleries (a school like UCLA)?

5) Okay, so you want to live in or near a city - but what kind of city? Bustling and fast-paced, like New York? Culturally rich and diverse, like Los Angeles? What kind of weather do you want to live in?

6) What are the industries you want to be close to? Align your grad school choice so you'll be in close proximity to those careers, goals and people you want to be a part of.

Your UG professors, knowing you and your work, should be able to guide you here.

And yes, SVA is a giant in the field, with 14 MFA programs. You sure it's not in your books?

Edited February 8, 2010 by grad_wannabe

[akinanana]

Yea, that all makes sense. It's just that there are 1800 MFA programs in the US....according to a book that my professor is letting me borrow, although that book is from 1999. I's so hard because I don't even know how to begin narrowing it down. I know I want to go near a big city, so I started with that...but a ton of them are near big cities. I tried ruling out a few states that I refuse to live in, but that still leaves a huge list. PS. has anyone heard anything about The School of Visual Arts in NYC? My friend went there undergrad but my graduate school books don't have it.

Ask your professors where they would recommend. Research artists you like, and find out where they went to school. Ask people at your favorite galleries what grad schools they would recommend. Ask everybody. Pretty soon, you will develop your own list of schools that keep popping up.

[pionkowskig]

Accepted UW-Madison 2/10

[Artist1]

Is anyone thinking about going to MCAD? I got an email from them saying that they will preview and critique your portfolio before you apply! That seems pretty amazing, however, they would like to look at your portfolio through flickr or a website. Does anyone have advice on making a professional website? I have never taken web design, so I had to build mine using yola, and the image quality is horrible.

I know this was posted over a year ago. But I wanted to post some info on MCAD if anyone was thinking of applying.

I received my undergrad at MCAD and have friends that went to the grad program. I wouldn't suggest going to MCAD for an MFA. They aren't known for this program and it isn't very strong. Now, MCAD is a GREAT!!!! place for undergrad in painting and drawing and has some great instructors. Even my friends that went to MCAD for MFA's said that it isn't hard to get into and wish they went somewhere else.

Minneapolis is a nice place to live and there is an art community but you won't go anywhere with your art here. Once you show at a few of the well known galleries, that's it. Galleries are more interested in conceptual based work, illustration, and performance art. If your work doesn't fit into these categories, good luck with even getting into group shows, much less solo shows.

Grad studios are okay size, but walls aren't really tall. You do paintings 6(h) x 8(w) feet comfortably on the longer wall of the studios, but it would have to sit on the floor. Hot in the summer and a little chilly in the winter in the studio space off campus. John Gaunt is the best painting instructor at the school. He graduated from Syracuse University with his MFA in Painting and highly recommends that school for pursing an MFA.

So MCAD isn't super selective for MFA's as some of the more prestigous schools are. They do offer good financial aid packages and scholarships based on merit. TA positions available and work study at $15 / hr.

[colbz]

Hi, I am not familiar with Kunstakademie Dusseldorf, and so I looked up their site and could not figure out how to get it in English! I did however do some more research on it and it seems very interesting.

What were your 9 schools you applied to last year? This will be my third time applying however, I don't think I was very focused last year. The first time I applied was right out of undergrad, and I only applied to one school, Parsons. The second year I was trying to find a new job at the same time, and so I applied to Parsons again and University at Buffalo and still did not get in. This year though, I think I have "my ducks in a row" and have been steadily working on my portfolio and doing a lot more research and have found 7 schools I am definitley going to apply to, hopefully increasing my chances. I am applying to SUNY Purchase's dual MFA/MA art history program, SUNY CCNY in Manhattan, Pratt, Boston University, SFU in Tampa, PAFA, and Temple (Tyler) in Philadelphia. Each of these places has varying rates of difficulty to get into, but I feel my work fits much better into them than some other schools. I am also thinking of applying to Syracuse University, but I have not been able to find out vey much about it except what the school syays about itself. Does anyone have any info? I think I may also apply to UB again, however, I am not super hopeful as their acceptance rate is 18%.

I would really want a TA position at whatever place I attend because I would like to teach at the University/College level, and so I am paying a lot more attention to those possibilities at schools.

I am a little lost on an MFA SOP. I feel like a lot of advice given for SOPs is not really that helpful for someone applying to MFA programs in the visual arts, whether it be painting, sculpture or photography, etc... Does anyone have any suggestions or pointers?

One more questions...is it OK to include sculpture among paintings in portfolio? I know this was OK for undergrad or even on a website as many other artists are involved in multiple things, but would a painting department see me as unfocused?

Hey majohnson, I know this was over a year ago, but if you see this, where did you end up getting in to? I'm also applying this year to a lot of the same places you did...SUNY Purchase, CCNY, PAFA, and Tyler! I had thought that CCNY was a little easier to get in to, but maybe I am wrong.