Miralina Traube

Meet Miralina Traube

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

At just 22, Miralina Traube is a glowing example of a go-getter making her dreams of being an interactive art designer reality through the power of online education.

Most people envision online learning for Master-level degree learning. Not so! Miralina Traube, 22, started taking her first online course in high school, and used distance learning throughout her undergraduate degree.

Now going for her Master’s, it just goes to show how technologically inclined her generation is—especially at younger ages.

"During my undergraduate degree I worked independently much of the time, so I felt prepared to take an online program," says Miralina. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Digital Art and Animation from George Mason University in 2006.

Now, the Virginia native lives in Philadelphia, and is currently working on her Master of Arts degree in Interactive Art and Game Development and she anticipates graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design the summer of 2007.

Now working as a freelance 3-D artist for 360 Schooling, she is currently running concept art, character design, environmental design, and Web design for a new educational game that is being developed. And she is planning a wedding, too.

Sounds pretty cool, right? That’s why we caught up with her to find out why more younger people are going directly from undergraduate college into graduate school, and how she balances school with the rest of her life.

Why did you go right into graduate school after your undergraduate education?

I decided to go straight into graduate school from undergrad because I knew I wanted to create art for video games as my career, but I also realized I needed further education to do that.

Why didn't you choose to go to an on-campus program and why did you decide to go with distance learning?

I decided to take the courses online because it was much more convenient. That way my fiancé wouldn't have to quit his job for us to move, and we wouldn't have to worry about when our lease ended or quickly finding a new place. Also, going to class online meant I was free to find a job during the day.

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.

How are you paying for your education?

With student loans.

Can you estimate what it will cost you in total?

With my fellowship, it should come to about $25,000 in student loan debt.

For you, what is the best thing about distance learning?

The flexibility and freedom to work whenever and from wherever I want.

And what is the most surprising thing about distance learning?

Surprisingly, I have learned better doing e-learning program than in traditional classes. I think this is because I am working when I want to and I'm focused. I learn better by reading and doing versus listening, so having course material to read instead of lectures is really beneficial.

What do you think is the biggest myth about online learning or an online degree?

That you will not get to meet or talk to other people as much. I've had many great discussions on class message boards, and have made friends with people that I've repeatedly been in classes with.

Would you do another degree online in the future?

Well, I think an M.A. is enough for now...but if I ever had to go back to school for anything I'm positive it would be online!

Do you have any advice for prospective students who are considering distance learning?

You need to be self disciplined and be able to work independently. I think anyone can do this well, if its a subject that they are truly passionate about. Also, a warning to anyone starting a graduate program online or offline: Make sure to heed advice on the number of courses you take!

Graduate courses aren't like undergrad courses, they are much more work. I took three courses my first semester and it proved to be way too much! And get a comfortable office chair, an ergonomic mouse, and a good assignment organizer program.