An Unseen Future

Hi, I am a sophomore that is soon going to be applying to colleges in no time but there’s a one problem. I don’t know what I want to do. I mean this is a common issue for most students but I’m torn between two choices which is science or art? I’ve been drawing since I was a child (still am one tbh) and I’ve always been curious into learning the depths of the fine arts. I’ve talked to my dad (the powerhouse) about majoring in it but he disapproved. Then there’s science which I could likely get a stable job within that variety but it’s just not for me. I’m more creative than logical but I’m so conflicted. What should I do?

Lots of science majors require a degree beyond just a 4 year undergrad degree to get a decent job. Just saying that your dad might not have a very good handle on the number of graduates and the numbers of available jobs.

Many students double major, or major in one subject and minor in another, too.

The most popular science is biology, and there are lots of biology graduates chasing a limited number of good career-track biology-related jobs. So the idea that science automatically means good career prospects may not stand up to closer inspection.

Fine arts do tend to be more elite-or-bust if trying to make a career out of it. Many good artists do it as an “extracurricular” or second job alongside another job to pay the bills.

Some career directions could combine science and art, such as scientific illustration or user interface design.

You’re 15 or thereabouts. That’s very young to know what you want to do as a career. Even if you thought you knew, the likelihood is that you’d change your mind several times in the next 5 years.

While it’s about a year too early for you to be thinking about where you want to go to college, I’m going to offer some advice for next year. Don’t view college as an expensive trade school with a big library. View it as an opportunity to get an education and to explore your interests and abilities. Pursue a liberal arts education, either at a liberal arts college or a university. This will give you a chance to take classes in many different areas. If a year from now your dad questions the value of a liberal arts education or the employability of people with a liberal arts education, come back here and we will give you lots of information you can give him about all many, many ways people with such an education succeed professionally, sometimes in careers directly related to their major and sometimes not.

For now, do as well as you can in school and participate in extracurriculars you find interesting.

How about something that does both, like Graphic Arts or Graphic Design? In the Computer Science realm. Many schools have that as a major, both regular universities and speciality schools. My brother was exactly the same way with his kid - insisting he either go into law or STEM but my nephew only wanted to draw. He got his way eventually, got his degree in graphics design and now is a pretty prominent illustrator and animation modeler in many very famous movies. And he’s always in high demand. Many companies, every company with a website presence, also will want User Experience or User Interface Design folks as well.

You need to start talking with your parents now about how they expect you to pay for your education. Do you have to pay it all yourself (you will need really good grades and ACT/SAT test scores to get big scholarships)? Will they help you pay some of it? If so, how much? Does what they will pay depend on your major?

Sit down with your parents and run the Net Price Calculator at the website of a couple different colleges that all of you know about. That will give you a notion of what you will be expected to pay.

There are many careers that use art and design skills. If you look around a bit more, you may find one you like that doesn’t frighten your dad so much.

It’s far more common for sophomores not to know what they want to do than to be sure of what they want to do. :wink:

Honestly? That’s ok… even a pretty high percentage entering college change their majors at least once according to several studies. There’s only so much one gets exposed to (career-wise) in high school and before, but in college one sees so much more. I suspect you’ll find something you like that also comes with a job.

I tell kids at school to go in with an idea of what they like, but keep their eyes open for something “right.” Quite a few have returned thanking me for that advice (which I think ends up as a peace of mind that they will find something - an “it’s ok to do this” confirmation).

If you think you like art and science, find an affordable school where you can do both and see where it leads.

You are still very young. A lot of seniors don’t know what they want to study. Things will become clearer closer to your college application season. If you are still thinking that you might want to go to a pure art school, you can apply to those, along with more traditional colleges. You don’t have to know what major you intend to pursue when you apply.

Architecture is another career that combines art and practicality.

As long as you are thinking about fine arts: Start building a portfolio. Fine Arts admission depends a lot more on your portfolio than your grades.

When you say “science,” do you mean that you particularly like lab sciences? Or would you lean more toward something in the computer science realm? Or applied science/engineering?

There are many opportunities for crossover between CS and art/design. If you think this might be of interest to you, look for ways to get your feet wet on the computation side.

If you’re more physical-objects/engineering oriented, then in addition to architecture, look at Industrial Design and/or Product Design programs to see whether you think you’d enjoy that kind of work.

Look into summer programs that would give you exposure to possible areas of interest. And yes, start building your portfolio so you’re not scrambling when it comes time to put applications together.

I don’t think the OP even likes science: “not for me,” “more creative than logical.”

There is lots of creativity in the sciences. The real world is much different from high school. A career in science doesn’t consist of memorizing facts.

OP, tenth grade is a good time to research careers. Maybe take an aptitude test.