staxdo_21

Can you submit a complaint or have another professor be part of the evaluation process? It seems quite problematic to have a single person responsible for a review. Just speaking as a person from one of the many communities traditionally discriminated against in all industries.

They can't offer a video interview?

I enrolled in SMFA"s diploma program after undergrad with the same intention - to develop a portfolio and eventually apply for an MFA. I already have an art minor so thought it would be a somewhat straightforward process. In hindsight, I wish that I had three very crucial pieces of knowledge before signing up: 1. The SMFA is very small and pretty disorganized. While students were making interesting work, there was as many students kind of floating along which is very easy to slip into based on the environment. The Diploma program itself is pretty flexible, which sounds great initially but what it means is that you will not receive overall direction. You will most likely get a sampling of a lot of areas and mediums but it will be up to you to sort through it all and map out a cohesive track. I floated around for a bit before realizing that I was necessarily developing my hand in a particular area. Classes at the SMFA are also extremely expensive, so I would think carefully about how you want to invest your money. To me, it's more of a money-making program than anything else. Humanities courses are not part of the curriculum so you are not technically allowed into art history courses which are as important to take in your development as an artist. Many of your fellow Diploma program students are retirees and some of the BFA students will look down on you for being a Diploma student. 2. Art teachers, in general, are not necessarily the best at giving you sound advice in regards to academics. Two professors there gave me completely inaccurate guidance and told me that I couldn't earn another bachelor's after earning my first degree in a separate field. This was backed up by an academic "advisor" who was someone I only met with once or twice throughout my time there. I did a little more research but couldn't get a straight answer from anyone because they honestly didn't know. It was only when I starting working in admissions at another art school years later that I learned the guidance I received was inaccurate. Honestly, if I had switched to the BFA program back then, I would be in a better place professionally. Make sure you talk to multiple, knowledgeable sources and do your own research in regards to mapping out your academic path. It also blows my mind that there wasn't anyone in the various departments that could accurately answer such an inquiry. 3. Massart next door offers far more affordable studio art courses and greater resources for students who want to dabble in a lot of different areas before focusing in on one in particular. I ended up earning my Post-Bac from Massart after realizing that the SMFA Diploma program was not very structured and did not necessarily offer a clear path towards an MFA. Again, I would have done things very differently than what I ended up doing. If I were to go back in time, I would have taken courses through Massart and then considered earning a Post-Bac from the SMFA. I did get accepted into SMFA's Post-Bac program which was far more structured and in-depth than Massart's program at the time. However, I believe the price tag was more than double Massart's tuition. Perhaps what you can do is take studio courses at Massart and then apply to SMFA's grad program. The general difference I observed as a student at both of these institutes is the curriculum - SMFA is very much focused on theory and concept and Massart is focused on technique and craft. This is an extremely generalized statement but I found that my ideas were very accepted at SMFA and seemed to confuse my advisors and instructors at Massart. On the other hand, the students at Massart had professional-level technical skills though not always driven by the most highly intellectual concepts. Again, this is a huge generalization. The most important thing is staying centered and focused. I was at both schools when I was relatively young and sometimes let myself become too influenced by the critique of my teachers, which were often in opposition to each other. Good luck with figuring out your next steps, and apologies for some of my grammatical mistakes, I am too tired to proofread and edit.

Congratulations! That is great news, and so interesting that you first applied for painting but then followed up with sculpture. I'd love to hear more about that part of your journey.

Submitting your evaluation a month later than the deadline and also failing you seems very...deliberate on the examiner's part.

@Adelaide9216 Thank you for sharing this incredibly challenging moment in your academic life. If you are well known in your field then this is only a temporary set back regardless of the outcome. I've only read a few of the comments but your situation is eye-opening and will absolutely be a teaching moment for others in the forum. Wishing you the best!

@Valorship98 many MA programs require students to have a certain amount of credits in art history before applying to a Master's program...

