What do I need for?

[Episteme]

Hi, everyone.

I am completed the art history MA course, not granted a degree yet thou.

Actually I had some personal crisis so I did not focus on my thesis. Besides, field of humanities is.. very conservative in my country, definitely not USA, so most of my classmates are not granted a degree yet ( I can’t tell exact reason but just tradition. If someone wanted to write a graduation thesis during the course, professors would think it is too soon to write.)

I was studying for my thesis but I got tiredness of the tradition. So I made a decision to apply graduate school USA. Firstly, my interest is on conceptual art, secondly, I want to take classes from prof. Alexander Alberro, thirdly, my available foreign language is English. I consider UK, too but I think their tradition is less about contemporary such as conceptual art or minimalism.

I consider applying Columbia, NYU and Chicago. However, I am diffident about my quality.

First, I have nothing for CV. Actually I enrolled my college age 23 and I join my MA course age 28. Now, I am 31 years old. However, I do not have any career for CV. I feel like I’ve wasted my life time… Second, it concerns me that the graduate school would think I am slothful because of my unfinished thesis. I have no excuse about it. I do not blame the tradition of my school. I suppose how it sounds ridiculously. Third, I am fatigued already. I took GRE four days ago. Let me remind you English is foreign language to me. It was really hard journey. I’ve felt like throwing up pompous words. My verbal score is 720, quantity is 610. I suppose my AW would be 3.5 (writing is much harder than verbal). However, it was hard so I am pretty tired now. I have to take TOEFL again but I am sick of testing. I also worry about my quantity score. Most of student from my country got 780~800. What if I am going to be competed with other students from my country? The school would consider my much lower quantity score? I know it sounds ridiculous, but I do not know what they consider mostly.

It is sort of whiney, but any advice will be a huge help. Thanks!

Edited July 2, 2011 by Episteme

[violetvivian]

I am not really sure what your question is (are you concerned about your quantitative score on the GRE?) but I did want to offer some other (cautionary?) advice.

Keep in mind that if you do end up being one of the 5-10 lucky students admitted to an outrageously competitive program like Columbia, UChicago or NYU (in the even-more-outrageously competitive field of modern and contemporary art), you will be expected to write. A lot--in English--for an expected audience of American journals, at least most of the time.

I only mention this because you mention that writing in English is much harder for you than verbal. Since your thesis is unfinished, you may want to spend some time completing it. If your program won't accept it for credit, it would still be to your benefit in terms of polishing up your English writing skills. You'll also need to submit a writing sample, and I would only suggest submitting something that you are confident in and proud of.

As for your quantitative score on the GRE, a 610 in math is perfectly fine for an Art History applicant. It is only really a consideration if it is exceptionally low. My score was lower and I had successful applications.

[losemygrip]

Have you ever MET Alexander Alberro? Are you sure you really want to work with him? He's rather unpleasant in my experience.

[Episteme]

Greenpen, fullofpink, losemygrip.

Thank you for your replying.

I've forgotten what I posted here.,,,

greenpen,

I am sorry for my question was vagued. I just didn't arrange it clearly.

Writing in 45 mins is hard. As a foreigner, writing in English in time is not easy. But I can write if I got more time... I think.

fullofpink,

Thanks for your sincere questions. Its make me inspired for my SOP.

Since I want to be a professor, Ph.D is my goal. I am tired of preparing for English Test, not studying on my field. Actually I cannot wait to study contemporary art theories.

While I read his books, I was influenced his method and perspective on conceptualism not his specific interest such as Latin America.

losemygrip,

I've read his books.

Edited July 22, 2011 by Episteme

[losemygrip]

Well, you MIGHT be able to work some with Alberro if you go to Columbia; he's on the faculty at Barnard, and there is some interaction between the two departments from what I've heard. But I wouldn't recommend it. James Meyer at Emory might be better.

Look at the CAA list of recent dissertations completed and see where people have been doing dissertations on conceptualism. My general recollection is that many of them came out of the CUNY Grad Center.