If you’ve decided that you want to enter the professional art world as a career, congratulations — you’ve chosen one of the most exciting, thriving and truly rewarding career fields out there! Currently, there are approximately 2.1 million professional artists in the U.S. who exercise their creativity for a living, and this number is growing all the time.
However, the next decision you have to make is a little more difficult — which arts colleges you should consider applying to. There are hundreds of art and design colleges across the country, but only one will be the perfect fit for you and your educational goals.
Before you make a list of art colleges you want to apply to, here are the four most important things that the best fine art colleges should offer:
1. Diversity of programs: There are a wide variety of different sectors within the art industry. Combine this with the fact that some 75% of college freshmen will change their majors, and it’s clear that the ideal fine art colleges should offer majors in a number of different subjects. From 3D computer animation to video game design, you should be able to explore every interest you have at art school.
2. World-class faculty: Your professors are responsible for helping you hone your creativity and for teaching the curriculum in a manner that you can absorb. Before applying to any fine art colleges, you should research the school’s faculty and look at their educational, as well as professional, qualifications.
3. Top-notch technology: Increasingly, workers in the art industry relies on technology to create works of art. To prepare yourself for a career in this field, it’s essential to attend fine art colleges that let students work with the latest software and technology that professionals in the industry use themselves.
4. Services for internships and job placement: You’re going to college to get a job someday — which is why your ideal art college will offer a comprehensive career services center that can help you get an internship while you’re still in school, or a job once you’ve graduated.
