Someone I met at work once told me almost all his classmates in art school gave up fine art for something else, many are in the digital art business. Another practical career path is medical illustrators.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, my dd loves drawing, painting, ceramics, photography. She also loves museums and galleries. I want her to find a school where she can foster her love for these areas and be around other arty kids and adults, while also getting a broad based liberal arts degree. And not break the bank (I’m looking at you art schools in NYC).
She seems to like a bigger school, but I’ll have her check out anything that might fit the bill.

Thanks for the replies

Not to be a Cassandra, but unless you are wealthy and able to substantially support your kid after their art degree is over, this is mostly likely not a route your kid wants to go down.

Let’s just make sure we’re only pumping out accountants, lawyers, and engineers. What a wonderful world.

Anonymous wrote:JMU has both a BFA and a BA, FWIW.

PP here - yes meant to address this. My DD was told much easier to double major with BA vice BFA because fewer requirements/less studio time. Might be an option.

Also forgot to mention East Carolina and glad someone else did - they also had an art program we looked at.

Anonymous wrote:Any insight into whether National Portfolio Day is worthwhile?

Yes. It's a great way to get feedback on your work and see a range of departments/schools all at once.

Anonymous wrote:Any insight into whether National Portfolio Day is worthwhile?

Yes. Very informative for the student and parent. You can tell which schools are more invested into their art programs from their staff at these events. My dc got ‘nice portfolio’, to a staff member leaving the table to take us on a tour of a studio for which my child had experience in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, my dd loves drawing, painting, ceramics, photography. She also loves museums and galleries. I want her to find a school where she can foster her love for these areas and be around other arty kids and adults, while also getting a broad based liberal arts degree. And not break the bank (I’m looking at you art schools in NYC).
She seems to like a bigger school, but I’ll have her check out anything that might fit the bill.

Thanks for the replies

Not to be a Cassandra, but unless you are wealthy and able to substantially support your kid after their art degree is over, this is mostly likely not a route your kid wants to go down.

I have an art degree and make over 200K a year. No one wealthy was supporting me. I started off as a graphic designer and now lead a design team.

How much were you making after graduation? Also assuming you did not go to grad school. That 200k can be after many years of employment.

VCU and UMBC have great art departments

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Not to be a Cassandra, but unless you are wealthy and able to substantially support your kid after their art degree is over, this is mostly likely not a route your kid wants to go down.

I have an art degree and make over 200K a year. No one wealthy was supporting me. I started off as a graphic designer and now lead a design team.

DP here with a kid interested in graphic design. It seems like of 10 universities with something that could get to a graphic design career each one is different I.e. direct entry BFA in graphic design with portfolio required, BA in art no portfolio required to start but have option to apply to BFA/graphic design spring sophomore year, BA/BS in a new media blend of art, communication, and design, BFA in visual communication.

In your experience as a designer and now leading designers, what are the important things to look for in a program to prepare a student for the field without needing a masters degree? Is it certain classes, a combination of classes , major, in class practical experience, college opportunities for internships , having interdisciplinary opportunities(I.e. business and visual arts) at the college?

Any insight into whether National Portfolio Day is worthwhile?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, my dd loves drawing, painting, ceramics, photography. She also loves museums and galleries. I want her to find a school where she can foster her love for these areas and be around other arty kids and adults, while also getting a broad based liberal arts degree. And not break the bank (I’m looking at you art schools in NYC).
She seems to like a bigger school, but I’ll have her check out anything that might fit the bill.

Thanks for the replies

Not to be a Cassandra, but unless you are wealthy and able to substantially support your kid after their art degree is over, this is mostly likely not a route your kid wants to go down.

I have an art degree and make over 200K a year. No one wealthy was supporting me. I started off as a graphic designer and now lead a design team.

Anonymous wrote:Not sure how it'll go, but my kid is studying graphic design at Indiana. She was considering a dedicated art school, but ultimately figured this would give her a better balance of being able to develop her artistic talents while also being able to find a job later in life.

Our family has some web designers -- back end development and design -- so, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if she ended up in that field.

Tell her to get a internship at the Cuban Center.

Another avenue to consider (rather than K-12 teaching certification) would be arts administration. I know UMD has a minor in Arts Leadership, and I'm guessing other schools do to. That would give her space to learn the more "business" side of arts outside of a B-school, while still getting her BA in art.

Not sure how it'll go, but my kid is studying graphic design at Indiana. She was considering a dedicated art school, but ultimately figured this would give her a better balance of being able to develop her artistic talents while also being able to find a job later in life.

Our family has some web designers -- back end development and design -- so, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if she ended up in that field.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, my dd loves drawing, painting, ceramics, photography. She also loves museums and galleries. I want her to find a school where she can foster her love for these areas and be around other arty kids and adults, while also getting a broad based liberal arts degree. And not break the bank (I’m looking at you art schools in NYC).
She seems to like a bigger school, but I’ll have her check out anything that might fit the bill.

Thanks for the replies

Not to be a Cassandra, but unless you are wealthy and able to substantially support your kid after their art degree is over, this is mostly likely not a route your kid wants to go down.

There is that. My Art kid (fortunately) spun herself into game design which led to steady employment by Microsoft out of GMU, which is why you should try to direct your student into a BA or BS (computer sciences generated art) because your child is far more likely to get employed with a standard BA, etc. behind them than attending a dedicated art school. I know several classmates of DD who went that route and are working service jobs to pay off loans

I know someone with a recent degree in video game design from SCAD, with no job offer yet.

I know a student who got his BFA from VCU in some sort of studio art and got a job as a patent examiner out of college, examining light and objects that emit light.