Taking a year off after graduation before college?

Question

I have been considering taking next year off after I graduate high school before applying to colleges. My parents are not for this at all, and I know everyone says that I'll never make it back to school or I'll become lazy, but my reasoning is this..

I want to go for BFA, and just feel like I would have a better chance getting into colleges if my portfolio was built up more.
I only decided in my junior year that I wanted to go to school for art, so I don't have much. I was thinking about just taking art classes around my area (Pittsburgh) and continuing my volunteer work at The Mattress Factory Art Museum along with other volunteer work on my time off.

any suggestions?

Answer 1

Actually, this sounds like a really good idea. Not only do you have a real reason for taking a year off, but you have real, solid, school-related plans for what to do during that year. I think you should do it. I'd support it, and it would give you something to talk about in your essays, as well as giving you a stronger portfolio.

You want to take some continuing ed/art classes, to beef up your portfolio. Do so. In fact, for this summer, try to to Carnegie Mellon's summer program for people of your age. I'll link, below. They offer an art program. And CM is one of my absolute favorite art schools. They are awesome. I mean they are just... awesome. If this doesn't work for you, see if they offer art classes via continuing education. They are a very, very strong art school.

Keep working at the Mattress Factory. See if you can expand your role there, take on more responsibility. See if there are any special projects they'll let you get involved in. All that would look great on an application, and it would be a wonderful experience.

If you can and have the funds, try to travel a bit. See some art and architecture, ideally, outside the US. For short trips, I suggest Montreal and Quebec City. If you can afford longer, and have an interest in art, I suggest any of the following: Paris, Florence, Rome, Prague, Venice, Vienna, Krakow, London... There are also summer programs available in each of these locations, focused on art, and which would beef up your portfolio. I'll give a link to just one example, below.

Or, why not NYC? You could do the summer program at the School of Visual Arts (link, below.)

The nice thing about summer programs is that they offer a support system to you. You're not just wandering around Florence by yourself, you're studying, there are other students, there are residence halls, meals, and supervision. This might make your family feel better about it, and also make it safer for you to do this.

Have you attended portfolio days yet? If not, you should. So, one more link :LOL:

Answer 2

I'm a freshman in college. This is my first semester right now and god is it hard. If I had taken the year off like I wanted then I would have come the first day of class and just quit. It calls up on so much that you did in high school and if you've had some time between there you won't do very well. And since a lot of majors aren't producing degrees in four years anymore it's probably better to get it over with. If you're worried meet with a college adviser to see if your portfolio is respectable. I'm pretty sure it's just fine.

Answer 3

I'd see if you could set up an interview with an admissions officer at the sort of school you'd like to go to, and talk about what they expect from someone they'd like to admit into their BFA program. It's distinctly possible that more time and more material in your portfolio would do you good, but I'd check with someone who can make that decision. That way, you can say to your parents, "This school's admissions officer said I need more material in my portfolio." (or, the admissions officer might just say something like "Why don't you apply for real and we'll see where we can put you.")