reddogshoe

Thank you both for responding! MichaelWebster: Thank you for your advice. I've been offered teaching oppurtunities at both schools--but still, teaching in a bigger school versus a small school seems like a pretty different experience. My work is primarily drawing, and both schools seem pretty comfortable with drawing as a primary media. Your point about the area/surrounding art scene is absolutely right- if it were possible for me to visit both schools I definitely would- but, I'm currently an artist-in-residence out of the country. I still have some thinking to do, but I'm going to get in contact with recent graduates or current students and ask them some of these questions too. Sculptor: That's exactly the same situation as me....At WUSTL I have funding, not 100% either but quite good, with a funded teaching scholarship, and at UNC-C.H. I have 100% funding, and a full teaching opportunity, but something about the size, area, makes me a little worried. I feel the same way that you do about teaching. I am trying to figure out if studying teaching at a smaller program, like UNC or LSU (if its not small, probably is pretty intimate) is a better method because of the tightness/support of the program, or if teaching at WUSTL, while large and more competetive, might expand horizons and give a more thorough experience. Today, I'm feeling like the city atmosphere of WUSTL might be beneficial...but I'm still trying to figure it out too. Both of the schools that I'm applying to are 2 year programs- but from knowing graduate students in two year programs while I was doing undergrad, it seemed like enough time. I suppose the important thing would be choosing a school that expects its graduate students to have all of their necessary skills, so very little time would be placed on instruction and most time based on practice and theory. If you feel that there are areas/media that you want to learn more about before you dive in, maybe 3 years would be a better program (...if you're wanting to switch media or have ideas for something new or something?, for example) But, from your response, it sounds like you know what you like to do and want to continue it, so I would think 2 years would be fine. After talking to faculty and students from WUSTL, it seems that they provide a program that allows you to try new things, but expects you to know how to do everything you want to do. I know that they teach a theory seminar every semester for graduate students to take, and that the last 2 semesters, this class is very heavily emphasized. The rest of the time (with the exception of Art History/Elective classes) is spent on studio practice and work. There are some workshops to enroll in, but I think that most of the curriculum is devoted to independent practice. I am out of the country right now, so I haven't been able to visit the school, so this is what i've gathered from faculty, staff and student opinions. (The same sort of curriculum and program ideas apply to UNC, so, the decision is more about size and extracurricular factors for me. I'm just so worried that if I go to UNC, I'll end up feeling stuck with 10 other people, spending a lot of my energy trying to get some space and independence. On the other hand, while WUSTL is a close-knit program, i wonder if the size of the school will actually make it harder to connect with professors.) Still trying to decide...

TiredofWaiting, I'm trying to decide between those two schools too! Sam Fox/WUSTL and UNC-Chapel Hill. From what I've learned: You are almost guaranteed teaching at UNC-Chapel Hill. I think there are also many oppurtunities at WUSTL for teaching, but maybe not the 1st semester if you didn't apply for a teaching scholarship. As far as reputation, The Sam Fox School at WUSTL is pretty new (wikipedia says it was created in 2005), so it's quite amazing that it has such good rankings at this point. When I spoke to UNC-Chapel Hill, they told me their students and faculty have recently won a bunch of awards, and that several of their current MFA students have become really successful-- so maybe their reputation is on the rise? What I'm worried about is size (with UNC-Chapel Hill at least)....if the program is too small, I'm worried everyone might get in each others business. I sort of like my space and independence, and thinking about being part of a group makes me nervous. But maybe it's great? Did you visit either of them? If so, what did you think about the size dynamics?

I think i just posted this in the wrong place-- so, here it is, can anyone help me? Trying to decide between two great offers from Washington University in St. Louis/Sam Fox School of Art, and UNC-Chapel Hill. I'm going for a Masters of Fine Arts, with an emphasis on college teaching preparation. WUSTL/Sam Fox sounds like a great school, and I'm pretty excited about being in St. Louis. The class size is medium, and they are offering me a very nice package. The school is very conceptual and independently driven, which is what I'm looking for in a program. UNC-Chapel Hill has offered me a bit better of a deal (although, the tuition for UNC is lower than WUSTL, so they can afford it in a way.) The program is also very conceptual and independently driven, but they only take very few students each year, making their class size very small and intimate. I'm a little worried about this-- I feel like too small a size might mean that everyone influences each other in each incoming class, and everyone's work might develop similarly. I know it's not totally possible, but I'm still a little worried about it. So, My advice is, - Medium Sized program, or Very Tiny program? -St. Louis or Chapel Hill? -pretty great offer, or totally great offer? Thank you!

Trying to decide between two great offers from Washington University in St. Louis/Sam Fox School of Art, and UNC-Chapel Hill. I'm going for a Masters of Fine Arts, with an emphasis on college teaching preparation. WUSTL/Sam Fox sounds like a great school, and I'm pretty excited about being in St. Louis. The class size is medium, and they are offering me a very nice package. The school is very conceptual and independently driven, which is what I'm looking for in a program. UNC-Chapel Hill has offered me a bit better of a deal (although, the tuition for UNC is lower than WUSTL, so they can afford it in a way.) The program is also very conceptual and independently driven, but they only take very few students each year, making their class size very small and intimate. I'm a little worried about this-- I feel like too small a size might mean that everyone influences each other in each incoming class, and everyone's work might develop similarly. I know it's not totally possible, but I'm still a little worried about it. So, My advice is, - Medium Sized program, or Very Tiny program? -St. Louis or Chapel Hill? -Really Good Offer or Great offer? Thank you!