An Artistic Kid who Doesn't Want to Major in Art

Parents Forum
21

@mackinaw Yes, you get it! That’s exactly what I’m trying to communicate and what I wanted to hear! Except for:

“You cannot predict or preset this exactly. You let it happen.” Because that conflicts with what you said in the next sentence - “The important thing is to keep thinking, learning about yourself, improving your skills, and adapting your school or work based on experience.”

I’m just trying to brainstorm with her about how she can improve her skills in her current academic environment. We’re paying the money for her education and the opportunity for her to build her professional skills - why wait? Especially since she knows she wants to continue to be creative and artistic in her education and career - just not with an Art major.

@sylvan8798

What kinds of things DOES she find “meaningful”?

I don’t know - my thoughts are that SHE thinks she might thrive in some sort of non-profit associated with a cause she finds important, or policy organization, etc. She probably wants to “change the world” instead of writing reports or analyzing data (which she doesn’t realize are the types of mundane things one has to do in changing the world or any type of job). She went on a volunteer trip last year that really had an impact on her and she came home and told me that she wanted to have a job like the director of the volunteer trip. The director of the volunteer trip is a social worker and does tedious things about 90% of the time, but gets to travel internationally a couple of times a year. So I don’t think she has a realistic mindset about what the working world is really like.

IANAP but just a thought that she may secretly feel as if her talent is not “good enough” to pass muster in the “real world”. While this may or may not be true, she may not be able to know for sure without more training.

I don’t think she’s concerned about her talent. I just think that she doesn’t feel art is “prestigious” enough of a career.

And since when can an advisor prevent you from registering from something? Maybe she should get more advice from someone else?

I don’t know either, but she said two of her courses were shot down - even though they met her “gen ed” requirements. That’s why I was hoping for some ideas from CC so she could present some reasonable and feasible options to her advisor and be able to communicate them in a mature way.

Thanks to both of you for your input!

22

It’s clear that what you’d really prefer is for her to major in an art-related field.

This is your DD’s decision. She’s only a freshman. She’ll figure it out. This is what general ed classes are for. A good friend of mine majored in art. You know what he does now? He works in health care and his job has nothing to do with art. That’s just how it worked out for him, though.

Most college students goes through a “I want to change the world” phase. She will learn this lesson through the school of hard knocks. But you know what’s almost ideal for somebody who “wants to change the world”? Joining the Peace Corps. Doesn’t really matter what your major is for that.

She should consider going to the campus career center. Most career centers have personality tests that can help confused college students figure out what general career paths might be good for them. Then your DD should seek out informational interviews with people who are actually IN that career. The career center can help with that, too.

23

@stradmom

“Her interest in doing something with meaning speaks well for both your D and for how she was raised.”

I think that might be part of the problem. We started taking her with us on an international volunteer trips when she was 3, and I and my husband went on many international volunteer trips on our own without the kids (one always stayed behind with the kids). She has also traveled with us to places like Kenya and India when she was old enough to understand what she was seeing. She is also adopted. So she does have more insight into a lot of important issues that the average kid probably wouldn’t have because of all of our volunteer work and travel. Her Dad and I also worked in what most people would consider a pretty exciting career field, so her perception of what the average person does for a living is probably skewed.

“Does she have any thoughts on what that means in practical terms? Is she interested in helping people, saving endangered species, environmental issues, or what? There are many nonprofits and NGOs that would benefit from someone with creative abilities. One possibility might be to explore internships in those fields as a way to get boots on the ground.”

I would definitely say she is interested in helping people. She has expressed interest in psychology and sociology, but doesn’t really want to go to grad school. From everything I read and have been told, there are very few jobs available that pay a living wage for those majors unless you get a PhD. Even college websites have subtle warnings to prospective students on their psychology pages. The positive, is that with all the volunteer work we’ve done, we have a lot of contacts that could get her some very good internships (unpaid). And yes, I’ve had the same thought, that non-profits and NGO’s could definitely use people with creative abilities - it would be an added bonus to them with their limited budgets.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

24

Usually advisors do have to sign off on the student’s schedule. I would take the report of being “shot down” with a grain of salt but I would also get more details. For instance, maybe the courses would have fulfilled Gen Ed but they were 300 level courses & she’s a freshman. Then again, there can be a mismatch between advisor and student, and there might be the possibility of choosing a different advisor.

I think the possibility of a transfer should not be entirely ruled out. There are LAC’s out there with all kinds of majors and programs that sound like they would appeal to your D. The difference between “settling” for a major or scraping together a custom major out of less than satisfactory pieces vs. being part of an engaged group of students in some social justice, nonprofit management, international studies, or environmental sustainability program at a different school could be life-changing.

Earlham College actually offers a Peace Corps Prep program (which can lead to other sorts of career paths).

