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  1. Hi Cimabue! Congratulations on graduating from undergrad. I completed a year of postbac courses in art history after completing a BFA with 24 credits in art history. My thinking was that I didn't have the academic background to apply to MA programs with a BFA and it seems like you are coming from a more academic background. I was told that one of the most important aspects of the application is your ability to build an argument in your writing sample—when thinking about taking postbac classes you might want to look seriously at your writing ability and maybe have someone look over papers that might be potential writing samples. If they're not up to par postbac could be a good idea—this was one of my main motivations for enrolling in postbac classes. Also if you do enroll in a postbac program make sure to take courses that could result in a recommendation letter or paper you could use as a writing sample. Try to take multiple courses with the same professor so they can get to know you and write about you. I valued my time as a postbac student. As long as you work hard and get good grades it can only strengthen your application. Good luck!
  2. Thank you all for your great input on this subject! I didn't even consider that the directors of my program would view working outside of school inadvisable. I've spoken to a few graduate students—one said yes definitely work, and the other said don't work take out loans. The debate continues.
  3. I also posted this in another forum, but thought maybe this was a more appropriate place for it. I am about to enter a two-year graduate program at Columbia and I was recently offered a job to work part-time (somewhat related to my career, but not the field I want to go into). The pay is high enough that I would be able to cover my living expenses and my other option is taking out massive loans between tuition and room/board. My concern is that it will interfere with school. I worked during undergrad, but as a hostess and a babysitter—which I did well, but it wasn't an intellectual distraction. Also with my job in undergrad, I worked mostly evenings which didn't interfere with lecture hours. This new job is during the day. I was wondering how you guys weighed the pros and cons of working during school. If there was anyone who had an experience that could help me make a decision. I haven't spoken to anyone about it, but I could see two sides of the argument being "you have no choice, you have to work to make money" and "definitely don't work during graduate school..this is your time to be in school." I'm nervous about re-entering the job market after graduation without working during school, but also working while everyone else is studying and getting ahead. Thanks in advance for your suggestions! Amber
  4. I am about to start graduate school at Columbia, pursuing an MA in art history. I recently had an opportunity to start working part-time, which wold be great because it pays high enough that I could cover my living expenses. However, the position is for a few hours every weekday, and I'm worried its going to take away from my ability to engage with school. The position is somewhat related to my field, but will most likely not help me professionally. I'm sure this is a common problem, I was wondering how others weighted the pros and cons of working while going to graduate school.
  5. Was your undergrad also in studio art? I finished a BFA in 2010 and was accepted into an MA for art history at an Ivy for this coming fall. This is a question that I really struggled with during the interim years. It was a really difficult transition, but, I think, very fruitful, and not impossible. In order to prepare for graduate study I took non-degree courses at the school I wanted to apply to. Interning at museums was an eye opener as to the differences between art history and studio art. Learning to be academically objective and the structures and methods of writing were really difficult for me. On a personal level, I have found studying art history to be a much more insular practice, for one. I have found that it is more common for students studying studio art to transfer into modern and contemporary art history. I have also found that different texts and different artists circulated the different groups—it might be helpful if you haven't already and if you're planning on studying modern and contemporary to read through the general books and anthologies that undergrad survey courses require of their students and familiarize with the texture of art historians practicing in your field. Art Since 1900, Art in Theory, Anti-Aesthetic, art in modern culture, the painting of modern life, etc. are some of the books that I've been required to read. The most famous examples of art historians that transferred to art and artists who transferred to art history are Leo Steinberg and Donald Judd. There are professors at the Courtauld who have practiced as studio artists and at least two professors at the school I was accepted to studied studio art. You can message me if you want to talk. It was very difficult for me to find people in the same boat as I was when I was applying to schools and making the transition. Most importantly don't let anyone discourage you. Art history needs more practicing artists!
  6. Hi Starbean, Congratulations! My letter said we'd be receiving an official letter from the Dean within two weeks. Columbia had spring break this past week, so I'm guessing we will probably get the official email in the next couple days. Maybe with specific information about what to do now... If I hear anything I will message you if that's okay.
  7. Thanks so much for this! It definitely helped ease my anxiety while I was waiting for the Courtauld response. I need to be more careful about these things from what I have heard from others it is more about the way you structure your argument than anything else when it comes to the writing sample. You were right, the Courtauld accepted me even with the typo. So relieved, now I have decisions. Thank you again so much for your support!
  8. Thanks for the heads up! I just received an acceptance email, I think they are coming in now! In past years though the admissions have been spread out over a month or so. So excited.
