Back to School :S
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- 5timuli
Anyone ever left a job or career and gone back to school? I'm seriously considering it and want to get some info on how people coped mentally and financially with the upheaval.
I'm thinking about applying for the Typeface Design MA at Reading... http://www.rdg.ac.uk/typography/…
- Jnr_Madison0
Nah I haven't but best of luck.
:)
- winter0
hard to do. i'd skip this trendy shit if I could. too many people taking over a fine metier by stupidity.
i hope you're not getting a major on skateboards.
- Rickbass0
I went to college at 18, left after a couple of years to play in a band and then went back again when I was 24 to do a bachelors. Now, I know it's not as intensive as an MA, but I found the upheaval not too bad. Furthermore, because it was an undergrad degree, I got student loans to help me a bit with the financial side of things. Also, I was able to continue working pretty much all the time (because my degree workload was pretty low) to help support myself. My work suffered a bit in the first year or so while I organised myself and got used to it, but later on, I felt as if the design (which was completely unrelated to my International Relations degree) provided me with a nice contrast.
I'd definitely recommend doing a bit of school - it really doesn't have to put that much of a break in what you've achieved already.
- jno0
i have considered taking an MA .. but just the thought of giving up a steady cashflow keeps me away
- kyl30
went to design school after doing some other jobs.
school loans and summer jobs.
- canuck0
I went back, after working design for a bit.
Currently studying elementary education. I was living on the cheap before hand anyway so it was a smooth transition. Just added to the credit line of debt.
- rson0
I worked in the design field for like 5 years. Dropped my 9-5 a 1.5 years ago to get my MFA in New York. Financially I took out one small student loan and have been working freelance and teaching a bit. I think I am making more money now then when I was working fulltime. Best of luck.
- 5timuli0
Cheers folks. Anyone else? I'm only considering it as an option at the moment, nothing definite yet.
I'm not sure if I could cope with giving up a wage either, plus it might affect my emigration plans. Last thing I really need is another student loan, I've already got 3 on deferrment.
I've not been happy for quite a long time, career-wise and in the UK in general, plus since the shit hit the fan last September I've been thinking about making some major changes in my life.
Any info/stories/feedback welcome - cheers :)
- ********0
he upheaval is no problem at all. The upheaval you have to worry about is when you go BACK to work after studying.
- paraselene0
5stimuli, perhaps you could look into the possibility of dovetailing a return to school with your emigration plans.
you were planning canada, right? i think it's similar to the states there in that there's a vast amount of funding for people to do graduate degrees. i got a yearly salary from the university when i was doing mine. also, being a student is one of the easiest ways to gain residency.
you should look into lots of different programs in a number of places over there (and don't exclude america, either; the pacific northwest is very much like western canada) and then check out the different funding opportunities. the larger schools will even have quotas to fill and will actually be needing not only foreigners but a specific number of non-english uk citizens in order to maintain their government funding.
two birds, one stone.
- Dancer0
Stimuli. That's fucking wierd cause ihave been thinking about that recently and at Readng too. I need to refine my skills I fear and perhaps an MA may help??
Reading has a highly reputable course and some of the best have been there, namely Jhn Morgan ( http://www.morganstudio.co.uk/ ). Plus I only live down the road so if you needed a beer!?
- neenaw0
About 3 years ago I was stuck in a shit job with The Royal Bank of Scotland, gave up and managed to get onto the final year of a web design course at Napier. Shit course but I finally got a degree, it only cost me a few grand and a year of my time. Now I'm a rockstar designer living the dream in London.
- paraselene0
*throws knickers
- 5timuli0
That's certainly something I'll consider Para. I'd back into education in Canada but think I'd need to look into how it might affect my application as I'm applying for residency as a skilled worker.
Also, I don't know if there is a course like the MA Typeface Design anywhere else in the world and that's what I want to do. Some good type designers lecture there (Paul Luna, Gerard Unger, Jean-François Porchez) and it's a part of the industry I've always wanted to work in. Only thing is that here I'd probably have to pay for the lot myself :(
And Dancer, good to know I'll not have to get pished on my own if I decide to go ;)
- chossy0
Well done neenaw, and a very concise story no pishing about.
*waves at internet freinds.
I'm hungover like a m/f today, I have eaten two lorne and potatoe scone rolls and I am going to have a curry for lunch.
- neenaw0
Thank you chossy. It's all true too.
- ********0
Better have some income coming in to do that. Bills pill up real fast.
:)
- Jager810
I studied at the typography program at reading for a summer. Great print shop, lots of un used resources (large wood type) but the program wasn't particularly impressive to me. Wonderful little campus though. Best of luck.