Snippets

Not everything is always happy, exciting, or fun whilst trying to start an MFA. Though I'm over the biggest hurdle (getting accepted) there are still many things left in the process. Honestly I feel like I am at the worst point right now but I am trying my best to keep things in perspective and just going with the flow.

It seems that for the past five months I've done nothing but write various versions of personal statement, proposed thesis, motivations for study. These essays at some point, just start to sound the same and they get all jumbled in my head. Partly because I am frustrated to write yet another essay on the same topic and not be able to start working on these projects. I just want to start. It also doesn't help that I left my camera at my parents home this past year. I didn't want to risk losing or harming the equipment while I lived in Querétaro. I thought that my current job would motivate and keep me busy enough to not miss it. The reality is that I miss my hands on the camera. On the plus side, I now have my external hard drive full of photos that I have not uploaded or worked on. Hopefully after all this is over I'll have some time before July to work on them.

Why so many essays? Well I have been applying for extra funding. I have applied to the Jumex scholarship and am in the process of applying to FONCA-CONACYT (Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes) AND SEP (Secretaría de Educación Pública), both from the Mexican government. I actually don't know if I should apply to FONCA this year. I feel a little unprepared. Well, no not uprepared, I just feel like my submission will be stronger next year in terms of what they ask for. Then again, I should just try this year, I can always re-apply. No harm, no foul.

There's still so much left in the process on the road to an MFA. I still have to get my J1 Visa, find housing, furnish said housing option, move to DC, find airfare and tickets to DC, quit my current job, move out, and pack. On the Fulbright end of the spectrum there's still the Orientación de Despedida at COMEXUS and the Fulbright Gateway Program. Those are two things I am very excited for! Anyway, all of this before July 11th/a month and a half-ish. Can you see why I am freaking out?

How I wish I had a million dollars. The next step in the graduate school process was determining the best fit in terms of finances. To wich, at this point, I have nothing. I'm not bankrupt but I half jokingly state that my net worth is $0. Half jokingly.

Because of this I had to decline acceptance into USC. I waited for a scholarship from the department and even begged for a TA position, but nothing came up. Without their help I still had to come up with around 10G for the year, for two years and figure out how to pay 33+G for tuition only for my third year. This came to a total of 50G for three years plus living expenses. Basically...too much money I do not have.

As for Miami and SCAD, I still haven't heard back and American University graciously extended my deadline to April 30th. Unfortunately, without scholarships from either school, I will not be able to attend.

American University did offer a Merit Scholarship and a TA position. This definitely helps! I only have to put in about 2G a year for two years. Though, I may extend it to three years in order to get an MFA, but one step at a time.

Even after all of this I still had to spend a lot of time calculating costs. At one point it felt like studying for the GRE again. But, if anything, for all those of you who are going through the process, I leave you with these tips, financially speaking.

1. Spend a lot of time on the schools website to figure out the cost of tuition, fees, books, required equipment, etc.

2. If you can't find that info on the website turn to sites like Peterson's, College Calc they usually have a general idea of what certain things cost and it may help you round out your excel spreadsheet.

3. Create an excel spreadsheet, be it by hand or on an actual digital document. I started mine digitally but, alas, I am old school and felt better writing things down. Later, I sorted out my mess and did put things digitally.

4. Talk things over. Ask family, friends, S.O.'s, about costs. After all they may have a better idea. For example, I have family that lives in DC (well in Silver Spring) and I asked them for a guesstimate on grocery expenses, rent, etc for the area. This really came in handy when filling out supplemental scholarships.

5. Don't give up! Look for other financial opportunities. Though I have an amazing scholarship, having won one already makes me a likely candidate to win another.

I wish you guys the best of luck and well...let's keep things going!