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imogen

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  • Location
    Boston
  • Program
    MFA

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  1. OK, let's use the word "profession" instead of "career." Like many people, I'm not certain what I'd like to do, exactly. But my question was not "what high-paying job will an MFA, as an advanced degree, allow me to get?" Rather, it was "what kind of job (period) will an MFA prepare me for?" I ask the question in earnest. We all have to make a living, after all. Because it seems to me that if two people were applying for a job at a museum or gallery, in curation or collections management or education or what have you, and one had an MA (in art history, museum studies, curatorial studies, etc.) and the other an MFA, the former would be considered more qualified. It might be that someone with significant volunteer experience in the arts would also be considered more qualified. It could be that I'm 100% wrong about that. (I have personally spoken to gallerists about this, though, and they've all pretty much told me that they don't look at whether or not artists have MFAs or where they got their degrees.) I wanted to bring the subject up for discussion, because I'd value hearing others' perspectives. Of course, there are many reasons to get an MFA--I'm focusing here on practical considerations. I realize that. I'm not in any doubt about the value of advanced education for the purpose of enhancing one's life and one's artwork, or about the value of leading the life of the mind. My doubts lie elsewhere.
  2. "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." ...or the people from working-class backgrounds who can't afford to go into that much debt to pursue a degree that will leave them as penniless as they were before they got it. no worries about being condescending, variousmallfiresandmilk. i can see that that's just a part of what makes you "you," as it were. and we may need that kind of elitism, after all, to foster true growth and inquiry.
  3. thanks for writing a considered response. i have a followup question. do you think it would have been possible for your sister to have gotten those residencies or her position at the museum without the MFA? or did the MFA essentially get her foot in the door? i realize fully that you can't really make a living as a practicing artist--which is why i'm curious how the MFA, other than preparing me for college-level teaching, will enable me to pursue an actual profession in the arts. hypothetically, let's say that arts admin or collections management or even curation (the cherry on top) is the right way to strike a balance. granted, the focus wouldn't be creating your own work, but at least you'd be working in the arts, doing something you love (and of course continuing to create your own work). but, then, maybe it's not the MFA, but rather the curatorial, museum studies, or art history track, that will set you up to do that. and whether or not the MFA will even be a stepping stone on that path is another question. honestly, i'm not sure of the answer, so i'm throwing the question(s) out there in hopes that someone will give a thoughtful response sans snarkiness.
  4. thanks for sharing your opinion. i'd be interested in hearing from others who might actually consider the question, however.
  5. here's a practical question: what professions, other than teaching at the college-level, does the MFA prepare one to undertake? besides providing a way to devote 2-3 years toward improving your art, what do you hope your MFA program will do for you in terms of longterm career development? i ask because i love the arts, want to work in the arts, but don't see supporting myself as a practicing artist to be that tenable (maybe i'm just a cynic, maybe too much a realist). but i'm curious what other people think about this--though it might be that folks aren't really thinking this far in advance, as they gear up to start applying to programs. but i'll ask anyway: what will you do after you get your MFA?
  6. imogen

    SMFA

    Thoughts about this school? Is it a strong program? Does it have a good reputation?
  7. imogen

    student loan debt

    michaelwebster, what are you doing about living expenses? does the 40K you've taken out include loans for that? or is that additional? or maybe you're working to support yourself?
  8. Just out of curiosity, does anyone have any idea of the average student loan debt for an MFA program? What's reasonable? Is 20K or 30K the norm? 40-50K? Put differently, how much would you feel comfortable borrowing?
  9. losemygrip, which photography programs would you recommend to your students? pretty sure i already know the top programs, but how about the next tier schools?
  10. Just starting to research this now, but thought I'd throw the question out there--are there any MFA programs that incorporate or allow you to simultaneously take courses (maybe a certificate?) in curatorial or museum studies? I don't want to go the Art History route, but would like to work that aspect into my studies somehow.
  11. The CAA guide is out already? I thought the new version was publishing in September?
  12. Some very strong MFA programs have big price tags. But I wonder if there are any quality programs out there that offer more funding than others. Does anyone have any insight? I'd appreciate it.
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