<p>I'm a 30 year old graduate from the UK. I did a 3 year BA (hons) 2i in Educational Studies which was all about the sociology, politcs and philosphy of education (not a teaching qual and being from England had no gen ed classes). I then did a PGCE (roughly MAT). 2 years ago I went back to college and got a Scottish NQ (pre-art school portfolio year thingy) and got the class prize, enjoyed it thoroughly but couldn't afford to do my BA in art here. Because I've already graduated, I get the pleasure of paying higher fees of about $7000 a year plus living expenses so it ain't going to happen.</p>
<p>I, therefore, wanted your advice/opinion of my dream: to get a scholarship to study in the USA or Canada at either undergraduate or graduate level. I don't really mind about the 'brand' name of the school/uni - most are unheard of in the UK anyhow. </p>
<p>This is my portfolio: Art</a> Portfolio - a set on Flickr<br>
Most of the work is only about 6 months old at most. I love realism like Hopper, but I'm not particuarly into classical realism. My main aim would be to explore North American cultures as an outsider and become a better artist. </p>
<p>1) Is my portolio alone of sufficient standard for a BA/BFA excluding other factors?</p>
<p>2) Has anyone heard of someone getting a scholarship for a second undergraduate degree?</p>
<p>3) If yes to q.1 and no to q.2, Where do I start in improving my portfolio towards MFA admissions standard?</p>
<p>Feel free to shout "Yes, you are kidding yourself you stupid fool!"</p>
<p>No, you are just one of us, maybe nuts but OK.
age, is nothing in long run. we only live once. do what we want and die happy as long as won’t trouble other people much.
I am more interested in why you don’t want to find something there? things are bit cheaper, art is bit classier, food ain’t so bad anymore I hear.
If you would tell us what is your ultimate goal, what are other options, like can you teach art, or some other stuff while you horn your skill somewhere other than expensive art schools? Any sort of outlet for older, untraditional art students to get some footing? Here there are many un- juried open exhibitions / competitions big and small and even got TV reality show on art.
How that all work in UK?</p>
<p>I’m just starting out as a semi-self taught artist here in the UK. My last job was becoming unbearable which doesn’t help my moderate but clinging depression. I went travelling with a plan of selling work based on my travel on my return. I have sold a few paintings to strangers via the web and I’ve got plans for themes and directions for my work. My 6 month goals include making my first £1000 from my art as well as entering one or two of the Scottish society art shows in the Spring. So I’m extremely poor and waiting to hear back about a part time supermarket job to help support myself but I feel good about the decision. So I have career plans for my art right here without any more formal education. Didn’t want to wait until retirement to try- at this rate we won’t even have retirement in the UK by the time I reach 70.</p>
<p>As I said, going back to do an art degree in the UK is super pricey and we aren’t eligible for more loans so I’d need to either save up about £25,000 ($40,000) before I could start or find a sugar daddy… An MFA here might be an option as I could do it part time- but I don’t know what level I need to be as I’m not that impressed by what I see at the undergrad degree shows. </p>
<p>I’ve been fascinated with America since I was a kid because of the cultural impact on me with tv and films. I visited Cincinnati last year and I left with more questions than I had answered. I’m not looking to emigrate permanently. The thought of 4 years to improve my art and understand more about the US and its history would be brilliant. And with a scholarship it could be much cheaper.</p>
<p>London and the UK art scene are great- but the US has very different landscapes and peoples and that’s fascinating to me.</p>
<p>Hello- i dont know anything about anything. But I wanted to tell you I like your work, especially the architec. stuff. I also like the white pencil figure drawing. I would keep the portrait done from a photo out of your portfolio. But the buildings have a certain coherent style that I find compelling. It seems very illustrative, like something you could be making a living doing for magazines and so on. They are charming.</p>
<p>This is a strange situation, and I dont have any real knowledge of how to manage it, because my kid is a traditional art student, that is one right out of high school and into an art school. But I have a feeling that you maybe wouldnt need a second bfa. How about applying for MFA right away. My brother in law was an older mfa student. He attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and was profoundly happy. His fellow students seemed pretty great too. </p>
<p>There is a community college in Maryland Montgomery College, which has what appears to be a fairly decent art program. Many kids from my sons HS who cant afford a more expensive option end up there for a couple of years.</p>
<p>I hear ya…join the club of older, wanna be in school folks.</p>
<p>Getting a big scholarship here in the US isn’t easy. If you could establish residency in one of the states then you could get in-state tuition at a number of universities. Much, much cheaper than private schools. </p>
<p>Wonder if there are any grants/residencies/fellowships that would fund you to come here and study for a while? I know there is one for American artists to research/work in Japan. Google what might be available as a Scottish citizen and check out this site:[Res</a> Artis: Welcome](<a href=“http://www.resartis.org/]Res”>http://www.resartis.org/) as well.</p>
<p>I see you mentioned Canada. Tuition is much lower there. Emily Carr in Vancouver?</p>
<p>Hi back
I am from Japan, did art school and job there, came here 20 some years ago same reason as you.
last 13,14 years in NYC doing same sort of job just in English, making stuffed toy bears and dogs.
