[Williams (without images)?]

I had similar thoughts about that too, but quickly got over it since it seems as if they are truly interested in gauging your writing more than anything else.

I did find disconcerting, however, that we didn't get to submit a CV. By the way, are you going to request an interview? if you don't mind me asking of course.

Best of luck...

[Lesbian life in various places (recommendations? warnings?)]

I am very glad I found this... This is a great thread! Of course, it's too early to think about anything since I don't even know if I will be accepted anywhere... But I thought I would ask about a few places anyway. I should preface this by saying that I am very much a homebody, and though my husband will not come with me, I will not be going to bars/clubs, etc -- I don't drink (I guess I am old and boring : ). But regardless, I would still like to live in a place where people are accepting of others, and perhaps even has "some sort" of gay life, though I will not be partaking in most of it. And yes... I am older so I wonder about the existence of a gay community for 40+ years old.

 

Any input about the following cities would be greatly appreciated!

 

Amherst, MA

Albuquerque, NM

Williamstown, MA

Riverside, CA

[Where is she?]

I've had profs who weren't on the website in actual grad and undergrad.

 

Faculty for those courses was always listed as TBA. See any TBA's in classes she might teach?

 

I thought of that possibility, and believe it is possibly the most plausible one. I guess I will let everybody know once I call them in January.

 

Super Happy New Year, everybody!!!!!

[Where is she?]

Probably didn't get tenure.

 

I could swear she was already tenured, but maybe not! That's a good possibility.

 

She could be on a leave..?

This is also a possibility, though I'd be surprised to find out that one can go on leave for that long (~ two years); unless it's for a medical reason, of course.

[Where is she?]

Well I am not familiar with her nor do I know what field she is in.  However, if she publishes you might find recent articles that list her current school affiliation.  You could also search for her on LinkedIn and other social media/professional association sites.  She may have also left forwarding contact information with Tufts.

 

 

looks like shes still at tufts.

 

https://tufts.academia.edu/MonicaMcTighe

 

I find intriguing that she list herself everywhere as still being at Tufts, yet the university's website no longer shows her name among faculty members. The other thing that I noticed is that it seems that she hasn't taught any course there for the past 2 or so years (at least according to their courses listing).

 

I think I will have to call Tufts in January to find out whether she is still there or not.

 

Thank you for the assistance. cheers!

[Where is she?]

Do you guys know where Monica McTighe is? She is not listed as a faculty at TUFTS anymore, but I cannot seem to find where she went, or what happened to her.

 

Does anybody know if she is somewhere else?

 

thanks...

[studio art background & cv]

MAs only this time.

Why I liked my own post is beyond me... Of course I didn't mean to do that. Sorry guys!

[studio art background & cv]

Thanks for the feedback, guys! 

 

Brazillian, I have been following your posts for a while because it seemed we were in similar situations! I've also received positive feedback from programs about my studio background, and I agree that people who bring backgrounds outside art history to the field certainly make interesting and valuable contributions. I think we'll be ok! Are you appling to MAs or PhDs, or both?

 

MAs only this time.

[studio art background & cv]

Hello all! Long-time lurker finally emerging from the shadows. A massive, massive thanks to everyone who has contributed to the amazing resources in this little corner of the web! 

 

My BA is in studio art, and I'm making the stressful/exciting transition into art history MA programs that include criticism and theory. (I should add that I do have the required coursework in art history to apply, plus my background includes critical theory, literature, language, etc.) The departments I've been in touch with are very receptive to students with studio backgrounds. Yay! 

 

For my CV, I'm wondering if I should include my more studio-based stuff., ie awards/distinctions that were for my artwork (rather than research/writing), or my (short) exhibition activity. Of course I want my application as a whole to emphasize that I can make the transition-- I've tried to downplay the studio emphasis a bit by including a section for relevant coursework details. Does including this stuff show a complete picture of who I am, or does it just distract from the fact that I'm ready for graduate-level art history? I'm inclined to think it's the latter. Recent conversations with people who don't really know anything grad admissions are making me think twice. 

 

Thoughts from people who are well-acquainted with the field and the admissions process? If any of you are making a similar transition I'd love to chat!

 

 

I am in a "somewhat" similar situation. The difference is that I don't have a studio art degree, but I have had a long and successful career as an artist, and I have also been teaching art at the University level. So anyway... here is my fifty cents:

 

You are right that most programs are usually receptive to artists/art historians. In fact, I have had many prospectives POIs stressing the importance of having this sort of experience/training to do art historical work. They claim that it makes those with this kind of experience unique. So don't downplay your experience or studio art background, instead explain how it gives you a different perspective and/or how it influenced/informed your transition into art history. Show that you are multidimensional! You can bring something different to the table -- you have an understanding of a certain medium/mediums that others might lack, for example... use it in your favor.

 

In my CV, I list everything, but I make a point to differentiate which achievements are related to my work as an artist, and which ones relate to my art history/academic experience.

 

Best of luck to you!

[Modern/contemporary theory and criticism]

Random question for those who have applied for and accepted to Courtauld in the past... Did you write 3 different SoPs for each option? Wow... One is hard enough.

[Future article ideas]

I feel like we could set up a back-up plan sort of situation here, like, if we hit 50 without a feud, start one with each other.

 

Sounds like a plan to me... though I am afraid I am closer to that threshold than most of you.

