GrlyFlynn

Just another suggestion for where to take classes. I took some art history classes at SF City College before applying for my masters in museum studies. It is free now and the quality of the instruction is very good. I got my undergraduate degree from Temple University and I would say for the most part many of the instructors at city college are equally as good as my profs at Temple were. I also am going to grad school after being out of school for a while and two of my professors at city college were references for my grad applications. I know some people might say that city college isn't prestigious enough. But, honestly, if you have been out of school for a while it shows interest and commitment by taking courses leading up to grad school. Also, yes, Sfsu has the "open university" where you can enroll in courses that have open spots after all other students have registered. Here is the link: https://cel.sfsu.edu/openuniversity

Well, the curatorial practice degree is a MFA. I honestly don't think a MFA will hurt that much as long as, your right, my research in the field is related to what the respective PHD programs are looking for. I guess I am more concerned that a museum studies MA may not look as strong as a MFA in curatorial practice. But the price difference is a huge factor.

My GPA in my undergraduate work was a 2.8. I just got into all the masters programs I applied to. My advice is: get some work experience under your belt in your field, cultivate relationships with people who can write you excellent letters of recommendation, get a good GRE score (a low GPA is really the only reason why a high GRE would mean anything in my opinion), consider taking classes at a community college and maintain a high GPA there. This is what I did and I submitted my transcripts from the community college as well as from the school where I did my bachelors. But I have also been out of school for a few years so this may not be as necessary for you. I did not do this, but I also agree that reaching out to potential advisors is a good idea. Make a list of the universities you want to get into and their advisors, dept chairs, professors and alumni. See if you can build a relationship with well connected alumni. This is what I did. I interned with the alumni of one school I wanted to attend and took a class with a professor who graduated from another program. I asked both to write me letters. I also asked another professor from the community college where I took classes to write me a letter to a program where I knew she had a relationship with the program chair. So, a lot of this takes research. But there is a way but you obviously may need to take a year or two off to get work experience and build up contacts etc. Just my 2 cents.

Hi everyone. I am at the final stages of making a decision on where I would like to go for my MA. But I would like to float a question with you. I am torn between two very good programs and am having a hard time making up my mind. First, I am applying to MA/MFA programs in curatorial practice as well as museum studies (with a curatorial and exhibition design focus) and plan to then apply for a PHD in Art History in the future. I have a BFA in studio art and my goal is to pursue curating modern and contemporary art. I am specifically interested in site specific, installation art and new media. I also have a background in cultural heritage preservation but this is not going to be my focus. Program #1 is a MFA curatorial program. It is a private school and is quite expensive. They offered me partial funding and the possibility of TA work plus they have a large network in the area where I live and will assist me in finding a paid internship. This program is specifically focused on curating contemporary art, as well as theory & criticism. I feel as though this program will give me a strong background in theory, writing as well as connections with working artists, curators and museums/galleries in the area. The program chair is also studying an aspect of contemporary curating that I am interested in. The big drawback for me is the cost. Even with funding I will have to take out loans to go here. And that is intimidating to say the least Program #2 is a highly competitive state school. It is a museum studies MA program. I can focus on curating and exhibition design. The school also offers more traditional museum studies courses such as fundraising, collections management, ethics etc that I think will be useful. The program is significantly less expensive than the other program to the point where I could probably pay for most of it myself without loans. I am leaning towards #2 because of a variety of practical reasons (cost, diversity fo classes/training). But #1's program is so fascinating I really want to go there but the cost is holding me back. My questions are A) if I want to eventually apply to a PHD program in Art History which program do you think would best prepare me. Would art history programs prefer a curatorial practice background over museum studies or does it not matter? B ) If I want to work in a fine art/contemporary art museum or exhibition space which program do you think would best prepare me for that career trajectory. Thank you for any advice.

I received an email today admitting me to my top choice school off the waiting list! Yay! Best of luck to everyone!

Congrats!

