At a crossroads!

Chile Chef

Right now I'm currently facing a fork in the road and I don't know what to do? I've asked my mom, but she wasn't no help, What do I do?


Ok, My teacher said I'm a professional photog in our emails, and we're building our transfer portfolio this coming week, I've finally just got to the point where I can develop photo's on my own, make prints on my own, and I'm finally learning about aperture, Fstops, and I composition. Which is all good.


But here is my crossroads, I don't have a vehicle as of yet and I've been riding my bike all over town which is fine for now, But my class, photography skills is making it hard for me stay in one place , Since my artistic eye is finally open to produce very awesome photograph's like some of the best dgrinners here, but with my film slr. I want to transfer to my dream college which my teacher said the portfolio will allow me to do.


But I'm finding it harder and harder to ride my bile with the camera gear on board, "not just the physical ride" but the weight and possible car pooling with friends and so on"

So I've found a car that will put me into dept but I can pay it off in 3 years, However I will not be able to transfers for 3 years and I will scrape every penny I get, Which I'm learning to do now.


Ok what does everything think?




Foot Note, I'm sorry for the ramblings but I'm sure some of you had simlar crossroads before and it would be helpful to me with your words of wisdom.

sweet caroline

So are you trying to decide between buying a car (to make photography easier to pursue) or transferring to your dream college? Education needs to be your priority. Where are you trying to transfer? There may be many photographic opportunities within walking distance of your new college, making a car unnecessary. The town of the college may have a good bus system you can use to get to locations.

Seriously, if you can get into your dream college, you should make that top priority.

Caroline

Chile Chef

sweet caroline wrote:

So are you trying to decide between buying a car (to make photography easier to pursue) or transferring to your dream college? Education needs to be your priority. Where are you trying to transfer? There may be many photographic opportunities within walking distance of your new college, making a car unnecessary. The town of the college may have a good bus system you can use to get to locations.

Seriously, if you can get into your dream college, you should make that top priority.

Caroline

Hello Caroline,

Your right education is the most important thing that anyone should choose as a high priority.

The college I want to transfer to is in Saint Augustine Florida, and I wouldn't need a bike even for photo ops, because they're in walking distance and they have tourist buses, trains you can ride, I would have to stay on campus for a year as a freshmen.


The college is Flager college and I would have to suffer 1 more winter here in Michigan until I can transfer, I need to take photography II, I'm all set to take photography II & inductory to Spanish in august.

Seefutlung

Always ... always make short term decisions based upon how the short term effects and affects the long term. And yes education over material objects.

Here's the important part. There are a ton of scholarships and grants out there just for the taking. Find them ... start with the financial aid department of the college of your dreams and see what they can do for you. Contact the admissions office and just introduce yourself and ask if they have a recruiter/alumn in your neck of the woods for you to speak with and get more info on the college

The more positive contacts you have with the college the better chance you have of getting in.

Never give up on your dreams.

Gary

sweet caroline

Yes, now is a great time to start making a list of scholarships, requirements, and application DEADLINES.

Chile Chef

Seefutlung wrote:

Always ... always make short term decisions based upon how the short term effects and affects the long term. And yes education over material objects.

Here's the important part. There are a ton of scholarships and grants out there just for the taking. Find them ... start with the financial aid department of the college of your dreams and see what they can do for you. Contact the admissions office and just introduce yourself and ask if they have a recruiter/alumn in your neck of the woods for you to speak with and get more info on the college

The more positive contacts you have with the college the better chance you have of getting in.

Never give up on your dreams.

Gary

Hi Gary, I have a question about scholarships?

Don't you have to be gifted to get a scholarship? That's what I've thought over the years.

moose135

Chile Chef wrote:

Don't you have to be gifted to get a scholarship? That's what I've thought over the years.

Not necessarily - for an "academic" scholarship, most likely yes. But there are many groups and organizations that offer scholarship money, in various amounts. It could be based on something like national heritage (say an Italian-American group), a local civic organization, or perhaps something offered to children of parents in a union, or an employer or professional organization. You have quite an advantage - a hundred years ago, when I went to college, I didn't have the power of the internet to look for these kind of opportunities!

sweet caroline

There are also many scholarships based on what you intend to study, and MANY need based scholarships based on your financial situation.

