7 Tips for Getting an Art Degree

If you're in art school, you might be so focused on your day-to-day work that it's difficult to look at the big picture. Rest assured, you're not alone. Going to art school is an intense, all-consuming process. Maintaining a wide perspective is challenging. Wondering about practical ways to make the most of your overall experience? Read on for several common sense tips. 

1. Communicate Proactively

Whether it's dealing with student loans or bringing up concerns with a professor, always communicate proactively. You'll head off major issues and command respect. Did you delete your financial assistance email by mistake? Don't procrastinate; send a quick message to your loan officer. Unsure of your standing in a class? Using your professor's preferred communication platform, do a brief check-in. If you need to request a confidential conversation about issues that might impact your performance, make an appointment. Be an initiator, not a reactor. 

2. Observe Others

Learn by looking at others' work. It's a great way to expand creatively and expose yourself to a vast range of artistic approaches. If you haven't chosen a major yet, evaluate student work coming out of the departments you're considering. The title of a department is one thing; the actual work of students and staff in the department can be quite another. Be sure your preferences are aligned. 

3. Choose Courses Carefully

There's a tendency for students to choose their electives based on the subject they're interested in, assuming that they'll have a positive class experience. Usually, reality doesn't line up with that thinking. Instead, choose based on the instructor rather than the subject title. If there's a professor who's outside your wheelhouse yet has a stellar reputation, consider signing up for a class they teach. 

4. Pace Yourself

Yes, you might be able to pull a few all-nighters when you've got that artistic inspiration. It's sort of a rite of passage; sometimes, it even becomes a competition among students. Hang around a group of art students long enough, and you'll catch an earful. While an intense work streak before a deadline is common, you shouldn't do it to the point where you get depleted. Don't discount the creative rejuvenation that takes place while you sleep. Also, if you pace yourself, you'll be able to wake up and view your progress with fresh eyes. 

5. Collaborate With Others

While you're in art school, you have a rare opportunity: being surrounded by like-minded people. Even though alone time is a prerequisite for good self-care and generation of ideas, beware of isolating yourself. If you go for too long without human contact, you'll lose perspective and optimism. That's why open studios are so popular; take advantage of them. Make plans with your classmates to do your work alongside each other. You'll offer and receive support and feedback. 

6. Be Open To Feedback

Being open to constructive feedback (commonly known as criticism) is one of the main things that will help speed your progress along. Don't take feedback too personally; try to be objective about your work. Take every opinion seriously, and consider where it's coming from. This will help you apply criticism constructively. Conversely, develop a way to give feedback to others that's supportive and specific. It's a practice that'll serve you well throughout your art career. 

7. Think Long-Term

An art school is more than a building. It's a gathering of talented people. A healthy community of students, staff, and faculty makes the difference between a so-so and memorable, life-giving experience. Building strong, authentic relationships will serve you well not only now, but also as your life and career progress. Get to know the teaching assistants, admin staff, and former professors as well as your fellow students. Being sincerely interested in them and their lives will help you feel more connected to your school and serve as a bridge to the future. 

Getting an art degree involves collaboration and opportunity. Consider these suggestions as you map out your career.