I was participating in a sham: Lone MFA student withdraws via searing statement

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

The Roski MFA program continues to churn: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la-et-cam-usc-roski-lone-student-leaves-20160621-snap-story.html.

Sadly, the student quit a program that was essentially “free” to her, which emphasizes just how awful she thought the program was. I also thought this statement illuminating:

“I am still perplexed that the administrators of a renowned educational institution would allow anyone to attend such a dismantled and disorganized program,” she wrote. “I was both socially isolated as well as pedagogically misdirected due to a lack of structure and foresight in the nonexistent studio component of this ersatz program.”

My two oldest thrived in excellent programs at USC; I don’t understand how the school went so far off track here.

2

For context, has anyone ever heard of everyone quitting a degree program? I’ve been thinking about this all day, and it just seems unprecedented…

3

Sounds like they simply hired a ham-handed administrator, Erica Muhl, to run the art school.

My impression from reading about the problems last year was that the school wanted to de-emphasize fine arts and focus more on graphic design and media art. At the moment, I can’t imagine why someone would pay $50K+ to get an MFA there.