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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think art is a hobby not a degree choice

226 replies

smithsally884 · 13/11/2018 12:30

Dd y13 Maths probably C, physics probably B ,but shines at art and is predicted A* (94 percent share AS and coursework to be reused for a level). She is severely limited in what she can apply for because of poor predicted maths and physics . She wants to do some sort of art degree now.previously wanted to do primary ed with qts but now thinks it will be too stressful.i think she might as well burn £50k aibu?

OP posts:
MynameisJune · 13/11/2018 12:33

My sister did a fashion degree, she was also amazing at Art and not great at STEM subjects.

She is a buyer for a multinational fashion brand, travels the world and earns more than I do. And I was good at STEM subjects.

You sound like my mum, and had my sister listened she’d also be miserable being a teacher or something.

There are more options than you necessarily think.

5foot5 · 13/11/2018 12:34

Does architecture interest her?

With Maths and Art she could probably get on to an architecture degree. My nephew had a very good Art grade and a middling Maths grade but managed to get a place.

MrsStrowman · 13/11/2018 12:34

Friend of mine did art and art history, she now has an amazing job (and life) in Australia where she works as a museum curator. You are being very judgy

MarklahMarklah · 13/11/2018 12:36

Well it depends what sort of career path that is intended really. Art could lead to being an illustrater, art gallery manager, buyer for galleries/museums, artist, art historian, possibly product designer, teacher... there are lots of ways art can be useful.

Lindy2 · 13/11/2018 12:36

Does she want a career that will involve art? If so then art is obviously a suitable choice. It appears from the A* prediction that she has artistic talent.
A foundation degree in art can be a good starting point.
Grades B and C in Physics and Maths at A level are not poor grades.

TittyFahLaEtcetera · 13/11/2018 12:36

She could work with children as an art therapist with an arts degree. Not to mention there are grad schemes that don't mind what degree you've done.

Let her do something she enjoys, it will be far better for her in the long run.

silkpyjamasallday · 13/11/2018 12:38

Why shouldn't she do an art BA and then do a teacher training course afterwards? Then she has the best of both worlds doing what she loves and is good at and able to get a steady career pretty soon after graduating if she goes straight to PGCE. If she isn't academic then that is a great route to take.

I wanted to do fine art, but my parents had to help me due to my loans being so small because of taking their income into account, so I did an academic course that was related. But I was so unhappy, my MH deteriorated and I ended up dropping out. Two terms of teaching and £28k down the drain for nothing. I do now get along with my parents but it really damaged our relationship and I do still resent them for not letting me follow my own desires. They let my sibling do drama ffs.

FishCanFly · 13/11/2018 12:39

YABU
would be more complicated if she wanted to do dance or drama. But art - plenty of opportunities

Digggers · 13/11/2018 12:39

Degrees in art an lead to myriad of different careers in the cultural and creative industries. YABU.

www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/creative-arts-and-design/overview-of-the-creative-arts-sector-in-the-uk

There is much competition and a lack of funding in culture and creative industries, but if she's serious about her studies, talented, hardworking and career orientated from the start there's no reason why she shouldn't find employment from an arts degree. These problems also apply to a science degree.

MrsMariaPolouvicka · 13/11/2018 12:39

do you mean Fine Art? There are many different arts based degrees, and even a quick google will throw up tons of jobs where this degree would be useful.

Of course these are the jobs which exist at the moment. In 5-10 years time there will be jobs out there you haven't even thought of, and the prediction will the that creative thinkers will be the ones who come out on top.

Because you can't replace their job with a robot. Think on.

pumpastrotter · 13/11/2018 12:40

I did Art and for me it was a waste but that's because 1) I had no support to take it further 2) got really apathetic and wasted my time, then I got pregnant and my dreams were no longer a priority.

For art you have to dedicated, and have a good idea which direction you want to take it, it has to be more than just good at producing work, although admittedly 50k seems a bit of an overestimation but that's just from my own perspective. Is she interested in art history? fashion? teaching? design? She needs to focus on what branch of art, and you need to support it instead of telling her it's fruitless.

Amlen · 13/11/2018 12:40

As a freelance private tutor I would say this: an arts degree (depending on type) is not as straight forward as commonly thoughts. If she's going down that route tell her to have a good think about what she would like to do. Arts students (and most people) tend to not be financially clued up. Get her understanding how to many money, as this should help her in her career as an artist moving forward. If she's got these skills it will not make a difference not make a difference how much you're paying she can make that back tenfold!

Your DD does has an interesting selection of subjects to be fair, not ones that I'd commonly put together. But that should limit her. Is applying for uni this year the best idea? I know it's easy to just go with the flow, but it's not like that for everyone. Encourage her to get some work experience within the arts sector to make a decision. Does she have a passion, something she's interested in encourage her to explore that too. It also depends on which unis she's looking to go - we all know how important networks are in the UK.

