varioussmallfiresandmilk

i sense sarcasm, but internet forums can be deceiving. i hope im wrong. regardless, "working-class" makes up the majority of our population and the majority of mfa seekers. dont think youre alone in that quest, and dont think that status weeds out everyone. it doesnt. your attitude seems to be geared toward "higher education equals higher pay", which is true for a lot of disciplines, but usually not the mfa. if that is your main reason for obtaining an mfa (and you have no interest in teaching), theres really not much of a point. if you are worried about loans and debt, there are fully-funded programs, programs that offer generous scholarships to certain students, and even some that offer stipends (though there are usually ta requirements). all of those programs are usually quite selective or competitive. but like i said, an mfa is mostly the avenue of future teachers and/or mind and work development.

i considered the question fully, my intention was not to be snarky. the truth is that the mfa, bfa, etc are prime examples on how our culture attempts to systematically institutionalize and organize subjects that have no business in those ventures. this is an argument that many use in opposition to the purpose of art in academia. however, what they fail to recognize is the very positive results such communities and cultivation can have in the development and progression of art in general and to artists as individuals. my point was not to be condescending, it was to warn you that beyond connections, cultivation, and academic positions, an mfa is not going to do much for the vast majority of graduates. i apologize if you were looking for fiscal reassurance or some solid career prospects, but i was just trying to give you an honest answer to your question. anyways, i think that these qualities overall are good for the arts. it allows for true growth and inquiry while weeding out the people who are more concerned with living a comfortable life in a kitsch society.

if your mind is still career-oriented as a mature adult, there is no reason to pursue an mfa, in my opinion.

question, and feel free to not answer this. what was the cheaper school and what was their offer, if you dont mind me asking?

A. your defensiveness should be taken down about 10 notches. losemygrip is giving you solid advice and is clearly trying to help. B. individuals who completely disregard all forms of art besides painting are very unattractive, unless that individual has an extremely convincing theoretical disposition as to why painting is all that deserves attention... if you are judging art solely according to your aesthetic opinions, you should revise your tactics. unless, of course, you have solid theoretical backing for doing so. purely optical judgements on art have not been well received art historically since duchamp, and frankly, it is offensive (and irritating) to artists who are working in a much deeper conceptual and intellectual environment (the professors and administration who will be reviewing your applications) to do so. this is not to say that you cannot work predominantly with paint. painting has complex philosophies, arguments, and sub-genres; but to be capable of adding to that dialogue, you need to better understand what art is in its contemporary state. that contemporary state has a much broader spectrum then oil on canvas, like it or not. C. it is great that you are determined and working hard, but if your work is solely aimed at visually impressing grad school review committees, they will see right through it. you should be working equally as hard, if not harder, at developing cohesive intellectual reasoning and a conceptual basis for your work. without this, i think you will be hard-pressed to find quality grad schools interested in offering you admission. that being said, i definitely think that your work, with an open mind and some further knowledge in contemporary art history, will be able to take you to the level you are seeking. obviously you have the mental capacity (brown is no slouch), but i think your biggest opposition (from the minimal observation ive had), is going to be your stubborn/arrogant attitude towards art and your over-the-top defensiveness. art education is thoroughly based in critique.