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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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? [/quote]

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

OP: I’m obviously demonstrating a bit of proletarian disdain for the arts here, but I guess from a practical point of view, when I read things like my DS really wants a strong theatre program or something like that, I’m just thinking to myself - come on- high school is over, a man has to focus on making a living now. I totally appreciate that people have hobbies and interests but, I don’t know, you gotta focus on getting from A to B. That’s just my mindset. Thinking about the quality of art offerings feels frivolous but look, it’s not my wheelhouse. And btw I collect art and appreciate art. I guess I am just focused more on my kids being well positioned to get ultimately good jobs out of this whole college thing and be on a strong career trajectory. I’ve seen people get distracted by their passions and then have nothing to show for it [/quote]

If you want vo-tech, go to vo-tech.  Theater, music, and other performing arts are completely compatible with a productive college experience.  They help brain development, they help create community and connections, they support mental and emotional health, and they teach skills that translate to other areas.  Just off the top of my head, I know a lot of lawyers with theater backgrounds.  I also know a lot of adults who enjoy performing music even as they earn a living some other way, and it's something you can enjoy for a lifetime.  An overly narrow view of what it means to prepare to make a living ignores all that.  Plus, it's a quality of life issue, which is a perfectly reasonable way to distinguish among colleges (and rankings aren't as meaningful as you seem to imply -- the #10 isn't really that different from the #20, which isn't all that different from the #30. Students can have great experiences that prepare them to be self-sufficient adults at lots of places -- why not pick the one that fits best?). [/quote]

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