Computer Science or Art

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

DD has to make the choice between these two, they can’t accommodate both this year as uptake in computer science is lower and only running one group.

Other GCSEs are english, maths, triple science, PRE, History and DT.

She really wants to do both but we can’t decide, hasn’t helped that options evening was after lockdown. There is a very big art community in Dorset so she can do different art courses at weekends and in holidays or is doing a GCSE out of school an option for that?

Any ideas or a different view point would be really helpful, she doesn’t really know what she wants to do. She does have HFA and find art therapeutic.

[MontysOarlock]

Another vote for compsci, she can do her art the way she wants, not being dictated by the GCSE syllabus.

[Thisisitisit]

Computer Science, any and every day of the week. I absolutely love art, and have many friends who have successful careers in the arts, so I don't see it as a dead end or pointless. But with an aptitude for maths by the sound of it, computer science will probably be more interesting, and more beneficial in the long run. Even if she decides to follow a career that is nothing to do with it, most jobs utilise technology in one way or another, it's positive to have something above just being able to right on your CV 'confident in the use of IT'. Heck, there is also a lot you can do for leisure with even a fairly basic knowledge of computer science, and its applications are only ever going to expand as time goes on. In honesty you don't 'learn' a lot in art, yes if you want to pursue it at uni it's useful to have, but you can learn and improve at home just as much, so in terms of not doing a subject just to get a qualification; she will probably find CS actually teaches a lot. Again, no hate for art teachers, are is really important in my opinion, it's a shame she can't do both.

[PlanDeRaccordement]

I also think she should do CS.
A very large industry is Computer generated graphics which requires both computer science skills and artistry. Any movie we watch, video game we play has artists who use computers to create the images and special effects.

[Thisisitisit]

Write*

[PerditaDreamsofFairHorses]

I think it also depends on what kind of art she likes to do. As someone mentioned, if you want to make it as big contemporary or modernist painter, then art school is probably still the best way. There is a real who-you-know/hierarchy system in the "top" tier of art, as a previous poster mentioned. However, if she wants to go to art school, she may not need to do GCSE if she can top up with summer schools and college courses to build a portfolio for a foundation degree.

I dropped art at GCSE and followed a more pragmatic subject choice, which eventually meant I got into a decent paying profession. Art was an escape during that time. Once I was in a paying job, I could afford materials, art courses etc. to pick the art up again. I now have a side business in commissions (mainly pets, so not part of the "art world" as such) and the "proper" job pays most of the bills. For me, it's really great to be able to pursue the art without the pressure of making it pay a lot. So much of the time you spend on it involves things other than making art - the successful full-time pet artists I know probably spend about 70 per cent of their time on marketing, teaching, advertising, search engine optimization, teaching etc. One of them had a previous career in marketing and business coaching and I think that has been a massive part in her success. I don't love the marketing side, so I am happy with the choices I made, but of course it's different for everyone.

[Soma]

Hi @fivegomadindorset, equally, there are tons of coding and computing at a very high level available online.
You can not under estimate the value of a great art teacher to bring out the best in your DD's creativity and skill. For every DC who has found art GCSE a chore and too much work, there are probably half a dozen who feel the opposite. Most people think GCSE is just drawing, but it is highly critical and analytical. There is a lot of work, but I can't think of any GCSE with a light load.

To do well in it, your DD would have to keep on top of her annotations and manage her time effectively. My DD1 loves it, and is interested in film making, animation etc, which would involve drawing skills, 2D and 3D computer based design.

[BubblesBuddy]

Why would she work in CS just by doing the GCSE? If she cannot choose between Art and CS then a career in either might not be what she wants. She might like a pure science, engineering and a while host of STEM based degrees. She really doesn’t need to choose a career just yet!

[BubblesBuddy]

So GCSE to grad again?! Why assume any of this? It’s a GCSE. One of 9 or 10. DC could be a medic or a vet or an architect where art is useful.

[lanthanum]

Yes, usefulness of CS GCSE to CS degree may not be at all relevant.

However, given
She is top set for maths and science, enjoys chemistry and physics
it sounds like she might well end up going in a science direction, and may well find herself using computers quite heavily in the future.

[BubblesBuddy]

Of you could argue that doing a wider portfolio and less eggs in the same basket is good for DC as technology is in the mix too. It’s lop sided for a balanced education and no MFL either. However I’ll get off my soap box now - but I think breadth rather than specialism is best for 13/16 year olds and bright DC should do an art and a MFL. Not, effectively, 6 STEM subjects.

[PastMyBestBeforeDate]

My dd's school won't let them do Art and DT because of the work they do after school hours. That might be a consideration.

[maddy68]

Computer science is really hard with a low pass rate. She would need to a) really enjoy coding b) be prepared for lots of dull elements (I teach it!). If she really enjoys coding she will enjoy it. What does she want to do?

[Hannah021]

I'm a computer scientist, with phd and msc in computer security. Highly paid senior consultant, absolutely love my job, wouldnt change it for anything.