and got a degree in the wrong thing? I earned a degree in Business Adm., but my passion is designing stationary and putting together invitations, programs for special events, etc. Ever since I was in high school I loved to do projects because my creative juices would just flow all over the place with computer graphics and color pictures. My projects would always be more outstanding than others too because of it. In college when I took a Webpage class, I really enjoyed doing it. Somehow while i'm bored at work, I think about maybe going back to school to study Graphic Design. While i love to put together different small things for family members and all, I really don't know the basics of the "real deal" for it all. I don't have experience in the special programs like Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Indesign or Javascript. I want to learn how to create Logo's, Stationary Design, Web Design, create ads, brochures, etc. professionally.

The only thing is, I don't even know where to start. I don't want to go back for another 4 years of school and if i do I would have to put together a portfolio which I don't even know how to do!! I was thinking about looking into a technical school focusing or specializing in graphic design as a start. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

Totally, thats why I did my post grad in something I actually enjoyed.

perhaps you should look into doing post graduate study in art/design.

Dont worry about a huge portfolio of work, take in what you have. I had only a couple of pieces of work on C.D. If they like it they will take you. People do go in with huge portfolios but they are looking for quality not quantity.


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[Edited 9/14/05 18:03pm]

LleeLlee said:

i thought since i had a degree in business, i couldn't go in post-grad for something totally different...so you are saying that this is possible?

missfee said:

I'm not sure about the States but it is here (in the U.K) for the subject you want to do. There were some people on my course with degrees in other things, obviously some had art degrees, but it should be okay. You should look into it. Good luck! You will need to show them some work at the interview.

I'd like a change in careers, too, since my teaching degree didn't get me anywhere around this neck of the woods. If I could do it all over again, I'd go for a CS degree. It's kinda hard to take classes and such when you have three kids, a wife, and a full time job, though.

TMPletz said:

I've been considering getting an education degree for TESOL, but although it'd be very practically useful here in Thailand I'm not sure whether it'd hold my interest. I may well go in the complete opposite direction and study philosophy.

yes.

I have a masters degree in a career field I have no love affair with.

AsianBomb777 said:

I didn't know you had a masters. I don't even have an undergrad degree. It's all that's really on my mind right now though. I'm poor but can get by and pretty contented. I'm just going to study and stay where I am for a while until I'm done. I figure it's cheap for me to live here while studying.

I've been toying with either philosophy or economics.

Fauxie said:

economics

Unless you want to get a masters in philosphy or a doctorate, why bother? The only only thing you can do with it is teach or write.

as for economics.

I'm not poking fun at your choices though--I hate the ones I made, and don't really see much value in higher education in the job market anymore other than it "makes you a well rounded person"

And, yes--I have a masters. One can get a masters in America without knowing how to spell you know.

Hell yeah My gosh. Well...when when I finished highschool, i studied Proffesional Writing and Editing. Which was great- it was absolutely my forte- the trouble was i felt dat i needed somethin dat got me off my ass. At dat point in time i felt as though i should wait until im older 2 tackle writing projectz- because I am just way too "fidgety" for need of a better term, when it comez 2 working habitz.When i was in year 10 in highschool my English/Literature teacher told me i should consider a career path in radio because he liked the way I spoke. Which was encouraging and a turning point for me- because up until then, i had been mocked and teased because i sounded different 2 everyone else. Anywayz, I decided 2 go for a short Announcing course at a youth radio station. The first time i walked in2 da studio it felt like home!! I felt like 'yes this is me'. So anywayz i got asked 2 do a bit of newsreading there etc. In my second year of part time study at my writing course, i had decided 2 apply for a certificat in Commercial Radio- which is by far over here da best course you could get in2 because it'z well regarded in the industry. Thing is i had not much experience up my sleevez. But the interview went well and i did an okay demo tape- at that stage i was probably better at newsreading and i had 2 work on my show-hosting capabilities (i feel so ready for it now though ) ...at first i actually didn't get in. I was dissapointed, but i thought, they only had a 12 student intake per year, so at least i gave it a go. But THEN i got a call. One person opted out, and they asked me if i wanted 2 accept. They said i did very well, the only reason why they didn't chose me first was because of my lack of experience. I was soooo excited- but at the time i realised it meant i'd have 2 leave home and travel to the country and at the time i was not ready- ofcourse now its a very different story! Anywayz so i reluctantly turned down the offer- plus i hadn't yet finished my writing course. But then a few yearz later, I finish and then start lookin for somethin else 2 study. So I ended up getting in at the uni i am at now- the same uni that actually offerz the Commercial Radio course. It's a Multimedia and Media Studies degree. I can wholeheartedly honestly say dat i've sucked most of da way through ...but the honest truth was dat i wanted 2 just learn something different. Now dat i'm over dat 'let'z expand my skillz and do somethin different' i wanna go back 2 what i do best!! So in conclusion to what im doing now- many a timez i have wished i could turn back time and change a few thingz along the way. But at the same time i have come this far!! So ...even when you think you haven't made the absolute mose fantastic choice for yourself in the past- it is a fantastic thing when you come 2 a realisation about what you really truly wanna be doing and then go ahead and aim 2 do it!! See now im just gonna travel and study!! I am totally buzzing 2 graduate!! And itz like I have a greater sense of direction!!

So never ever ever feel bad about any decision you make- itz a stepping stone in learning in life

AsianBomb777 said:

The good thing about philosophy would be the enjoyment factor. I still figure a degree in anything is better than no degree. Besides, if I absolutely had to end up teaching in Thailand a while longer a degree would allow me to make a good 30% more money. Still peanuts though ultimately, but hey, that's something right?

