Switching Majors Help

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

<p>I posted this in a different thread and received no replies, so I'm trying my luck here.</p>

<p>So starting of as a freshman, I switched my major from architechture to graphic design and finally settled with photography. At our school you are given two chances to present your work to determine if you qualify for the BFA program which I was trying to pursue. I applied for a review my first semester of my sophmore year and didn't make it into the program due to bad grades, lack of creativity, and not much work to showcase.</p>

<p>Instead of giving it a second try, I automatically switched my major to a BA in Music since I play 4 different instruments and enjoy music so much. I figured I would do studio music work such as composing, arranging and teaching students on the side. I finished my second and third year completing all my music classes with fairly good grades.</p>

<p>Then over the summer, I went on an art tour to Europe and my passion for the arts returned and I found that my skill and eye for creativity increased dramatically. Now I look back to people in the music major and I feel like I just don't belong. Everyone is an expert mucisian interested in all these 5 hour long classical concerts and on the side they compose all these classical arrangements and its more of just a hobby to me and I can find myself to enjoy the classical music as they do.</p>

<p>Now I want to switch back to photography. I enjoy photography. You will always catch me with my camera and trying new techniques but I onky have one more year in the music program and there is no point in changing now. I believe I now have a better chance at getting into the program. I am more focused, so my grades are better and I believed my skill has greatly increased from sophmore year. When I compare my work to others in the program I sometimes feel my work is at their level and sometimes better and people can agree with me. I even sometimes find myself helping and teaching some of the photo majors new techniques and they ask me why I'm not a photo major (they don't know I switched). So do you think its wise to switch back now with only one more year left or should I just finish the BA in music and try to pursue a MFA when I graduate. Is it possible to enter an MFA program with a BA?</p>

2

<p>Basically, my options are:</p>

<p>1) Finish my last year with a BA in Music and pursue a life in that field
2) Switch back to the BFA (which is not a guarantee that I would get into it) and add another 1.5-2 years of college
3) Finish my last year with a BA in Music and enter into a MFA program in photography if possible.</p>

<p>Number 3 is more what I want to do but I’m not sure if I can. Which option seems most feasible to you. At this point Music is more of a hobby to me.</p>

3

<p>I’m not too familiar with university art degrees or MFAs. I do know several very successful photographers who did not get degrees in art, and it didn’t hurt them any.</p>

<p>From the information you’ve provided, it makes sense to finish up your BA in music, rather than extend your undergrad years. Can you take photography courses while you are finishing up the BA in Music?</p>

<p>I don’t think you should only go into music if you would rather be a photographer. Rather, you can use your music skills to make some money while you finish learning what you need to to become a photographer or prepare for the MFA you mentioned. For me, music (performing, teaching) paid for my law school tuition.</p>

<p>There is a bigger world out there than just classical concerts. Music schools are a bit behind. Just because you are different doesn’t mean you can’t be successful in music if you want to be. My daughter plays four intruments too, and some orchestral directors in particular have given her a hard time because of it. She just didn’t apply to those conservatories.</p>

<p>I recommend you look up the entrance requirements at several schools to see what you need to apply for a MFA. You should also research several photographers you admire and see what their background is. Maybe you don’t need to get an MFA to work in the field you want.</p>