MFA 2018 All Art ADMISSIONS freak-out forum!!!!!!!!

[kimala]

On 4/24/2018 at 1:38 PM, Hi! said:

I hope you get good news soon. I wish you the best of the lucks!!!?

Hi! I just got an email that the department recommended me to be admitted for graduate study. I think that means I got in?? I won't say its a for sure thing until I get the official letter, but at least its an update ?.

[blackbirdnichole]

Hello All, 

I am proud to announce that I found out today I have been accepted off the waitlist!

For those this year and those applying in future years...keep trying! It took me two years and waitlists to be accepted. 

I'm over the moon!

To all those accepted - Congratulations

To all those denied entries or still waiting...keep going. 

[Hi!]

1 hour ago, kimala said:

Hi! I just got an email that the department recommended me to be admitted for graduate study. I think that means I got in?? I won't say its a for sure thing until I get the official letter, but at least its an update ?.

Congrats!!!!! My gosh, it makes me so happy that you got in ? (yes, I do believe that it's an admission). I heard nothing yet, but I'll keep you updated!!! ??

[kimala]

11 minutes ago, Hi! said:

Congrats!!!!! My gosh, it makes me so happy that you got in ? (yes, I do believe that it's an admission). I heard nothing yet, but I'll keep you updated!!! ??

Thanks! I hope this means that you'll get a response soon since the department seems to be notifying people ???

[anwley]

2 hours ago, kimala said:

Thanks! I hope this means that you'll get a response soon since the department seems to be notifying people ???

aaaaaaaa congratulations！

[cottonbuds100pcs]

On 4/24/2018 at 2:13 AM, drawing water said:

First Time applying

Applied to 8 schools with sculpture portfolio

Yale-rejected

Bard-rejected

VCU-rejected

UCLA-rejected

Rutgers-rejected

SAIC- interviewed and accepted but declined offer

Hunter-Interviewed and accepted

Columbia University-Interviewed, wait listed and accepted last week

Currently trying to decide between Hunter and Columbia.  Trying to crunch all the numbers and see if it makes sense to go into this kinda of debt for Columbia.  My gut instinct is telling me to go for it.  Hunter seems like good program with good faculty, but the facilities for sculpture seem lacking.  Not for metal working facilities.  Also Hunter seems more geared toward painters.  I was much more interested in the student work I saw at Columbia than the student work at Hunter.  To be fair Hunter's new building is really nice, and the studios seem great, and I really enjoyed the interview, but I'm more excited about Columbia, the mentor week, and the faculty and the peers I'd be working with.  Tough decision to make, but I'm leaning toward Columbia...any advice from Columbia or Hunter people?

 

idk if this is something that you want to read or not, but it seems necessary to be shared widely

for those who'll attend columbia this fall

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2018/04/30/with-decrepit-facilities-and-missing-faculty-mfa-visual-arts-students-demand-tuition-refund/

Edited April 30, 2018 by cottonbuds100pcs

[TinaSlay]

To anyone waiting to hear back from VCU photo, I finally got a rejection letter in the mail!

I'm relieved this whole thing is done. What a journey!

[Birthday Soup]

2 hours ago, cottonbuds100pcs said:

idk if this is something that you want to read or not, but it seems necessary to be shared widely

for those who'll attend columbia this fall

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2018/04/30/with-decrepit-facilities-and-missing-faculty-mfa-visual-arts-students-demand-tuition-refund/

Niceee.... some of the current students clued me into some of these issues when I toured the campus... We'll see what happens I guess..  Anyone else committed to Columbia for starting Fall 2018?

[AngryHarold]

I finally decided on RISD, after a lot of back and forth. I feel really bad turning Pratt down, but I just think RISD is the better fit all-around for me. This will probably be my last update, so good luck to everyone next year. And to those who didn't get in, I was rejected my first round too, so no worries. Just keep trying. 

[Snoozi]

44 minutes ago, drawing water said:

Niceee.... some of the current students clued me into some of these issues when I toured the campus... We'll see what happens I guess..  Anyone else committed to Columbia for starting Fall 2018?

I have an offer and this makes me incredibly nervous... I'd like to write to the school and address my concerns, but I don't know if that will help at all, or just add to the flurry.

[hoax]

Yeah Columbia seems like it's a mess. It was originally my top choice- sort of relieved I got waitlisted, because I probably would've taken the offer, without really thinking about the problems or really taking into consideration what the price tag would do to me out of sheer faith in the program and the (largely absent, but I was hopeful) faculty. I spoke to a faculty member about the situation shortly after and they said I "dodged a bullet"

Edited May 1, 2018 by hoax

[Birthday Soup]

On 4/30/2018 at 6:51 PM, Snoozi said:

I have an offer and this makes me incredibly nervous... I'd like to write to the school and address my concerns, but I don't know if that will help at all, or just add to the flurry.

