Complicated situation :/ please help?

Applying to College
1

Hi, I’m an international student (senior) who hopes to major in art.
But the thing is that I have never taken an art class in my entire school year.
Partly because my parents were against me pursuing art, and partly because I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to major in art.
After I finally made the decision around junior year, I convinced my parents so that I could take a portfolio class over the summer before senior year.
But before I set my mind on art, I had already chosen to take Personal Finance and Peer Mentoring this year (each a semester long) in its place (Peer Mentoring is a class where you help out and befriend a student with an intellectual disability).
I personally like both classes because I believe they will provide me valuable experience that is not offered outside of school. But I’m afraid that it will look weird to the admissions officers that I never took art during high school but still wish to major in art. I’m confident in my portfolio though because my teacher told me it was quite distinguished.

So bottom line is: I’m torn between sticking with Personal Finance/Peer Mentoring (two semester long courses), which leaves me with no art course on my transcript,
OR switching to an art class (a year long course) and giving up the diverse experience.
I could enroll in an art class outside of school, but I tried one before and it was not worth the extra cost.

Here are classes I took so far and am taking now, if it helps:
Freshman: Theology, HN English, HN World History, HN Bio, HN Geometry, French 3, PE, Concert Choir
Sophomore: Theology, HN Eng, HN US History, HN Chem, HN Algebra 2, HN French 4, PE, HN Choir
Junior: Theology, HN Eng, APUSH, HN Physics, HN Precalc, HN French 5, AP Macro, HN Choir
Senior: Theology, AP Lit, AP Gov, APES, AP Calc AB, AP French, Personal Finance/Peer Mentoring, HN Choir

I decided I cannot drop choir because it has become a part of my high school life, if you’re wondering why I’m not doing that.
I have to make the decision by next week because the transcript request deadline is near.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could offer me an advice on whether I should switch classes or a third option.
Please don’t hesitate to ask about anything that is hazy to you. I’m not very good at explaining.

2

Well pers finance/peer mentoring are not college prep classes. Although the rest of you schedule is quite good. Are you going to be applying to art school or regular college with studio art major? Where do you intend to apply? It seems strange not to do an art, are you saying you have no formal training but your art portfolio teacher thinks you portfolio is competitive? Does she think your abilities exceed a art class? I think if you want to study art you really have to take it, I guess, unless she thinks it is useless to you. A good art teacher will help you in your studio time.

3

@BrownParent My main interest is in colleges with a good art program but I’m also applying to at least one art school. While my focus is on art, I’m also interested in incorporating other fields with art, like business or sociology. The only formal training I received was the portfolio class I took this summer. Considering the lack of experience, my teacher thought my artworks were outstanding. When I told him I wouldn’t be taking an art class during school, he said it would be fine with my portfolio. But I haven’t properly discussed with him about switching class, which is a good idea now that you mention it.

More complication: another thing that worries me is that I would lose the artistic sense and skills I learned over the summer if I don’t take a class, although I sketch drawings often. With all the schoolwork and college stuff, there is not much spare time to do art on my own. On the other hand I’m looking forward to ask the pers finance teacher (who was also my AP Macro teacher) to write a recommendation letter for me, but I feel like switching out of his class around the time of request will make the process a little awkward.

4

Edit about discussing with the portfolio teacher: Since he doesn’t know much about the classes I’m taking and wouldn’t mind if I took an art class or not, I think the decision is totally up to me.

5

I’m just wondering if he thought some formal class would be good for basic technique so you aren’t unaware of it. And maybe a rec letter. I don’t see why your pers finance teacher would care, your schedule change is not personal.

6

I won’t speak for art schools because I have no experience in that area. For colleges with art programs, honestly, I think it’s 6 of one, half dozen of the other. Most of the colleges do not admit by major, so I would think that either is fine. Neither personal finance/peer mentoring not studio art are core academic classes. However, it would seem that an art class would be more valuable for you long-range plans.

Your teachers will not care and will not be hurt if you drop their class; they’re adults and understand these things and should not impact your recommendation. Good luck.

7

He did tell me that my technique is weaker than other students but only by a slight. Taking a class would help in practicing but it wouldn’t be a problem if I didn’t take one. But now I remember why I was so reluctant about switching out: I’m working on a long term project with a partner for personal finance, but if I leave the class she would be on her own to complete it and I feel pretty bad. But I’m worried the admissions will view it strange or be misguided that I didn’t try for art.

8

@skieurope thank you for the advice!

9

You should try to take an art class. Does your school offer any AP art class? Or any class you could take instead of Personal Finance (which is an elective, not an academic class) while still keeping Peer Mentor as a period (I agree it’d be an interesting experience).

10

@MYOS1634 I have never taken art during high school so I doubt that the art teacher will let me take AP art. The only art related semester course is Art History, which tbh sounds quite boring. I would rather take a year long art course.

But I’m hesitant due to a personal conflict. In the personal finance class we are doing a project which requires min 3 to max 4 people in a group - otherwise points would be deducted. My friend and I formed a team but we had a hard time finding a 3rd member since everyone else had already teamed up. I inquired the teacher about the problem and he allowed us to be a team of two. If I were to leave the class now I feel bad for putting my friend in a tight spot again trying to look for a team to join. It’s not an easy environment since we only know each other and we are both shy.

11

No matter what, since you want to ask the Personal Finance teacher to write you a letter of recommendation, go and share your dilemma. If you stay in the class s/he’ll be able to write a darn good anecdote about your qualities, and if you don’t he’ll know you did consider all elements of decision carefully.
At this point, it sounds like you can’t take an art class.
I also wouldn’t apply to an art school - those are usually extremely expensive and most would accept students with several years of experience. The fact your work is very good so someone with so little training will be meaningless at an art school. See if you can find regular colleges that have a strong art department and other fields you may be interested in (like arts management, for instance) and fields you may want to explore.
Your interest in others makes you a good fit for Pitzer, or many Catholic or Lutheran or Methodist colleges, by the way.

12

I decided to switch out of personal finance to an art class.
Considering the little experience I have in art, it would be outrageous to ask for an AP art class which has high standards and prerequisites. But the teacher let me into an honors art class after reviewing my portfolio.
The personal finance teacher was very understanding for my circumstances and accepted to write a recommendation letter. He said my friend would have to deal with the teaming up problem, and she seems to be ok with it.
So everything turned out great. I’m just waiting for the schedule change.
Thank you for everyone who gave me a hearty advice!

13

Glad to hear it.
Now, time to think of colleges. :slight_smile: