Graphic Design to Art History doctorate... possible?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>I'm a senior in graphic design at American U looking to apply to some hefty art history doctoral programs -- YALE, HARVARD, UC BERKELEY, and PRINCETON. As a designer with design experience, I haven't exactly been prepping for an art history Ph.D for the last three years, and I'm wondering if I even have a snowball's chance in hell of getting into one of these A-list programs.</p>

<p>My GPA is 3.85 (3.91 in my major). Art history is my minor, and I will be taking a graduate course in art history next semester. My resume is strongly graphic design oriented -- I have four graphic design internships under my belt. </p>

<p>I have stellar letters from a graphic design prof and three art directors I've interned under. (I got one from a professor of art history while studying in Italy too, but since I only had her for one class, it's completely positive but brief.)</p>

<p>Haven't taken the GRE yet. But it looks bit like the SAT, and I got a 720M 800V 720W on that, if that means anything.</p>

<p>Basically, I feel like my skill set isn't quite lined up for what I'm proposing, and I'm completely overwhelmed in terms of what to do at this point!</p>

<p>Thoughts? Need more info? I'd appreciate any advice.</p>

2

<p>It’s not impossible to transition from studio fields to art history as long as you have the proper preparation. Your academic record and potential GRE scores will probably not be an issue as they are both fine. You have a minor in art history (and that is good), but you should check with the departments you are interested in to see if you have met all of their coursework requirements–it varies from school to school. One concern I do have is that you do not seem to have (correct me if I’m wrong) strong letters of recommendation that exhibit your ability of conduct art historical research and produce scholarly writing on the subject. That said, it’s good that you are taking an art history class this fall, which might help shore up possible deficiencies on your transcript and build stronger relationships with art history professors. Now I have some questions for you:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Do you have well developed and finely honed research interests? It is absolutely vital that you have these, particularly for a PhD in art history. This not only means that you have chosen a primary area of specialization, but also have done enough research to know how you are going to approach this specialization in graduate school? This specialization should be well represented in any department you may apply to.</p></li>
<li><p>Have you learned any of your foreign languages. At the PhD level, you will need to know at least French and German and maybe more depending on your specialization. Quite often you will need to prove you have reading proficiency of one language by the end of your first semester in the program and the other by the beginning of your second year. Usually, these proficiency tests include being able to translate a page or so of a scholarly article in said language with the help of a dictionary. Adcoms will be looking for proof that you have at least some coursework in these languages in you application.</p></li>
<li><p>Do you have a strong writing sample that you can use for you applications? Probably one of the most important parts of your application (in the top three at least). It’s best if it is in you chosen specialization, but as long as it the best example of your written work, it should be fine.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Okay, brace yourself, I have a disclaimer. Art history graduate admissions are extremely competitive. People with perfect records, conventional career development and all three of the things I mentioned above get routinely rejected from the PhD programs at the top schools you mentioned as well as lower-tier schools you did not. There is simply not enough space for all the well qualified candidates. My best advice would be research programs wisely. Find programs that have at least one if not more people of interest for you focus. Also you may want to consider applying to MA programs first and PhD programs later. Not only will your chances of admission improve, but also it will help you transition into the field and come out with a stronger application when the time comes for your PhD. I don’t want to completely discourage you (because the process is unpredictable), but I had to be honest. Hope this helps.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the detailed response!</p>

<p>You are correct about the letters – my only letter related to art history is the one that I mentioned. It states that I did impressive research on my final paper and that she believes I’m suited for graduate level studies, but as I said, I only had her for one semester and the letter is somewhat brief. Are the others useful at all?</p>

<p>1) My focus would most likely be the Italian Renaissance. I don’t yet have a finely honed research interest, which is why I’ve enrolled in the graduate “Approaches” course, which emphasizes research and the study of the discipline. (Hopefully it’ll also tell me if I’m really up for this or not!) In the meantime, I’ve been reading over publications by professors at some of the schools.</p>

<p>2) I have no official language coursework at the moment. I’m approaching the intermediate level in Italian, which I’ve been studying independently. I’m enrolled in a beginning Italian course for next fall but… honestly, I’ve had more success in the past just studying by myself. I’m aware of the requirements for German and French, but haven’t quite figured out what to do for them – I don’t think I can learn three languages at the same time!</p>

<p>3) Well I’m pretty sure I have some solid writing pieces, depending on what they’re looking for. Most are relatively short (3-5 pages), including a faux museum acquisition proposal regarding Duchamp and Dadaism that I did really well on. I also have a lengthier 14-page research paper on Raphael. Would they look for a quicker argument/analysis-style piece, or a long research-style paper?</p>

<p>Disclaimer duly noted. I’m definitely aware that this is probably the craziest idea I’ve ever had, and I have no delusions about the level of competition! It’s clearly not a sure thing no matter what kind of credentials I have, but I’d like to at least know if I have a solid shot before starting this whole process.</p>

<p>Thanks again for helping me get my bearings on this – I really appreciate it.</p>

4

<p>Well, you definitely seem to have the right attitude about the process. It certainly takes someone who can view the potential defects in his/her application constructively. Congratulations, not everybody is ready to face that. I definitely wouldn’t start applying until next fall (1010) at least, and spend this entire year keeping your mind open and gathering as much information as you can. This will help you decide if this is something you really want to do. Since you are still in school, talk to as many art history professors as you can about your situation, especially within your focus. They’ll probably be able to give you more informed/intimate advice about how to proceed from here, and who knows, you may end up with another letter. </p>

