Beginning Plan B

This week I began the process of going back to school. I feel the first time I applied for colleges I did it blindly. I have similar limitations such as location, but maybe not as financially bound. Last time I didn’t even try for the more difficult schools. Mainly because by the time I was looking it was too late to try for the grades, activities, and test scores needed to even be considered for the major I was trying for. Most engineering and science majors I knew trying for Stanford, Berkeley, and Cal Tech had outstanding SAT scores, taken all the AP classes and passed the tests with flying colors, and were already into college courses. Or had entered at least one science/tech high school state/national competition, and been a runner up at least. The highest I thought I could reach was a UC school. Now that I know I have a few years before I start applying I’m starting my research now.

This summer I’ve signed up for an Adult summer class at the San Francisco Art Institute. Years ago when I started taking art classes through community colleges I began researching art schools offering further degrees, SFAI caught my eye. I will be taking a six course watercolor class. Watercolor has been one of the most frustrating mediums for me. There are a lot of things I’ve tried to work with and failed, but most of them I can let go. I love the look of watercolor, and I know I’m just not looking at it correctly. It either bleeds all over, or I put it on too thick and it cracks. I thought this would be a good way to see the school first hand so see if its right for me, and get a good watercolor course out of it.

The other school I’m peeking into is the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco. In fact they have an entire major on Fashion Knitwear that looked interesting. I’ve signed up to attend their open house in May.

I figure if I walk into these places, and feel completely out of place, I’ll need to start looking elsewhere. However if I even begin to like the feel of the place I need to start figuring out what it takes to get in because unlike the last time, my time is no longer my own. My family will always take up the majority of my time, but also unlike last time I’ll be more focused. I was just exploring becoming an adult, and living on my own my first time through college. I’ve done that now (well I’m still working on the adult part), and so I’ll be more focused when I’m in class. So hopefully that means I’ll be better balanced.