Chile Chef

moose135 wrote:

Not necessarily - for an "academic" scholarship, most likely yes. But there are many groups and organizations that offer scholarship money, in various amounts. It could be based on something like national heritage (say an Italian-American group), a local civic organization, or perhaps something offered to children of parents in a union, or an employer or professional organization. You have quite an advantage - a hundred years ago, when I went to college, I didn't have the power of the internet to look for these kind of opportunities!

Very cool, Moose!

So you got a scholarship and you didn't need a talent? Or did you have one already?

I want to stay on campus and I'm sure it's going to cost about $25 grand, I know that the college I am going to now if I stayed on campus and bought all the supplies and what not I would've paid $17 Grand, That's 2 loans, a pell grant, supplies, computer, dorm room, meals for a year.



I was offered a substadizing loan, and a non sub loan, and my pell grant that paid for about 2 grand of my college edu,

Chile Chef

sweet caroline wrote:

There are also many scholarships based on what you intend to study, and MANY need based scholarships based on your financial situation.

I will be studying animal photography "and follow in the foot steps of Eadward muybridge" and photograph animals in zoo's, wild, homes, what ever I want to do, but manly animals.

sweet caroline

Have you posted any of your work here lately?

Chile Chef

sweet caroline wrote:

Have you posted any of your work here lately?

Can't it's all photo's I mean it's on negitives yet, and 2 5x7 sheets.

But I can post a few of my digital photographs.

Chile Chef

Here's some of my digital photograph's after I've started the class.


The State Hospital "Woman's ward"


Wood Barrels


Wood Barrels "shallow dof"


Ducks, Great Dof.


Red Flowers, Shallow Dof.

Chile Chef

I've found this one for the campus housing, But I will need more then one loan and a pell grant to stay at Flager college, That's the same collage Ray Charles attended.


http://www.collegescholarships.org/grants/housing.htm

Art Scott

get registered at this site: FASTWEB .... It was free when I used it many years ago..so probably still is...great place to look for financial aid............

Also Scholarships, especially in the Fine Arts, can be handed out for great grades also....now if you're a music student then you have to audition for a scholoarship and so I am sure if you apply and are studying Photography....you will have to hand in a portfolio......

I took some time and looked at Falgger's website......where did you find a photo course? I scoured thru all the majors and minors and Fine Arts and School of Graphics and Design........if it were me I would look into one of the Speciality Colleges such as Brooks, The Art Insitutes, the Academy of Art (SanFrancisco...OOOOh beautiful school as well as city).....Look for one that offers at least a Master Degree.......

Don't get me wrong, I love St. Agustine, she is a beautiful city with all kinds of photo ops....from the Fort to the slums.......but this is your career a carreer in Photography and I would rather place my future in a specialized school than that of just any Fine Art School......

one way to look at it is like this.....the school you are currently in is having you take courses not remotely related to photography...but why do they do that....it is simple economics.....it pouts money in their pockets...but does it help you on your quest for usable knowledge for you career??? no it does not. Most european universities that I have know students from have you take entrance exams for you desired field and if you score high enuff for entrances you spend 4-6 yrs working on your bachelors degree......but you are taking classes dealing with your degree not more history, english (or whatever language the country speaks)...see where I am going......Go to a speciality University and get the training to do what you want to do and most of top colleges also have business courses offered also.............

Good Luck..........

ChatKat

Counselor
Have you talked to the counslors/advisors at your school? They usually are on top of this stuff.

Chile Chef

ChatKat wrote:

Have you talked to the counslors/advisors at your school? They usually are on top of this stuff.

Not yet, Kat, I'm not sure if they could point me in the right direction so my fees windle down?

If I want my $25 grand of fee's to go down and go down to $1,000 that would be fine and I'm ready to do lot's of hard work.

Chile Chef

Hello Art, Look what I've found when I researched grants & scholarships through the website you gave me!

http://motion.kodak.com/US/en/motion/Education/Discounts_And_Scholarships/index.htm


I wonder if I can get accepted

Chile Chef

Ok ladies & gentlemen, Does this site look legit to you?

http://www.collegescholarships.org/collegegate/writing.htm