<p>Hi,
I am currently a college junior, but since I took summer courses I will be graduating a quarter early. </p>
<p>I am an Art History major and History minor with a 3.63 overall gpa and 3.78 gpa within my major. Until recently I have not been sure about where I was headed after college, but now I am certain that I want to attend graduate school for contemporary art history, arts administration or social practice (a more art-marking focus). </p>
<p>With this recent development, I have been thinking of pursuing the Honors track of Art History. This would mean that I would have to complete two 20 page research papers or one 40 page paper and present it during Winter Quarter 2013 (my last quarter here). However, I also have an interest in going abroad and studying in Prague September-December. If I studied abroad I could not do the honors track. </p>
<p>I have studied abroad before in Brazil, and I really enjoyed it. My reason for going abroad again stems from my intense interest in different cultures and their interface with art (one of the courses while abroad focusses on contemporary Czech art). I also have held 2 internships during my time here and am applying for a third this summer. </p>
<p>I am very conflicted about what to do. If I do enter the honors program I will graduate with honors from my university. Is the heavy work load and time commitment worth this, or will my gpa speak for itself when applying to grad schools?</p>
<p>Your GPA is good but it’s not that great. You’ll probably be competing with 3.9+'s when you apply to grad school. If I were you I’d do honors.</p>
<p>I would recommend that you study abroad especially if you can articulate how & why studying overseas has broadened your appreciation for other cultures & in your major. It also helps if you speak more than 2 languages.</p>
<p>Graduate school admissions like well rounded candidates in their programs not only folks that can achieve 3.9 or higher GPA’s on their record. Depending on your choice of profession, you might also consider taking your GRE’s to a business school (MBA or MS in Management combined w/ your Art background will help you in Arts Administration) or even an Art Therapy graduate program (social focus w/ art). </p>
<p>Not sure your location but NYU has a program in Art Therapy.</p>
<p>FYI: I don’t know the value of an honors program so, discuss with your parents/loved ones/classmates make the decision that you feel is the best for YOUR interests. Remember that you’ll have to explain your choice either way in a possible graduate school essay - why did you make the choices that you made up to this point in your life; etc.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not true for more academic programmes. If you want a PhD in history at Harvard, all they care about is your academic record (including your writing sample).</p>
<p>Thanks all for replies. I’d like to clarify that the programs I am looking at are not necessarily “traditional” academic programs. For example, QuietGuy mentioned NYU. I have been definitely looking into NYU’S Visual Arts Administration program as well as their Media, Culture, and Communication program. Some other programs include Portland State University’s Social Practice MFA program and SAIC’s dual Contemporary Art Theory/Arts Administration program. I was a little surprised at the 3.9 comment, but if you have places like Harvard in mind it makes perfect sense. </p>
<p>Also, a little more background, I am doing my undergrad at a research-orientated university. My major itself is highly research orientated and I have already written papers that could easily be expanded for grad school applications. At this point it’s really a matter of if I should commit to the extra course work for the title of graduating with honors or go abroad.</p>
<p>Why not just email the admissions people for the programmes you’re interested in, and ask them what they would prefer?</p>