<p>It is my understanding that MFA degrees are always self-funded - as in, it is impossible to get grants/assistanships possible for academic MA/MS/PhD degrees. Is this a correct assumption?</p>
<p>The context of this query is that if my D goes to an LAC or traditional university and majors in Art, especially with a BA rather than BFA degree, it will probably be necessary for her to get an MFA before she becomes employable. So I’m trying to anticipate the total cost of her education for her parents and for her :).</p>
<p>A related question: is it a big disadvantage to have a BA degree when applying to MFA programs, compared to people who will have a BFA degree? Will she need to spend another year building up a required portfolio? </p>
<p>Many thanks to all the knowledgeable people on this forum!</p>
<p>What do you mean by self-funded? If you mean that you will need to pay for most of the tuition yourself, you are correct. There are few scholarships for MFA students.</p>
<p>Yes, that’s what I meant - paying yourself. Thanks taxguy. Better to know this and be prepared now than find out 5 years down the road.</p>
<p>What about disadvantages of BA vs. BFA degree when applying to MFA programs? Is it done often (going from BA), or would she be much better off getting BFA?</p>
<p>An American BA in art or design is different from a British/UK BA in the same field. In most cases an american BA candidate would have completed more academic course work and less practical studio work than their British counterparts. As much as 2/3rds of any american BA can be devoted to core requirements and general studies. The American BFA, on the other hand, is more similar in structure to what you would find in a BA program at a british school like central st martin’s or kingston with the majority of the classes being devoted studio work.</p>
<p>Art schools don’t seem to care too much about grades and previous qualifications. The main factor in admission is usually the portfolio. That said, American students who do BFA programs tend to have stronger portfolios simply because they have done more practical work in a subject area than their BA counterparts. Though this is not always true and it is very much possible to bridge the experience gap if you’re talented/hard working. I have a cousin whose first degree was a BA in journalism at sarah lawrence and she is currently doing her MFA in film at Columbia. (though she did have a lot of work experience in film).</p>
<p>As far as i’ve read/heard, it is in fact significantly harder to get financial aid for graduate studies in art, design or media, much harder than if you were studying chemical engineering or law. Though funding does exist. Your financial aid prospects for an MFA at Yale are probably better than doing the same program at CalArts and it helps if you are particularly good at what you do.</p>
<p>Thanks kaelyn. I am talking about American BA and American BFA. We are not considering UK schools at all (D can’t wait to get out of UK back to US!).</p>
<p>Generally, Kaelyn is correct. A BA provides less studio courses and less courses related to your artistic major than a BFA;however, these distinctions are getting more blurred. For example, my daughter will be graduating with a BS in Digital Design. I am sure that the amount of courses she took relating to her major and were art/design related would be equivalent to that of most BFAs. Thus, it does depend on the program.</p>
<p>Also I would go so far as to say the department and faculty play a major role in not only the quality but the depth of the education especially in new genre art. A highly competent student in foundation work will accelerate into higher studio courses, show more frequently, and pursue more ambitious work with the departments support generally. </p>
<p>As for the portfolio and grades (which I would say anything above a 3.3-.5 compliments a STRONG portfolio), there is a large contrast between the undergraduate portfolio and the graduate portfolio. Either way I regularly find students who do not pursue the BFA will take a year off to develop what will be the foundation work for their MFA since senior shows and the independence of the work from the requirements of the BA curriculum tends to be less common due mostly to time and space limitations for the average student. </p>
<p>This is my experience and observation, but I too am on the fence between the BFA and the BA. I have opportunities with both and need to make a decision but will likely opt for the BA and better faculty then a BFA with more time, less cost, but an inferior and more limited department. (the common polarization between UC vs CSU’s in California from my experiences) The BFA at an Art School like CCA, Otis, CALArts, or ACCD is another story (just one I can not afford to participate in) </p>
<p>Thrilled to see people discussing academic art programs around here!</p>
<p>are you HS senior 17-sh 19 or adult returning 23-5 sh, if later what have you been doing meantime?