[Paying a professional editor to go over my statement]

I thought about hiring one from "Kaplan," for example, but since I cannot afford it, and ultimately feel that I should be doing it alone anyway, I ended up choosing not to. But FYI, they do not write or rewrite the SOP for anyone (in fact, they are very adamant about that), at least the ones I checked. They will read your CV and after finding out more about you (after an initial meeting), they suggest how to organize, what to emphasize, etc, and later they will help proof/edit, but without changing one's writing style.

[Do you know who is [if there is one] the person for...]

I have looked around but am still not sure who the person doing work - if there is one - related to the History of Photography at U Mass Amherst is. Does anyone know? Unsure about UT Austin also.

 

thanks!

[What do you think I should do?]

Thank you guys! I guess, at least it won't hurt.

[What do you think I should do?]

Hey guys... here I come with another one of my "not-so-smart" questions.

 

As I update my CV, I am wondering if I should add a new heading [Curatorial Work] to it -- I could list a small exhibition I co-curated last year, as well as the current and future exhibitions I will either assist with, or will curate "alone" at a local art gallery? Since these are all "gallery" shows, I am not sure if grad school admission committees would actually care, or worse, would think that I am trying too hard to show that I have gained or will gain experience by the time I [hopefully] start grad school.

I hope you guys can shed some light on this.

 

Thank you so very much again!

[SECAC]

I think my presentation went well. What did you guys think of SECAC this year? I was quite annoyed by the location of the hotel/convention center. I did attend a few interesting sessions with some very good papers though.

[SECAC]

I'll be there for just Friday morning, and late Thursday evening, chairing and presenting. I have to get back to work for the evening, and flying right after work Thursday. 

Edit: However, if any of your presentations fall on Friday morning before noon, or just after the noon session, I would love to check it out.

 

Vicious Reverberations... on Friday?

[SECAC]

Are we all presenting Friday afternoon?

 

So It seems... I will be able to catch yours, Borden.   But not yours, Shelley, since our sessions coincide.

[SECAC]

I think I present mine Friday afternoon... but need to double-check it. OMG... it just hit me that my trip is around the corner and I don't even know when I am presenting. Yikes! Better get with it soon.

 

FYI... I arrive on Wednesday and leave on Monday. So I am hoping to make to everyone's presentations. Please let me know which session you will be presenting/chairing and I will be there. I will be part of the undergraduate presentations... I talk a bit about the image on my profile!

[Would you share a bit of your insider's knowledge, please?]

Why those two? There are a few other worthwhile schools in between geographically, including Rutgers, Tufts, and UMass.  BU is to Boston what Rutgers is to New York programs though.

 

I am actually applying to those you mentioned above. But I wanted to talk with someone about Williams' faculty, classes, master program, etc? They are my number one choice.   I am not convinced, however, that I should apply to the BU Masters, so I wanted to hear from an insider's point of view about the program and about one professor specifically.

 

But you are right, those programs you mentioned are very good indeed.

[SECAC]

I will be presenting also. Would you guys like to meet perhaps?

[Would you share a bit of your insider's knowledge, please?]

I was hoping to chat with someone(s) who has/have attended or is/are attending Williams and/or BU? I will be applying to these two programs this season and wanted to get some info about faculty and specific courses.

 

Thank you in advance!

[Strong Masters Programs in the History of Photography]

I don't think there's anyone doing photography at UC Davis now that Blake Stimson's out at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and to be honest I haven't seen any added cachet from coming out of there in the past five years. It certainly didn't get me in anywhere last year. That said, it is a really good program if you can deal with the cow smell coming from the dairy farm year round.

Great to know... nothing like receiving advice from an insider. I wasn't sure about them already, so I am now definitely crossing them out of my list. Thanks a lot!

[Strong Masters Programs in the History of Photography]

Some of these programs do not offer a terminal MA, so make sure you double check.  UC Riverside does have faculty interested in photography, and students often do internships at the California Museum of Photography with the opportunity to curate exhibitions.  Similarly Williams has faculty plus photography collection resources at the Clark and the college museum, both actively collect and exhibit photography.  I think internships at the three museums in the area based on a grad student's area of interest is part of Williams program's overall structure.  UMass Amherst is a wonderful program but without some of the specific collection resources of Riverside or Williams. But, all three have funding and send students on to tier 1 grad schools. The Syracuse MA I think is not terribly well regarded and I never hear much about Tufts (would be interested if anyone on gradcafe has knowledge of that program).  Have you looked into Arizona? I believe that they work with the Center for Creative Photography.  You also might check out Notre Dame, they have a terminal MA with some faculty interested in contemporary photography.  

 

Thank you so much... your help is much appreciated.

[Strong Masters Programs in the History of Photography]

Hi guys...

 

I have done some preliminary research and came up with the following list of masters programs with faculty working in/around the history of photography. Would you suggest any other ones or discourage any one from my list? My concern is also that whatever program I end up in, it will substantially improve my chances of getting into a top tier PhD program when it comes time for that. I am coming from a VERY SMALL UNKNOWN undergrad program, so the latter part is very important!

 

Here is my list thus far:

. Williams
. Tufts
. UT Austin
. Syracuse
. Bryn Mawr
. Penn State
. U Mass – Amherst
. Temple
. UC Riverside
. UC Davis
. Wisc-Madison
. U Delaware
. U Maryland
. UC Santa Barbara
. U Penn
. Rutgers
. Boston University
. Case Western Reserve
. McGill
. U Toronto
 

Thank you!