<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>
<p>Best of luck.</p>