I graduate and recieve my BFA next year... F%&@! (warning: rant within)

[N D Hill]

Hey all.

I figure I do this once a year since I’ve been here. Usually in the summer due to the reflection that comes after another shitty school year. Either way, I could use advice from people who know what they’re talking about. You see, I go to a particularly bad state university where all you need to do in order to succeed in the art program, is simply sign up for a class. Bam. Instant 3 credits and probably an A or a B. You don’t need to spend more than 5 minutes on an assignment. Hell, people get away with not even showing up despite policy that says more than three absenses result in failure. Professors here have adopted the “everyone’s a winner” stance in their teaching. Technical disciplines and skill building is unheard of and that’s just the way the student body likes it. Seriously, the few people who actually work their asses off will get nothing but the same empty asspat that everyone else gets. So it’s easy to become stagnant and just do whatever the hell we want. We can’t critique our peers in our classes because 99% of the time, it’s construed as personal insult. Even by faculty. The job placement rate is under 3%. As bad as this school has been for me, I know without a shadow of a doubt that blame can be placed squarely on me for just sitting there and going through with it. Year after year, not taking initiative. I admit, I’ve even become complacent.

And this year, I’m graduating and I have absoluely no illusions about my own work not being up to snuff. I realize that self motivation is the key to success in any art program but it’s gotten to such a point where the impending reality of graduating with a worthless BFA and skills that are below average, at best, is going to get me nothing but a whole lot of student loans to pay off and no job with which to pay them off. I have to admit that my financial resources are limited and that was the reason for my poor selection in schools to begin with. But I guess that’s no excuse as I’m sure that people in worse financial situations than me, are finding ways to succeed.

Really, it’s come down to the point, finally, where I have to ask if I should just bite the bullet and transfer to a more expensive school. I’ve always just written off this possibility by saying “I can’t because I’ve already invested too much time” but considering how that time has been spent, I have to rethink my logic.That means accumulating more debt and probably adding a few years on to my undergrad training (I’m already 23). But it’d all be in exchange for the benefits of a real school. Peers that give a shit and challenge eachother and faculty that will tell my what I’m doing wrong in my work and how I can fix it or even make it exceptional. So what do I do? I guess that’s what I’m asking. For those of you who’ve attend art schools like Ringling and Watts, or other decent finearts acedemies that offer concentrations in illustration, how do you pull it off given the expenses? Or do I just work my ass off given the time I have left right here, and hope for the best? Possibly try to get into an Atelier after I have my BFA? I hate the idea of sounding whiny but it’s gotten to the point where the stress of all this is making me physically ill. The one positive thing I can say regarding my artistic education over the years is that I’ve been a part of conceptart.org. The community here is responsible for the only technical instruction I’ve ever recieved.

Wow. That was long.
-Noel

[Pixeldragoon]

IMO, if it were me, I would transfer.

[Diego]

I'm prolly in the same situation as you about school, teachers and peers, but in my case is that it is the only school i can go in my country.
The only thing that delights me is to reach home and do my own thing. So go to school, do the assignments, get your BFA. But work hard in home, learn, draw, visit CA and ask what you need in order to improve, and be constant.
Of course, if you ever get the money to go to a better school, do it.

[Storyboard Dave]

I'm in agreement with Pixeldragoon here. The second I realized that the school you're attending now gave you no hope of advancement, I would've transferred out and into a real school that challenged you. It's like that old adage of going to a bad movie- just because it's bad doesn't mean you have to stick around until the very end, you can walk out at any point.

And I'd transfer NOW. I'm not sure what happens to your credits after they've been applied to a BFA. Can you still transfer some of those credits over to another program? Maybe. Maybe not depending on the school you want to transfer to- they might not accept the majority of them but seeing as how they're relatively raw credits now, I'd make the jump.

Bluntly put...why wait? You seem to know you're in a bad situation now. You know where you want to be, so what's stopping you other than indecision??

Don't let the age thing rattle you either. Most college campuses, the average age is well into the 20's and not everyone is 18-21. I think the sooner you can move on and pursue something you'll feel good about, the happier you'll be. You don't need our permission or anyone else's either. Take charge of your destiny and move forward with life as opposed to just wasting away at a sub-par program. Don't go through life with any regrets if you can help it.

[Storyboard Dave]

And at every level I've heard people complain up and down about how rotten their situation is...

-the instructors are bums
-there's not enough parking
-bad ventilation
-the administrators aren't responsive
-tuition's too high
-the assignment's suck
-the lighting is horrible
-the models are ugly
-the buildings are old and delapidated
-blah blah blah blah blah...

