Also, thanks for the words of encouragement. I believe in myself, too. (this just reminded me of the courage wolf meme)
I think it’s important to fail. Some things just don’t work out. Right now, I’m just trying to learn to fail better.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/219899/portlandia-portland-unemployment-psa#s-p1-sr-i0

http://www.hulu.com/watch/210884/portlandia-cacao-sex-toy#s-p4-sr-i0

http://www.hulu.com/watch/210890/portlandia-feminist-bookstore-reading-list#s-p3-sr-i0

I’m so glad you wrote about this. I think a lot of people are in the same boat right now. It is so hard to find the best option when you’re weighing future opportunities against future debt . First of all, congratulations on getting into grad school! That is a tough thing to do and a major accomplishment.

I decided not to apply to grad school right after Truman. I regret this decision sometimes; I feel like I’m missing out on something or at least wasting my time. But I wasn’t ready for such a big challenge and I was way to burnt out on school to consider signing up for more. I’m glad I didn’t go right away. I’ve found that there is so much to learn out of school, and other artists are easier to find than you would think.

For the past year I’ve been working for an artist that owns her own company creating hand-painted wallpapers. She’s been very successful, and I think a lot of that comes from putting herself out there and creating a high-quality product (which I think you already know how to do well). On the other hand, a lot of the important contacts she’s made that helped her start her business came from graduate school. And it is hard to get into gallery shows and get your name out there without a Masters.

So I guess I don’t really have an answer for you. Lol. Really, I think that either choice is a good one. If you go to grad school you’ll have more opportunity to make money and pay off your debt. If you don’t, that doesn’t mean you’ll never go to school or miss out on experiences, you’ll just have different ones. Maybe you could find a school that will give you a fellowship, so you wouldn’t have to pay such a high tuition. Whatever you decide, you are so talented and dedicated that you can make any choice work!

I think we are in a very similar boat here. We both worked hard in undergrad (in both school and part-time jobs) while contemplating the same future plans. It is incredibly scary, but I honestly feel that the art community exists for a reason and that it can provide niches for us in the future (in academia, the commercial world, entrepreneurial possibilities, etc…). We might not be able to live off of creating art alone, but artists have always managed one way or another.

In terms of financial concerns surrounding graduate programs, 30 grand a year does sound incredibly steep. Please don’t take any of this to be condescending at all. You are so talented and one of the most motivated people I know, and I can truly empathize with your situation.

I’m not sure how many schools you applied to, were accepted to, or visited or anything, but I guess the best question to ask yourself is if the rewards of going through this program is worth the debt. Also ask yourself if there is a more affordable option that would give you equal (or maybe even more) satisfaction, and then maybe ask yourself if “settling” for something less flashy will provide you with a quality education and more financial stability in the future. All of those are viable and respectable options, but some have less terrifying results. Will you risk the quality of your education and life experience because of financial distress by going through an expensive program? Or will you have an amazing experience and handle the debt later in life knowing that you did the best you could for yourself?

I visited three programs, and most of them were comprised of non-traditional students. First you need to realize how huge of an accomplishment it is that you were accepted into a graduate program since they are all so competitive. Second, just know that it’s okay not to go straight to graduate school. Especially if finances will distract you from your experience. If these concerns are giving you so much stress, it might be better to take a year off to work and pay off some of your Truman debt. Maybe then you could apply to other programs, possibly some that are more affordable with less scary student loan prospects? Or maybe your program allows you to hold off admittance for a year or even a semester (some of the programs I got accepted to gave you the option, actually).

Just know that you are not alone and that a lot of us have faith in you and know that whatever you choose should be about what is most fulfilling for you (whether it is an extraordinary education or financial soundness later on in life).