What Students Really Say About Farmington


What's your major?
I am a double major in English and Art, with a concentration in Sculpture.

What is Farmington's Art major like?
The Art major in Farmington is pretty unique. There are studio courses, theory course and art history courses that revolve around many of the same things you would find at any college. The thing that makes Farmington so special is that the art community is small enough to feel

What are some of the strengths of the Art major here?
The Art major here at UMF is special because it is driven by ideas. Art is seen as a means of communication and students are challenged to think about real issues in their lives and around the world when they're making. Art making at UMF isn't so much about making beautiful pieces but about making pieces that mean something, pieces that are challenging and interesting. The best part about the major is that there are no limits to what you can do - performance, sound art, sculpture, writing, painting, animation or video - any medium that helps you get your message across is fair game.

What are some interesting classes in your major?
I've been particularly challenged by the theory classes - Contemporary Theory in particular - because they really made me think about why I value art, why art is important and most of all, why I want to be an artist. I really like the art history classes, because they put everything in to perspective. But, the studio classes are the most interesting to me because they give you a chance to take all the ideas and history you've learned and make something that is new and completely yours- and that is very exciting!

What sets the Farmington Art program apart from others?
Farmington is different because it is small. The size of the school and the program means that the experience is really intense. The intensity is daunting at first but it becomes more and more valuable as you go through the program. You really get to know your professors and your peers, so you can't really hide. The standards for the program are really high and the courses are challenging but it's also really fun. The level of intensity makes it so that the people who come to the program really want to be in the program and that creates a certain energy in the department that is contagious and inspiring.

Do you get a lot of work? Are your classes here hard or easy?
There is a lot of work. Whether it be reading or writing about theory and ideas or making pieces for an upcoming critique - there is always work to be done. One of my favorite parts of being an Art major at Farmington is the group of friends that you make through the program. Even though there is always work to be done, you never feel like you're in it alone. Everything becomes communal - potluck breakfasts before morning lectures, sharing studio space with a classmate while working on a project late at night or getting coffee to go over some ideas from the reading the night before. So, even though the classes are generally pretty hard, it's made a lot easier by the sense of community that develops among the Art majors.

What other colleges did you apply to? Did you visit them?
I applied to Simmons, Colby, Clark, the College of Santa Fe and the New College of Florida. I visited them all, but decided UMF was the best option for me at the time. I was unsure about what I wanted to major in, so going to a really expensive school didn't make any sense. Farmington was affordable and close to home, so I came, thinking it might only be temporary - but when I got here, I realized that Farmington had everything I had been looking for.

What do like best or find unique about Farmington? How would you describe campus vibe or atmosphere to a high school student looking at colleges?
Farmington just has a really nice feel to it... it's comfortable. You can walk in to any store downtown and recognize someone you know, or go to the coffee shop by yourself knowing you'll find someone to share breakfast with. When you walk through the student center you'll always see someone you know and more likely than not you'll have lunch in the cafeteria next to a table of your professors! That said, there is enough to do around Farmington - hiking, skiing, kayaking, etc,- that if you want to get away, you can do so without having to travel for hours.

Would you recommend Farmington to your brother, sister or a friend?
Yes!