 I feel ya. I’ve been thinking about it too, and I think I will talk to my admissions interview contact and let them know that I am aware of these issues and concerned about them.  To be fair I knew that there were several studios that didn’t have windows or air conditioning and I can cope with that. I haven’t had a/c in 10+ years anyway and space heaters will be ok in the winter. Also knew about the ceiling flaking or chipping away in prentis hall which is unfortunate but not a big concern.  The flooding is a pretty legit issue and also lack of faculty is a big issue, which was also mentioned when talking to a current student... ie too many faculty on sabbatical at once.. etc... now I see Columbia has details on their full time faculty bios such as on leave 2017-2018, which seems to be the case for a lot of faculty, or reduced reaching load.  It’s definitely good they are trying to be upfront about that stuff now, but really feel for students who have been there during this years and missed all the faculty, and now worrying about whaat my experience might be like, Though it looks like a lot of the faculty should be back from leave after 2018.  It is a lot of debt and a lot s money and big established faculty memebers who they are advertising as part of their program need to be there or it’s no wonder students are asking for a tuition refund.  All that being said, I have talked to several people who have attended in recent years and were happy with their decision and their community of peers.  I do feel obligated to email and talk to someone to let them know I am privy to these issues and concerned. I don’t think it could add to the flurry or make things any worse than they are... we deserve to know exactly what faculties and faculty we will be working with.  I’m probably gonna ask for a course schedule of classes or something like that and ask about specific faculty.. but for real seems crazy to have to be thinking about all this stuff when your about to go $120k in debt for this school...

[Birthday Soup]

Did you apply this year? A faculty member told you that this year ?  Where did u decide on going good instead ? 

[hoax]

This all happened this year, yeah. I can pm you on more.

[scaredapplicant]

@hoax 

On 5/2/2018 at 12:32 AM, drawing water said:

Did you apply this year? A faculty member told you that this year ?  Where did u decide on going good instead ? 

 

On 5/2/2018 at 2:24 PM, hoax said:

This all happened this year, yeah. I can pm you on more.

I also got accepted at columbia and I talked to some current students. Apparently there's a new article that's going to come out about what's going on. It seems like the students and faculty are pissed at CU admin up high and not at the program itself and new hires were made starting next semester + a lot of faculty is coming back from leave

[scaredapplicant]

5 minutes ago, scaredapplicant said:

@hoax 

 

I also got accepted at columbia and I talked to some current students. Apparently there's a new article that's going to come out about what's going on. It seems like the students and faculty are pissed at CU admin up high and not at the program itself and new hires were made starting next semester + a lot of faculty is coming back from leave

anyway i was told its still worth it and this whole thing has been shaking things up in a good way

[scaredapplicant]

7 minutes ago, scaredapplicant said:

anyway i was told its still worth it and this whole thing has been shaking things up in a good way

the facilities are Ok, not great but still good given that its in nyc.. anyway just my two cents. I'm going to accept the offer and got a scholarship

 

8 minutes ago, scaredapplicant said:

@hoax 

 

I also got accepted at columbia and I talked to some current students. Apparently there's a new article that's going to come out about what's going on. It seems like the students and faculty are pissed at CU admin up high and not at the program itself and new hires were made starting next semester + a lot of faculty is coming back from leave

the facilities are Ok, not great but still good given that its in nyc.. anyway just my two cents. I'm going to accept the offer and got a scholarship

[Birthday Soup]

9 minutes ago, scaredapplicant said:

anyway i was told its still worth it and this whole thing has been shaking things up in a good way

Same here.  Its still a great program with a great legacy, and i don't see that changing.  It has issues for sure, but I agree that this negative publicity should have a positive effect going forward.  I spoke with a 2nd year graduating columbia student yesterday, and he confirmed that it was still a great experience altogether, though the past semester had been difficult.  It was suggested that new polices were being drawn to limit the length of time a fulltime faculty can go on leave or sabbatical and still come back.  Also heard that they are taking the replacement hire for thomas roma (recently resigned photo chair) very seriously and there are some big names in the mix.

whatever the short comings may have been I've decided to stick with it and I'm excited about starting at columbia in the fall.

[hoax]

Also heard about the big names in the mix for photo. One of them is one of my favorite artists. I'm glad there's more thorough article coming out. Everyone i talked to there being really loves the community and no place is perfect - and yes I hope this press gets things moving because that needs to happen. 

