I found this older thread where someone was asking many of the same questions, and there is also some discussion on Pratt’s MID program in particular:
I’m pretty much in the same boat as you kepano, except I’m a year behind. I have one more year of liberal arts undergraduate work, hope to piece together a portfolio by the time I graduate, find a couple of internships and then hopefully get into Pratt’s MID program.
In response to no_spec’s comments about being eliminated from entry level jobs, I find that hard to believe. Even though my credentials may read MID once I graduate, there’s no way in heck I’m going to expect to be noticed more than a UC DAAP BA graduate, who has spent four years of rigorous ID study and interning. Of course if you come into an interview and spend all your time waxing poetic about how you have a MID while applying for a entry level job you’ll look like a fool and probably don’t deserve the position in the first place. But if you are to tell me that if I apply for an entry level job and poses internship experience, a master’s degree, and a strong portfolio, that an employer is more willing to move on someone with a weaker portfolio and credentials because they have a BA…???
I know at twenty-one I am not that far removed from the 18-year old crew, but just the thought of being lumped in with a bunch of them again and reliving the undergrad college days makes me tired, I know they’re not hooligans; but there’s definitely is a more calm, professional feeling to Pratt’s grad students; and I’d much rather surround myself in that environment for the next three years.