<p>Ok, here I am helping another friend of D’s 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 don’t 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 don’t 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 there’s 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 I’ve figured a way around that, I think she’d qualify for a free ride at a number of schools, although not where her friends are going to. I know her parents would be dead set against an art school, and a free ride isn’t likely there anyway, as I don’t think she’s been working on a portfolio. So what I’m 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 came up with substituting the engineering with architecture with a double major in graphic design. 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 other ideas?</p>
<p>P.S. I do not know the parents at all, so I don't know what angles will actually work!</p>
<p>I don’t see how you could double-major in architecture and any kind of design (except, possibly, interior design). Design fields are studio intensive (meaning, LONG classes, lots of outside work required). </p>
<p>So, I don’t think that is a practical option–at least, not at any design schools/universities that I know of.</p>
<p>Has she thought of industrial design at all? That would use a lot of her math-brain as well as her creative side. However, it’d have to be something she is interested in to be successful at.</p>
<p>There are graphic design programs at many universities (not familiar w/ Florida) --perhaps the parents would be open to it in a university setting, vs. an art school? Many university-based programs are as good as art school ones–or better.</p>
<p>But frankly I think if her parents are forcing any career on her, that is a bigger problem!</p>
<p>Yes, I know how the design classes work, D is at MCAD now, and is working insanely long hours for her studio classes, but loves it. The idea was to start out in architecture (or at least declare that as a major upon application) and then maybe switching majors. We would have never told D what to major in, and yes, that IS the bigger problem here. I think if you’re at least doing what you love, the place you’re in can be bearable. From what I’ve gleaned so far, according to the kid, it sounds like it’s gotta be engineering or nothing. That’s why I’m trying to find a suitable replacement. Industrial design is something to consider, tho, thanks. Kind of like furniture engineering. Hey, that might just work ;-)</p>
<p>Sorry–I kinda forgot I was posting in the art forum–of course you get the hours involved!</p>
<p>And the ‘strategy’ of starting in one design major and then switching could work; many (not all) schools do have a common foundation year for design…industrial design could work–I know Industrial designers who do things like exhibit design, signage design or packaging design which involves lots of graphic design–there is a lot of overlap.</p>
<p>Actually industrial designers do some very cool stuff. If she likes working in 3 dimensions, that is…</p>
<p>Cooper Union has architecture, engineering and art + free tuition. It would be a loooooong shot to get in and there’s no way she could do all three! At least they have all three.</p>
<p>Alfred University in NY state also has engineering and art and the whole school is 90% engineering or art. It’s less money to begin with and they give generous merit aid so it should be affordable. </p>
<p>What about University of Alabama? They are famous now for giving free rides to out of state kids with high stats. They might have some kind of tech design she would be interested in.</p>
<p>She might want to look at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. They offer engineering, architecture and graphic design. If she has above an 1100 SAT she will be in line for merit money. It is a beautiful campus overlooking the ocean.</p>
<p>Cooper U is the best school for what you’re talking about…very very very tough to get into though…the Harvard of art schools for admission rate</p>
<p>Yeah, but I don’t think Cooper is an option. I’m still waiting to hear from her as to why she now hates engineering and is there another option besides graphic design (which is what she really wants) and are her parents even willing to listen…</p>
<p>well my sympathies with both parties. Growing up in North Florida I couldn’t wait to escape but my parents looked at those low tuition/scholarships and almost died when I went to private university…I have son…same thing…turn down cheap or free ride to do art and robots/engineering at CMU. It is easy to criticize parents for not supporting kids dream and pushing them but wanting your kid to be financially secure and use some of their god-given math skills is not a crime. </p>
<p>Provide some ideas to the kid but remember that you don’t want to just undermine the parents. The kid should be able to say to parents: “I will apply to some safeties in fl but would like to also apply to xyz university because it offers what I want to study…however, I respect your concerns about cost and my future so let me explain my reasoning and show you that I am taking your concerns seriously”. </p>
<p>Below is a list with strong art programs and the potential to do design or engineering as well (my virginia bias is because this is what I know best). Kid should offer to do at least the prereqs for engineering or design…not a killer and may provide viable income oportunities in the future. If your parents are paying your way, would it kill you to at least do some part of what they say?
