selenne_antonette_mayoral_

Dear Ashish:

Hallmark Institute of Photography offers a work-study program that requires students to

work somewhere inside campus for ten hours a week--that is on top of the forty hours

minimum you have to dedicate to the program. Although they pay $12,000, which is half

of the tuition fee category, this financial aid option is only reserved as a last resource for

those who really need the money, given the intensity of the workload. To apply for the

work-study program, you have to wait until late July or early August. If you are selected to

participate, you will be required to start working one week prior to the first day of class

and stop working one week after the course is over. By the way, I was adviced by the

financial aid officer not to engage in part-time employment while in Hallmark, because it

will take its toll on students in the long run. I hope this answers your question.

Well, that is all for now. Take care!

Sincerely,

Selenne A. Mayoral Cruz

Dear Readers:

My name is Selenne and I was accepted officially at Hallmark Institute of Photography for

this upcoming fall. Right now, I am in the process of finding financial aid to cover the

costs of the program. Although I am anxious about the workload and the expenses, I am

confident in that this experience will help me greatly and in that it will be one of the best

investments made in my life. I am very glad to have found this forum and to learn that

some of its participants will be attending the school with me this fall, or plan to.

I come from San German, Puerto Rico and will graduate as a Magna Cum Laude student

this May at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, where I will receive my bachelor

degree diploma in Painting and Graphic Arts. At the university, I took four courses in

photography these last two semesters, but my actual first contact with photography was in

my first job at JC Penney Portrait Studio. Who would have guessed?

Anyways, after I complete Hallmark's program, I plan to continue studies in documentary

photography and non fiction writing at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Maine.

After that, I will apply for my first master degree in Photography. Actually, both

institutions will serve me as crash courses in this field, so I can make the most of my

graduate studies, as the photography training at my university is limited, due to lack of

equipment. In addition, Hallmark's program will allow me to earn money to become

independent and pay for future studies. So, what are your plans?

I hope to hear from you soon. Take care!

Sincerely,

Selenne A. Mayoral Cruz