A masters in philosophy would be a definite possibility. Economics would be more difficult for me, but something about it interests me. Still, it's early days yet and I'm still looking. I've given myself about another month to consider my options more before making a decision and consulting my parents about it.

Sometimes I wonder whether you can't spell or whether you just get really excited when you post on the org. I can picture you getting all excited.

Fauxie said:

PHILOSOPHY!! I ADORE philosophy!! I am currently doing a philosophy subject. It is an absolute pleasure 2 take part in I could get lost in it for hourz and hourz...

missfee said:

If you're real inspired you can teach yourself those programs. I taught myself Photoshop with no trouble because I knew what I wanted to do with it and had prior computer experience. What I suggest is call graduate schools and ask about their program and then ask to speak to some of the graduate students going there. This is before you apply. Say that you are checking out their program. When you speak to the students, you can get an idea of what they did to get in, what their background was etc.

Most art schools have annual or bi-annual exhibits of their work. You should find out when they are and go look at what they do. Then take a web design class or a graphic design class at a community college, enough to come out with some solid pieces for your portfolio and a recommendation from the professor.

You may even meet with the Chair of the graphic design department of the school you want to get into or the admissions coordinator to discuss your concerns about having a business degree and what you could do to get accepted into their program. They'll give you some clear guidelines, but entrance to art school almost entirely depends on the quality of your work. Not that it has to be highly professional or anything, but it has to show potential.

I did my BA in literature ONLY for the creative writing concentration, which was highly competitive and well worth my time. While I enjoyed and appreciated my years in university, I always knew that literature was not for me. I was good at it but it didn't do anything for me. So I did a film minor on the side to compensate.

I'm a recent grad, but I've always known that literature did not excite me. Well, not as much as other things. That fact became painfully clear when I was in London. I could not have cared less about my course.

Now I'm wondering if my time and money would have been better spent at a fashion insitute. But even that might be fleeting.

Well im halfway through my undergrad degree so i bloody well hope not!!

But I do know a guy who has a degree in Civil Engineering and was a manager of a record store, and is now a driving instructor!! So he didnt enjoy it!

nope ... i use my degrees on a daily/hourly basis

After high school I had had no idea of what I would like to do. I was quite good at learning languages so a teacher advised to study this.

So I started literature and linguistics (English and Dutch) at university and did this for 2 years. I got my 'kandidaats'degree (after 4 years you get a 'licentiaats' degree). It was fun and interesting to study languages that intense but I felt something was missing. I wanted more relevance and more contact with the real world, if you know what I mean. If you want to become a teacher it's great to do this study, but that wasn't what I wanted to do.
I was a bit fed up with university too and all the theory and switched too psychology, but not on university level. It's less theoretical and now I have my bachelordegree in applied psychology. Looking for a job now.

I still don't know if I made the right choice though.

Actually, your degree in business may not be such a bad thing. In fact, if you go back and get additional training in graphic design/web design, it would probabbly compliment it nicely.

When you offer to do freelance web design, you'll often get approached by people trying to start up their own small business. They have some idea they're all excited about, and they're in a hurry to get a web site up and business cards printed, but they don't know anything about running a business.

Graduate programs are only a couple years. But if you don't want to go back to a college/university, maybe check out seminars in your area. Companies like Fred Pryor Seminars do alot of 2-3 day presentations on various applications. I went to a presentation in NY for Filemaker 7 a couple months ago (The Support Group), and I learned more in those 3 days, than in the months I spent putzing around with a book trying to learn it myself.

Tom said:

hmm interesting. A lot of what you said makes sense. I'll do some research on where to go to obtain more information about classes or seminars and see what i can come up with. I would like to pursue all of this while i'm young and single, because i know that once i get married and start a family my time will be limited.

Mach said:

Come to think of it, so do I. I don't always get paid for it, but I definitely draw on what I learned every day and develop it further. It's an active part of my life. I'm saved by the fact that I pursued my passion, so it still feeds me.
[Edited 9/16/05 15:26pm]

Luckily I realized my path was wrong by Junior year of college. Switched majors @ the last minute & still graduated on time. I'm happy in my field but I'm still not in the position I wanna be in. Hopefully I'll get there...

I didnt so much get a degree in the WRONG thing...but I chose teh wrong profession to try and get into.

I was brought up in deepest darkest rural Gloucestershire and so have always been interested in nature/wildlife etc...so I decided thats what I would aim to do and went off to uni to get an Environmental Biology degree.

Got that and tehn went in search of jobs....no where (and I mean nowhere) would even consider employing me or anybody else I knew unless we did at least 3 years voluntary work for thier organisation...then you could be CONSIDERED (Not guaranteed).

I suppose many people (especially non-brits) are probbaly thinking that if you want the job that badly then I should do it....but Uni is a little different over here and it always surprises my American friends.

You see, over here we have to pay £1500 each year in tuition fees (whats that $3000?) and THEN buy books, acommodation, food etc. There is no financial support from the government so you have to take out a student loan - I left,after a 3 year degree course, with £12000 debt (but that is LOW compared to most peopel I know)....teh interest mounts up each month.

So you see it is impossible to even consider the career I want because I simply can not afford it...I now work in a hospital on a much better paid job than I wanted to go into....but its sad when money rules over dreams
[Edited 9/17/05 3:11am]