Lynette has finally put together her portfolio and sent in all her graduate school applications. Believe it or not, that was a very demanding task. She had to write several papers to each school, and each school required slightly different topics. As far as I know she got all of the applications in on time.

Here are our options –

California State University, Long Beach, CA – without seeing the cost of tuition I think this is both Lynette and I’s first choice. Who wouldn’t want to live in CA? Lynette can live close to one of her life long H.S. friends and I’m confident I will be able to find a job somewhere in the vast city called L.A. It’s also a one day’s drive back home.

Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ – This is only a good option because we wouldn’t have to move. We wouldn’t have to sell our house and we’d able to be close to family. But, for Lynette’s sake this is not that good of an option. Artists need to expand and experience art from many different view points; if she stays she will be taught by the same people and be surrounded by the same system. If she stays she may not have as much creativity or room to grow than if she leaves.

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO – Again, this school is appealing because it’s close to home (sort of ~900 miles away from Mesa). If I hadn’t have heard about all the terrible snow storms last winter this may be top on my list. It would be great to live in the Rocky Mountains in the summer time, but I’m not sure how I would survive in the winter. Burr.

University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, MA – The east coast has a lot of history and I would LOVE to live in or around Boston. Again, I’d have to deal with the cold and the ice but that might be alright. If ‘distance from home’ wasn’t so much of a factor for me I think this would be my number one choice.

University of Oregon, Eugene, OR – I’ve heard Oregon is beautiful. From a ‘I like to camp’ perspective the little town of Eugene looks like a really nice place to go. I have a friend who knows many of the Civil Engineering companies in Eugene so I’d have some direction when it comes time to look for a job. My parents just got called on a mission to Portland, so we’d be sort of close to them, so that would be nice.

Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA – Living in Washington sounds good in theory but from what I’ve found on the internet is that Ellensburg is only about 20,000 people. Getting a job would definitely be a big concern if we moved there. At ASU there are more than double to population of Ellensburg.

Towson University, Baltimore, MD – This is last on my list because I really don’t want to live in Baltimore. If I have to deal with rain, cold, being far from home and a crowded city the other Universities seem much more appealing. But if that is the only place Lynette gets into, well….I don’t know.

So, there you have it, those are our options and a little about how I feel about each one. I still will be sad to leave my life here in Mesa. Now, all Lynette and I can do is wait to see what schools she gets accepted to. Once its narrowed down, we’ll have to think long and hard about that choice. Me working, the Art program and tuition costs will be our top concerns.

Hope you enjoy some of these images. They are a few of the pieces included in her portfolio.

Scott

This piece is currently on display at the Mesa Arts Center (Until Mar 4):