I am considering going back to school for my MFA. The problem is, MFA programs in my field are limited and the closest would be an hour commute away. I am not very young, I am now in my early 30s and have run my own successful business in my field for the last 6 years. My husband just spent 5 years of his life in college completely switching careers and is slated to start what many consider a dream job with a dream company here in June. He will make more than enough to take care of both of us if I decided to apply and he is actually pushing me to do it because he thinks it is what is best for me as our business has mentally drained me quite a bit. Commuting is not new for me, we live in a major city where an hour+ commute is fairly common, I’ve done it for many jobs in my life, just never for school. I was all onboard with the idea until I started reading a few people thinking the idea was crazy. Online is not an option, it’s an artistic degree, I must be there, it’s either commute or not go. I don’t want to leave my husband, our dogs and cats, our dream adult home. Plus it would save heaps of money just to make the drive each day. Am I crazy to think I can commute the hr each day for school for 4 semesters? I didn’t think I was, but now I’m reconsidering after some posts I’ve read. Has anybody ever had this occur when they’ve already established a family? Mind you, this degree is almost purely for my own personal enrichment, with the added bonus of being able to possibly teach as a collegiate level if the opportunity should arise. Thoughts?
The same people who tell you that you’re crazy for commuting an hour each way for an education that has deep meaning to you, would probably criticize you if you turned down an unfulfilling job that required the same commute. They just don’t value what you do. This is not about their values.
You can always stay at a hotel near campus during the semester if you have a late night project or an early morning exam. (Safer not to drive home when you’re tired and less stressful to not be worried about getting stuck in traffic on the day of a final.)
Don’t know what part of the country you’re in, but for schools in NYC, grad students typically have to go to Brooklyn or Queens to find barely affordable housing where an hour or more commute is the norm.
People commute more than an hour each way for jobs in NYC all the time. Go for your dream.
The advice I would give to an 18 year is very different than what I would say to you. You are an adult. You have the experience of driving/commuting. You sound like you’ve really well thought this out and it’s something that is important to you. I would totally go for it. 4 semesters of commuting is not 4 years (as it would be for undergrad).
Kudos for pursuing your dreams!
I’ve known grad students who have rented a room from another grad student, so they don’t have to commute daily.
Even so, I commuted longer than that when I lived in LA.
I know people who commute that long or longer just to get to work every day for an indefinite period of time, during rush hour. A one hour commute for an MFA is fine; it’s definitely not crazy.
But do keep in mind that if you are interested in university teaching, it is very, very unlikely that you’ll find full-time, tenure-track work in your immediate area in the arts. If you’d be satisfied with adjuncting a few classes (particularly if your spouse is financially supporting you both), then you’ll be fine.