Hello,
I have a problem involving money, school and life experience. I'm curious to see if anyone has suggestions.
I am CANADIAN 21, going into my fourth year in Visual Arts, graduating with no debt (due to my gracious and hardworking mother) in April 2022 (if all goes well). I wanted to take a gap year afterwards but I also realized that I need/want to go to Animation school. The school is in my city, really close, so I'd be living at home and biking. But as of typing this I have very little savings, $1'150 in TFSA and $500 RRSP. I'm also frugal and environmental so I've gotten down to not spending money on crap
Here's where it gets tricky. The school is INTENSIVE, one program is 9-5, weekdays, for 10 months straight costing $25'950. As of right now, I want to take two courses back to back costing me $51'900. I haven't and will check, but I'm going off the assumption that I will not qualify for student loans due to my mother's income. So we've kinda discussed coming up with $10k-$20k, she comes up with the rest and I pay her back later. Not only that I have to apply 12-16 months in advance, so for example, if I were to apply and get in right now I would be starting October 2022. You can start at irregular times, like in November or March, it is very non-linear, unlike regular university. To further add to the dread, I have to have a portfolio. Now while my conceptual art skills are really good (in my humble opinion) the portfolio will require mainly drawing in relation to technical skills. As of now, with my skill and work ethic, It will most likely take me a year to reach the acceptable level of skill to enter the school. So let's pretend I started right now; I apply in August of 2023, I luckily get accepted, would get in 2024 and in two years somehow save almost $20'000.
Here's the second issue. After school, I'm kinda burnt out? I've never really left my comfort zone, or the city and I feel travelling shoestring would be a good convoluted way to get out of my shell, my parent's shell and try something for myself( My parents aren't controlling btw, they're super supportive and I think I need to fend for myself). I have an Irish passport which allows me to work anywhere in the EU, and I have tons of family spread around the UK and Ireland. And yes staying with extended family might qualify as a comfort zone, but it would allow me to not worry about counting every penny. I was planning on going in January 2023, saving up some money, probably $10'000 for a year, maybe two.
So travelling would require 5k-10k, for one maybe two years. School requires $10k-$20k one year for building up my portfolio, and then another year after I apply to start. AND THAT'S IF I GET IN ON THE FIRST TRY. If I travel for a year or two, it pushes me back further, graduating somewhere between 2026-2028, if I get in on my first application. If I got in after I finish University, I would graduate in 2026 hopefully.
So to sum up my dilemma, while I'm worried about saving up money, if I go to school first I feel that I would be too old to travel afterwards. But if I travelled beforehand I would be graduating school somewhere between 27-29 years of age AND I don't think I'd be able to save up enough money/build up my portfolio if I travelled beforehand.
I wanna find myself and see a bit of the world, but I want to get into this art world. If I travel the first I'd be finishing my education 27-29 years old, with little money, and everyone ahead of me. If I travel after around 26 years, I fear I'd be too old, and I feel it be counterintuitive travelling after graduating from a "prestigious" school with all the industry hookups.
TL;DR: 21 yr old, Saving money is hard, what shall I do first, Animation school is a long process to get in and complete vs Travelling in the EU with an Irish passport finding myself
(PS, some may say start saving now and working on the portfolio now, I'm gonna do that, but to make this post simple, I'm gonna act as if I start the second I graduate)
July 16, 2021 at 01:27AM
