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Two for Two Monday, March 8, 2004 | 5:44PM

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     I got my denial letter from UT on Friday. making that two for two. I received the denial letter from RISD about two weeks ago, and I fully expected it. However, UT was a little more important, not because it is a better school (it isn’t), but because UT would’ve fit our lifestyle-to-be the best. The pros of going to UT (had I gotten in):

• Almost guaranteed TA-ship that would have more than paid for cost of attending school.
• 3 year program — not always a good thing, but I can’t help but think that 3 more years of independent work would have been beneficial
• Only 2 other MFA candidates — they only accept one student per year, so as to take very good care of them both financially, and so each student can get special attention from a faculty member
• It’s in Austin — the place we will already be living
• Affordable — the supposed cost of everything: $16,000
• UT has a great printmaking program — this would have been benficial because I am interested in some photo-related printmaking techniques, and this might have been the best place to cross-polinate
• It’s UT — I know some of you don’t think all that highly of it as a school, but most of you are what we call “Aggies”, and that’s understandable

A few cons:

• 3 year program — most of the best programs in the country are 2 year programs, and this would keep me out of the working world for yet another year
• Only 2 other MFA candidates — this means fewer peers to give feedback, and less contacts made
• It’s in Austin — probably the most artsy place in Texas, but not nearly as good as living in some place like New York City
• Status — while it’s true that the art program in general is one of the better programs in the country, the photo section specifically has no real national status, which might be due to the size

     So as you can see, there are more pros than cons, but it really just doesn’t matter because I wasn’t the single photo student they accepted this year. I was pretty upset about it on Friday because I really did think I had a chance, but now I’m pretty ok with the fact that I won’t be in school for the next year and a half. And besides, it’s not like I’m a high school dropout or anything. I’ll have a bachelor’s degree, and it’s not only a good time to build up my portfolio, but also a good time to get some valuable work experience and enjoy not having homework. And best of all: I’ll be a married man. Somehow I can’t say this has put much of a damper on my life.

     So over the next year, I’ll be researching not only the best graduate schools, but those that will really fit my style and work ethic. After talking with a friend, it turns out that RISD probably wouldn’t have been the best choice for me, as it’s quite a “designy” program. The School of the Art Institute in Chicago might have been perfect for me, but I didn’t apply because it costs about $80,000 for the entire two year program. But they do offer scholarships and grants and stuff, so I’m just an idiot for not at least applying. Some other suggestions were the Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. UCLA and UC-Davis.

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Comments

patio | Wednesday, March 10, 2004 | 8:58AM

patio | Wednesday, March 10, 2004 | 8:58AM

Nathan | Wednesday, March 10, 2004 | 9:17AM

Stacy | Wednesday, March 10, 2004 | 10:47AM

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