Big things.
I have a lot of big things to think about over the next two years. Most immediate, I have to pick a minor. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I wanted to get into some sort of computer science, but that minor will keep me in school an extra year (at least). So we'll see what my adviser suggests.
I've been looking at grad schools. And I'm trying to figure out whether I'd want to apply for a school in the states and study abroad, or apply to a school in another country, or if I want to go to grad school at all. As much as I already know about advertising and whatnot from my previous classes and my job, it's still just a B.A. I'd stand out more if I had a graduate degree in something... if I could get one in something as specific as web design, or maybe just a broad subject such as marketing/advertising... I think I'd have an upper hand. Money's the major issue. I haven't taken out any loans for school. My parents pay for it, and I am extremely lucky... they 're in debt, rather than putting me in debt. However, I would be paying for grad school, so that's the deciding factor I guess. We'll see, I have time to figure it out. In my future career, having a strong portfolio is often the most important thing. But if I ever want to get into higher ranking positions, I think I'll need more general knowledge. (If I ever become the head art director of a design studio, por ejemplo).
I really want to live in another country for a few months, that's one thing I know for sure.
And now, some more ranting to clear my head:
After this semester, I will have 84 credits.
Over the summer, I will be taking a writing course and a math course. 6 more credits = 90 total.
Next fall, I will presumably be in the Graphic Design concentration. Therefore, I will be able to take Typography II and Graphic Design I. I will also take my diversity general ed requirement. The other two classes will be towards my minor. 15 more credits = 105 credits total.
Spring 2009 I will take Graphic Design II to complete my major requirements. I will hopefully get in four more classes towards my minor. This will equal 15 more credits to give me a total of 120 credits... the requirement for graduation.
However, this is risky. One unavailable class and I'm fucked. I'm especially fucked, since I'm pretty sure GDII is only available in the fall and GDI in the spring. This is why I'm contacting people and pretty much begging them to accept the design class I took at Kean as my first GD class credit. It basically is the same friggen thing... I don't know why they accepted Typo I and not Computers in Graphic Design I. We'll see... I have all the course work and syllabus saved, so if I need to have it debated, I can.
To end on a positive note... I've been working on a website for myself. And in doing so, I've realized I love what I'm doing. I've had some doubts about my chosen profession. But now I'm sure I'm in the right place. And a big factor is its versatility. Every single thing we see is a designed product. Every website, every magazine, every book cover, every billboard. Someone somewhere put thought into it. There are designers at every corner of the world. And since graphic design is directly linked to computers, it makes the job even more versatile. So if I get tired of whatever I'm doing, I can go design something somewhere else. It'll only add to my experience, which is good, because I hate doing one thing for a long period of time.
I'm going to go read Spook by Mary Roach (same author as Stiff) and sleep. Night, journalees.
I've been looking at grad schools. And I'm trying to figure out whether I'd want to apply for a school in the states and study abroad, or apply to a school in another country, or if I want to go to grad school at all. As much as I already know about advertising and whatnot from my previous classes and my job, it's still just a B.A. I'd stand out more if I had a graduate degree in something... if I could get one in something as specific as web design, or maybe just a broad subject such as marketing/advertising... I think I'd have an upper hand. Money's the major issue. I haven't taken out any loans for school. My parents pay for it, and I am extremely lucky... they 're in debt, rather than putting me in debt. However, I would be paying for grad school, so that's the deciding factor I guess. We'll see, I have time to figure it out. In my future career, having a strong portfolio is often the most important thing. But if I ever want to get into higher ranking positions, I think I'll need more general knowledge. (If I ever become the head art director of a design studio, por ejemplo).
I really want to live in another country for a few months, that's one thing I know for sure.
And now, some more ranting to clear my head:
After this semester, I will have 84 credits.
Over the summer, I will be taking a writing course and a math course. 6 more credits = 90 total.
Next fall, I will presumably be in the Graphic Design concentration. Therefore, I will be able to take Typography II and Graphic Design I. I will also take my diversity general ed requirement. The other two classes will be towards my minor. 15 more credits = 105 credits total.
Spring 2009 I will take Graphic Design II to complete my major requirements. I will hopefully get in four more classes towards my minor. This will equal 15 more credits to give me a total of 120 credits... the requirement for graduation.
However, this is risky. One unavailable class and I'm fucked. I'm especially fucked, since I'm pretty sure GDII is only available in the fall and GDI in the spring. This is why I'm contacting people and pretty much begging them to accept the design class I took at Kean as my first GD class credit. It basically is the same friggen thing... I don't know why they accepted Typo I and not Computers in Graphic Design I. We'll see... I have all the course work and syllabus saved, so if I need to have it debated, I can.
To end on a positive note... I've been working on a website for myself. And in doing so, I've realized I love what I'm doing. I've had some doubts about my chosen profession. But now I'm sure I'm in the right place. And a big factor is its versatility. Every single thing we see is a designed product. Every website, every magazine, every book cover, every billboard. Someone somewhere put thought into it. There are designers at every corner of the world. And since graphic design is directly linked to computers, it makes the job even more versatile. So if I get tired of whatever I'm doing, I can go design something somewhere else. It'll only add to my experience, which is good, because I hate doing one thing for a long period of time.
I'm going to go read Spook by Mary Roach (same author as Stiff) and sleep. Night, journalees.