If former, what and where, who mad you so smart?</p>
<p>mino7aur, if you are looking into studying art in the public system you should probably check out UC San Diego. You may or may not want to check out UCLA as well. They have one of the best fine art grad programs in the US but I don’t know if that can be used as any indicator of the quality of their undergrad programs.</p>
<p>In lieu of being able to do a BFA at an art school I think you should just go for the best all round school with a good art department regardless of the degree programs they offer.</p>
<p>How come you aren’t looking at schools in the UK us<em>uk</em>mom?</p>
<p>Not interested in UCLA for undergrad but may consider for my MFA though I am learning towards public universities back east like Alfred and VCU (I have taken summer coursework at UCLA and all of my family graduated from UCLA so I think I’d prefer not too esp since the art dept is a little on the conservative side for my taste). I already have a TAG with UCSD and I agree and think the department is stellar though southern california has really lost its appeal for me. I start MFA applications a year from now so my blood sweat and tears are going into portfolio work and shows (Just had my first solo show in December). Thank you for the recommendations though as it is nice to see you caught on that I am pretty committed to the public university systems even though I get lots of nudges from people I should take the plunge and call Art Center home. I love collaboration and honestly as much fun as art school culture can be I really love the mixing with programmers and engineers that I have been seeking out for my projects. </p>
<p>I read up on your other posts and wanted to thank you for replying, you certainly have made the pursuit of studying art quite a hunt for you and I notice you seem really committed to helping others on these forms and spreading the wealth of information you drum up. My fingers are crossed for you and Chelsea. </p>
<p>grr bow wow wow ( from bears and dogs but people think i am a ■■■■■) = you didn’t answer my question!</p>
<p>i am sure lots of folks here are curious about you
you don’t hav to if you don’t want to, but in this turf ( art major forum) written in the blue sky rule have been this, if you are gonna brag about anything, go all the way!!!</p>
<p>I am a mature student (late 20’s) who floats around and takes classes for the pleasure of it. I have been fortunate to run with a great pack who are collectively pushing to help redefine the practice of art in the modern age but we are all spread throughout north America. My strategy just comes from along the lines of provoking a much needed dialogue within the structure of academia (which I have returned to after a respectable career in media) - if you watch cartoon network you have (more likely then not) seen some of my work already. </p>
<p>I just really miss the community and collectivism of colleges and it was a much needed antidote to the deadlines and expectations of daily work in the media industry. I look-forward to going back to art school and spreading the wealth while finishing up treading a much needed path carved out of the overgrowth.</p>
<p>oh… just that I might hav hoped that you are born '74 to make it somewhat in ball park of midddle age who wanting to go back to UG art.
while dealing with cooper hometest (no, did not “help” just dealing with the mess) I was intriguerd as if wanted to do it all over again (I do) but can’t shouldn’t wouldn’t.
My real guess was you must be mature 20s - still chicks in perspective, you go!!
I don’t have TV and it’s ages since I saw said network but any job experiences would only help. Just try not throw that air too often nor drop names if you want to fit in even with those art school kids (and some teachers, whom yet to have your caliber of opportunities)
How the UC money, though?
I loved everything about UCLA when visited except how so wrongly bad the bruin bear sculpture was and the cheapness of the library system, including arts.
Good luck and hope the system floats OK during your time.
Why Hollywood folks won’t just throw in neighborly millions eaches?</p>
<p>us-uk…
I remember now!
you are the mom of the US kid not warmed up to London itching to come back to states for artschool few years ago?
what happened? updates! updates!</p>
<p>@kaelyn - see my post #5 -D doesn’t want to stay in UK. That’s why we’re not considering UK schools. Also, in UK you can’t double major, which is what she wants to do. </p>
<p>@bears and dogs - you remember correctly. Nothing much happened since I last posted. D went to Pratt last summer for pre-college program, absolutely loved it and got good, promising feedback on her portfolio. She still wants to go to college in US, so we’re looking for university/LAC strong in art where she can double major in something else. This summer she will take classes at Central Saint Martin in London.</p>
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