I took cross country trip 2009 summer looking at schools for my kid and yes, landscapes, cultures. and Cincinnati did leave me with lots of questions.
Why Ohio? job or friend? can you stay with them?
Or
should ask what part of US do you want to be the most?
That will limit your options and people who knows those area could give you insider info, like switters did.
Some UK related folks are here as well, could be with some good advice. wait on them.</p>
<p>drae here is living in this mansion (I haven’t seen it yet but I just know) I am suggesting, should convert into an art colony/ boardinghouse for us old-timer and young students form elsewhere who need something fuzzy and warm.
drae, this might be yet another sign. your fate!!
we can add crumpet and kidney pie in the meal plan.</p>
<p>Thanks folks. Nice to know I’m not the only dreamer on here :)</p>
<p>I’ve seen other threads on CC about MFA funding and I know there are tuition waivers and stipends out there and that I wouldn’t need a BFA but I don’t know about the ‘standard’ of work required. Is there anyone reading this who could give me an idea?</p>
<p>As for undergrad, I’m attracted by the idea of the gen ed requirements- history and literature are hobbies of mine and learning so I could incorporate it into my artwork would be amazing. I’m also trying to teach myself Mandarin so maybe getting to study that too would be brilliant- but that’s getting too airy fairy.
I have no preference for which part of the US or Canda except for good public transport links and a reasonably liberal attitude.</p>
<p>God, no (steak and) kidney pie! I could, however, teach you to make Scotch pancakes, haggis and neeps, although, to be honest, I prefer Italian or Chinese :D</p>
<p>Mandarin!!
loveblue, come’on down. Is there any good school around you?
Italian is covered, I do cheap guido dishes, too.
Chinese is somewhat covered if you are anywhere major cities, BUT not Cincinnati. I have food post about Cin. somewhere in this forum. oh, was awful.</p>
<p>Why Cincinnati of all places… no wonder folks are leaving with more questions than answers. Little known fact, population of Columbus is bigger than Cinci and Cleveland combined. Nobody comes here :/</p>
<p>If public transport is important though, Ohio is pretty much out of the picture, the transit here blows. Everybody has a car.</p>
<p>Based on your references to gen ed classes, it sounds like you would be more suited for getting a bfa from a liberal arts school. An MFA would get you an dvanced degree, but you’d miss out on a lot of the positives from having four years of technical development in your work, and all the GEC’s that would add to your experience and knowledgebase to draw from in your art. I second Drae’s suggestion to establish residency if you can to get in state tuition. Doing so could mean the difference between 10k a year and 35k a year in tuition alone. You’ll also probably want to be looking at the state colleges instead of the private art schools; many of them have great art programs.</p>
<p>like Ohio state? do they give $ for internationals? I now hear more good thing about their art.
people do go to Columbus! or Dublin that is? I loved the Columbus zoo because all bears are in the same area, brown, black, white, big and small.
They had Wendy’s in the zoo with real food, like frosty.
not usual zoo food.
After seen twin towers gone down from our office window, my co-workwer took apparell production job in Columbus ( which bigshot is there? I forgot the name)
far as I know he and his wife, dogs are still there.</p>
<p>It is all taxguy’s fault.
parlsky, if you want Columbus to win, you need to post up ( now 5,543 taxguy), and become guru yourself.</p>
<p>PS
you should tell your own amazing coming back story to this Scottiehottie (OP, you are girl, yes?)</p>
<p>It sounds like the OP knows someone in Cinncinnati. It would be easy for one of us to establish residency there, hard as hell for a foreign national. She would have to work and pay taxes and you need a special visa for that. </p>
<p>So, maybe she could be an au pair for the Ohio connection person for a year, sketch the cornfields and rollercoasters on her days off, and apply as an in-state resident to U of Cinncinnati which has just about every design major. It might still be cheaper to just go to school in Canada.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t send her to Montgomery College in Maryland. It’s a community college, so the most she would get is an associates degree. There are many international students there, but I bet most of them are in the process of becoming citizens and they pay the cheaper, county-resident tuition. OP would pay the out-of-state rate.</p>
<p>I’ve stuck my neck out and emailed a couple of colleges- if you don’t ask you don’t get being the logic. After doing a few college searches and looking at websites re:fin aid, I narrowed it down to Iowa, Pacific Lutheran, Central Washington and Hamilton College in NY. I’ve got 2 replies back but I haven’t opened them yet- I’m putting the humilation off until tomorrow. I’ll fill you guys in with how it turns out.</p>
<p>Ooch! I couldn’t wait…
Hamiton and PLU are, of course, no’s.
Hamilton just said that since I’ve got a degree I couldn’t attend since its an undergraduate institution (?!), and PLU said that as a transfer student the maximum scholarships they provide are $14,000 from a total of $29,000.</p>
<p>University of Iowa has good Art program, it is my D’s safety last year. It is not easy to get scholarship there. I don’t think Iowa give money to international student.</p>
<p>I think drae’s idea is good, try to get residency for a year and then try to apply MFA. Yes you missed BFA … If you are a good reader, all can picked up. Just my thoughts.
BTW: everyone: is summer art residency program a good option for our kid already in art school?</p>