Resources/advice for applying for more artsy major?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom is a theatre teacher at an all-girls school in a big Midwest city. She makes $85K. She has always worked in theatre: theatre production, arts education, nonprofits.

I have a cousin who went to SCAD and works as an illustrator.

Another cousin went to the Art Institute of Chicago and is a photographer who has a huge portfolio and whose work is used in advertising.

A third cousin is a visual merchandiser for a major brand. She went to Pratt in NYC.

My parents really wanted me to pursue dance in college, at a conservatory, but I didn't think it was practical. I have a girlfriend who developed and patented a ballet workout and has a chain of studios.

My sister majored in arts management. She works at the Kennedy Center.
I'm glad I had the parents and family I did, who value art.

This is all very nice but I'm sorry, teaching theater at an all girls school is not "working in theater" - its teaching. There is a difference and its a pretty big one. Nice salary though.

Meant to post this here:
PP unfortunately, has the competitive "put other's choices and opportunities down" type attitude that you will find is very prevalent in the "art" world. Just ignore pp, there are some very sensible posts here, OP.

[Anonymous]

Don't know if SCAD has theater, but I've heard it's a rip-off and not well-regarded. Started by a couple who used students to renovate old houses as part of their "classes." Savannah liked it because they were improving the city. Now it's huge.

[Anonymous]

If your child wants to major in art, he should. I majored in an art and went to law school later. Nothing is forever and lots of people major in things they don't end up doing for a living.

[Anonymous]

Pp here. I know tons of artists who make a living. In arts related fields and never receiv d support from their parents. Some people are risk averse and can't think outside of their bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pp here. I know tons of artists who make a living. In arts related fields and never receiv d support from their parents. Some people are risk averse and can't think outside of their bubble.

Yes, people tend to be risk averse when they cannot afford the consequences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how crappy is the GPA?

2.94 weighted after sophomore year; theatre tech; will take 3 APs in junior year

That's pretty bad. Are you sure that a year or two at community college is not the way to go? If he/she can manage a better GPA at community college, there will be a LOT more choices. If the GPA cannot be improved at community college, at least the student won't have spent a lot of money to find out that college was a bad idea.

Community college is a great starter choice for many kids in this situation. My husband had terrible grades in high school, primarily because of outside interests. He did 2 years at a community college working as a theater tech for school and outside productions that rented the school's theater space. Then went on to a well-recognized state u and is now making a great living in an unrelated field (got a liberal arts degree). Think broadly and encourage your son to ramp up his resume in his field, working on semi-professional productions if he can, being a camp counselor at a theater summer camp, etc.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how crappy is the GPA?

2.94 weighted after sophomore year; theatre tech; will take 3 APs in junior year

That's pretty bad. Are you sure that a year or two at community college is not the way to go? If he/she can manage a better GPA at community college, there will be a LOT more choices. If the GPA cannot be improved at community college, at least the student won't have spent a lot of money to find out that college was a bad idea.

Community college would not work well for him.

Why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp here. I know tons of artists who make a living. In arts related fields and never receiv d support from their parents. Some people are risk averse and can't think outside of their bubble.

Yes, people tend to be risk averse when they cannot afford the consequences.

Cannot afford in what sense? I am the poster you quote. A lot of my artsy friends make a living in the arts without parental help. When they first started out, they were living hand to mouth for sure, but so what? Now they make decent amounts of money. Not rich for sure, but happy. They make a lot less than I do as a lawyer, but they are probably happier. It's all about priorities and choices. I also think it's about doing what you want to do and not having regrets later. One of my kids is a great artists, but is too risk averse to choose it as a major. I won't push her to go into art, but I won't discourage it either. She'd find a way to get by if that's what she wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp here. I know tons of artists who make a living. In arts related fields and never receiv d support from their parents. Some people are risk averse and can't think outside of their bubble.

Yes, people tend to be risk averse when they cannot afford the consequences.

Cannot afford in what sense? I am the poster you quote. A lot of my artsy friends make a living in the arts without parental help. When they first started out, they were living hand to mouth for sure, but so what? Now they make decent amounts of money. Not rich for sure, but happy. They make a lot less than I do as a lawyer, but they are probably happier. It's all about priorities and choices. I also think it's about doing what you want to do and not having regrets later. One of my kids is a great artists, but is too risk averse to choose it as a major. I won't push her to go into art, but I won't discourage it either. She'd find a way to get by if that's what she wanted.

You can't imagine why a poor family might see borrowing money to send a slacker with a 'c' average to an expensive program to get a degree that might not significantly increase employment options as an unacceptable risk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how crappy is the GPA?

2.94 weighted after sophomore year; theatre tech; will take 3 APs in junior year

That's pretty bad. Are you sure that a year or two at community college is not the way to go? If he/she can manage a better GPA at community college, there will be a LOT more choices. If the GPA cannot be improved at community college, at least the student won't have spent a lot of money to find out that college was a bad idea.

Community college would not work well for him.

Why not?

Because a 4 yr degree would stretch out to a 6 yr degree, and this would not be good for him, especially due to his ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp here. I know tons of artists who make a living. In arts related fields and never receiv d support from their parents. Some people are risk averse and can't think outside of their bubble.

Yes, people tend to be risk averse when they cannot afford the consequences.

Cannot afford in what sense? I am the poster you quote. A lot of my artsy friends make a living in the arts without parental help. When they first started out, they were living hand to mouth for sure, but so what? Now they make decent amounts of money. Not rich for sure, but happy. They make a lot less than I do as a lawyer, but they are probably happier. It's all about priorities and choices. I also think it's about doing what you want to do and not having regrets later. One of my kids is a great artists, but is too risk averse to choose it as a major. I won't push her to go into art, but I won't discourage it either. She'd find a way to get by if that's what she wanted.

You can't imagine why a poor family might see borrowing money to send a slacker with a 'c' average to an expensive program to get a degree that might not significantly increase employment options as an unacceptable risk?

Perhaps in that scenario, but that wasn't what was presented and your scenario presents all of the worst. BTW, though, a "slacker with a 'c' average" might actually be a great art/performance student. Standard school isn't the be all and end all of someone's life. People who don't do well in high school often excel in other areas, such as art. Your "slacker" might actually be better off in art school than another (perhaps) not so great academic college where "slackers" can get in. There are many different paths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:how crappy is the GPA?

2.94 weighted after sophomore year; theatre tech; will take 3 APs in junior year

That's pretty bad. Are you sure that a year or two at community college is not the way to go? If he/she can manage a better GPA at community college, there will be a LOT more choices. If the GPA cannot be improved at community college, at least the student won't have spent a lot of money to find out that college was a bad idea.

Community college would not work well for him.

Why not?

Because a 4 yr degree would stretch out to a 6 yr degree, and this would not be good for him, especially due to his ADHD.

Community college is often not a good option for arts majors as many (most?) schools require work to occur on campus for the BFA.

OP -- if you are still reading this thread -- I suggest reading the Theatre college major forum on College Confidential.

DCUM posters in general do not have much expertise in non-STEM majors.