SMFA Post-Bac (and post Bacs in general)

[zaquon]

I got accepted to the SMFA's Post-Bac program (photo). I really want to go and I know it would really help my work and drastically improve my changes of getting into an MFA program. I just got my aid package and they made me a very reasonable offer. I would still need to come up with about $35k for the year (to pay for the rest and living/moving expenses). So, I'm trying to decide if I should go.

Is there anyone out there who's done this? How did you get by? Do people work while going? Do you just get loans and hope to get into a fully-funded MFA program?

I seemed to have blown through my trust fund in my 20s and when I asked my parents for money over Easter dinner they pretended not to hear me, so I've exhausted those options.

I didn't expect the decision to be this hard.

[littlenova]

I seemed to have blown through my trust fund in my 20s and when I asked my parents for money over Easter dinner they pretended not to hear me, so I've exhausted those options

Sorry to crack up over your post, but you are hilarious...I have such a visual picture in my mind of how that dinner went.LOL!

Um, yeah...35k is a ton of money. The VCU summer is only 4k. Are all the Post Bacs that expensive? I think it's up to you. How did you fair with your other applications? Do you feel taking a year off and doing a post-bac would improve your work over say a residency or working in a studio? For some, people the answer is yes.

I am one to look at dollars and cents. I wouldn't spend 35k a year even if it were towards my MFA. But, that's just me.

[zaquon]

It's not so much the tuition costs ($18k after scholarships/grants) as having to take out loans for living expenses.

Also, I'd pay $35k a year if was toward a degree. This is the grey area I didn't plan on.

I'm still waiting on one school (UMass Amherst) but I got a total of 6 rejections.

My portfolio is inconsistent right now, but I'm told it shows a lot of promise. I just don't have the time, with a full time job and no one to help support me, to improve as fast as I'm capable of. I did a post-mortem on my port last night with one of my teachers and his assessment was that it wasn't quite finished.

I feel like doing this would stack the deck for me next year, but on the other hand, I've still got a lot of growth I can do on my own.

If my port was rock-solid I'd be looking at residencies, etc.

And I didn't really ask my parents for money, but when I brought up the possibility of moving to boston all we ended up talking about was scarves. Then there was an earthquake (guess where I live), so there wasn’t much more talk of it.

BTW-I loved reading your posts these past few months, as I’ve been lurking the whole time. Congrats on your acceptances! I plan to participate more here next year.

[jon cocktoe]

I'm still waiting on one school (UMass Amherst) but I got a total of 6 rejections.

I applied to UMass Amherst too. I called the art dept this morning and the secretary said that they have all the admissions decisions and they're mailing out the letters today and tomorrow. She also implied that the online status would be updated soon. Either way, your wait will come to an end shortly.

Re: $35k in loans. Personally, if it was me, I would skip it. I promised myself that I wouldn't take out any loans at all for an MFA nevermind a postbac. Debt adds up quickly, and I'm still struggling with some debt from undergrad. Adding to that is not an option for me. If you feel like you could improve your portfolio on your own, then that's the route to take. Other options include continuing ed classes if there are any good ones near you, or summer workshops with the right teachers. Each of those options won't (or shouldn't) cost more than $2,000, and if you choose your instructors wisely, and work hard, a lot can be accomplished.

[selkie]

I got accepted to the SMFA's Post-Bac program (photo). I really want to go and I know it would really help my work and drastically improve my changes of getting into an MFA program. I just got my aid package and they made me a very reasonable offer. I would still need to come up with about $35k for the year (to pay for the rest and living/moving expenses). So, I'm trying to decide if I should go.

Is there anyone out there who's done this? How did you get by? Do people work while going? Do you just get loans and hope to get into a fully-funded MFA program?

I seemed to have blown through my trust fund in my 20s and when I asked my parents for money over Easter dinner they pretended not to hear me, so I've exhausted those options.

I didn't expect the decision to be this hard.

I'm doing the Post-Bac (photo) at the SMFA right now. I'm not from the US, I knew that I was going to spend a lot of money. I receveid an instruction for a very cheap price in the past so I decided to do it even if I still consider the tuition of the schools here crazy! I had a great experience in this year and my work really improved.

The PB at the SMFA works in this way: you have only one academic class mandatory for the year and each semester you have to complete at least 6 blocks that means 3 full days of classes. There's not so much for a job but the schools give you easily the opportunity to work in the school like in the library, lab etc. You make some money and you can do your stuff.

But considering your situation my suggestion is this: why don't you take some classes just in the first semester without enrolling in the PB? If your goal is to apply to an MFA the useful part of the year for you is until december. If you take two photo classes you can have access to all the facilities, work on your portfolio and receive some help from the teacher for the applications. The other thing is that having so many classes I wasted a lot of time at school and doing assignement while it could have been producing work. Of course the work in class is important too but while you have a goal such apply to an MFA I think it'is better concentrating your efforts just on that.

You can also send me a private message if you want more information about the program!