FAQs
As the 2010-2011 admissions date approaches, we will respond here to questions that seem to come up frequently for prospective students.
Q. How do I apply for admission for the summer of 2010?
As described fully on our Admissions page, all candidates must initiate the application process by first registering online.
Once an application has been initiated through the on-line registration form, you will receive a confirmation email that details the submission materials required.
Q. What sort of advice would you give about submitting my portfolio requirements?
We spend a long time looking at your presented work. Make sure your images are of excellent quality and are thoughtfully curated to support all other aspects of your application. How you assemble your package says a lot about you. We also take writing very seriously at MECA. We would suggest spending a good amount of time working on your seven-hundred and fifty words program proposal. We ask you to describe your intended field of exploration which will show us what materials, ideas, and approaches you are ready to embrace as part of your graduate study. While we are interested in what you have been making and reading and thinking about in the past, we are most interested in articulate proposals that show us how you will use your body of knowledge to push your work in new directions in the future. We encourage you to show how your particular practice is able to translate abstract ideas and concepts into concrete material form or immersive contexts. The proposal should also incorporate an artist or curatorial statement that clearly articulates your research — the originary sources, materials, cultural, and critical contexts — that have led you to choose your particular area of studio or project work. Tell us how you are ready to challenge yourself and why you think MECA’s MFA will help you do this
Q. Who are the Visiting Artists and Curators for the 2010 summer intensive semester?
The MFA at MECA takes its pronouncement of “cross-disciplinarity” pretty seriously. The roster of summer visiting artists and curators is intentionally diverse. Here are the faculty who taught with us last year. This year, a panel of international recommenders is nominating artists and curators as visiting faculty for the summer of 2010. From this list, three visiting artists and three visiting curators will be selected by the Dean of the College, the Director of the MFA program, and one student representative. Names of visiting faculty will be released in early December of 2009.
Q. What kinds of work-study opportunities are there are MECA?
Two recent posts discuss work opportunities in the MFA. They are the Tuition and Financial Aid news and a page on Teaching and Research Assistantships. In 2010, each student who chooses the full-time, full-residency stream at the College will be guaranteed a teaching or research fellowship or position in the MFA Mentor program. These assignments will be made at the end of the summer semester. All students in the full-time, medium residency stream may apply for one of three remote research fellowships. Part-time students are not eligible for assistantships at this time.
Q. Is there a recent catalogue for the MFA?
We are excited to be presenting to NASAD a new curriculum plan for 2010 that will include two streams in Studio Arts and Independent Curating. While there will not be substantial changes to the curriculum you see posted on our curriculum page, we will be expanding our offerings through electives and new courses. Until these offerings are officially approved, we are waiting to publish a full hard copy catalogue. This website, and conversations with Rebecca, the Director, and discussions with current students are still your best way hear more about the courses that are taught. We are also happy to provide you with a guest password so you can view our internal teaching website that is actively used on a daily basis by all students and faculty.
Q. What are the academic dates for next year?
MFA Academic Calendar 2010-2011
Summer semester
June 18 MFA Orientation
June 21- August 13 Summer Intensive
Fall semester
September 7 Fall semester begins
October 22 Mid term
December 3 end of fall semester
December 4- 12 Winter Intensive
Spring semester
January 24 Spring semester begins
March 11 Mid term
April 29 Spring semester ends
May 2-8 May Residency for graduating students
May 9 Commencement
