StudentsReview :: The Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Extra Detail about the Comment
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The Massachusetts College of Art and Design

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityB+ Faculty AccessibilityA
Useful SchoolworkC+ Excess CompetitionC+
Academic SuccessA Creativity/ InnovationB
Individual ValueB+ University Resource UseB
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyB- FriendlinessA
Campus MaintenanceB+ Social LifeB+
Surrounding CityA Extra CurricularsC+
SafetyA
Describes the student body as:
Friendly, Approachable

Describes the faculty as:
Friendly, Helpful

Female
SAT1330
Quite Bright
Lowest Rating
Useful Schoolwork
C+
Highest Rating
Faculty Accessibility
A
She cares more about Excess Competition than the average student.
Date: May 20 2009
Major: Design Arts - Industrial Design/Graphic Design/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
I was an illustration major who is now working in a field related to my degree (surface pattern design). Previous comments about those fresh out of high school aimlessly floating without direction are pretty accurate: there is a lot of busy work freshman year and unfortunately MassArt doesn't expose its students to the vast potential of the assorted majors as much as it could. Instead you find yourself stuck doing basic form study projects and figure drawing. I wish I could have been exposed to the fibers program and sculpture (among other things) instead of crafting geometric shapes out of cardboard. That being said, the faculty is outstanding and even freshman year i had some really interesting electives (a mythology/drawing course, for example) These are practicing artists and designers and I truly enjoyed the interaction I had with them.

Art school in general is very sink or swim - either you "get it" and you develop your talent/skill level/aesthetics or you remain stuck at what is essentially a high school skill level. Sadly, a lot of people don't realize this until after they graduate and they venture out into the world with a mediocre portfolio. That would be my one complaint about MassArt - in its efforts to foster diversity and equal opportunity quite a few less than stellar artists make it through four years of school and then are basically screwed. There is a lot of talent though. The illustration program definitely neglected computer skills and website development/promotion while I was there (which is vital post-grad) but they appear to have stepped up their game a little since I was there. If I could change anything about my time there it would be this: I would have taken advantage of programs outside MassArt like Haystack School of Crafts, cross-registration with Consortium Colleges, travel abroad, and gained more exposure to faculty outside my major. Also, unless you have a very strong artistic/aesthetic style that is clearly very good, you may get pulled in a lot of different directions by various faculty members and their assignments and opinions. And the illustration assignments are, for the most part, not particularly innovative or inspiring - but it's all about what you put into them. Degree project senior year was pretty daunting - dedicating a whole year to the exploration of one theme was very difficult. The one most important piece of advice I can give is FOSTER AS MANY RELATIONSHIPS WITH FACULTY AS POSSIBLE! Don't take them for granted, and definitely don't suck up… but figure out who the strongest teachers are and who can help you learn the most, and cultivate these relationships. By the time your degree project rolls around senior year, you will be very glad you have those teachers for input.

Boston is a small city but it has a lot of charm. And collegiate parties. It can be a bit insular but if you make an effort you can have a wide array of friends. I loved security (the night shift consisted of super friendly people whom we saw pretty often in the wee hours of the night while working in the studios) I loved the grungy studio space (especially when it was 24 hour access) the library is very small but decent and you have access to a billion other college's libraries as well. I have no complaints about the faculty - I just wish I had pushed myself harder, sooner. And it is a great value. Looking back, I have no regrets about pursuing a design degree rather than something more "fine art". But it definitely doesn't work out for everyone. You have to become really motivated by junior year at the latest (ideally much, much sooner) and pour a lot of effort into developing yourself as an artist, because the faculty can only take you so far.

Responses
questionHello:
Thank you for your review on MassArt! I have a quick question for you, thanks!
I'm a student at MIT and I am thinking about taking a illustration course at MassArt next term. I have searched on the web but found no class schedules. Could you please let me know where I can find it? And how much time in total one needs to spend on a "5-hour critique" class? Thank you again!
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