(expensive) world-class school vs. small well-funded program

[green]

So I've recently gotten into two remarkably different grad school MFAs, one in Film Production (I'll call that School # 1), and one in Digital Art (School #2).

School #1

The Pros:

School #1's MFA program is world-renowned in terms of its name (an "in" of sorts pretty much anywhere within the department's field), age (oldest program of its kind), focus, massive network of alumni, all students' access to various equipment by default, general location as well as proximity to resources outside of the school available for projects, programs and opportunities within the department, collaborative environment, and for the percentage rate of successful post-grad students in its field. It is the dream school for most people pursuing this sort of work and is a major foot in the door in any way you look at it. Going here would most likely land me a good high-paying job in the field I am most passionate about, as that seems to be the trend. Also, as a side-note, I have waited my whole life to study in a program akin to this one, but never thought I'd be actually selected to study there!

The Cons:

Ridiculously expensive, even for students who receive partial funding. Though I don't know the status of my funding yet (I haven't been informed, though I will call them tomorrow), the school historically doesn't offer scholarships to graduate students until after the first semester, and no teaching positions are offered until year 2 in the program. Also, cost of living is extremely high in this location, and living there requires a lot of commuting because of its geography. What's more, because I come from a poor family and do not have unlimited finances, I probably would need to work a job in order to survive, whilst somehow attempting to sustain myself in a competitive program that strongly discourages their students working at all.

School # 2

The Pros:

School #2's MFA program is tiny (usually only 4 or 5 students in the department at any given point with 3 faculty working with/mentoring the students), so there is a lot of attention paid to each and every student. The program is also quite flexible and allows for interdisciplinary approaches to art, has good summer-study abroad opportunities, but isn't really well known in the least because the department itself is only a few years old. What's more, this MFA program isn't really what I am most serious about studying, but I applied on a lark thinking I wouldn't get in but, well, I did. The campus is beautiful and small, no commuting necessary (aside from cycling if you enjoy it). This school is also in a beautiful forested area. Cost of living is extremely extremely extremely cheap (yes, it warrants three adjectives in a row). Plus, they are offering me a complete tuition-remission for my entire education and a hefty stipend for the duration of my time there as an assistant and then finally teacher of an undergraduate class. I would be able to survive (rent and all) off of the stipend, so taking an outside job wouldn't be necessary. I could focus on the art program and the art program alone.

The Cons:

This school's department doesn't offer the sort of work I want to do as an artist exactly, though the flexibility and support I mentioned above make it much easier to explore other fields - though probably without much guidance. Also the program's general youth, location, and lack of 'connected' alumni make it exceedingly harder to really network with and benefit from nearness to artists with similar bent and/or more success. Finding a job will (just speculating here) probably be harder with a degree from this school than with a degree from School #1, simply because of School #1's global recognition. Furthermore, its location, though peaceful, means less access to equipment necessary to make certain projects or parts of projects happen, and School #2 doesn't have much in way of the equipment I would need. Also, I would forever be asking myself the silly and unanswerable question "what if....?" .

THE REALITY CHECK = POVERTY

I can't afford School #1 unless they are willing to really help me by offering funding. However, the chances of that happening straight away (if at all) are slim to none. I come from a poor family and couldn't have afforded to go get my undergrad if I hadn't been lucky enough to be on full scholarship. Not much has changed since then as far as my finances go. That said, however, for the sake of my art and the opportunities that could be within my reach, I am willing to accumulate a limited amount of debt.

Any suggestions, folks? It's a really really tough call for me, and there are still other schools I haven't heard back from (yet).

Thanks,

-green

[Demetrios2011]

Very few people can afford to pay full tuition in graduate school out of pocket, and yet many people do every year. They simply take out loans to cover the difference. The equation you need to solve is whether your (realistically) projected salary will be sufficient to cover the cost of your expected loan payments. If going to USC will dramatically increase your earning potential, and provide you with (unquantifiable) greater satisfaction and utility, and you can afford the loan payments, then go there. If not, go to the other place. That is my take on this (common) situation.

[TulipOHare]

Here's what I'm hearing from you:

- School #1 is expensive and will be very stressful, but will definitely take me to the places I want to go.

- School #2 is cheap/free and probably not stressful at all, but it'll be harder to go where I want to go from there.

I'd pick #1, and here's why -- in a field as tight and competitive and arbitrary as yours (art/film), that name and alumni network will be absolutely invaluable for getting a job. The free MFA from School #2 won't count for much if you can't get a job in your field with it. This is not to say that School #2 sounds like crap. It sounds pretty nice. And debt is scary. Debt is not fun. Debt will limit your ability to spend money on other things in the future. But if you have a decent-paying job and any discipline at all, you'll be able to pay off the debt.

Maybe it's just me, but in a choice between "definitely in debt and definitely gonna get a job doing what I love" or "no debt and maybe I'll get a job doing what I love," I'd prefer the first.

[cath2024]

I'd be interested to hear what you ultimately end up doing. I may very well be in a similar situation in the next few weeks. My worry is about the loan repayment: the payments on 200k loans are about $1400/month (standard repayment) and around $750/month (if you extend it to the 30 year maximum). I'm not convinced that an MFA, even from the top schools, will necessarily get me a job that will allow me to make these payments, especially with the sheer number of MFA grads these schools are now pumping out.

I think I've concluded that the big schools with their insane price tags are not worth it, though I love hearing the thoughts of those who are considering both options. (And I'm crossing my fingers for one of the few big scholarships from one of the big schools to come my way. Pleeeeeeeeease.)