25

I think she’s conflating two separate but related issues – major and career. The correlation between the two can be indirect. Right now she should be tasting and sampling any academic disciplines that appeal to her. Mostly likely she won’t have to declare a major for another year, so she has time for experimentation.

As she goes through her undergraduate years, she should network with people working in the social consciousness arena, strive for internships with NGOs in areas that interest her. I live in an underdeveloped country and interact with legions of NGO and governmental workers. I can tell you that while they share an ardent commitment to do good, their educational backgrounds are wildly diverse. Most of them end up with graduate degrees, but often that comes after they’ve spent time in the field and their area of interest is defined.

There is just so much need in the world and a career in helping people and helping the planet can be approached from multiple directions, such as the arts, the environment, human rights, women’s and children’s issues, health, housing and planning, government and politics. She needs to think about what fires her passion.

I would suggest that she try an art history class. Art history attracts a lot of people who are skilled in the technical process of making art, but are more interested in the thought process and the historical and philosophical background that inspired the artist. The skill set that is developed in art history – looking, understanding, analyzing, explaining orally and in writing – can be applied to a lot of career paths. And art is a way that peoples of all cultures communicate.

Down the road, she might think about a master of architecture, which can be tackled with just about any undergraduate major, as long you fulfill the prerequisites which are generally some art studio, some art history, some calculus and some physics. Architecture is a balance of creativity/design and structure/building with a massive community impact (for better or worse).

I would also note that the textile and apparel industry comprises so much more than just designing clothing. It’s a vast eco-system with plenty of opportunities to be both creative and meaningful in sustainability, workers’ rights (which tend to be women’s rights) and artisan development. Protecting workers, protecting the environment and protecting heritage textiles is a huge focus in the textile/apparel industry today and an interest or background in the design side is a plus.

26

At the end of freshman year I realized that I really didn’t enjoy being an academic. The only course I’d truly enjoyed was a freshman seminar called “Prints and printmaking” taught by an art historian - we both made prints and studied them historically. I ended up majoring in Visual and Environmental Studies - got interested in architecture and actually wrote a somewhat academic senior thesis on low cost housing in London and Berlin. Went on to architecture grad school - love the mix of my work. VES majors ended up doing a million different things - documentary films, novels, graphic design, fabric design and manufacture, furniture making…

27

@tucsonmom LOL, you couldn’t be more wrong! If I could influence her in any way, I’d want her to become a speech pathologist! She LOVES children and wants to work with them and help them, but doesn’t want to be a teacher. I suggested speech pathology as she could work with kids and it is supposedly a career that is growing and pays a decent salary. But of course anything I suggest, she’s not going to like.

She chose not to major in art and I am completely fine with that. Because of the outcomes like your friend.

I just want her to be happy. She left for school without her art supplies. A month later, she asked us to bring them on our next visit. Every time we’ve Facetimed since then, she’s shown us pieces that she’s finished and talked about pieces that she’s given to her friends. So I know that doing art and being creative makes her happy. But like I’ve said a couple of times already, I think she can be creative in many fields - she doesn’t have to major in Art to use her talents.

She’s taken personality tests. They told her she should be an artist or entertainer!

28

Thank you @momrath and @mathmom your comments are very helpful. And her advisor HAS approved the Art History class that she tentatively has on her schedule for next semester :).

I will do some research on the Visual and Environmental studies major. Like I said, her school has a Visual Studies minor - I will have to see what the difference is. Perhaps she could design her own major based on an established curriculum? The work you mentioned sounds right up her alley!

29

I admit, this does seem kind of intrusive (sorry. OP). I paid for my kid’s educations as well. My message to them was that they needed to be self supporting when they graduated (and they were only getting 8 semesters to finish), but other than that the path was up to them. If they asked for career or major thoughts I answered their questions. And I did watch credits & requirements with D2 because she is pretty absent minded and I wanted to make sure she stayed on track for the 8 semester target. But other than that, I let them find their path. I guess this is partly because I came from a family where my dad had strong opinions about majors and careers that I wish I’d never listened to. I really think it is important for them to find their own way in this.

I will say that for some kids a gap year is a good idea to help think more about direction. Your kid could take a break.

30

“But of course anything I suggest, she’s not going to like.” So it’s probably a good idea to let her find her way and for you to not make suggestions.

31

OK, thank you everyone that gave me helpful comments. I’m good now thank you. Have a nice weekend.

32

What about creative writing? Could combine interests in creative arts and literature.

33

I hope you are still reading comments. It sounds like you wanted to close the thread.

I think the major problem here is that you are thinking in terms of career preparation. That is not what liberal arts colleges focus on, at least not the selective ones. That is why they usually don’t have business. Many don’t have applied art either. Instead, they have academic study of art.

I think your daughter would have done fine going to an art school, but this careerist approach may have dissuaded her.