Well if it's really that bad, who's holding the gun to your temple and saying you have to stay?? Who's the bigger idiot for lingering around?

Sure, you have to accept the fact that there's no such thing as the perfect school. Schools can only offer so much and no matter what, we as artists will never be satisfied (look at the piece you did three years ago that at the time you thought was the bomb; now you hate it!). You have to come to some form of acceptance or satisfaction. If it's not right for you, then move on. And that's nothing to be ashamed of or proud about; certain schools fit certain people and others don't.

Life's too short to be miserable.

[Thaelys]

Transfer, regardless of mounting student loans be damned. I don't know what your life commitments are, but if you're the typical single/part-time employed college student, this is the only time in your life when you're most able to adapt to change. I have many credits that are not acceptable to the school I'm attending. I've probably spent a few thousand or so on those, maybe more. What good is the educational experience that those credits represent doing for you now?

Transfer, consign yourself to the fact that you have a couple more years ahead of you. Five years from now when you're doing something you like, it won't make a difference.

[dogfood]

Noel, my friend, I can almost smell your pain.

I did not graduate with an art degree (nor recieved much formal schooling on the subject), but I did stay at a Holiday inn Express last night. Everything I've heard the pros say indicate a degree in art is no indicator of success in the field, unless you want to teach, where it's required. Your quandry is pretty serious.

OK, I've gone over some of the options in my head and won't translate them here (too long), so here's the crux:

The school you're at sucks. Given. It really seems like you hit the nail toward the beginning of the rant, though: there's a lot more that you can do to alleviate the situation. With so little effort required, my advice would be to go low key on school, just in order to get the sheep skin, and focus on your real world skills here. You will have the ability to go into a teaching position (with the required extra credentials) just in order to feed that nasty food addiction, while still improving your skills in order to prepare yourself for greatness.

There are so many stories of guys going to great schools, but not getting the skills required to sign their names and of guys with no schooling, but rocking the production world.

Be the second guy (who happens to have a degee).

People talk about the "self" educated man as if there were any other kind.

[glikster]

I agree with dogfood...
Get the degree... that puts you in a position to get crappy jobs to help pay off student loans... and kick yourself in the ass! You know what you need to do in order to improve and it's not get into another school. Step up and work on your art. You have access to the greatest artistic resource on the internet! Get a crappy day (or night) job and spend the other half of the day drawing and painting.

This is coming from a 25 year old who's about to go back to school.

[Pixeldragoon]

Y'know, teaching anything other than art or music or PE must suck. At first I thought "there is no way as a teacher he'd have enough time to do art on the side", but then I realized how little art teachers gotta work.

But now I realize that by transferring, you still get a degree. So I guess, whatever you do, JUST DON'T DROP!

[Storyboard Dave]

Y'know, teaching anything other than art or music or PE must suck. At first I thought "there is no way as a teacher he'd have enough time to do art on the side", but then I realized how little art teachers gotta work.

But now I realize that by transferring, you still get a degree. So I guess, whatever you do, JUST DON'T DROP!

I guess I went the route of loving what I'm doing first (drawing) and then going back to teach. I always looked back at the best teachers I had in school and they were all working professionals FIRST and teachers second. The experience they got on the job was first hand knowledge they brought into the classroom. I'm just trying to continue that form of teaching- getting current, up-to-date, hands-on (none of this theory stuff that doesn't pay bills) knowledge and then bringing it to the classroom. As a student I appreciated it and I think my current students appreciate it now. It just getsw them prepared for the time they need to step out of the safe confines of school.

But realize that just because you do it professionally doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a good teacher either. You have to be able to relate and communicate your knowledge and that's not exactly a skill everyone has.

Teaching has its perks (and it's a helluva lot more paper work and planning than I ever thought went into it), but to me drawing is still my passion. I'm a firm believer in following your passions first and the chips will fall where they may.

