At what cost should I transfer to my "dream school"?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am a non-traditional married student who went back to college because I wanted training in the arts and a good, well-rounded education. I just finished up my sophomore year at a small, relatively unknown liberal arts university. I have a ton of credits so I am able to triple-major in Art, French, and International Studies. However, I am frustrated with the art department because I am not being challenged and they don't have the resources/ facilities for me to study what I want (sculpture). </p>

<p>I applied to transfer to one of CC's Top Liberal Arts Colleges that has a great arts department and is nationally regarded for its rigorous academics, and I have desperately wanted to go there since I started school. I would only be able to major in Art and they do not offer minors. Since they reviewed my application after they had already divvied up all their financial aid money for next year (long story), they have offered me admission for Fall 2010 with guaranteed fin aid and I would have to take next year off. Also, because they are on a 4 credit system and I've been on a 3 credit system, my credits won't transfer neatly and I would have to add an extra semester, if not a whole year. Overall, it would take at least 5.5- 6 years total just to get my B.A. in Art (graduating Fall 2012/ Spring 2013).</p>

<p>Ironically, I could actually graduate 1 year early at the school I'm at (Spring 2010), but could only double-major. Since I am not getting anything out of the arts program anyway, I am considering getting the French and International Studies degrees with an arts minor and going off to get my MFA in sculpture. However, I don't know if I would be able to get into any good MFA programs if I only minor in art at an unknown school that isn't challenging me. I don't know how great my portfolio would be if I haven't had the opportunity to really develop during undergrad. I could also do an Art and I.S. major but would spend most of next year in crappy art classes to meet the degree requirements and miss out on classes I actually enjoy. Or I could do all 4 years at my current school and get all 3 degrees. One other possibility is finishing up at my current school and doing a Master's in Liberal Arts at my "dream school," assuming I was accepted. However, I would still be missing out on the arts training I desire.</p>

<p>It is unlikely that I would go on to get my master's if I attended my "dream school" because it would take so long just to get my bachelor's degree (unless I went back for it 10+ years down the road). However, I think the level of education there could rival grad school, but I wouldn't have an MFA to show for it.</p>

<p>What should I do? Which degrees and which schools would be important for a future career in the arts? Would having only an arts degree, even from a well-known college, hurt me if I don't work in an arts-related field? Is an awesome, prestigious, challenging school worth an extra 2-3 years of my life as an undergrad? Or should I just focus on going to grad school?</p>

2

<p>In pursuing the MFA in sculpture, you should seek advice from people in the Arts business. See how much it would really help you. Often, the visual arts are about production and talent, not degrees conferred.</p>

<p>My brother is a fantastic illustrator with a degree from a well-known arts college. He does work in advertising and teaches at his alma mater. He’s shocked at how little his students know about the “real world” of working in the arts field – despite their talent level. His line to them: “when you graduate, I’ll be in the same line with you competing for those bids. You have to be that good.”</p>

3

<p>I am not familiar with the art school system but you should focus on going to grad school but only if you think that the grad school you will be looking at will be “awesome, prestigious and challenging”</p>

4

<p>What is your career goal and can you achieve it coming out of your current school? Coming ot of your dream school?</p>

5

<p>T26 and Hmom have good points. If you want to actually create sculpture then you really don’t need the degree. Find a sculpture artist and apprentice with him/her. If you want to teach it, then you might need the degree.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for your input. The main reason right now that I would look at grad school is to make up for the lack of training at my current school and perhaps to be able to teach one day if need be (as a backup career option). But I don’t know how I could get into any reputable MFA programs if I haven’t really been challenged to develop my work as an undergrad. However, graduate school has never been my primary focus. I just want a good, broad education which also teaches me necessary artistic skills so I would be equipped for whatever opportunities may come up in the future. I am questioning if I will get that at all at my current school, or if it is worth all the extra time at my dream school, and wondering how important a master’s degree is.</p>

<p>I don’t necessarily dream of becoming a professional artist, but I would like to work in an arts-related career, perhaps for a nonprofit. Something my husband and I would like to do together is arts and community development for traditional artists in Africa. That’s partially why I decided to go the liberal arts route instead of focusing so narrowly on only getting training at an art school, as it is more interdisciplinary.</p>

<p>Obviously, no amount of training or education will make you talented, and I realize that. But won’t certain degrees and schools take you places and afford you opportunities you couldn’t get otherwise? I don’t know.</p>

7

<p>It sounds like what you’re looking for is a network in the arts, so it depends where you are and where you can go. If the school is Williams for example, you would have an amazing network of art historians, curators and others in the arts. Not sure you’d get that at Amherst or Middlebury. Do your research.</p>