<p>Does being a legacy help getting into the MFA program? If so, are there financial benefits to being a legacy and applying to USC? Their ranking is not great compared to most of the other schools I’m considering applying to, but finances are a big concern for me. </p>
<p>Some background: my father graduated with an MFA in international relations in '85. (I was, in fact, conceived in ye olde Trojan Hall while my parents were RAs. Fun fact!) I am a 27 year old senior at SAIC. </p>
<p>Also, as a Southern Californian/Nevadan, my art is heavily influenced by a West Coast aesthetic, so professors more in line with that style might be a boon. Any other MFAers there with a similar undergrad background want to give me the skinny?</p>
<p>To my knowledge and from my experience, being a Legacy doesn’t help one bit with scholarships (except for the SCion scholarship.). As a matter of fact, it may work against you. It is my understanding that USC tends to offer some scholarships to lure the best and brightest that might waiver. If they know you’re a legacy, they don’t need to lure you. Being a legacy may help with admissions, though. That said, financial aid (as opposed to scholarships) is relatively generous. If you have a need, they meet it. Good luck!</p>
<p>Sorry to say, the answers to your questions, sky, are no and no. MFA admissions are based on candidate’s portfolio and area of specialization. Legacy will not, alas, be a factor. Unlike UG, where legacy may be weighed–although we see a huge number of legacies denied each cycle–and unlike academic majors, the Fine Arts MFA admissions are based on talent, body of work, and potential (as evaluated by current MFA faculty). </p>
<p>For you, when searching for suitable MFA programs, the key is to find schools that have reputations of excellence in your particular form of sculpture and professors in that sub-field with whom you’d like to work. If you are on the same wavelength, hopefully they will see your potential in portfolio and want to work with you, too. </p>
<p>If you haven’t already, you should look up the websites of each of the MFA professors in your art area at USC (and at other schools you might be applying to) and discover those you find inspiring. </p>
<p>Sorry, not sure about grad school financial aid or chances at fellowships in Fine Arts. You may have to search the USC grad program website for that. </p>
At the graduate level, need-based aid primarily consists of Federal Stafford loans<a href=“up%20to%20%7E$20,000/year”>/U</a> and Grad Plus loans<a href=“up%20to%20COA”>/U</a>. To reduce costs, graduate students typically seek out teaching assistantships and research fellowships.</p>