Drawing Your Way Towards an Art degree

While a degree in the arts offers infinite possibilities, it certainly helps you take a good look at your skills, find the opportunity to be with other contemporary artists and learn how to live a worthy life doing what you love.

These four steps will help you navigate through the application process:

Asking for feedback

Whether you are a choir violinist or a fabulous artist, an aspiring filmmaker, your talents and accomplishments will determine your admission chances. An objective assessment of your abilities is a good beginning!

Do ask your trusted teacher or mentor to describe your strengths and weaknesses. You may also consider getting a professional opinion from the local symphony, dance troupe or theatre company. Visual artists can receive portfolio evaluations from college representatives. An honest appraisal will help you select the type of school and degree path best-suited to your abilities and career goals.

Learn about your options

Conservatories, stand-alone arts schools and traditional universities all offer programs for performing and visual arts students. Learn about each option, as well the different degree pathways they provide. Conservatories and art schools offer students the chance to immerse themselves in the arts. At these highly competitive institutions, all students are artists, and degrees offered typically include a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) for artists/performers or a Bachelor of Music (BM) for musicians. Both degrees, also routinely available at larger universities, require rigorous study and practice.

At many universities, students can major in disciplines such as dance, music or the theatre arts to meet the requirements of a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. In addition to arts courses, students take liberal arts classes and have the opportunity to double-major or minor in another area of interest, such as History or French.

Highlight your talents

A student’s portfolio or audition lies at the heart of their application. Carefully research what each institution requires, and leave yourself enough time to prepare. Visual artists who have gone through the process of building a portfolio stress that only their best work — the pieces they believe illustrate their technical skills and vision as an artist — are included. Give yourself time to create, and choose a range of recent work.

Polish your resume

Although your creative talent is a critical part of the admission process, grades and test scores still matter. Make sure your academic record is as strong as possible going into your senior year, and be sure to note down all your arts-related achievements on your resume. You should also be prepared to answer questions about your artistic process. Many schools require applicants to write essays or sit for interviews. Discussing what your art means to you in an open, honest manner can help show school officials what makes you unique.

Enrol NOW at EdNet Art & Design School to build your portfolio with the expert guidance of our mentors!