  9. Some of the greats were doctors. Off the top of my head, Andre Breton was a neurologist. Further back (and in a different field) John Keats studied medicine. My thesis advisor finished an AB before his BFA and MFA and one of my professors now received an AB and then proceeded to a BFA. I am moving in the opposite direction from a BFA to an MA. I can say this and you might agree—the BA and the BFA require the development of different skill sets, but also the ability to exist within a certain field. It has been difficult moving from studio art to art history because I never quite feel like I know where I stand in relation to my peers. From my understanding MFA admissions place a significant weight on the portfolio as well as an applicant's fit with the program. My advice would be to get to know some of the graduates from the program you're looking to apply to. There are often opportunities to visit studios. If not—these days—it is not so difficult to get in touch with a grad student whose work you admire. I think in general, my hunch would be that most MFA programs will view your background in medicine as a positive.
  10. So glad someone posted about MODA! I applied for 2013. It looks like past years a lot of responses came back March 15 though the GSAS email I received when I registered said we would hear in April. I assumed the higher acceptance rate was because the field is significantly narrower (the program is now twentieth and twenty-first century, but was previously post 1940 art) than an MA program accepting students in a wide range of temporal periods and regions. They still get a large number of applicants, but perhaps less than a traditional MA program. Also it seems a certain percentage of those granted admission opt not to matriculate, perhaps because of a lack of funding—they may accept more students with this in mind. Wish we would find out sooner. Good luck!
  11. Thank you all so much for your responses. I applied to two bachelor programs and two MA programs, and—despite the best laid plans—some of my transcripts were lost in the mail on route to both BA programs, but the MA materials were received without a hitch. I decided to apply to the Courtauld and the MODA program at Columbia. I'm hoping what I lack in undergraduate academic stability I make up for in strong recommendations and experience, plus over 60 credits in art history. I know that PhD thing is silly—someone just said that to me one day, I think someone insecure about their own career and eager to discourage. I'm a bit nervous about the Courtauld application since after it was sent in I found an error in my writing sample—an obvious typo, but nevertheless a sign of sloppiness that made me cringe. Thank you again.
  12. I am in desperate need of advice and any information, words of encouragement/discouragement, would be very welcome. I've spoken with several professors, mentors, academic advisors, admissions counselors about my unusual situation, but I remain very confused. I previously created a post that addressed issues encountered while switching from a BFA in studio art to an MA in art history. I graduated with a BFA in 2010 from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), and then completed curatorial and editorial internships at a Smithsonian art museum, MoMA, an academic press, a prominent art magazine, an established non-profit in New York, and a well known commercial gallery in New York. Through these experiences, I decided to pursue graduate studies in art history rather than studio. However, I was rejected from Hunter, NYU, Columbia, and Williams, which, in retrospect, is not surprising. I made the decision to enroll at Columbia as a post-bac in order to strengthen my transcripts. (I have 126 credits in art or art history from MICA, and, at the end of this year, I will have 36 credits in art history from Columbia and 16 credits in German from Columbia) I'm worried that if I complete an MA, I'll be rejected from PhD programs and unable to find a job. Perhaps it would be better to pursue a second bachelor's from a good school with a major in art history and then apply directly to MA/PhD programs. Another reason that I'm considering a second bachelor's degree is because I've been having second thoughts about studying contemporary art in America. I'm hoping to focus on the historical avant-garde in Europe and I feel that I need a stronger understanding of European history, German language, etc. I'm worried that, should I apply, I'll be rejected from MA programs, but also that I'll be rejected from second bachelor's programs, including U. Maryland College Park, Indiana U. Bloomington, University of Southern California, UT Austin (I've spoken to representatives at all of these schools and they seem very friendly + I've heard good things about their art history departments). Any advice is welcome—Has any ever pursued or considered pursuing a second bachelor's degree? Has anyone else completed a BFA prior to completing a Master's?—if so, please be in touch.
  13. I'm wondering if anyone is going through the same thing that I am going through—switching from BFA in studio to graduate studies in art history. What was your process, what steps did you take to ease the transition? What are the pros and cons of a studio practice focus as an undergrad when the ultimate goal is art history? I'm also wondering what is the opinion of those with BAs ABs in art history to those with BFAs who want to switch to art history [specific to me: modern art history theory and criticism]. I have wanted to complete graduate studies in art history since I was a junior, but stayed in studio practice to master theory and its application—identifying and solving problems through fabrication [rather than research and reasoning]. in retrospect, I guess this is what they call building a house starting with the roof. Right now I'm enrolled as a postbacc in art history. My track was BFA in sculpture from a solid art school, many, many, many internships in museums, non-profits [anything] [especially focusing in editorial so I can improve my writing skills]. I hope to apply to programs for admission in Fall 2013. I graduated from undergrad in May 2010. I'm applying to the Whitney ISP for critical studies for this next year. I'm hoping this will strengthen my critical background a bit. I've taken extra programmatic courses in reading/writing French and German. BFA to MA, is it hopeless? I've been through so much consultation, worry, and insecurity. In the end, sometimes I worry that no matter how much make up I do, I'm still a sculpture major. Everyone says that I'm doing all the right things, but I worry it isn't enough. Any advice is helpful. Thank you! Let me know what you think.
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