How to keep DD motivated when colleges are not strong academically?

[Anonymous]

DD (Junior) is looking to apply to several Art and Design schools. Her top 2 don't really "care" about high GPA (min. 3.0) or SAT/ACT scores (except to place you in Freshman English/Math classes). I have been requiring her to take Honors classes and full academic loads (vs Art/Music/Study Hall) to strengthen her transcript. She has maintained a 3.0 GPA without studying and could do better if she studied a bit or I let her drop the Honors classes (although too late for this year.

She has not done any real or in depth research on the schools so doesn't really know this info. I just called admissions department to truly understand their requirements (they don't even require minimum years of particular HS subjects). The schools are the best in the field that she wants to go into so I'm not concerned about her getting an appropriate college education. What I don't want is for her to become more of a HS "slacker" since the schools don't require such a rigorous amount of HS work.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Mother of a DS who went to a famous art and design school for Graphic and Digital Design. Here is my take.

I am not sure that her being a HS "slacker" would be my concern. She has chosen a higher education path that is not the traditional academic path. That's fine.

If I were you and this how we kept DS motivated, I would emphasize that the need for good work habits, study skills and diligence will be absolutely necessary in art school. Art school is VERY demanding and depending on the field, ultra competitive. A lot of students do not understand that. You cannot just show up and do well. So I would stress to her that NOW is the time to develop the high standards for herself that will be an absolute must at the next level. Pushing herelf now with no relative pressure will help her later. So I would focus less on the GPA and more on the development aspect of it. GL

[Anonymous]

Just fyi: AP Studio Art at our high school is very demanding - requires very good time management, or the student will not succeed (regardless of talent)