Alaaya · 13/11/2018 12:41

My class at art school have gone on to be teachers, curators, conservators, art therapists, graphic designers, set and costume designers in the TV and film industry and others have just taken the degree and wound up in office jobs, much like people with history or geography degrees.

We've all turned out fine though.

qazxc · 13/11/2018 12:41

I work in an art centre and most people I work with be it artists / companies / directors etc... would have art degree.

Sarahrose21 · 13/11/2018 12:43

I was very average at STEM subjects LOVED art, went on to do art at college, fast forward 16 years i dropped out of college have travelled the world on sailing yachts, Ive had low level jobs, mid range jobs and have since gone back to study as a mature student and am now in a management accounting role with excellent opportunities for a well paid career. BUT since my first full time job at 17 til now I have spent a grand total of 3 weeks unemployed and I have had the most amazing experiences, Ive been poor and I've had a 35k a year salary but my parents were loving and supportive of what ever I wanted to do, so don't judge, let her do what she wants to do and support her, teach her to work hard in whichever direction she chooses and she'll be fine. If you force her into something she doesn't want to do she'll resent you forever

PutYourShirtOnMartin · 13/11/2018 12:43

My dad did well with an 'art degree'

He retired as a professor and is well loved and respected. He has encouraged and enthused many young artists who have themselves gone onto big things.

He had an art degree...😐

Amlen · 13/11/2018 12:44

Clarification - her choice of degree should not limit her. She just needs to explore the sector further and really think about what she would like to do. Don't push her into teaching or something other that used to present stability but no longer does. When she's in her 20s 30s wondering how she ended up in a career route she does not like, bitterness resentment starts to set in. If she pursues the arts and decides to use it for her own financial gain, just make sure she understands how money works.

Loopytiles · 13/11/2018 12:46

C at A level isn’t bad! STEM could well still be an option for her.

Those are good subjects for the computer games industry, especially if she adds coding to her skillset. Might be worth her investigating job options and entry requirements in the creative industries.

Birdsgottafly · 13/11/2018 12:47

My Cousin did an Art Degree, he is talented and has been featured in a BBC programme.

He's worked across Europe advising all sort of institutions.

He now works in Education advising on Art Curriculum and involved in all sorts of things.

I agree that she needs a bit of a plan, but when my Cousin became well known, opportunities opened up that he didn't know existed, especially outside of the U.K.

RatRolyPoly · 13/11/2018 12:51

I would say she needs to think in terms of career rather than in terms of course. Surely a B and a C are good enough for almost any career outcome; what courses are out of the picture? It sounds like things have changed quite a bit since my A-level days, because back then ABC was better than a lot of university-goers got on all sorts of courses!

FWIW I did maths, physics, further maths and art. Despite straight As I did an art degree. I didn't have a clue what career I saw for myself (except "being an artist"), but I wanted to go to uni to do the thing I thought I was best at. Massive mistake. I should have waited until I was going to uni to help me get the job I wanted, not just to study the thing I liked. It's too expensive an endeavour if it isn't going to pay you back, IMO.

I wish I'd waited and worked and studied art away from uni until I knew what the working world was like and what I'd enjoy doing in the long run, before going to university at all. I've spent so much on additional further education since then as well, once I realised what kind of job would actually suit me!

Craft1905 · 13/11/2018 12:52

This thread title is bonkers.

Brain surgeons and high court judges want to be able to go the theatre, the cinema, watch tv, go to art galleries etc. Who is going to provide all that if no one does an art degree?

I 40 years time when all the hospital consultants have moved abroad because the UK is a cultural desert, who is going to do your hip replacement?

RatRolyPoly · 13/11/2018 12:52

Oh, and French. Not that it matters, but I forgot an A-level in there.

heavenleighcasteel · 13/11/2018 12:55

My daughter passed her GCSES with 10 A*, and then picked a level maths, physics and chemistry....because many people commented that she could be anything and could have an academic degree/make money, so she gave up her art dream, to go and do what others wanted her to do. She barely scraped a pass.

Ended up with severe mental health issues due to being unhappy. Decided to say hell with the world and follow HER dream, now a Art and Design student with many distinctions under her belt and a true passion and love for what she does every day.

My advice, always remember this is their dream, you had your time.

wijjy · 13/11/2018 12:59

Well since, Oxford, Newcastle, Edinburgh, UCL, Southampton, Leeds, and Glasgow Universities all have Art degrees the Russell group doesn't agree with you.

spanishwife · 13/11/2018 13:09

If your daughter has a passion at that age, please allow her to follow it.

My mother had a similar view to yours so I ended up doing a more typically academic degree - guess what, I ended up unhappy and in a low paid job, frantically doing my hobby on the side. I spent a lot of time backtracking until I could finally end up doing something that I enjoyed and that was a passion and realised that it was 'ok' after years of being made to not feel good enough.