Guide to Online Education > Online Education In-Depth > Meet Real Online Students > Miralina T., Master of Arts
Name: Miralina Traube
Age: 22
Title: Freelance 3-D artist
Hometown: Woodbridge, VA
Current Location: Philadelphia, PA
School: Savannah College of Art and Design
Target: M.A. in Interactive Design and Game Development, August 2007
Why did you select your particular field of study?
I have been passionate about art and video games all my life, so it seems natural to combine the two. I'm excited about the unlimited potential of this new medium to create immersive and unique interactive experiences. I'm also very interested in the creation of video games as art.
How many schools did you consider? Which schools were they?
I most seriously considered and was contacted by Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA).
What criteria were important to you in selecting a school?
My main criteria was that the program be specialized in game design (not just digital art, animation, etc.), was a graduate degree, and was from a school with a good reputation.
I ultimately chose the Savannah College of Art and Design because it was an art school I'd heard of and met people from, they had great artwork on their website, had good school ratings, and course descriptions I was very interested in. Also, the option to take all of my classes online was something FIEA didn't offer.
What is your current course load this semester?
I'm taking two courses.
How many people are in your classes?
There are about 15 in one class, and only three in the other.
How/where did you order your textbooks (if there are any)?
I ordered my books from Half.com, used.
What technologies/tools are used to deliver your program?
Blackboard, print textbook, and online webspace.
How do you manage balancing work, school and your personal life?
Working on schoolwork and work both remotely can be challenging. I set "office hours" for myself, and try my best to stick to those. I find that if I don't set hours to stop, I will work all day without a break...which can quickly lead to burnout and doesn't leave time for friends/family.
So now, I work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on schoolwork and freelance work, and I take a 30-minute lunch and two 15-minute breaks. I don't answer business calls after 5 p.m., just as if I were in a real office.
Also since the weather is nice these days, I walk a few blocks to the park a couple times a week and do my reading and concept drawing in the grass outside. Sometimes I bring my laptop to a Starbucks and do my work there. The key to balancing for me is making sure to take breaks and doing work out of the house if possible.
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