I hope this is the proper place for this thread

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
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<p>But I wanted some others’ opinions. I adore art. I used to take classes when I was little. I’ve taken art I and II in school, and plan on taking art III and IV this next year (senior year). However, I feel like I’m really not up to art school standards. A lot of people have told me that I’m so smart, why would I want to risk my future with something like art. I have a 4.5+ gpa, am 6th in my class, have taken AP courses etc. I know I’m smart. But I just love art so much. So I guess my question is, would it be a waste of time for me to even consider majoring in art? I can include a link to my deviantart profile, however it’s pretty out of date, and most of the older stuff on there is straight out horrible. I won the undergraduate art award at my high school this year. I know I’m good in comparison to the other people in my high school, but in the rest of the world, I’m just not confident.</p>

<p>[mellamosarah’s</a> deviantART gallery](<a href=“http://mellamosarah.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/gallery/#_browse]mellamosarah’s”>http://mellamosarah.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/gallery/#_browse)</p>

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<p>It’s not about being good, it’s about being you. =3</p>

<p>Secondly, pursue your passions. Do you really want to end up relying on something you don’t like doing to provide you with your income for the rest of your life?</p>

<p>Do you have any other passions? Why not double major?</p>

<p>Honestly, just because you’re smart doesn’t mean you have to be an engineer or a businessperson. </p>

<p>If you love, do art. Be a curator. Do freelance, do advertising, rise up and start your own business. </p>

<p>Art is everyone around you. Not just in museums or in the “best of the best” art shows. </p>

<p>It’s here on CC and every other website you go to. It’s on every billboard you see as you drive down the interstate, it’s on every poster you see in a store, on the cover of books, magazines, comics, manga, murals, CD covers, video games, T-shirts, carpets, curtains, furniture…</p>

<p>Art is everywhere, and there so many occupations that utilize it.</p>

<p>I’m sure there’s one out there for you. =)</p>

<p>Just because you see so many other artists your age who can create incredible art doesn’t mean you have no potential. Some people start art early, some start late. Some improve quickly, some take time. Some can learn from online tutorials, some need a teacher’s instruction.</p>

<p>Really. Don’t go through life with a job you hate because you’re afraid your passion comes with too many risks. It’s your passion. You only have one life to pursue it. :)</p>

<p>BTW, I like your art. ^-^</p>

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<p>Thank you so much for your input. I’m just so nervous about this upcoming year and all the decisions I have to start making. Bleh.</p>

4

<p>Good question, Sarah.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, the best way to answer your question is to ask (and answer) another question: Where do you see yourself ten years from now? That is a very hard question for any teenager to answer.</p>

<p>For my daughter, she chose an art school/BFA, because she really did not enjoy many of the other classes she took in high school. She sees herself working in advertising or some kind of commercial art application. So in some aspects, the BFA program is really a trade school for her (not diminishing the 1/3 liberal arts requirements of her program).</p>

<p>You say you love art, but what else do you love? Do you have other interests and aspirations that would be better served in the liberal arts programs? There are many fine liberal arts colleges that will allow you to major in art, but intensively pursue other interests. Some liberal arts colleges will allow you to double major or major/minor in arts and something else. Moreover, you will have exposure to students interested in all sorts of activities and majors.</p>

<p>You did not say where you are in school. I assume you are entering your senior year. If so, it may be too late to enter a summer pre-college program in an arts curriculum. If you have not done this, it may be helpful to do so, if you still can get in a program.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>How about a program like the joint program between Brown and RISD? Or Tufts and SFMA? Washington Univ of St. Louis has a good art program, too. That way you can attend a top notch school while also pursuing your interest in Art.</p>

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<p>Agree with creative1 on looking at joint programs. </p>

<p>Also, seek out a nearby National Portfolio Day next fall, bring your work there, and get opinions from all kinds of art schools on your talent and potential. <a href=“http://www.portfolioday.net/downloads/0910_NPDA_schedule.pdf[/url]”>http://www.portfolioday.net/downloads/0910_NPDA_schedule.pdf&lt;/a&gt; (Search old threads for tips on how to best survive an NPD.)</p>

<p>Finally, take a look at this other thread, especially what taxguy says when he compares art schools vs universities vs LACs. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/671066-university-liberal-arts-vs-art-school.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/671066-university-liberal-arts-vs-art-school.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>So I’ve been doing some more thinking, mainly about art and art history. I forgot to mention that I really am interested in art history as well. It’s always been my dream to go to art school and to be completely surrounded in the arts. So maybe majoring in art history would be the way to go for me, and maybe minoring in art? Does that sound ridiculous? Also, I know it takes a masters or phd to get a good job in an art museum. But even with that, isn’t it still really hard to get a job in the field?</p>