Why emphasize arts, theatre, etc when looking at colleges?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not some kind of uncultured Neanderthal, I’m really not, but I find it a bit strange when I see parents focusing on the strength of this or that school’s art/theatre/music/dance programs. I get it, your kid is good at art, wants to stay with it, but come on. Unless you are loaded and the kid will never have to worry about supporting himself or herself, who cares about the quality of the art programming? It’s a nice hobby and a nice side benefit of going to college, but to prioritize it seems impractical to me. It’s hard for me to relate to. It’s like choosing a college based on how good the sports team is. Who cares? The point of college athletics is to use it to get into college, not to be a member of a team that had a 10-4 record rather than 8-6.

What am I missing?

To prioritize schools with great pre-med programs is probably crazier given how few see everything through!

Athletes who are good enough to play in college generally want to win, so the quality of the team matters beyond just getting in. It is also why so many of them enter competitive fields that are high paying (not so many in Classics or 80s middling engineering programs).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC who graduated with a double math/physics major couldn't have survived college without being able to participate in orchestra. When Covid shut everything down he was devastated, but fortunately they were able to connect on Zoom and still play together.

Your DC sounds a lot like mine. May I ask where he went to college?

[Anonymous]

For three years, my daughter participated in Fairfax County’s Institute for the Arts (IFTA) summer program. It’s a several week program that draws kids from junior high age through high school age, for all kinds of arts. They held an open house on the last day and we would attend. These kids were artsy, sure. Many of them were quirky in appearance. They ran the gamut from high extrovert to high introvert. I felt that the IFTA definitely provided a nurturing safe space for these kids. I was concerned that some might have been subject to bullying in the past. My point - and I do have one - is that these kids are exactly who might benefit from a good music/theater/arts/dance scene at college. Take a look at Shenandoah Conservatory for example.

[Anonymous]

So grateful to the PPs who explained this.

My own kids are good students, but damn if sports and band aren’t the things that make them light up, so I certainly hope they can continue those things in some form at college.

[Anonymous]

I was forced to pursue a practical major and put my love of the arts aside. I wish I could go back - I hate my practical career and would have been much happier (and probably much more successful) if I had pursued something I truly loved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: it’s not that I’m advocating vocational training. I get the value of learning how to read, write, think critically, problem solve. And I see the fringe benefit of art stuff as a fun and healthy activity. But where the arts oriented people lose me is when they choose one school over another based on the arts programming as opposed to variables that may have a more significant long term impact. Like choosing a less reputable school because there are good pottery classes. It just seems that these things are nice to have but for $320k maybe they don’t matter that much and you should be focused on other factors?

For some people the art is the thing that matters and the only thing with long term impact. If that isn’t you (or if you look imagination) I don’t know what else to say.

[Anonymous]

OP, there are artists in the world who make it their career and their profession. It's not just a hobby they do after making their rounds at the hospital.

I do think, actually, that you less of a neanderthal and more simply ignorant of the important work, yes, work, that artists and arts-trained college graduates do in this world. Everything from the user-friendly design of the iPhone to the curatorial staff at the National Gallery to the film credits that you see at the end of the movies, the design of your automobile, the architecture of pedestrian malls--you think that computer engineers come up with all of this on their own? They work in tandem with trained artists.

[Anonymous]

My dc is an art student. Only applied to top ten art programs (school ranking was not even considered). Besides good grades and test scores you have to submit a portfolio of your work. This is where it is different from normal admission. It doesn’t matter how good your gpa/sat is, if your portfolio isn’t good you don’t get in. Top art programs are hard. My art student spends much more time on school work than my top 10 school other kids. And when you get to internships it is the same thing, must always submit a portfolio. As a parent looking in, I have seen that it is imperative to go to a top art school, like anyone else who chooses top 10; for the better professors, better opportunities, and networking.

[Anonymous]

most people are smart enough not to pay $320K for college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP: it’s not that I’m advocating vocational training. I get the value of learning how to read, write, think critically, problem solve. And I see the fringe benefit of art stuff as a fun and healthy activity. But where the arts oriented people lose me is when they choose one school over another based on the arts programming as opposed to variables that may have a more significant long term impact. Like choosing a less reputable school because there are good pottery classes. It just seems that these things are nice to have but for $320k maybe they don’t matter that much and you should be focused on other factors?

You know, I wanted to believe that you asked the original question out of real curiosity and desire to learn about other people. People replied and explained, and your response is to double down and explain why you’re right and they’re wrong.

Seriously, no one is trying to convince you to value the arts as part of a college experience. No one cares whether you value it. Why do you care that others value it? Are you just desperate for something to judge other people about? Good lord.

[Anonymous]

A better question might be why our lives in middle age are so devoid of these things typically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A better question might be why our lives in middle age are so devoid of these things typically.

^^^ this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A better question might be why our lives in middle age are so devoid of these things typically.

Yes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: it’s not that I’m advocating vocational training. I get the value of learning how to read, write, think critically, problem solve. And I see the fringe benefit of art stuff as a fun and healthy activity. But where the arts oriented people lose me is when they choose one school over another based on the arts programming as opposed to variables that may have a more significant long term impact. Like choosing a less reputable school because there are good pottery classes. It just seems that these things are nice to have but for $320k maybe they don’t matter that much and you should be focused on other factors?

You know, I wanted to believe that you asked the original question out of real curiosity and desire to learn about other people. People replied and explained, and your response is to double down and explain why you’re right and they’re wrong.

Seriously, no one is trying to convince you to value the arts as part of a college experience. No one cares whether you value it. Why do you care that others value it? Are you just desperate for something to judge other people about? Good lord.

The tell is the idea that people are "choosing a less reputable school because there are good pottery classes."

[Anonymous]

I wanted to continue with marching and concert band in college because it was a fun activity AND generally a nice way to meet people.

Now, I didn't go to the BEST college for this, but I did at least consider having the activities important.

I met some of my best friends this way. I got to move into the dorms early every year, we went on trips to the other conference schools for football games.