<p>Hi guys, this is my first post on CC but i've been reading the posts for a while and i wanted some input on a problem. so here are the basics:
i'm a junior in high school and i recently started doing photography. i've fallen in love with photography and because of this, i've been considering going to a photography school, specifically NYU Tisch or Parsons, when i graduate.the problem is that my parents are completely unsupportive of this decision because they think that getting a BFA is going to ruin my life, in the sense that it will be hard to get a job and support myself. i know that if i become a photographer its going to be hard and i would probably have to take another job at least at first to make ends meet, but im willing to work hard if it means that i can pursue the life that i want. currently there is no other career path or profession that i'm really interested in and i feel that if i go to the school she wants me to go to (NYU college of arts and science) which doesnt really have any photography, i would end up majoring in something i dont really want to do and would be miserable doing it. my mom thinks that i need a good foundation so i can have more options with my life but she doesnt realize that the option i want will be really hard to obtain if i follow the path she wants for me. she's even saying that if i choose to go to an art school, they will cut me off and i will be left to pay for college entirely on my own even though i have a college fund but i cant access it until im 25. this disagreement is causing constant problems between me and my parents and even though i have over a year until i actually need to decide what school im going to, we fight about it at least once a week. sorry this is so long but i just want to know if anyone has any alternative ideas that would allow me to do photography but also make my parents happy or if you know of any ideas on how to either convince them im making a good decision for me or at least stop the fighting until it gets closer to application time. thanks for reading!</p>
<p>Your parents are the ones who are probably going to be paying for most of your education, so you should probably consider their interests. They want you to have a stable job and lifestyle which photography doesn’t readily provide. It’s as though you’re restricting yourself from pursuing other majors making your parents’ choice seem all the more undoable. There are a ton of majors to choose from so I’m not sure if you’re being fair by assuming that anything other than photography will make you miserable. The middle ground would probably be to major in something that will be conducive to a stable job and do photography as a minor. That way you could still work part-time on photography but have the solid financial foundation provided by a stable job. Think about where you can meet your parents in the middle and understand their perspective without having the “if photography isn’t my major i’ll be miserable” mindset.</p>
<p>Well, do your parents have a specific path for you in mind?</p>
<p>Find a school where you can dual major in photography and something reliable. That’ll probably be a lot of work though. No offense, but can’t you just do photography as a hobby? There are TONS of majors out there, I’m 100% positive you can find something.</p>
<p>well here are some statistics, i couldn’t find any for tisch or parsons, but here are ones for massart:
<a href=“http://i.imgur.com/IMjLY.png[/url]”>http://i.imgur.com/IMjLY.png</a>
according to the table, 1 in 5 people who major in photography or film are unemployed after graduation, and of those who find jobs, 40% of them get a job outside their field. do you want to be in that 40%?</p>
![http://i.imgur.com/IMjLY.png[/url]](http://i.imgur.com/IMjLY.png%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
<p>I think you should go for it. People who were forced into something by their significant other or family tend to regret it later in life. If you don’t follow your dream, you’ll always be wondering, “What if I had done something in photography instead?” I’m sure your parents have the best in mind for you. They probably want you to have a good job after college. But you have to ask yourself: is it better to not make much money but do something you love, or make lots of money and go to work every day doing a job you hate? Not only that but the economy sucks right now anyway. There’s no guarantee that you’ll have a job right after college, no matter what you major in. </p>
<p>Some parents also live vicariously through their children and want their children to achieve the dreams they never did. However, you should make your own choice. You’re the one who’s going to be going through 4 years of college, not them. </p>
<p>The fact that your parents have threatened to cut off your funding if you major in photography is a bit troubling. If I were you I would talk to my guidance counselor. Perhaps he/she could discuss payment options with you if your family refuses to fund you. At the very least your guidance counselor could talk to your parents and maybe get them to open up a bit to the photography idea.</p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck :)</p>
<p>Lucky you to have NYC at your finger tips. Get into NYU and take extra photography courses on the side. You may find a cheaper way to study your passion by being an intern while attending school. Meet your parents in the middle by earning a degree that your parents think will give you wider options in the future. Being a business major and a talented photographer is a win win.</p>
<p>The fact theyre paying is important. Like previous posts said, dual major. Or major in something slightly more sensable that you still will sorta like.</p>
<p>I think part of the concern is that your interest in photography is relatively recent. If it shows to be a true lasting passion, your parents may relent a little. Can you transfer between the NYU schools. I agree that seriously bucking your parents wehen they are paying may not be a good move. Try to keep open as many options as possible.
Good luck. It is very hard to be a HS Junior.</p>