I just posted about online course credits but was told by one of the graduate programs that these do not carry the same amount of competitiveness as traditional art history courses. I live an hour+ outside of Boston, and none of the colleges around offer evening courses in art history. I currently work full time at an organization that won't look kindly upon a looser schedule to accommodate daytime course work. Even trying to get to a 6 pm class will require me to leave early and scramble down to Boston which I'm not sure my supervisor will allow for. Since I am also in the middle of a job search, there is a possibility that we will one day be situated closer to the colleges in the city. Until then, I would face over an hour commute to race to class. In addition, the only evening classes in art history I've been able to find are through Tufts and are twice as expensive as my alma mater. Obviously, the commuting will greatly take away from time studying and writing, and I already have a lot of obligations to work around. While I will have to make something work for me, I am curious about whether there are some tricks or tips to address my dilemma. I feel pulled between earning as much income as possible before starting grad school and taking a few part-time jobs that would allow greater flexibility in my schedule. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Just to follow up on my own post. I spoke with an old professor, a friend who works in graduate admissions, and one of the schools I hope to apply to. While my friend thought that it mattered more where you were earning credits, my professor and the school I reached out to confirmed that online courses are weighted differently in the review process. This obviously makes sense for art history courses. I'll post about my new predicament. Thanks!

Hi there, I had posted a similar question earlier in the forum but was searching for an answer in regards to online undergrad credit. I am thinking of applying to Masters programs in the next two years. I've already taken a few art history classes as a requirement for my Art History minor and just started taking online courses to bulk up my transcript. However, I live about an hour or so from the city and have only been taking online courses through my art school alma mater. I've felt challenged and really pushed myself in each course, but wonder if these credits will not carry much weight in my application to various art history programs. If so, I do not want to continue taking online courses and will have to figure out an alternative. Any advice is appreciated.

@poorstudent Your response was so helpful to me. I studied drawing and sculpture and went on to earn a Post-Bac with the intention of going on to an MFA. However, I had a pretty terrible experience in my Post-Bac program, which was basically a money mill for the school at the time. I thought about it for many years, and I believe I can continue making work on my own that is focused and impactful without that terminal MFA. However, I am contemplating an MA in art history. My main concern is that the process and the profession will take me away from the actual art making, as there has been some feedback of that very issue. The other issue is that many of the jobs I have interest in require an MFA or MA. I'm probably better set up to return for an MFA but, of course, with the economic uncertainty of the times, I am trying to make the most pragmatic choice.

I am extremely interested in returning to school for a Masters in art history, but I also wish to maintain my artist practice which I know will be difficult to maintain if I am also trying to fit in time to think, research, and write. However, I've been working for almost ten years in a variety of arts administration jobs, and I know I need something more intellectually challenging from my day job. The after-work side hustle, classes, podcasts, and reading is not enough. I've been exceptionally lucky to be in commuting distance to world-class panel discussions on visual culture, and have taken some fantastic courses on art history as of late. I've joined a variety of organizations for administrators and creatives in the arts both nationally and locally, but I want more. There are a variety of positions I would love to build a path towards, but most of the people in those roles have at least a Masters, if not a Ph.D., in art history. I've interviewed a variety of people who now teach or work as curators, etc. The issue is that none of them are actual artists or have maintained their practice. Am I being unrealistic, or am I spreading my ambitions too widely? Am I taking a roundabout route to fund my artist practice?

I think you need to do more research on these programs and get a sense of the tangible outcomes, the instructors/professors, and alumni placement. I really don't know much about either program, but my impression is that they are very similar to the San Francisco culinary school I attended for six months after undergrad. After the first three months, I had the sinking feeling that the school was focused more on making money from people who were not perhaps savvy enough to do their research. Despite the school closing a few years ago, I have a crap load of loans related to my short stint there. I suggest that you do your due diligence before committing to any program that is not within a traditional academic setting. Again, I have heard virtually nothing about either program so I could be very, very wrong. In that case, I'd love to hear more from others in the forum.

@kaufdichglücklich the lawsuit on affirmative action, but I guess we could also discuss admission scandals, too, at this point.

@homie_de_lettres I am also interested in studying race in visual culture, though through a contemporary context, perhaps we could share resources? One event I am planning to attend is an upcoming conference at Harvard - https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/event/2019-vision-and-justice-convening I'm sure you've heard of their latest controversies which I assume will be discussed during the event.

