Pros and Cons to Going to Art College?

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Kafai's avatar
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I've been debating with myself lately on whether or not to continue going to college. I'm currently finishing my freshman year at SCAD (an art school).
My older sister just graduated from the same school a year ago and is now living on her own and working for a TV show (she does animation). She's doing really well and gets paid a decent amount, and also gets benefits.
We grew up both wanting to be artists, so I followed a lot in her footsteps.

I worked really hard all through high school to tailor my grades and portfolio specifically for getting scholarships to this school. I landed myself a $28,000 yearly scholarship with my efforts, so I know I'm on the right track. (it's about 33k a year for tuition alone) I know I'm really serious about making my career with art and improving my own technical skill. This is what I want to do for a living.

But there are so many sides to "Art as a living"
- I could work for an official studio company like my sister
- I could do freelance and make money off individual clients
- I could go into fineart/prints and make money of selling pieces or copies of my pieces directly.
- I could try self publishing books/graphic novels
- I could travel around to different conventions and make money off Artist Alley (I actually know people who do this full time)
If I really dedicated my time, I could make a living off of selling plushies/fursuits/merch on etsy LOL

Of those choices, I know landing a studio job would be the most stable. (And would be a lot more likely attainable with a degree) But I feel like I would enjoy any of the other options more, and they don't really require a degree. (Though I would probably have to get a day job of some sort just in case)

And what happens, if by some chance, I spend three more years getting the degree and then can't find a studio job? .__.; At my skill level, college isn't really about improving my art: it's all about meeting people and making the connections and the degree title that comes at the end. The bulk of the improvement I can make now is from practice and doing, which honestly I haven't had any time for since I've been in college.
Seriously: I've only made one serious illustration my entire year here. When I was in high school, I made a new illustration every couple of weeks. If I didn't have school obligations, I would paint things every day.
And I also get extremely frustrated when I have to take useless classes that have no benefit to me other than being a graduation requirement. COUGH COMPUTER APPLICATIONS COUGH.

So now I'm stuck with a decision. Should I stay in college, spending three years and thousands of dollars, to get the degree? Should I drop out, get a part/full-time job in retail,and try any of those other options I listed before?

I'm really considering taking a year or two off and "testing out" how I'll do without a degree. But I'd lose my scholarship, have to reapply, my parents might not have the money to support me, and will be a year behind everyone when I come back.

Your thoughts?
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Keira-Bui's avatar
You've a $28k scholarship? Omg, I will be attending SCAD this Fall and even though I've tried my best, they only gave me $25,5k ;_____; I got the maximum artistic scholarship, but my academic scholarship is just pathetic Y_Y

So have you made your decision yet? Would you still attend SCAD?