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Bird dog

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Everything posted by Bird dog

  1. I actually agree with what others have posted. I don't think applying to a safety school is a bad idea, but would only apply to a "safety school" if you were truly interested in their program and would matriculate if given the opportunity. A couple things to consider about a school that accepts just about everyone is what is the graduation rate and how long does it take the average student to graduate? Also, what is the caliber of work and background of your potential classmates? I discussed this very subject with a friend of mine a while ago who taught art and design in Boston as I was teaching at the Community College of Vermont. Both of us found the students to be very uneven in their interest, educational background, and talent. Few finished their respective programs. I mention this because you will be spending a lot of time learning and exchanging ideas from your classmates. As an aside, I am putting off my application to MFA programs for a year so as to do more research and build a better portfolio. Also, I want to be in a better financial position than I am in currently. Good Luck!
  2. Thanks kfralal for your insight. I think at this late stage in the game, I am going to put applying off for a year. I want to develop a better portfolio. ALso, I think I need to reconsider the low Res option. I do much better in a traditional community of artists.
  3. Hi Clee, Here's my story, which should make you feel better as I feel the deck is stacked so far against me I might as well give up now! I'm 45. I graduated with a BA in 1990, Majoring in Economics, Biology, and a Minor in Chemistry. Because of my lab classes which interfered with the core Art Studio classes at my school, I had to do independent study painting for 4 years, including one semester with a newly minted MFA instructor who hated anything that wasn't abstract (I'm a figurative expressionist). I then went on to Medical School and Residency at Dartmouth and practiced medicine until 2010 when I just couldn't stand it any longer. The fact of the matter is that by my Senior year in College, I realized going to Med School was a horrible mistake and I should have devoted myself to a career in art from the get go. But the die was cast. I was so miserable by my second year of med school, my tiny apartment turned into painting studio, its small balcony a sculpture studio, and my bathroom was a darkroom. I had a stack of MFA applications, all filled out and had my portfolio slides prepared. However, I made a deal with the Devil: If I passed the medical Board exam, I would continue on my chosen path. If I failed, in my imagination at least, I was off to RISD! I passed the medical boards with flying colors. This singular decision, to continue with medicine, has made me, and everyone around me, absolutely miserable. Over the years, between marriage, work, kids, and divorce, I've been able to continue painting and even managed to get work into a few juried exhibitions, but have been unable to find the time for any formal training. Therefore, I have only one or two artists who can offer me recommendations for grad school, and a portfolio with work that spans several years, rather than a block of recent work, although I am rectifying that situation. So, from the glass half full perspective, over the years I have honed my style, have a definitive conceptual orientation, know more about art theory and art history than one has a right to know, and am an expert in anatomy as I dissected my fair share of cadavers. The downside is I am 45, broke (from the divorce), and because of my kids, am limited to either low residency or only programs in VT, NH, ME or MA. Sorry for the long post, but I'm feeling a bit lost. One question for the community, is should I just focus on building a portfolio this year, and apply next year instead? Thanks, Jim
  4. I agree with Yellow Magnet's advice, with one caveat, from personal experience. A couple of years ago, I applied to Vermont College of Fine Arts for an interdisciplinary MFA in Creative Writing and Painting. At the time, the admissions department's official policy was that they judged your application on the strength of your portfolio, artist's statement, and essay. When I interviewed, they boasted of the "many" non art majors that were in the program, who presumably were admitted on the strength of their portfolio. However, in reality, they wanted a certain amount of credits within your area of study, as was stated in my rejection letter( I didn't have enough English credits although I don't remember the "suggested" requirement of undergrad credits in Art or English at the time). They have since explicitly stated on their Website what they expect in the way of undergrad Art / art History Credits. In my limited research thus far, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston requires a certain number of art history credits. ON their website, I believe they will provisionally admit you to their MFA program upon successful completion of the required Art History classes, which they propose be taken at Tufts (their affiliated University). So I guess, my advice is to read the fine print, and really grill the admissions department on the stats of how many accepted students truly have "non traditional" majors and or backgrounds. In my Medical School Class, we had a former Ballerina. Yes they accepted her and she did well, but she was the only ballerina I have ever met in my 20 years of medicine!
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