@dutch718 I would love to hear more about your research. I plan to take a course on Middle Eastern or Islamic Art prior to applying to graduate school, though I do not plan to focus in this area. My boyfriend and I went to Morroco this past September and we both fell in love with the traditional abstract art. Unfortunately, we didn't make it to any of their contemporary art museums which are supposed to be fantastic. We hope to return in the next few years and I would love to be better informed about the art beforehand.

I plan to start the application process in a few years but need to take additional course work in Art History before applying to a program. So far, I've taken one online course through my alma mater that has been very intellectually fulfilling. I wish to continue taking courses over the summer, and, ideally in person. So far, I haven't found a nearby college offering summer courses in art history. I've only found an online course from BU that is extremely high in cost. This brings to mind a question I've been meaning to ask the forum: does it matter where I earn additional college credits? I have been researching courses at the schools I wish to apply to, with little luck. Also, community college courses are much more affordable but I'm not sure credits earned there would help my standing. Does anyone have thoughts?

I know little about their Ph.D. program but recall that they were making a lot of cuts to their humanities programs to make room for the sciences, per many colleges in the country. That said, when I was there my junior year as an undergrad, I was blown away by the caliber of scholarship on campus and the beauty of the campus itself. It's definitely a California school, which may turn some people off. I would return in a heartbeat.

The number of art history credits recommended prior to applying for an MA in Art History seems to be an ongoing debate in this forum. As a person shifting from a focus in studio art to art history, I definitely plan to take as many art history courses as possible prior to applying in the next two to three years. However, 30 credits are equivalent to 10 college courses, which is something that I personally cannot manage within the next two years in addition to learning French and/or German (I studied Spanish my foreign language requirement in undergrad) and maintaining a fulltime job. The costs alone are not feasible for me (unless I secure a job at a university which I am currently working on). Most schools require at least four courses, and obviously, you want to take more than the basic requirements. I've read somewhere else in the forum that having at least five courses in art history will set you up for success. For me, depending on future circumstances, I will shoot for five more in addition to the courses I've already taken in undergrad and in my Post-Bac program (though that course was focused on theory).

Hi there, I am trying to move out of my administrative role in the development department at an independent school, and move into a role in the arts. This is partly because my current role is considered entry-level (not communicated at all in the interview process), and my brain is atrophying. All of my prior professional experiences are in the arts so this is no giant leap, however, it has been very difficult to even get an interview with most colleges or companies. I have a phone interview for a two-year arts admin fellowship that would give me some much welcome experience working in public arts programming within a collegiate setting. However, the grant-funded compensation is very minimal. I will continue with the interview process but wonder if this is an intelligent move on my part. I'm dragging myself through my current role but am trying to avoid any desperate moves to escape. I am seriously thinking of quitting outright for my own sanity. There is another curatorial assistant job that I really want but assume that applicants with a BA in art history will be prioritized over my studio art background. Any thoughts to whether job experience will be of help to me as a future MA applicant?

Thank you for your reply, @juilletmercredi . I decided that I cannot take any more of my soul-crushing job despite the perks. I have a phone interview for a job in public arts programming on Monday though it is a fellowship which doesn't compensate well. Not sure if its the right next step, but I will keep applying to jobs in the arts until I land one that offers more intellectual stimulation.

@mrssalad Thank you for your insight. It's encouraging that the programs you mentioned are local to me as well, though I am open to more far-flung programs. I will check out your other posts in the forum to see if any other content applies to my preparation process.

@evelynne , that is incredibly helpful to know! Did you enter the program with a limited amount of course work in Art History? A few grad students in the forum said that their peers who had taken less than five courses were extremely disadvantaged in comparison to students who had a more extensive background in art history.