<p>Speaking of letters while I think your other letters aren’t entirely useless (hey, the more people who think you are awesome the better, right?), they probably won’t pack as much of a punch as someone in the field. What would a letter from a graphic design professor say? (I’m genuinely curious.) Would they attest to qualities such as your work ethic, drive, and problem solving skills in addition to your graphic design skills? This isn’t bad, especially if you have at least one letter from an art historian vouching for your research and writing. Even my letters weren’t from all art historians; I graduated from a very small program. One was from my advisor (art history), a German professor, my department head (not art history but familiar with my writing), and a fourth from an internship advisor (art history). Sometimes you can only work with what you have and hope for the best.</p>

<p>Keep thinking about your focus and developing your ideas on the topic. It might help to keep a “sketchbook” of ideas. Write down themes within Italian Renaissance that particularly interest you like humanism, the guild system, patronage, women’s studies, whatever you want. Gather journal articles that interest you. This will also help you sniff out potential advisors/programs.</p>

<p>Italian is especially good for your focus–a definite plus. I think independent study is good as long as you can pass the proficiency exam. You will also make it clear to adcoms that you have been studying those languages and can pass that exam if given a chance since there will little or no evidence on your transcript–your study abroad will help. There are often short, intensive classes in French and German during the summer geared at giving students the necessary skills to pass those tests. There are also books that specifically focus on gaining reading skills in these languages. It’s not going to be easy, but if this is what you want, it’s far from impossible. </p>

<p>From what you’ve said, I would definitely pick the Raphael paper. Not only is it in your area, but it will also it will meet most of the length requirements, which in my experience ranges from 10 to 20 pages. My understanding is that a good writing sample shows that you can a) conduct research, b) analyze the materials, c) form a cogent and novel argument, and d) write in a scholarly fashion. This seems to fit the nature of your Raphael paper, from what I can tell. If you have concerns about your research and writing, ask a trusted professor. It’s what they are there for.</p>

<p>I probably don’t have to tell you that D.C. is a great town for art history. So many opportunities are available for research, internships, and just plain soaking it all in. If you aren’t already, take advantage of it to the fullest. Another thing, don’t be afraid to stray from the “top” of the rankings. There are a lot of great people who work at the “lower” ranked programs. The rankings system also has a habit making the the whole idea of rank rather static when in fact there are many up and coming programs that are unfairly represented in this system. Besides, there probably hasn’t been a reliable rankings list for art history published in at least ten years. Finding the adviser that fits with your interests is far superior to any number assigned to a program. Anyway, that’s just my take on the whole thing. Get as many opinions as you can. Like I said before, the process can be pretty random.</p>

5

<p>Good letters of recommendation from graphic design professors will talk about technical proficiency, software proficiency, quality of work, etc. HOWEVER, since people can judge these things firsthand from my portfolio, the letter also attests to problem solving ability, attitude and approach, work ethic, and other observations. From internship advisors, they tend to focus on technical proficiency, professionalism, ability to handle deadlines and quality of work.</p>

<p>Looks like a good plan – I’ll work for at least a year (I got this degree and I actually do like it, so I was probably going use it for a while anyway) and then I’ll see if I still want to take the plunge and apply. Plenty of time to research schools, professors, and publications.</p>

<p>I love D.C.'s art resources. Most of the Smithsonian art galleries unfortunately don’t seem to be a great place to get undergraduate experience, since they look for mostly grad student interns. Plus, paying rent is an issue, and art history interns don’t really get paid.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for your thoughtful responses, by the way. I feel much more straightened out. One thing that bugs me, though… I would kill to just sift through the applications of people who were admitted to these programs, to see just how incredible they have to be! I’m not a slacker, but I don’t solve world hunger in my spare time either.</p>

6

<p>Letters: Best case scenario would probably be someone who can attest to research and writing skills, but the graphic design professor might be nice a supplementary letter. Some programs require four letters, but most will have no problem receiving an extra letter if you ask. However, DO ask because some are real sticklers about receiving things they didn’t ask for (:::cough:::Duke:::cough:cough:::slight_smile: </p>

<p>Always great to have skills that are actually marketable after a bachelors! Sounds like a good approach.</p>

<br>

<br>

<p>I hear you! For the most part, that is true, but not always the case. There is one fantastic internship for undergraduates called the Katzenberger Art History Internship Program at the Smithsonian, and last time I checked, it paid a 4,000 dollar stipend for 10 weeks of full-time commitment (summer). Information comes out usually in January/February, so keep your eyes peeled. If you get in, I know people who have gone on to do contract for the museums after their internships (grant money gets found, and they get paid). Also, a lot of their volunteer work is done on a part-time basis, so if you can spare one day a work week, you could probably some experience. All you can do is ask appropriate people in each museum/department if they might need extra help doing anything. Many of them might direct you to the general intern applications, but others might be able to offer you something. The worst they can say is, “no”, and believe me, in this business, you get used to hearing that word.</p>

<br>

<br>

<p>As someone who has been rejected from some of those programs, I wouldn’t mind having a look myself. (Not that I’m complaining–I got into a funded masters at a great but not highly-ranked program, which I love.) However, I think it might just confuse you. For the most part, everyone is fantastically well-qualified, but there are so many different political quirks to each department that vary from year to year. For example, they may be only looking for candidates with specific interests because it’s “so-and-so’s” turn to pick an advisee, so even “better” candidates might not have a chance that application year. Often shear, dumb luck applies to the process. </p>

<p>Also, no one cares about those irrelevant extra-curricular activities (newspaper, Amnesty International, sorority girls for the prevention of tan-lines, whatever). Those things (with the exception of the tan-lines) might help you with Law School applications but not academic grad school. They want the next Fred Kleiner, not the next Ghandi. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck!</p>

7

<p>I did the Katzenberger Foundation Internship in summer 2010. It was wonderful and very substantial. Definitely look into it!</p>