T
tinagionis
Guest
Hi,
I'd like to hear from people who have received either their MFA or MA in photography and to hear opinions on whether going to school for an advanced degree has helped them.
I've been sitting on the fence about whether to go to grad school for years. I'd love to go, but the cost scares me, and the thought of going into debt for a degree that won't necessarily help me make money right away to help pay off this debt (it's an MFA not an MBA) has kept me from going.
So I thought I'd educate myself by working in the industry, trial and error, that sort of thing. And I won't deny that I've learned tons, and probably way more about the business that someone who's only been in school, but the desire to go back to school still hasn't gone away. I've been doing continuing ed at some great photo programs here in New York, but think I need something a bit more intensive.
As far as my career goals, I have no intention in the forseeable future of being an academic, but I wouldn't mind teaching a class here or there at the college level. What I'd like to do mainly is work on documentary projects, some editorial photography, and also build up my body of fine-art work-which is still documentary in nature, though artsy. I've done commercial, but it's really not for me.
The reason I want to go back is because I feel that more schooling will help me become a better visual communicator, and will also help me focus on my career. For those of you that have gone to grad school, has it helped you to do these things?
Are you glad that you went to school, or do you think it was a waste of time and money? Was it worth going into debt for? Has it helped your career at all? Do you feel that you are treated more seriously because you have an advanced degree or has it made no difference to the way people see you and your work? Is it true that if you have an advanced degree you have an easier time securing grants to do work? And most important of all, did it make you a better photographer/visual communicator/artist?
I sort of feel like getting a masters in photography is a luxury; I don't really need it, but I feel that I haven't reached my true potential, and I think school can guide me to reaching it. Or maybe I'll get through a program and realize I just don't really have what it takes to be an effective visual communicator and story teller, but I figure at least I'll know instead of wondering "if only I had gone back to school....."
So anyone who has gone through a masters photo program and can give me some insight, please do.
Or any thoughts how one can become a better visual communicator without going to school? I guess you can gauge success with how many jobs you get, but what if you want to get better?
Thank you so much! Your thoughts are much appreciated.
I'd like to hear from people who have received either their MFA or MA in photography and to hear opinions on whether going to school for an advanced degree has helped them.
I've been sitting on the fence about whether to go to grad school for years. I'd love to go, but the cost scares me, and the thought of going into debt for a degree that won't necessarily help me make money right away to help pay off this debt (it's an MFA not an MBA) has kept me from going.
So I thought I'd educate myself by working in the industry, trial and error, that sort of thing. And I won't deny that I've learned tons, and probably way more about the business that someone who's only been in school, but the desire to go back to school still hasn't gone away. I've been doing continuing ed at some great photo programs here in New York, but think I need something a bit more intensive.
As far as my career goals, I have no intention in the forseeable future of being an academic, but I wouldn't mind teaching a class here or there at the college level. What I'd like to do mainly is work on documentary projects, some editorial photography, and also build up my body of fine-art work-which is still documentary in nature, though artsy. I've done commercial, but it's really not for me.
The reason I want to go back is because I feel that more schooling will help me become a better visual communicator, and will also help me focus on my career. For those of you that have gone to grad school, has it helped you to do these things?
Are you glad that you went to school, or do you think it was a waste of time and money? Was it worth going into debt for? Has it helped your career at all? Do you feel that you are treated more seriously because you have an advanced degree or has it made no difference to the way people see you and your work? Is it true that if you have an advanced degree you have an easier time securing grants to do work? And most important of all, did it make you a better photographer/visual communicator/artist?
I sort of feel like getting a masters in photography is a luxury; I don't really need it, but I feel that I haven't reached my true potential, and I think school can guide me to reaching it. Or maybe I'll get through a program and realize I just don't really have what it takes to be an effective visual communicator and story teller, but I figure at least I'll know instead of wondering "if only I had gone back to school....."
So anyone who has gone through a masters photo program and can give me some insight, please do.
Or any thoughts how one can become a better visual communicator without going to school? I guess you can gauge success with how many jobs you get, but what if you want to get better?
Thank you so much! Your thoughts are much appreciated.