poopfever

Like seemingly all academic positions, it's very hard to move up from the school you attended to the school you teach at, at least without having first a great deal of professional success. It will be very hard to get a job out of grad school at a desirable school without a degree from a MORE desirable university OR a kick-ass exhibition record (or both). If you're a hot shit artist, you can actually get by without an MFA, though that's very rare. If you're trying to teach at community college or regional school, it probably doesn't matter that much. I have an MFA from a top program, and I was lucky to get a job at a respectable (though not stellar) art university. And it's spotty contract work. But, if I can build my exhibition record consistently, I think I'll be fine. Also, there are good schools that are very well-funded: USC, Northwestern, Stanford. Also, UC Irvine and UCLA are amazing programs, and, if you're lucky enough to be a California resident, or have the wherewithal to establish residency, they're very affordable.

Wanted to start a thread for those looking at Master's of Liberal Arts/Studies. Seems like most schools who offer this are gearing it toward older 'lifelong learners.' Not sure if there's anything to be read into that, but it's not me. I'm interested in researching and writing on a certain topic that involves: media studies, art history, cultural critique, literary theory, and more. Would love to hear more from anybody who knows about this, or has gone through one of these programs. Some programs that are of initial interest: Reed: http://www.reed.edu/mals/ Dartmouth: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~mals/ Penn: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/lps/graduate/mla Columbia: http://gsas.columbia.edu/content/liberal-studies-ma-programs Stanford: http://mla.stanford.edu/ Duke: http://liberalstudies.duke.edu/ WashU in St. Louis: http://ucollege.wustl.edu/MLA And more... Specifically hoping to find schools on the west coast. Any input is appreciated!! Cheers. KF

+1 Very interested...

Thanks for posting. This makes sense. People are scared of things that don't fit into easily identifiable compartments. To study something without its own defined lineage means you'll have less opportunity, but you'll have a better education (if it's what suits your sensibilities and interests). I love the idea. I am very interested in a masters of liberal studies programs, and also looking at interdisciplinary phd programs (berkeley's rhetoric, stanford's modern thought).

No, I meant that I don't think there is a lot to be gained from Columbia post-grad that can't also be offered by other, less prestigious schools. I didn't mean that UChicago is less prestigious. My point is that I haven't seen any evidence that going to so-called prestigious schools is demonstrably more beneficial over less heralded schools. I don't study this, and I'm admittedly not fully informed. My friends who went to Columbia are working the grind and making the same amount as those who went to state schools. It's social work, not an MBA or Law. And therefore, financing must be taken into account. It's of utmost importance to go to the school that best supports you and your area of study, whereas that's maybe not quite so in Law or Business. Going to an ivy makes people feel good (I went to an ivy for undergrad), but in this case I don't buy that there's any significant benefit, even though the debt is surely much higher.

Obviously, you should meet the faculty and students at each place, and find the best fit for your interests and sensibilities. But I should say that I know two people who have gone to Columbia for their MSW, and while they both liked it, they also both say that it wasn't nearly worth the extra money they paid. There is simply nothing Columbia can offer you post-degree that UChicago (or even less prestigious schools) can't. Many I've talked to think that Columbia is just overrated: high tuition, little financial aid, too many concentrations, too many students. (US News rankings should be summarily disregarded). If Columbia is a better fit, then you should do it, but if you think you'll get anything extra by going to Columbia (besides extra debt), I think you should reconsider.