I’m going off to college next year and my plan was to major in an artistic field, but I’ve been told incessantly that I’m “too smart for arts” and I should choose something that will get me paid. I looked into chemistry which I don’t love, but I don’t hate it either. Can someone give me their opinion on whether or not I should go with chemistry or pick a major I’m extremely passionate about? If it were you, would you pick a major based on money/job stability or passion/drive?
I have worked for years in an industry with a lot of art directors. It’s extremely competitive and in order to make a living at it you need to be very talented. So if you are one of the top 1 or 2 artists in your school than go for it. If you are not sure try taking just a class or two as a freshman and see how you like it and you compare to others in your class.
College is not vocational school. Pursue your passion in college and let the world break your spirit later. That’s what I wish I had done.
This is my favorite topic. Major in what you LOVE. Play the long game. Your “advisors” are right – you will earn more as a STEM or business major, but ONLY in your first job. As an art major, you will start lower but eventually catch up or surpass many STEM majors. Remember this: You will not be successful in your career if you are doing something you don’t like and are not good at. You will be working for at least 40-50 years. Chew on that.
College is not JUST vocational school, but for most of us ignoring the vocational aspect is a luxury too great to contemplate.
Nobody knows what the future will hold. Let’s say you major in something you don’t really like because people in your life tell you that it’s good for job security. Well … who knows what the world will be like in 10 or 20 or 30 years. So you might as well do what you like and are good at. Art majors DO become employed, buy houses, and raise families.
What is your ultimate goal with an artist background? Any field/career in mind?
Or, you could love something useful! Half kidding.
There are lots of things to enjoy. Being 17-18 years old and thinking you know how you will be useful is a stretch for most. Split the difference and double major in an art field plus a more marketable field. I would be cautious about telling a 17 year old to “do what you love.” Part of being 17 is learning to resist that impulse!
Also depends on where you go to college. If your parents are paying tens of thousands of dollars a year and college expenses are a burden, it would be a disservice to them to choose a statistically low paying major. Just my two cents, which is why I gave up my dream major.
You could go about the art manager route, and double major or major/minor in business and art. There might even be certain schools that have a major like that already in existence, kind of like a Music Business major. I don’t know much about art majors, but I know a lot about different music majors and different careers for people who like music, so I’m just kind of applying that to art haha
Oh, boy. I don’t agree with that at all.
Here are long-term art-related career goals for an art major without going to grad school:
-Run an auction house, like Sothebys or Christies
-Manage an art gallery
-Curator at a museum
-Art dealer
-Graphic designer / own a graphic design firm
-Chief Creative Officer at an ad agency
-Television graphics director
-Visual merchandising
-Furniture design
-Interior design – own a firm
-Web design – infographic design (this is big now)
-User interface designer
-Textile design
-Nonprofit arts organization management
-Art teacher
-Open an art studio for kids
-Computer animation
-Video game design
-Product design
-Medical illustration
-Set design
-Courtroom / police sketch artist
-Photo editor
-Travel agent for art-related travel
I think the biggest question is whether you would want to do “artistic” work as a job or not. There’s a huge difference between a hobby and a job! At a minimum, you should take some business courses so that you’ll be able to exploit your artistic talents out in the real world.
My most outstanding talent is art-- won many competitions as a student. But I went on to become an engineer. You should see the killer PowerPoint slides I make for my technical presentations…
I’d say major in something you love because in the end it’s not the degree that will get someone a career, it’s the person behind the degree and their ambition and talent for the job at hand. However, if you don’t listen to that advice and decide to major in something for job stability, I’d suggest doing something other than chemistry unless you really love it because college chemistry is extremely difficult.
Keep your options open and take intro courses which will put you on the path for both.
A possible career option for you might be art conservation - you need a chemistry background, but would be in the art world.
Agree with whoever hinted kids don’t know if they actually want to work in art or just like to do it. A lot of the ones who do want the profession go off to one of the highly respected art colleges, endure what can be a highly critical honing. Many of the rest can take side classes, for the rest of their lives.
That said, I’m for doing what you love, too. This is the chance. (Just make sure the major isn’t, you know, one of the idle ones, basket weaving or pet appreciation.) If you major in some aspect of art, you can also choose to take writing, business and math classes, to enhance your general marketability, cover your you-know-what. If you later decide to go into a non-art career, be ready.
The worst horror stories I read in the College Confidential forum are from art students who have gone deeply in debt to go to “one of the highly respected art colleges”.
Meet the Parents Who Won’t Let Their Children Study Literature
by Steven Pearlstein [Steven Pearlstein is a Post business and economics writer. He is also Robinson Professor of Public Affairs at George Mason University.]
Washington Post, September 2
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/09/02/meet-the-parents-who-wont-let-their-children-study-literature/?utm_term=.2e1e70403a9c
This is the key paragraph in the article:
This is so important. I am going to start a new thread about it.
Re #10
For an art major considering the types of jobs listed, consider which out of major electives would be helpful to supplement your art skills in those types of jobs.
I am a firm believer that you should pursue your passion. The corollary to that statement is to make a PLAN to get there. (And, a double major doesn’t hurt, something that might be viewed as a bit more “business” oriented.)
From now through your early years of school, do as much as you can to learn about the specific ways you can pursue art as a career. Once you refine your specific interests/target starting job, use time at school to gain as much relevant experience as you can through internships, part-time jobs, freelance assignments, volunteering, etc.
However, I do know an art history major from an elite liberal arts school who did none of this, and found her way into operations for a nurse staff supply firm, loved it and is doing very well… so it is possible to find other work outside of art as well. Good luck!