selkie

I'm doing the Post-Bac (photo) at the SMFA right now. I'm not from the US, I knew that I was going to spend a lot of money. I receveid an instruction for a very cheap price in the past so I decided to do it even if I still consider the tuition of the schools here crazy! I had a great experience in this year and my work really improved. The PB at the SMFA works in this way: you have only one academic class mandatory for the year and each semester you have to complete at least 6 blocks that means 3 full days of classes. There's not so much for a job but the schools give you easily the opportunity to work in the school like in the library, lab etc. You make some money and you can do your stuff. But considering your situation my suggestion is this: why don't you take some classes just in the first semester without enrolling in the PB? If your goal is to apply to an MFA the useful part of the year for you is until december. If you take two photo classes you can have access to all the facilities, work on your portfolio and receive some help from the teacher for the applications. The other thing is that having so many classes I wasted a lot of time at school and doing assignement while it could have been producing work. Of course the work in class is important too but while you have a goal such apply to an MFA I think it'is better concentrating your efforts just on that. You can also send me a private message if you want more information about the program!

I agree with you that it's veryh ard to understand what kind of work people are doing at the SMFA, expecially the master students. I had an idea looking at the student annual exhibition but the website it's usless for this. This school is very small and the grad and undergrad students are in the same classes (except for the seminars) that is something that I don't like because I believe that the master works better if you belong to a little crew that work closely. As for the funding. I'm new to the US so I still didn't understand how it works with the funding but yes...I received easily and quickly a financial help and almost the 80% of the people in the school received it. In my case it was a "discount", I don't know if other people have been helped in a different way. I can say that they're pretty jenerous and this at the end means that the SMFA in not a rich school!

I didn't say it before but this has been my first year applying to MFA program in photography and I'm not from the USA. This forum was so helpful that I have to say a general thanks! @Rama About Yale I think that they are the best photographers trainers ever but for people who want to be free to experiment, who want to take some risk and do something radically new and innovative it's the wrong place. I got this idea looking at the excellent work coming from their program of which the only lack, for me, is to be conformistic and I don't mean in a political way but in an aesthetical one. I had the same feeling about them to be a patriarchal institution and probably it is - which recalls so many traumas to my mind!. But their aim is giving to the world superstar photographers and they're really good at doing it! @Shutterbug I'm currently studying at the SMFA and want to give you my point of view so that you can have more informations. I don't know which is your main medium and mine is photogaphy. But having a knowledge of most of the departments I can tell you that who does political works is just a little part of the faculty. In my department it's interesting the variety that with have. Every teacher seems to cover a particular kind of photography but on more than 8 photo teachers just two do conceptual/political work. My work is really very far from being political and not just they love it but promoted it around and wanting me to partecipate to some exhibitions that we had this year to represent the school. One thing that I'm gonna really miss of the SMFA and that I don't think I'll find anywhere else is the huge freedom and the help receive to find my own personal expression. As for the 3 years, you're right...I don't like it too! But the third year is free and you are supposed to be working one you're thesis, so you can be in any place in the world. Finally, I'm surprise to hear that about Laura McPhee. I had such a good impression when I met her that I can't imagine her to instill fear. She seems so sweet!

Thanks so much for your answer! I have been looking at their photo website all these past months and there is where I saw the works of the previous master students. I have to say that in general I like them but I can't find anything that really interesting me. By the way, the I think that the facilities are very good (considering also that is a public school) and the faculty is great but I'm not yet sure about their program and for this reason I was thinking to ask them to defer my entrance. Do you know if they allow to do it? I would like to take one year off to visit other schools and understand if Massart is the right for me or not.

Thanks!! Every department is different from the other but just to let you know I waited a week to receive the call. Good luck!

I've been accepted to massart photo too but even if I'm flattered I'm also skeptical. I think they have a great faculty with or without Morell, but despite this incredible teachers I couldn't find relevant alumni coming out of the MFA program. I'm afraid that the school won't be able to support me as I would like. Anyone has a different opinion? As for their program it's true that is mainly photography but I entered because I do a sort of experimental photography that refers to others media (painting, sculpture, cinema). I was surprised to be called for an interview but then I heard that they're trying to give a new direction to the program and be more involved in the changes of contemporary photography. By the way, any information could be helpful!!

I received a phone call last thursday saying that I got in for photo. Which department did you apply for?

We were five from the post-bac to apply for the MFA and just me an another girl (maybe, I'm pretty sure but have no confirmation) entered. I can tell you that if you ask them to help you they could reduce the rent in a significant way. Many people come to this school because of the good financial offer that they received.

I'm doing right now the post-bac at the SMFA with a focus in photo. Don't get scared about the price, they're pretty generous if you ask them to help you financially.