To assume I’m putting them in financial jeopardy is assuming I won’t make enough money to pay them off. As long as I’m alive and physically capable, that simply won’t happen. If you believe Davidson is a logically sound decision, then please respond to this message I repeatedly am making references to yet am not getting any responses for: BU (film) vs. Davidson vs. DePauw vs. KU (architecture) vs. Webster (full tuition) vs. UCLA (OOS debt) - #135 by 7Steps_22
Seriously, I genuinely REALLY want someone to tell me how these concerns are not valid because that would legitimately help.
As for KU, why do you think I would be miserable, because I kind of liked KU as an option but others here are telling me it’s a bad idea.
I’m certainly strongly considering the gap year idea. I want to reapply to WashU and Cornell but for architecture this time around, so I need the time to build a portfolio.
I clearly haven’t already made my decision because if I have, I wouldn’t be commenting here. My indecision should be VERY evident here. People saying “you clearly made your decision” is genuinely not helping in the slightest because I just haven’t.
doesn’t seem like you understand the potential arch degree pathways
I do understand these, especially after the explanations provided to me, but money is a serious concern. How are the same people who are suggesting I don’t take out any loans at all suggesting that I pay another 3 years of tuition for grad school when there are much cheaper options to become an architect.
are you even sure you need a college degree for what you want to do?
Honestly, my ADHD makes it very difficult to learn things in a non-structured environment. The simple answer is yes, I do need school for it. The other huge factor is that the main reason you’re supposed to go to film school is to build the network. An example of this is that I can sit around doing parkour at home for years and never become a stunt man, but when I’m building a reputation for it in front of an entire class of film students who will be working in the industry, I have my network. That’s just one specific example.
The reason you’re getting push back from me on your major is that most kids change their majors, even kids who thought they knew their path as 14 year olds. After applying to too many schools, and as a comp sci major, you now think you want to be an architect or a film maker. I don’t think you really know. So go to a school to get a strong overall education and give yourself more time to figure that out. Many mature 18 year olds are comfortable knowing that they are undecided. You seem to push back on that notion but you are clearly undecided.
If you wanted film, I can name ten schools off the top of my head you should have applied to. Same for architecture. None of those are on your list and it’s too late now.
Pick an affordable option or take a gap.
I was never interested in computer science. I was unsure about what I wanted to pursue, so I chose the field that makes money. I have had those interests for a long time, I just never considered that I might pursue them as a career. Partially, this is because I thought I couldn’t because I couldn’t draw and am bad at traditional fine art.
I haven’t assumed anything about your family’s financial situation. I can’t because I don’t have the details (and neither, apparently, does that guy at Webster who thinks $100+K is no big deal)
You need to accept that the legal financial risk is your parents’ period, no matter what your intentions are.
THe cost of an MArch on top of a BA/BS are highly variable. I can help you understand the options available, but the major difference is that those loans would most likely be on your account and by that point you would assumedly have decided to pursue architecture as a career.
I think you would not be satisfied with KU’s undergraduate MArch because it is not FILM!
Why not? Depauw’s a better match for his interests.
Hey, I just spent several days of my life I will never get back again replying to a prospective 21 y/o freshman who was choosing between HYPS. Not one poster asked what he’d been doing for the past three years. Take a gap year for goodness sake!
Good point! I was on that thread too and never thought to ask.
Because his “interests” weren’t even being considered in his college list just a few months ago. He’s not clear on what he wants and his efforts to now say he’s serious about film and architecture make no sense. One doesn’t apply to such a range of colleges as a comp sci major and then four months later have a compelling case that he knows what he wants to be when he grows up. This student needs more time. Doesn’t make sense to choose a school with a film major now. He doesn’t really know what he wants. You don’t choose those two schools over Davidson at this point. If he had real clarity? He would have applied to film or architecture programs not as a comp Sci major
The OP needs to take a breath and realize that he honestly does not know what he wants. Neither did our kids, who are both at LACs where they had more time to decide on major. I hate to say “there’s always grad school” because that’s even more money spent, but a lot of kids just do not have a career in mind at 18 years old. In some cases that eventually means grad school but it could also mean no grad school and a career that doesn’t require additional schooling.
I keep saying Davidson is the spot but the OP is clearly not into that idea so I’m changing my vote to gap year. Maybe I’ll split the difference and say enroll at Davidson and then request a gap year. He can always get back into DePauw.