Often art and music students have access to many jobs in and out of their major’s field, especially if they intern during school. Your daughter could study art and intern at non-profits and gain lots of skills over 3 1/2 years.

It is still very early. But if in her heart she really wants to be creating art, she might want to look at art schools or LAC’'s or universities with applied art programs. There are different options for that: a BFA at an art school or a BA at a school like Bennington for instance (which also has a field work term for internships). There are many others.

I would have a talk with her and tell her that college is not for career preparation at the undergrad level. Ask her what she would really like to be doing in these precious 4 years.

Art majors have access to many jobs that require a bachelor’s, access to grad and professional schools (medicine, law, business, nursing etc.) and are well-respected. I hope she can do what she loves and figure out how to help others after she graduates.

There are many ways to help people through art, and she can, as I said, intern in non-profits to gain transferable skills.

34

I had two different thoughts when reading through this - 1) If she really liked all the international trips, how about a language + international studies 2) - If she likes the hands on and creative, what about technical theatre? Sets. lighting, costume design. Not sure whether it will be “meaningful” enough for her, but it is definitely hands on and creative.

35

I had the same concerns with my daughter a few years ago. I required her to apply to one parents’ choice college because I thought the small school path was absolutely wrong for her. Thankfully, she ended up choosing the big university because she was able to find a nichey major that suited her perfectly - the intersection of art and chemistry. I would be very concerned, as you seem to be, about a small school not having the right choice for your child. Which is nothing against small schools - I have two other kids who went to small schools, but they aren’t right for everyone - and neither are large schools.

36

@LeastComplicated I hope this isn’t a repeat, but has she considered art therapy as a career path? This definitely meaningful work and could combine her love of helping others with her passion for art. Art Therapy is a graduate degree program, so there is plenty of time to explore whether this would be a good avenue.

37

@LeastComplicated I majored in fashion design. I supported myself in the corporate world in planner/buyer/business systems/project manager roles for 27 years. Now have my own design business, so I’ve come full circle. When I was young, I struggled with art as a business. Now that I’m wiser, my work bring me so much joy, and I thrill at the watching clients try on the finished garment, it makes my day. All of life’s experiences, no matter how different they all were, brought me to where I am today. Why tell this story? I have a real soft spot for artists, and I wish creative types understood that they can make a living while being creative. Maybe one starts a job that seems unrelated, and to some that may seem to be a “failure”. As experiences pile up, creative types find ways to bring together many their many talents in ways that can’t be diagrammed on a flow chart. Yes, it can be hard, with lots of twists and turns. You know your kid & your relationship, trust yourself.

I read this post because my actor son is struggling with college applications & major decisions, and society’s nay-saying narrative that squash creative careers is really impacting him and his decisions. I can relate to the struggle as a parent, and as an artist.

38

@zoosermom Can you say anything more about that major that’s an intersection of chem and art? Someone I know might be interested in something similar, though more along the lines of physics/math and artistic/visual pursuits.

39

You have to let the kiddos find their own paths, but that doesn’t mean (sometimes) that as parents, we don’t know what’s a good fit for them. I also have a kid who I really thought should major in art, but she also liked other areas. She chose those as majors, but kept taking art classes. Then, junior year, she says, hmmmm…wonder if I could add a third major? Um, no, too late. She is, however, finishing a studio art minor.

I really don’t know if your daughter is going to listen to any advice, suggestions, career/major advice at this point. You can keep talking, but she’ll have to get to a point where is ready to listen. I say that only because she seems to be shutting you down when you make suggestions.

40

Various alternatives:

  1. In today's economy, commercial art and related fields (web design!) have enormous economic importance. I think a number of art schools do an excellent job of preparing kids who want to be so prepared to make a living as professional artists.
  2. We have several friends who are craft artists. Their medium is making things that are usable and can be sold to lots of people at relatively low cost. It's not an easy life, but it works economically for them, and they are pretty fulfilled.
  3. Lots of artists teach art in schools. No one ever tells them that's not meaningful work.
  4. My dad was a very skilled artist in high school. I've seen oil paintings he did, and they were excellent. All of his aptitude tests told him to be an architect or designer. Once he got over his initial awkwardness in college, he used his skill as a caricaturist to make friends and to win a place for himself as a non-jock in a very jock-y fraternity. He majored in math, and went to law school, and never did art again. (Except he could draw a perfect circle freehand, which was amazing.) It would be interesting to say there was a hole in his soul from that, but I don't think there was. He really never missed it.

One of our close friends from college was a fine art major, a painter mainly. She also took pre-med courses, then went to medical school, and has had a great life as a physician in Alaska. She paints as a hobby, but not frequently. She does not feel bad about that at all, she loves being a doctor.

One of my college roommates majored in art history, then became a real estate developer. He did very well as a real estate developer. He has an amazing art collection.