[N D Hill]

Thanks for the feedback. I certainly appreciate it. Right now, I think I'm in agreement with Dave. Afterall, training is what I value more than any piece of paper that merely says I'm educated and I certainly don't to fall back on career alternatives. The faculty here is almost entirely composed of people who "teach" rather than 'do'... And the word "teach" is used as loosley as possible. It's funny how three years ago though, I was overjoyed just because I had the oportunity to attend a school. I still am. Conflicts and shortcomings asside, I was able to interact with a few cool, hardworking people who had to rely on eachother for honest feedback but it's never long before they either transfer themselves or simply drop out. I was always aware of these shortcomings and I always just thought to myself, "well I still have a lot more time" or "Maybe it'll get more demanding as I advance" but instead it was just being revealed to me, bit by bit, how deeply rooted these problems were. Right now, I'm looking into the Maine College of Art, which has a fairly decent reputation as a finearts school while still offering the classical foundations that I've always been missing. I haven't made a final decision yet and will have to wait till the spring of 2007 before I actually start anywhere new, but that'll give me some time to get my shit together, go over all of my options and prepare a decent portfolio. Thanks again for all the feedback, peeps.

[Storyboard Dave]

Thank goodness you found a group of like minded people that helped you through some of the academic quirks that you've obviously faced. Those people are invaluable. I, too was lucky to have had a tight group that helped me develop and we pushed one another beyond what was being taught in the classrooms.

And most definitely look for a school where the teachers are working accomplished professionals that can bring it to class. Now don't get me wrong about instructors that teach the theory of art- I think that's fine, but you also have to have a very healthy dose of reality infused as well. Afterall, theory doesn't pay the rent. Theory never has a creative director or a client telling them 'No'. You have to be able to balance the two worlds- push the envelope and yet make it work in the real world. You want instructors that have been through the rigors of a real world because before long, you'll evolve from being a student to being one of their peers.

I think you going to a more competitive environment would also spur you to grow artistically as well. Seeing other like minded and just-as-driven folks like you will help instill in you some drive, a sense of professionalism and just a whole new perspective on things. I've always said that I learn as much from my varied students as they do from me.

It's amazing how fast a collegiate career can blow by. Take advantage of the time you still have in school. It's technically a cocoon; a safe haven for now where you can experiment and find your niche. Once you're out in the real world, there won't be the opportunities to explore as much. Hone your skills now- school's only a platform to get you to the next level.

[darkwolfb87]

Also, I'm not sure what's available, but take full advantage of every resource in your area - museums, libraries, art centers, working artists, etc. I was just in the same situation, physically debilitating stress included, and brought my educational expectations to my own level using the internet and my surroundings. If you're serious about an atelier route after graduating, grab the Bargue book and get an early start on academic training. You may also enjoy "The Twilight of Painting" by Ives Gammel; it will heavily reinforce the quality of education that you seek.

[Cwn Annwn]

Actually thank you for posting the rant. At least I don't feel alone now. No negative feedback is a mantra that some teaching institutions have taken too far.

How are students supposed to learn anything if no one tells them what needs to improve. I can't see a math teacher marking 1+1=5 with a tick, I have no idea why some teachers in the arts feel that they should do the equivalent for BFA students.

I wouldn't worry about your age or feeling "behind" in time regarding your age.
I'm 27 and in exactly the same boat as you are. See? You're a whole 4 years ahead of me and you know exactly where you want to be.

The other posters gave you some great advice. Learn at home, switch if you can but otherwise just get the BFA and move on.


Actually a question as well on my part, is a BFA even valuable from an industry perspective?

[Erilaz]

Although I don't regret my course (it gave me a good basis), I only started learning something worthwhile once I was OUT of University.

[Storyboard Dave]

Actually a question as well on my part, is a BFA even valuable from an industry perspective?

In this day & age where corporations have an increasing harder line to tow, why give someone in the Human Resources a reason to lay you off if you don't have a degree? That's not to say that you might not be the most talented one in your shop but sometimes in a business where layoffs are common, it's not always talent that wins out. Don't give a company a reason to arbitrarily lay you off becasue you don't have a degree.

Of course getting into a place is still reliant on a hot portfolio and a degree isn't as important but when the axe falls on companies when they're lean, you want that silly little piece of paper to protect you.

[Storyboard Dave]

Although I don't regret my course (it gave me a good basis), I only started learning something worthwhile once I was OUT of University.

That's ALWAYS going to be the case. The finest art school in the world can't give you what you'll actually get on the job. At best, they can only simulate job conditions & scenarios and try to give you a solid foundation. I've always considered school to be one huge testing ground. It's a great place to try all sorts of wacky ideas and float them out there without any repercussions. In school, there isn't a creative director or a client telling you NO, that won't fly because of a myriad of reasons (from budgets, wrong direction, age inappropriate, it doesn't match my couch, etc..). Sure, your instructors are there to tell you legitimate reasons why a client won't buy off, what's good or bad about the piece, and hopefully offer a fair critique on it but ultimately it's going to be your choice or not to put that piece in your portfolio.