<p>I am helping a friend of Ds get where she wants to be in life. She is currently a junior, will be a senior next year. She has been involved in a high school engineering prep program, an academy -type instruction, which is a rigorous course of study that will relate well with careers in the fields of mathematics, engineering, space, and technology. I dont know her GPA or SAT/ACT scores, but I imagine they are good for her to even be in this program (3.0 or higher required) I do know that parent involvement is one of the requirements via a parent volunteer service agreement. I dont know how or why she got involved in the program, but through Facebook I found her lamenting/raging to my D and other friends that she hates the field and wants to do anything else but engineering. She is very interested in graphic design and photography.
In addition, her parents are forcing her to stay in Florida, which she hates (the state). I agreed to help her with some of these hurdles she is facing because I know theres ways to make everyone maybe not totally happy, but reach some compromises. Her parents say it must be Florida, to take advantage of because of Bright Futures scholarships. In addition, Bright Futures is not the free ride it used to be. So Ive figured a way around that, I think shed qualify for a free ride at a number of schools, although not the art schools her friends are going to. I know her parents would be dead set against an art school, and a free ride isnt likely there anyway, as I dont think shes been working on a portfolio. So what Im looking for is a free-ride likely school for a kid with lots of math/physics background for a major/double major/ etc so she can keep her parents happy and at the same time, fulfill her own needs. I was wondering if there is an option in the engineering field that might fit in with her art interests as well. All I could think of was some sort of architecture program, but I don't think she's really interested in that. I am going to ask her what else other than art is she interested in, but I'm not sure she's thought that out, as she's just so angry now. Any ideas?</p>
<p>Perhaps one of the state schools offers a degree in industrial or product design.</p>
<p>First, we really can’t comment on the family situation too much, because outsiders we have no idea what goes on within the family (goes through her parents mind, etc). But I do think her parents need to sit down and discuss with her daughter professionally. </p>
<p>They have to understand that going to college isn’t just a decision of the parents. The child has to stay in the school for a few years. We’ve been hearing tragedies on the news about children unable to live happily because of stress in school, which primarily the parents are responsible for. This is a serious issue. </p>
<p>She can be a game graphic designer, an architect, or something similar to what Imoremom said (which is pretty rare…)</p>
<p>A few questions:
- Where does she live? What state? What are the closest university she can attend.
- Is financial a problem?
- What does the child really want to do?
- Why does she dislike engineering? She said anything else but engineering. Engineering is the practical side of math and science.
- So would medicine, physics be an option for her?
- What do the parents want her child to study?</p>
<p>For a second I think she said that because her parents were involved in the program, or somehow her parents have made her to go into engineering? (or did I misread something…)</p>
<p>PS: It would be great to have the big paragraph break up smaller paragraph, to help reading :)</p>
<p>jwxie: Thanks for the tip about breaking up the paragraphs - I know that needed it! To answer some of your questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>She lives in Florida, and there is one good engineering schools close by (commuting distance), the others are state universities that she would have to live in the dorms.</p></li>
<li><p>Don’t know if financial is a problem, only that parents said they wanted her in Florida to take advantage of Bright Futures (FL school only scholarship - does not cover room/board, only a $ amount/credit hour). They would have to come up with room and board anyway, and commuting school is private and free ride not likely.</p></li>
<li><p>She really wants to study graphic design and/or photography. She’s won several local contests (poster and t-shirt design and such) with monetary and medal awards.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>4 & 5. Don’t know why she hated engineering - don’t know what else she’d like to do, I am awaiting response from her on those questions.</p>
<ol>
<li> Parents want her to go into engineering. (Sorry, I see I left that out of my original post!) and that’s most of the problem.</li>
</ol>
<p>I have suggested industrial design to her and will see what she says. I think a large part of the problem is that my D is going to an art school and her other good friend just got accepted to an art school as well. I think she envisions herself in a box she can’t get out of.</p>
<p>Yes. We would wait until we get responses from her. It is important for her to be honest with you. If parents’ demand drove her to dislike engineering, then her parents really need to step back and think for her daughter.</p>
<p>Most people will agree with me that not everyone needs to go to college. In fact, not everyone should major in math / science. Parents think the 4-year education is easy as high school. No. You really have to love the subject, and enjoy what you are doing. </p>
<p>The worst outcome? Suicide? Drop-out? Depression? Parents probably think art graduates can’t make livings. It is true that many art graduates have hard time finding an employment. But if she likes what she does, she can make the best out of it. She can draw comics, shoot photography, filming during her undergraduate study. The parents need to realize that their daughter’s future is in her own hand. </p>
<p>Let her talk and tell us what she thinks. It is important that the parents be good listeners. There are many other options. She’s only 17. No one has a perfect life.</p>
<p>As a matter of fact, I had a severe depression in junior and senior year of high school. My parents never forced me to study engineering. i had depression because I was unable to enjoy my life, and I had hard time telling people what I really want. My parents were always busy and they only saw the bad side of me. I am a chinese btw.</p>
<p>Of course, she should keep her options open.</p>
<p>My D is in art school now, I couldn’t imagine telling her what she was going to study. Originally she was going to do nursing 'cause dad was in medical field, then found out “art was a job too”. And there was no looking back. The girl needs to decide what she wants and offer her parents some facts. I have gotten some good options from a parent on the art forum, schools with both good engineering and good art, maybe the compromise everyone needs.</p>
<p>Will post more when I hear from girl.</p>
<p>She should go to Cooper Union. Tuition is free and their only 3 majors are Architecture, Engineering, and Art.</p>
<p>I do not know about other schools, but UF offers a degree in digital and graphic art from the engineering college. It is computer science doubled with fine art.</p>
<p>@ mrego: yes, I am very familiar with Cooper Union, as my D is an art major (altho not there). The tuition is free, but housing is very expensive (NYC after all), and only guaranteed for freshmen. After that, you need to get an apt. VERY unlikely her parents will agree to that. But it is an excellent option if she can get in.</p>
<p>@ engineer: Yes, I saw that program, and that might be a good choice if the parents still insist on Florida. </p>
<p>Other schools with programs equally strong in engineering and art that were given to me by a well respected member of the visual arts forum include: VCU, Virginia Tech, Carnegie Mellon, and UF. I think Syracuse and RIT might also be in the mix.</p>
<p>Thanks for everyone’s help!</p>
<p>DS went to CMU, got a dual degree in HCI.
Hobby is sculptors that is art-engineered, or maybe called engineered-art. I don’t understand his thought processes, I resluts olyn see the . </p>
<p>\dust a pew hrous right.</p>