I think the reason people are recommending Davidson over the other colleges is because you say you came from a rigorous high school background and you write well, which leads me (at least) to think that the academics at Davidson are a better match for you than the academics at Depauw or Lake Forest.
However, we are strangers online, and you are the expert on yourself. If you’ve done a deep dive and know that Davidson isn’t a good fit for you, but one of the other colleges that has accepted you is, then choose the best college in terms of fit and finances, and then decide if you want to matriculate in the fall or take a gap year.
Please refer back to my post #139. Have you looked at the courses & course descriptions? At all 3 of the affordable colleges there is coursework in digital media and post-production and other tech/film areas. Each one offers courses where you can do your own projects. Each one offers you the chance to work in internships. None of those options will require you to forego exploring your areas of interest. And by being in a smaller program, you can build connections with your professors who can recommend you to their contacts and you can be working with your peers on theirs (and your) productions.
Two of the universities also have architecture history classes, which is good prep (and maybe a requirement?) for M. Architecture programs.
If you do a summer intensive in architecture and you’ve already spent a year at a university and taken film classes and prefer architecture, then you can transfer. You don’t need to wait until finishing your Bachelor’s.
Have you mapped out what 8 semesters would look like at each of the universities, including various distribution and major requirements? Are there classes you find interesting that fulfill the distribution requirements? Do you like the 8-semester plan of one school more than another? This is an easy way to eliminate choices.
You’re right that people go into debt for college frequently. If a family can’t or won’t pay for a child’s education, then most of the cost will be paid with loans. If a student isn’t choosing one of the cheapest options (or even then), debt can rack up. But the benefit of having a college degree vs. just a high school diploma is sufficiently big that people don’t advise against loans in that situation (though the advice to minimize loans remains).
Your situation, however, is not that one. Your parents are willing and able to pay for you to go to several different colleges where you are not required to go into debt. You want to dive into debt because there might be a slightly more optimal program. That’s why everyone on here is cautioning you about the debt.
Don’t worry about prestige here. Which school feels like the best fit, includingfinancially? Where do you feel the best connection to others? Then commit to that institution. Or, as has been said repeatedly, take a gap year.
I don’t think this student has any idea about fit. Has he visited his affordable options?
You are correct that architectural history (or broadly art history courses that include architecture) are essential to the study of architecture and an admissions prerequisite at most MArch programs
Transferring into an architecture program, whether to an undergraduate MArch, a BArch a BS or a BA may be difficult due to the sequential nature of these programs’ courses.
Also, financial aid for transfers in general is more limited than that offered to first year applicants. So completing a year or two at one college then transferring to another doesn’t guarantee the same level of aid. Maybe yes, maybe no.
We are in the suburbs of Chicago at a very competitive public high school. For the last five years, since I’ve been really paying attention, I don’t know one student who enrolled at Lake Forest. I just don’t see why anyone would go there with the other options on the table for the OP. I know that’s not very specific. Kids who go to Lake Forest just are flat out NOT getting into top ranked LACs and most their parents have the money to pay full freight for a school ranked so far down the list.
I just looked it up and it’s ranked in the 80s for USNWR. Davidson is 13th. You’re just going to get a different caliber of fellow student at Davidson. It’s one thing to compare oranges to apples and go to KU instead of Davidson but I just see zero reasons for going to Lake Forest over Davidson. If you don’t want a LAC, that’s one thing but if those are your affordable choices, then Davidson makes the most sense.
I think OPs issue is he thinks for life you need a pre professional school. You don’t. Check out the film industry. LACs galore. Business majors. Science majors. Big state schools. Cinematic schools. Theatre schools. There’s no required formula and education of any sort is never a waste.
One isn’t limited AT ALL.
One is limited by not being able to pay bills.
The OP doesn’t understand this. Or like many thinks I’ll figure it out later which as we know typically is a failed strategy with many years of losing choices in life.
A lot for an 18 year old to grasp. They’ve yet to pay rent, pay for dates, pay for restaurants, insurance, utilities etc.
Good luck to OP.
I’d suggest this. If 90% of people have told you the same thing…well I’d personally assume that’s sound thinking.
As this thread will automatically close in 2 days, I would appreciate it if you end up sharing what your final decision is, once you make it. Wishing you the best.
why is the thread closing?
Decisions are due 5/1
So all of the threads around decisions will close? That wasn’t the case last year. I had a thread for our D and it stayed open for a while. Not sure why the rush.