Non-Academic Background - Planning Next Steps and Sharpening My Focus

[napoleon87]

Hello,

 

I'm planning to apply for grad school during the 2014/15 cycle, so I'm giving myself a year to really flesh out my application and hone my focus in the meantime.  Coming from a non-academic background, I'm hoping you can help direct me as I create my application timeline.

 

 

Background:

- Undergrad at large state university: Communications major, Art History minor, 3.7 overall, Phi Beta Kappa, Honors College,

Studied art history abroad during two semesters: Oxford University, England (Architectural History); Siena, Italy (Pre-Ren. Italian Painting and Architecture).

Proficient in French, basic knowledge of Italian

- Worked at major NYC auction house in European Decorative Arts for 3 years in administrative role (happened to fall into this dept).  Left after deciding the commercial world was truly not for me and I wanted to try the museum/academic route.

- Currently catalogue American Decorative Arts for a well-known museum collection, part-time. 

 

Question 1:

1. My first love is for 18th and 19th C. French painting, but I have no formal experience in this area (I've taken one upper-level class, I also have been traveling to Paris since childhood and this familiarity is strongly influential). 

My work experience is in the decorative arts, and I could also see myself applying for American Material Culture programs.  I have worked indendently on an Early American glass collection and I also have a strong interest in English influence on American design.

 

So, or is it okay to apply for programs in different areas?  When I contact professors for recommendations, will they find this strange? If I apply for MA programs, can I state interest in two areas? 

 

Question 2:

Supposing I choose one route (most likely European art), what would you recommend as ways to really prepare myself and provide proof of my interest on my resume? 

 

Question 3:

If I have the option between renewing my museum cataloguing contract in the spring or taking a graduate-level course, what would you suggest?

 - If I stay at the museum, I get more work experience on my resume (8 months vs 4 months) and more hands-on time with a specific collection.

- If I take a class, I will write fresh research material for submission (this is a biggie as I have nothing worth submitted currently!) and potentially gain a new professor recommendation.

 

I feel very green with this process now and any preliminary advice I can glean is appreciated.

 

Thanks!

[Seeking]

Your diverse experiences are in fact your strong point.

 

Many people do apply in different areas in different universities. It just means that you have to spend more time in tailoring your application to a new area for every school. But you are applying next year, so you can do this.

 

While decorative arts should not be a problem for you, for 18th-19th centuries French paintings it would be better of you take at least one non-degree credit course. Since you have time, I think it should not be difficult for you to manage your Museum job with one course.

 

If you choose to go for only decorative arts, then this is not necessary and you can just do your Museum job.

 

I would suggest taking a topic that you can relate to one or more areas that you have worked upon. This will make your application strong. A topic that makes a comparative study of some selected works from different periods can weave together many areas that you have worked upon.

 

In addition to choosing the research areas, you also need to focus on research questions - the clearer and more innovative they are, the better it is for you.

 

You need to clarify the focus of your research questions and I think it should not be difficult for you to get into a good program.

[EloiseGC]

Only study what you absolutely love and are crazy about, because your passion is the only thing that will keep you going mid-dissertation. If you don't want to live, eat, breathe, drink, sleep that period of art, choose the one that you do.