lindab

My d is a freshman at a NYC art school - in the direct entry photography program.
She has had a passion for photography for 5 years and jnew she would want to be in the city studying photo.
First month went great. She loved it. Then, homesickness set in. Now, she is saying she is losing her love for photography as it is becoming a chore. At this point, she is thinking of coming home in December and transferring somewhere else. uhg.

I told her that I imagine the first few classes (similar to 101) in photo are similar to any major that it is mostly the grunt and foundation work - not the fun stuff yet. Am I correct?

She is very creative and was excited to be in a non-traditional college. She never saw herself studying history and biology, even as the core classes to another major. I still don't see her being satisfied at a state school.

She is doing very well in her classes. She has made friends and has good roomies that do things together. She is defintely not alone in the city.

Does this sound familiar? She has said there are quite a few students leaving after 1st sememster. We want her to stay for the first year before we agree to her transferring. Any suggestions?

msmayor

I'm not all that familiar with the loss of passion...my own daughter set off for art school in September at SCAD to study graphic design. She won't even really sniff the graphic design classes for another year, but she is absolutely loving the immersion back to art and drawing, all part of the foundation.

Perhaps this is where your daughter's disillusionment is coming? I think that most art schools require a 'foundation' year that includes a lot of drawing and the basics (my daughter has drawing I and 2D design this quarter) regardless of the major. Could it be that she's finding the 'basics' boring and tedious?

Is the critique what is causing her issues? I know my daughter and I talked a lot over the summer about how critical the instructors (and students) will be and that she needs to remember the comments will only make her stronger. In HS, she was the Top Dog in the art department, always receiving accolades and asked to do the large projects. Now, she's a small fish in a big pond and learning to adjust to being in the middle of the pack.

Overall though, my daughter's experience has been very positive.

I hope that when your daughter has her break, she's able to express more what the issues are and perhaps you can help her work through it.

RainingAgain

/// I told her that I imagine the first few classes (similar to 101) in photo are similar to any major that it is mostly the grunt and foundation work - not the fun stuff yet. Am I correct? ///

Hard to say, I found my first year in photography (direct immersion at RIT) to be a great deal of fun. The second year was more formal and a little dull as the projects became more about technique than exploration.

As you said, "she's learning to adjust". This was such a huge issue for myself that I dropped out Spring quarter of my freshman year. It had nothing to do with the curriculum, but everything to do with my insecurities and fears. Looking back, I should have started at a community college to get my feet wet. I went back for the second year, did better, and ended up walking away with an A.A.S. degree which served me well down the road. I'm glad I stuck it out through some difficulties.

I'd advise your daughter that she needs to finish out the first year, after which you will discuss the possibility of transferring. Most important, let her know that you will always be there to talk to her and discuss what she is doing. To me it sounds like she is simply - as you said - homesick.

fineartsmajormom

This is a concern as our son is applying to art schools. I have a colleague who's D went to Pratt and dropped out and then went to SAIC..and dropped out. Her problem was that when art was part of a broader curriculum in HS she loved it...when it was all about art...it became tedious and she felt disconnected. She returned home and did a little CC and then went to local U where she combined her love of art and music with engineering and is now a sound engineer! My S also enjoys his science and math classes and I worry that when he is doing art 24X7 he will miss those other aspects of learning...Perhaps your D needs to do something other than photography to really enjoy photography. Could she take a broader variety of classes second semester even if it means she gets a little behind in her degree program? Does the school have any relationship with other colleges in the city? Who knows, having a really good lit class or writing class or a math class could provide her with the mental stimulation that she feels she is missing. Explore these questions with her so she better understands why she feels the way she feels....I know that I am strongly encouraging my son to look at Universities with strong art programs or art schools that allow students to take classes at other universities (RISD, MICA). It may be the non-artist in me that can't imagine doing art 24-7 but many people are multidimensional in their interests and they are bored with a curriculum that would be heaven for a different, intensely focused person.