Online college should I do?

[Pencilpo]

I’ve been offered a place at a prestigious college for one years online tuition, lots of good tutors,
for £4k.
it’s a lot of work and am concerned about fitting it in.
I only work part time and obviously need to earn more .
I really can’t decide what to do. I have he money from a small inheritance.
it’s not academic and I could probably do less and shorter courses, but it wouldn’t have he prestige of going here.
id use it to give me structure to enhance skills and to give me credibility to teach adults in this field. I already teach but feel I lack confidence. I have no idea and keep changing my mind. Am I thinking it will be too much because I’m scared?

Hard to know with this information

It's probably less work than you think it is
But if you need to earn more, can you afford the 4K

Also, you say you've been offered a place, but a lot of of these institutions use these courses just to raise money

Is it the qualification you’re trying to buy or the notion of prestige?

its a funny one. It’s the royal drawing school, so it’s kosher. I think it’s whether I can give it the time to make it worth while. There’s there’s no qualification but obviously improved skills. Mind you everyone will improve with 20 plus hours drawing each week !

And which of their courses are you taking that is £4k? And what were the entry requirements?
I can’t see that there’s any prestige attached personally?

Thanks, it’s the online drawing year, had to submit work and a reasoning behind it. I think my main challenge is that the example of tutors on the website are, to me anyway, not very inspiring.

I think it comes down to can you afford it, do you want to do it, will you stick at it and will it benefit you (this covers both enjoyment and future employment confidence). I'm getting a yes from you on most of those, so why not?

If the tutors don't inspire though, is it worth looking elsewhere?

Thanks! I’m so divided! I’m thinking to not do it but don’t know if I’m just scared. 4 k is a lot and it’s up to 3 days a week, so not much time to earn!
maybe a few shorter classes across the year is less stressful

I think there's a benefit to more intensive courses. However, is online actually the way to go, is it live classes via zoom etc with live feedback and interaction? Wouldn't that be better in person? All things to think about. Personally I think I'd prefer a skills class in person, theory would be fine online.

Just playing devil's advocate!

So I'd prefer a week's residential for something like art, for example..

You ARE a devils advocate! It’s using zoom etc so obviously different . I think my challenge is that I need a class that’s not for beginners, that pushes me, but I am sort of thinking I could learn a lot myself if I do 3 days a week. Maybe spend the 4 k on separate courses and maybe the odd weekend at major galleries. I Don’t know! DH tells me I’m brilliant anyway 😀

Of course he does! I'd do some more research about what's available before committing in that case. You could build a bespoke thing by mix and matching some online, some in person. You seem to have a budget, so work around that. Maybe an intensive weekend residential, some online, some in person... you know how best you learn, and what you feel you need. I'd say if future teaching is involved then some in person would be good so you could either use or definitely notnuse the methods...Good luck!

It sounds like he is supportive, so maybe talk it through with him.

Thank you so so much, murasaki really appreciated! Well I have said no thank you and I hope I’ve done the right thing.
In the end I thought about what you posted, and looked at the work of the 4 main teachers and the alumni and realised im lying to myself - I’m just not inspired by anyone. That’s wierd for me, because I’m hardly an expert.
DH may be supporting me, he may have rose colored specs, he may just want me to bring in money and just as he says, ‘you’re talented, just get on with it’
so I will. I’m a bit sad but have to say it’s a relief, I’ll set aside 20 hours a week, so no more watching Slow Horses, but just practicing. Got to improve just by default!
here’s to getting somewhere and thank you, I hope you are getting somewhere. I recognize your name and have cheekily changed mine. Feel like I owe you a glass of white. Thank you!

Glad I could help clarify your thoughts a bit, I'm sure you can find some things to spend your budget on that you'll find relevant, and more to the point will enjoy as well. If the tutors weren't inspiring, the kudos of the place means nothing really. I bet there are short courses etc out there. I'm raising my current glass of white to you!

Also, your DH sounds like a goodun, he wants you to be happy and do well.

Also, random thought, but it seems you already teach, but confidence is the problem, is it worth addressing that somehow outside the art arena, then you can bring that to the teaching you do already then expand? It maybe it's that that is the issue not your skills?

Thank you!
and thanks for pointing out it may be a confidence issue. Suddenly there’s a lot of art tutors round here, none of which I rate, but all of which seem to be more business minded/ doing stuff etc. while I am still holding back. Yes, well pointed out, thank you!
p.s. HUGE relief today that I haven’t spent 4k. It seems people can slap out a splashy landscape and it sells just fine, so I think I’m being too hard on myself. 💐

I think you are being to hard on yourself! Glad you feel at peace with your decision, and I do think from what you've said, it's confidence. You can do what they do and better. Take some classes etc if you want, but the main thing is to believe in yourself. If I've helped a little bit in helping you clarify where you are that's great.

You certainly have! Thank you - having a good old rethink and replan about teaching etc. generally, and am a lot more enthusiastic than I was, so a massive thank you. Wishing you very well what ever you’re up to. Also curious, how did you get so wise?!

Haha, I'm very much not. But sometimes it's easier to look from the outside at an issue than at one of your own.

well if you ever have a dilemma..! I owe you, you’ve saved me 4 k (! What WAS I thinking) and a lot of stress. 🥂🍾