<p>Hello everyone! Well, my oldest has made her decision and we’ve sent in the check. Now it’s time to take the initial steps with my youngest, who’s a sophomore. She absolutely loves crafting and baking. Her favorite class in school this year is an art class that uses the “Photoshop” program to aid in computer design projects. She is truly happiest with a hot glue gun in her hand, and a bag of beads and a craft project book on her desk.</p>
<p>With the plethora of DIY and Decorating shows and websites, I think there is a market for someone with her talent and skills. So does anyone have suggestions on majors and colleges that would be a fit? We live in MD and she doesn’t really want to go too far from home. She’s expressed an interest in F.I.T in NYC, but I really don’t know too much about the school. From the little research I’ve done, it seems that the program she would love would be the old fashioned “Home Economics” curriculum but I have no idea if these programs still exist. </p>
<p>Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Ideas - one of the culinary schools? Art school for photography or Graphic design or sculpture (different use of the glue gun?)? Journalism/communications school (maybe she will go into the magazine world or one of the many TV shows in this field)?<br>
Alternative: Someplace where she would get a great “broadening” liberal arts education,and could major in anything, but which is not so intense and she could focus on an outside job, while in school, that feeds her interest - eg, at a craft-related publishing house? Martha Stewart Living job? Internship at HGTV? I had a friend from Stanford Business School who used to work for them, in a different aspect. I believe it’s in Tennessee.</p>
<p>I would send her to the best college she can get into, maybe for journalism as jmmom suggests, and supplement. I know a girl who goes to Yale and goes to culinary school summers. Art school would be possible too. Her stated goal is to pick up where Martha Stewart left off. And keep in mind that Martha started as a stock broker, she’s a smart, well educated woman.</p>
<p>I’m like your daughter (into graphic designing with a bit of craft, AND I’m in MD ). What my outlet is is that I’m building a graphic design co. that also does print pieces as well. </p>
<p>A good school might be Rhode Island School of Design, which is where my friend is going to go for photography-- also, she and I are starting a small online biz selling custom designed tee-shirts, dresses, and jewlery.</p>
<p>If she wants to stay in MD, UMCP is great for journalism. I was previously going to be a journalism major, and used my graphic designing skills extensively while interning at a communications company (under journalism and marketing) and working on my school paper. Maybe she would work for one of this Home magazines. </p>
<p>Just tossing ideas out. But sometimes when you turn a hobby, something you love doing just for doing, into a job, it’s not that enjoyable anymore.</p>
<p>I must start this by saying I am artistically challenged. I would cringe when my kids had an assignment that needed drawings-or any artistic input. On that note, I’ll add my 2 cents as this is cc. Looking at colleges for my d I’ve been on the website for Virginia Commonwealth U. (VCU.edu). Check out their School of the Arts as they have a Dept. of Crafts and Material studies. VCU is in the heart of Richmond and it is an urban campus. We liked it. We were there in Feb. My d seems to think she wants to be in an urban area, so this school may work for her. As you are from Md, it’s not too far from home. Also check the website to Montclair State U in NJ (montclair.edu) Also in their Schools of the Arts they have different art studios including graghic design. Even if these schools don’t meet you needs, they will give you an idea as to what type of programs are out there. Both are public U’s so the tuition is not terribly unreasonable. FIT is a SUNY school so tuition is also reasonable. (We’re from Long Island) The school is in the heart of Manhattan 23rd and 7th Ave near the “garment district”. There are residence halls that your d could get as she lives a distance outside of NY. I’ve heard that if you live within 50 miles of FIT, you can’t live in the dorms. I also think U. of Del may have a textile design program but I’m not sure. My d is a jock and inherited my “artistic abilities” so I really won’t try to assess these programs. Good luck</p>
<p>There is a new show premiering on on Food TV, Good Deal with Dave Lieberman (a former Yalie)</p>
<p>Dave Lieberman</p>
<p>Dave Lieberman’s love affair with food began as a child while watching his father cook for family in center city Philadelphia, PA. This interest grew during his teenage years while working at various restaurants throughout Philadelphia. As a college student at Yale University, Dave enlisted friends to produce a local-access cooking show, Campus Cuisine, with Lieberman being the star. Lieberman enjoyed cooking on the show so much that he opened his own campus catering service. </p>
<p>During his senior year, he was discovered by Amanda Hesser of The New York Times and was prominently featured in a front-page article that appeared in the “Dining In” section of the newspaper. This break proved fortuitous, as Lieberman soon landed a book deal from Hyperion Books for his first cookbook, Young and Hungry: Making the Most of Fresh and Affordable Food. </p>
<p>Lieberman currently lives in New York, NY and works as a personal chef.</p>
<p>Joe Farrell, The host of trading Spaces Family on TLC is another Yale alum.</p>
<p>Joe Farrell</p>
<p>Joe matriculated at Yale University, performing in student musicals and singing in two make a capella groups, the Yale Alley Cats and the Yale Whiffenpoofs, the oldest a capella group in the nation. Singing tenor and serving as emcee for the Whiffenpoofs, he has performed for Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. He graduated magna cum laude from Yale, and soon found himself on the road again, joining the group for a whirlwind tour that included concerts in 19 countries on four continents.</p>
<p>I just wanted to address your question about whether Home Economics still exists. I apologize for not having specifics but I only have a couple of minutes here before I have to get back to work. When I was doing my college search I came across quite a few schools (I believe most were the religious schools) that actually had Home Economics as one of their top majors. You could probably do a college search and find schools that provide that major if you were so inclined. I agree with the above posts though. I think your D would be better off looking for something a little more marketable and/or specific.</p>
<p>OP, sometimes programs that used to be called Home Ec have evolved into “Family and Consumer Sciences” or similar terminology – you might try searching for those programs, because they could have a good overlap with what your daughter’s interested in.</p>
<p>NPR did a neat piece on the field of Home Ec lately. yes! The field still exists!</p>
<p>It’s often called “Human Ecology.” Try looking under that.</p>
<p>My sister majored in vocational Home Ec in college. One of her more interesting jobs was teaching Home Ec at a juvenile facility for boys. They called it “bachelor’s ed” there and geared it towards them (example, her sewing projects involved making board shorts). Her most popular unit was on child development, because a good number of these boys had children or their girlfriends were expecting.</p>
<p>A few years ago, another mother and I attended “elective night” at our daughters’ junior high. As we went to the various booths, I translated. Life Management Skills - Home Ec. Keyboarding - Typing. Exploring Technology - Shop. Teen Leadership - Speech.</p>
<p>Yes, Home Ec still exists, and some of it is under the AG dept - floral arrangement. They still teach this in TX, so the major exists or we wouldn’t have the teachers - check out Sam Houston U - good teacher’s college.</p>
<p>mcdeb
My thoughts turned to hotel/hospitality management as well for this girl.Or something that would give her the skills for event management.How about a place where she could combine “human ecology” with journalism…add some internships…maybe the next Martha?
FWIW-FIT is very hard to get into…you must be prepped with a portfolio.</p>
). What my outlet is is that I’m building a graphic design co. that also does print pieces as well. </p>