Where There's A Will, There's A Loan

Well folks, looks like my path to New York isn't so uncertain afterall. Previously I thought that since the National Student Loan Program didn't fund Canadian students studying abroad, that I couldn't get a loan to help me. I was wrong!

Last night, I was determined to find something to help me and I did. It's called the Canadian Student Loan (formerly CanHELP) and it's for Canadian students who wish to study in the U.S. Perfect! It's credit-based, and you need a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to co-sign... not so perfect. Other than that its basically like a normal student loan that you re-pay six months after graduation. I want to jump up and down! Just one problem though: I already owe about $20,000 in student loans (about $5, 000 a year) so far and New York Academy is currently $22, 700 a year! There's no way I'm borrowing THAT much a year, so I need other sources of funding. 

Which brings me to grants. A couple of months ago, one of my instructors thought my work would be good enough to receive the Elizabeth Greenshields grant ($12,500). I actually heard about it years before from a friend but I didn't think I had the work for it then. So I got a hold of the application and hung onto it for a while because I was planning which 6 pieces to enter. Because here's the kicker: If you don't get the grant the first time, you're not allowed to try again for another 2 years! So, of course, I was really doubting myself, because that made me very anxious. I'm still really nervous about it but I'm much more optimistic and I'm going for it. I've got the six pieces, and I feel like it's now or never. I really hate applying for stuff! But I'm sending it off this week. Wish me luck (I'm gonna need it). 

After the BFA

What's the big question on an art student's mind? For me at least its, "What the heck am I gonna do after all this?" Right now things are very uncertain...all I know is I need to get to New York to do my MFA.

It was pretty much a given that I'd need an MFA on top of a BFA since high school. The only question was where, when and how. While I was studying at an atelier, I heard of the New York Academy of Art, which is a figurative art school. So I looked it up on the net and saw all this amazing work coming out of their MFA programme. Actually a lot of great figurative artists, established and emerging, come out of that school.  Naturally I feel that is the only school I'd want to spend large sums of money on to earn my MFA. Check out their website, you'll see what I mean. So that's figured out, when is this all going to happen? 

Well, I don't know! I'm working on it though. The thing is, I don't live in New York, and I don't have anywhere near the kind of money I'd need to stay there and pay tuition. There are scholarships but none really add up to full tuition (as far as I know). So I need funding from many different sources, and preferably not the bank for God sakes! Anyway, then there's the portfolio, which although I feel my work is good, I'm not sure it's good enough to get a scholarship. Then again, I am my worst critic! So I need to work on that portfolio a bit more...

There may be some good news in this though. I do have family in New York, not in Manhattan where the school is, but hey. Hopefully I can work something out with them for the 2 years I'd be there. Naturally, I'd want to pay them rent or whatever they'd accept but man I really don't think I'd be able to have a job while I'm there. From what I know of the course load there, and strict standards of work, I don't see how even a part time job would fit in. There's so much to think about!

You know what, if you're reading this as a NYAA student...please comment! I could really use some guidance in this area.