Cloudy Career?

Hello!

My mom went to Tyler Art School for a little while, and I wanted to share what she tells (paraphrased, of course) my younger sister who's considering an art degree:

Yes, art is something you can always learn at home. There are so many online resources now! However, going to art school or getting a major in art anywhere will provide the unique opportunity to learn from artists and be taught techniques for various mediums of art. Also, it opens up job opportunities.

I personally am not going for art, but I will study horticulture which is partially the art of gardening. Horticulture, likewise, is something you could self-teach, but I really wanted professional training, internship, and job opportunities. I also wanted to get connected into a community of people with similar interests. My mom eventually transferred to another school and another degree because she decided she was more passionate about teaching and she just didn’t love the art school vibe.

One way to think about it is, will it be worth it to me personally? If paying for a degree in art doesn’t faze you because you know you’ll end up with a job you love, then go for it.

Another thing you could do to balance things out is to go to a college where you can get a minor OR double major in a more versatile/”practical” area that is not art related. This could provide a fallback option if your art career doesn’t pay as well as you need it to. And if you get to art school and decide to do something else, you can change majors and transfer schools.

My advice is to continue to research art schools and art programs. Read all the information about the art programs. You may find some schools’ programs seem more professionally helpful or more interesting. Or, you may decide art is something you can pursue on your own and then choose another major. Just keep an open mind and research all your options. There are trade schools and community college programs, too.

Hope some of this is helpful and lmk if you have any more questions!

Hi there! If you're willing to persue your dreams of higher education and to learn new art techniques with accredited teachers, college/art school sounds amazing! It also gives you the chance to meet some students around your age who may have the same interests in persuing art. It's a great way to enhance your skills and meet new people, so if you, I definitely recommend attending! :)