Here are some ideas:</p>
<ol>
<li>VCU–they do offer scholarships; great art school, ok engineering plus everything else a kid could want. CHEAP if oos tuition is waived…kid must apply by Dec. 1.</li>
<li>Virginia tech…great engineering, good design and architecture, some very nifty art/computer stuff. Also offer scholarships to try to diversify their student population geographically.</li>
<li>RIT–great art, great engineering…I know some kid who went for photography and is now doing motion picture camera design (engineering)…any interest in optics it is the place to be. GREAT scholarships.</li>
<li><p>CMU–mainly need based aid; some scholarships for girls and exceptional students…dual degree is encouraged and possible in 4 years with art and engineering. Scary expensive but good chances of good job after graduation. One of the best engineering programs around and art and design in the top group of undergrad programs. Lots of parental boasting potential here for those who care about engineering…literally, engineering parents oooh and ahhh when I say son is at CMU (usually I don’t bother to say he is studying art …it sounds like an apology to these techie types).</p></li>
<li><p>Florida…great engineering school offers everything else besides…dual degree in 5-6 years however…hard to get all the credits done. I hated gville as a teen and young adult, but kid can always escape later…</p></li>
</ol>
<p>ps architecture is not a simple substitution (kinda engineering-kinda design–kinda art) …only a student with a portfolio, and totally committed to a hellish life for 5 years, and a dream of designing the next falling waters should even consider architecture. At most schools, the drop out rate for arch is over 50%</p>
<p>Famm- wow, that was exactly the kind of response I was looking for!! I have no intention of undermining the parents, I have never even met them, so I don’t know anything about them or where they are coming from. You example of a conversation is great, just what she needs to do. </p>
<p>4 great not-in-Florida choices too. I know UF has a digital arts and science major in the college on engineering that I think might keep everyone happy except the Florida part.</p>
<p>I thought about several of the schools you have listed, and optic engineering/photography combo at RIT sounds great. That might be a good choice!</p>
<p>Hopefully when I hear from her about her GPA and SAT/ACT scores, we can move ahead. I asked D if she knew if friend had a portfolio, and she said no, she didn’t bother becasue she knew she was being made to go into engineering. D told me that girl can’t draw, but has won several contests and monetary awards for graphic design projects for various organizations.</p>
<p>Yep, thought about it, and don’t think architecture is really what she wants to do anyway.</p>
<p>Redbug…funny how florida is sort of a love-hate thing. Let her know that you can’t really take the gator out of the florida girl even if she swears she will never return. On the one hand, I still hate the anti-intellectual good ol’ boy culture but on the other…I see palmettos, scrub oaks, spanish moss and mockingbirds and I realize it is where I feel most comfortable. Have you ever been to payne’s prarie? I actually teared up thinking about it and would give up all these beautiful cherry blossoms and white marble in washington in a heartbeat to see a hog-nosed turtle in the swamp. I am trying to figure out how to get back for the 30th high school reunion…despite the way the class president will just mention for the 100th time that we are the only Gainesville High school class that took state AAA in football (as if she and the rest of us had anything much to do with that!..most of the team is in jail, alcoholic, dead or deadbeat). English parents, ecuadorean husband, DC bureaucrat for half my life but I still miss some things about north florida. Warn her…warn her…it is like a curse.</p>
<p>In my D’s case, I don’t think there’s any gator in her. More like moose (she was born in Maine, after all), she identifies more with Maine than Florida even tho we moved here when she was 3. But had she grown up in Maine, she would have to walk 1/2 mile to the beach to see wildlife. Here she could just cross the street and catch mosquito fish in the canal behind the house and cruise the empty woods. In Minneapolis, she’s excited to find a dead bird she can bring home and have the skull and bones. No dead coyotes to drag home there! Have never even heard of Payne’s Prairie. Is it up Gainesville way?</p>
<p>aw that’s explains.
when I saw redbugD’s work first time she said her location is Maine, which puzzled me a bit.
it is interesting thou, what animal you got in the most. I am now bears and a dogs neck deep but didn’t even had them around when I was a kid. frogs and crawfish count?</p>
<p>Found out the girl has a 4.53 weighted GPA, 4.0 UW. She has not taken the SAT’s yet (she will be a junior in the fall), but with that GPA, I think she’ll do well and would qualify for merit aid somewhere along the line to get into a non-Florida school. Mom is on her side and they are both trying to talk to dad. She told me she has an interest in applied science, not engineering, and altho I’m not sure exactly what "applied " science consists of, I think this might be her ticket into keeping her and her father happy. I was thinking about U of Cincinnati digital program and wonder if this might be a good choice school for her to look into. Taxguy, where are you??</p>
<p>redbug - University of Cincinnati has a brief 1 week summer session D2 plans to attend for Industrial Design so she can decide if it is of interest. They have graphic too. That is another school with an excellent design, architecture and engineering program. Would be out of state tuition, but still not as much as the stand alone art schools.</p>
<p>Here’s the link. It’s a new program, so I think they are still accepting [DAAPcamps</a>, University of Cincinnati](<a href=“http://daap.uc.edu/summer_camp.html]DAAPcamps”>http://daap.uc.edu/summer_camp.html)</p>
<p>Thanks for the kinks to the summer program, but I doubt VERY much her parents will let her go to that. The dad thinks that art and photography is something anyone can do with a pencil and a cell phone. They were on a cruise awhile back and she was doing some drawing, and the art gallery director of the ship came by and saw her sketches and told her they were very good. Her dad immediately said (very insultingly & hopefully when the guy was out of earshot), oh, what does he know, he’s only a cruise ship art director. She posted some of her photography on Facebook and showed him, and he told her “Oh, anyone can do that with a cell phone”. So that’s what she’s dealing with.</p>