Hello, So I have a question, has this happened to anyone else? I applied to a MA program in the humanities (being vague here sorry lol). I was waitlisted to my #1 choice school. In the meantime I declined admission at a program that I knew wouldn't be a good fit. But I am still considering an additional program which admitted me and has been wooing me hard. They offered me partial funding (with the explicit possibility of additional funding in the future), TA work and assistance finding paid internships. Funding is my primary concern and they were very accommodating and open to discussing methods for financing the MA. I have been to a open house as well as sitting in on a couple of seminar classes. The advisor's research aligns well with my interests and I just like the overall vibe of the school. School #1 waitlisted me but for almost a year it was my #1 choice in my head. But, now that I have been interfacing so much more with school #2 I think I would rather go there. The catch is that school #1 is significantly less expensive than school #2 to the point where I could personally pay for the entire program myself without loans or hustling for funding. I don't have a problem with a hustle, but I am worried that even if school #2 is willing to help that I would be worried about money for 2 years which could be distracting while also in the midst of a grad program. Also, I feel like since school #2 has been interfacing with me so much that I had the opportunity to find out more about the program. Whereas I haven't communicated with #1 very much at all because of being on the waitlist. Really I am just stressing because I won't know until early next week what their decision is. So this may all be a moot point if I get rejected. Has anyone else changed their mind about which program they wanted to attend while waiting, either waitlist or in general?

See if you can get it expunged. That probably won't help now, but it could help in the future having a clean record.

Yes please!

I would also suggest looking around Clark Park. Its a very cute residential area with a lot of cafes and is closeto many trolly lines. Also I didn't go to Penn, I went to Temple but lived in West Philly. I knew some people who lived in International House and I never heard anything bad about it. But you might want to talk to current or recent residents. Either way, West Philly is great.

I think you are right about networking and that is where this list is useful in my opinion. I was recently accepted into a curatorial program and one of the factors I took into account was alumni. Where are they, what are they doing, is there a strong alumni association. Your correct that networking is key and one part of that is connections with current and previous students. That said I have an update for your list. Is it possible to edit it?

It took me 6 years to finish my BFA with a 2.8 GPA. I spent 10 years in the workforce and recently started taking community college classes a few years ago to boost my GPA. I finished a certificate at the CC and applied to 3 masters programs and was accepted at all of them. I hope to pursue a PHD in the future. You'll be fine.

I am going to second Tonydoesmovie. I grew up in Philadelphia and did my undergrad at Temple and lived in West Philly with a bunch of UPenn people. I bugs me when people get concerned about crime rates. I was never a victim of a crime in Philly and I was born there. I also lived in DC and spent a bunch of time in NYC and Baltimore. You know where I was mugged? Fisherman's Wharf in SF. True story. Go to the school that meets your needs.

I'm wait listed at my #1 school. Is the consensus that it is acceptable (or encouraged) to email the program to reiterate your interest. Is it ok to mention that I was accepted at two other programs but the school I am wait listed at is my #1 choice and that I will be waiting for their decision? Sorry to post my anxiety on your positive vibes thread lol. Thanks for any advice!

I just heard from SFSU and was waitlisted. Argh!

I recieved my BFA in Printmaking from Tyler. They were quite rigorous and plus being in Philadelphia you are close to NYC and DC. Philadelphia has an amazing thriving art scene and a lot of opportunities to exhibit because the cost of living is lower so there are more galleries, alternative spaces etc. I always recommend Tyler. It's a great school. They have a study abroad program in Rome Italy that I also recommend taking advantage of if you can.

So, I was accepted into two programs. I am excited about one of them, it is an excellent program and they offered me partial funding, I would like to accept their offer. The other school has not offered me any funding and I don't think it will be a good fit so I am drafting a letter respectfully declining their offer. But the wild card is I am waiting on a 3rd school and they are taking a very long time to process my application. I just spoke with them today and they told me to call back in a week! The school I am currently interested in wants to know by April 15th but they have an admitted grad day on April 7th that I would like to attend. The 3rd school is a great program as well and is significantly less expensive than the other program I am interested in. I know I just need to wait but any random advice would be helpful. I am hesitant to accept the current offer before I know about school #3.

I am waiting to heard back from SF State. I received acceptance letters from two other schools already.