I was accepted off the Columbia waitlist this week, and turned it down. In a perfect world I would go, but I simply cannot afford it, even with the biggest scholarship I've heard they give. Best of luck to everyone going. I'll definitely check out the open studios and shows when they're up!

[Jjjuliannn]

On 5/2/2018 at 12:29 AM, drawing water said:

 I feel ya. I’ve been thinking about it too, and I think I will talk to my admissions interview contact and let them know that I am aware of these issues and concerned about them.  To be fair I knew that there were several studios that didn’t have windows or air conditioning and I can cope with that. I haven’t had a/c in 10+ years anyway and space heaters will be ok in the winter. Also knew about the ceiling flaking or chipping away in prentis hall which is unfortunate but not a big concern.  The flooding is a pretty legit issue and also lack of faculty is a big issue, which was also mentioned when talking to a current student... ie too many faculty on sabbatical at once.. etc... now I see Columbia has details on their full time faculty bios such as on leave 2017-2018, which seems to be the case for a lot of faculty, or reduced reaching load.  It’s definitely good they are trying to be upfront about that stuff now, but really feel for students who have been there during this years and missed all the faculty, and now worrying about whaat my experience might be like, Though it looks like a lot of the faculty should be back from leave after 2018.  It is a lot of debt and a lot s money and big established faculty memebers who they are advertising as part of their program need to be there or it’s no wonder students are asking for a tuition refund.  All that being said, I have talked to several people who have attended in recent years and were happy with their decision and their community of peers.  I do feel obligated to email and talk to someone to let them know I am privy to these issues and concerned. I don’t think it could add to the flurry or make things any worse than they are... we deserve to know exactly what faculties and faculty we will be working with.  I’m probably gonna ask for a course schedule of classes or something like that and ask about specific faculty.. but for real seems crazy to have to be thinking about all this stuff when your about to go $120k in debt for this school...

just my two cents, i don't think the price tag as well as the institutional and physical crumbling of the school is worth 120k in debt even if you peer group are super accomplished. even if you come out of school very 'successful'... you can get a good deal from VERY good schools with a smaller price tag

[coffeebean2018]

Hey has anyone here done VCU's Summer Studio Program? I was accepted, although I am unsure about affording the program cost of $4,750 on top of living expenses. If you have done it, how beneficial did you find the program? Thanks!

[Jjjuliannn]

On 5/3/2018 at 8:56 PM, hoax said:

Also heard about the big names in the mix for photo. One of them is one of my favorite artists. I'm glad there's more thorough article coming out. Everyone i talked to there being really loves the community and no place is perfect - and yes I hope this press gets things moving because that needs to happen. 

I was accepted off the Columbia waitlist this week, and turned it down. In a perfect world I would go, but I simply cannot afford it, even with the biggest scholarship I've heard they give. Best of luck to everyone going. I'll definitely check out the open studios and shows when they're up!

they're also practically crumbling, the current students are suing the school. 

[Snoozi]

To Painters considering reapplying to MFA painting programs in the fall: 
If anyone has questions about reapplying to MFA Painting, particularly to schools like SAIC, RISD, Columbia, Yale, SVA, I'm open to answering questions all of this month - you can just private message me.  I am not an admissions expert, but I did learn a lot about admissions and the interviewing process over my recent 2 years of applying.  I can also offer a little bit of insight on what to do if you get rejected your first time applying / applying to your dream school / summer residencies / post-bacc programs / waitlists, etc.

I told myself that once I got into grad school, I'd give back to this forum because I was completely clueless when I first applied, didn't have a BFA and so had few friends I could ask about the app process, and found the entire situation rather emotionally draining/drawn out longer than it needed to be.  On hindsight, I'm very grateful that it worked out the way that it did because I grew a lot from the experience.  This forum answered a lot of the questions that I had that admissions could not offer, or wasn't part of what I thought fair play should be in an application system, because art can be so subjective.
Anyway, always happy to help! 

[painterlady431]

Any future MICA Painting MFAs? I'll be starting in the fall and am looking to get to know people before moving to Baltimore! In early July I'll be visiting too and would be super excited to meet up with people. 

[IrisR]

On 3/27/2018 at 10:00 PM, sunflowerpower said:

MFA Accepted - Now What! started this new forum just now come join me.

 

Congratulation so happy for you.

On 3/27/2018 at 5:37 PM, Tangerin3 said:

Trying to choose between a good financial package at VCU and a lesser one to Tyler. I'm leaning toward VCU since I like their program more, wondering if anyone wouldn't mind sharing their perspective. I feel like I'm making a decision that's way over my head. 

VCU is a wonderful program go with them.