PRATT for Grad?

[Juice5942]

Recently got accepted into the communication arts program at Pratt. (also applied to SVA, but got rejected. :S ) Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any "heads up" type of info for me on their grad program in general, or their communication design program specifically. I haven't actually accepted yet, but I plan to. Thanks.

[Storyboard Dave]

Why are you so interested in grad school? Not that I have anything against it, because you might want to teach at the collegiate level one day- but why not go out and work? Get some real world experience with that BFA. The MFA can wait can't it?

I guess I just don't understand the need for people to get an MFA in a field that technically doesn't even require a BFA. It's still a field based upon experience and a portfolio backing up that experience.

[Juice5942]

Well that's the problem exactly. I have a BFA in Studio Arts but I went to a school that stressed fine arts, it wasn't until I was a Junior that I really started picking up the computer side of things, so I feel under prepared for such a competetive field. Not many people seem to be interested in a student with a studio arts degree as far as that's concerned, and I feel like this is my best chance at closing that gap. Am I wrong? I mean I suppose I feel like I can only teach myself so much, and most graphic design jobs aren't really looking for someone to learn on the job or someone to train. They want experience, and I have very little of that.

[Pixeldragoon]

Just tonight i was wondering why anyone would need an MFA, and I couldn't find a good reason.

[Juice5942]

Well now you have one. A lot of companies will take a masters as equal to a couple of years of experience. Allows you to ask for more money too, than if you were fresh out of grad school. I want to go because I feel like I have a lot to learn still, but who knows. Going for almost-free also is a pretty big incentive.

[ApolloNuevo]

Why Grad school?

the question really isn't why grad, but why institutions at all.

because you're paying for the opportunity to study undersomeone who knows the ropes and has life experience to teach with (supposedly, granted, i had some pretty crappy profs in my time) yes, there's a lot you can learn on your own...but the chance to study with a master will really steepen the learning curve...especially if they also know how to teach.

just my 2 cents

[Storyboard Dave]

Well now you have one. A lot of companies will take a masters as equal to a couple of years of experience. Allows you to ask for more money too, than if you were fresh out of grad school. I want to go because I feel like I have a lot to learn still, but who knows. Going for almost-free also is a pretty big incentive.

I've never had any of my jobs ask if I had a Masters, much less a BFA. I'd do a little more research into the concept field in regards to how people get paid and how they get hired. I'm sure I get paid because of my experience and portfolio and not by my degree.

But if you feel as though you still need more training (you kinda made up your mind a little late in the game but that's okay), then take the classes if they're gonna be relatively inexpensive. You can learn in so many ways and not just by getting a MFA.

But again, I'd highly stress that you look into the hiring practices in this field. I don't think I've seen one job requesting an MFA unless it was a collegiate teaching position (and even then I thought the best professors I had in my day were the working professionals and not the multi-degreed types).

Which ever path you decide I wish you well.

[Helium Macaroni]

First off, in my experiences at least, a masters is in no way equal to experience in the work place. Second, are you interested in concept art for film/TV/games? If so, do not go to Pratt. However, if you are looking for of an education in terms of traditional Illustration or fine art based illustration, then Pratt is ok. Pratt has no facilities, classes, connections, opportunities, or otherwise benificial aspects that will futher your ability in terms of concept art. However if you are interested in the approach to illustration that is very contemporary and conceptually cutting edge, Pratt is appropriate mainly due to its proximity to the New York illustration and fine art scene.

[Icelandic Norm]

First off, in my experiences at least, a masters is in no way equal to experience in the work place.

Agreed 110%. I'd like to know where you got this idea that a Masters degree equals ANY work related experience. What company is willing to hire based upon your attendance at school?? Because when you really think about it, that's what ANY degree says. A degree says you pretty much attended a place and completed their requirements for graduation- at no point does it say how good/ bad your portfolio is.

I'm in agreement with SBDave as well- look into the hiring practices of the field you want to go into. See what's required of you.

[rubble]

What about Pratt for 3D animation? Is Pratt a good school to learn animation?
How does one get into the animation field in the first place?
And does the MFA make a difference anyways?

[AthenaEowyn]

Just tonight i was wondering why anyone would need an MFA, and I couldn't find a good reason.


If you want to become an art professor yourself, an MFA is necessary. I'm trying to think of other professions that would require it and can only come up with "art critic" but that I'm not so sure of. But anyway, if you want to teach art, you need to have these credentials.

Other than that, I suppose it's not strictly necessary--you can learn a lot from being in contact with artists learning and artists working in the field, but I suppose you could get the same kind of contact living in an artist colony or something.