Hi there, After many years of considering applying to an MFA in Visual Art, I've come to the conclusion that I would rather return for an MA in Art History. I am carefully thinking all of this through because my educational path has been long and confusing due to naivete and lack of quality advice. For instance, when I first considered returning to school after earning a minor in the Arts, a teacher informed me that I could not earn a second bachelors of arts after earning one degree already (in English). Following that direction, I enrolled in a studio program that did not include any art history courses. I went on into a Post-Bac program that also did not emphasize art history, though I've taken a couple of art theory courses between both programs, and a couple art history courses to fulfill my minor. Throughout this time, I had many long discussions with professors who gave a lot of haphazard advice on how to shape my educational path in order to prepare for entrance into an MFA program. If only I could have steered my younger self. I'd like to say that I'm not bitter, but I sort of am. My original objective was to work in academia after earning an MFA, but after finishing my post-bac, I decided to enter the workforce full time and pay off some loans. This turned into many more years due to an illness in the family, and also my hesitation to spend more money without some solid guidance. Finally, I've connected with people who are well equipped to advise me on my next steps, and I am much more savvy in my ability to navigate this situation. I'm still considering a role in academia (if I am so lucky), and also positions within a museum setting. Luckily, almost all of my jobs have been within an art setting though not related to curation. I spend a good deal of personal time researching and writing. The magic is still there whenever I enter into a museum, and I run-walk around like a kid at a candy factory. I've also maintained my artist practice, listen to podcasts, and read about art on an ongoing basis, so I know this isn't a passing passion. I know taking more art history courses is essential for me to gain entrance and succeed in an Art History Masters program, though I feel confident that I can also leverage my studio art background in my application. I will follow the basic canon of any BFA program, with a focus on Contemporary and American art. I am giving myself two years to take courses, reorient myself to academia, research programs and grants/funding, and cultivate my network for support and recommendations. I am also looking for a job within a university so I can take courses for free - I've worked within educational institutes for five years and assume that will make my application a bit more competitive. I am also going to apply for a volunteer position within the curatorial department at a nearby visual art museum (I wish I had done this sooner). As soon as I am more set on a few programs, I will reach out to their faculty and current grad students. I am also beginning to research various organizations and networks. Lastly, I have a big pile of books in art history and the humanities I am slowing working through. I am excited to take more art history courses, though I am not psyched about the price since I've made so many misinformed choices in the past and foolishly accrued debt through the process. Are there any suggestions based on what I've shared thus far? I'll be digging into past conversation threads and posting more, but am so eager to connect with others on this journey. Please let me know if you see gaps in my thinking or if there are other suggestions for paying for the prerequisites. Any advice is appreciated!

Hi there, After contemplating graduate school for many years, with much consideration for my area of study, I finally decided that I would like to pursue a Master's in American Studies. I plan to apply to graduate school in two years. My question is whether to stay at my current place of employment or move onto a more intellectually challenging position that will most likely pay me less. Current Position Pros: a highly prestigious academic institute that could potentially bolster my CV friendships with faculty, and staff world-class speakers and programming that I sometimes have access to solid compensation and matching pension lively discussions on diversity and inclusion Cons: the position itself is considered entry level - which I didn't know when I accepted it I also thought I would gain grant writing experience in the role but there doesn't seem to be any possibility for that development my responsibilities are pretty menial and incredibly boring an incredible amount of office drama and low morale among staff little opportunities for professional growth Before I was absolutely sure about the course of study I wanted to pursue, I became interested in Foundation Relations, which I am still interested in. Thus far, I've taken a course in grant writing and work on a friend's Board of Directors as a grant writer. After recently becoming more frustrated in my current role, I began applying for positions directly related to grant writing and am starting to hear back from a few. However, on average, they pay about 20% less than my current position. I imagine that it will be a similar story for other positions I come upon given that my current organization has the privilege to compensate us fairly well. I don't want to make any fast and hard decisions but I also don't want to miss out on potential opportunities. Should I make the leap into one of these roles that would provide some intellectual stimulation and also help me maintain my writing skills? Or should I continue building connections at the job I am at now? Other ideas are to look for research jobs or to use the experience at one of these other organizations to move into a position at a better organization. That's also a lot of jumping around prior to graduate school. I'd appreciate any thoughts you'd like to share. Thanks!