Studying (fine) Art?

Just to clarify (cause I've heard answers going both way...) - would a university accept someone to study Art based on a good (as in above average) portfolio in spite of not taking it in high school? I was pressured to take Chemistry instead of Art by my parents when I was choosing subjects, but I've amassed what I suppose you could call a portfolio purely through tons of self-study and I've got 2 years of high school left so I can crash Art if I really have to (though I'd rather not because the art teachers in my school are dire...). Thanks.

Studying (fine) Art?
It seems to me that schools don't care if you took art when you were in high school as long as you have a good portfolio. You should be fine.





I'm an art major (graphic design) and in high school the only art classes that I ever had were in ceramics. I spent my freshman year of college making stuff for my portfolio and I was lucky enough to be accepted as an art major by my sophomore year. So even with limited art classes or no art classes in high school it is possible to become an art major.





BTW: If for some reason your portfolio ever got rejected by a college, just apply to another school--sometimes some colleges can be really weird. I knew someone who went to an art school and they told her that her portfolio was horrible, but she then took the same portfolio to another college and they loved it--go figure.
Reply:Many of the students I have known since the 1960s have made successful careers after entering Art colleges with no formal training other than their own proof of hard work shown through their portfolio.In an area which values hard work,imagination and creativity a prospective student with an individualistic approach and proven ability is a refreshing creature.
Reply:It is possible for you to get into art school with a portfolio but no high school art classes, if your portfolio is quite strong. There are, however, some art schools that are going to want you to have had actual art classes in the past.





If you have two years left, do take a couple of art classes, to show that you have an academic interest in the subject. If, however, your school's art teachers really are dire, and you'd rather avoid the classes there, then if you can afford it, take some art classes outside of your school, either after school or else in the summer. If you have a real art school/art college nearish to you, or are willing to go away to, say, Parsons or NYU or Mass Art or SMFA for the summer, look into what they offer over this summer. Often, they have classes specifically for high school students, and the level of teaching tends to be quite strong.





I don't think you need to crash art during your final two years, but I would like you to add a couple of art classes either to your high school transcript or done outside school, to show that you have an interest in the field.





However, as I said, if taking such classes really isn't possible, if your portfolio is strong enough, you can get into art schools or into university programs in art. It's just that taking the classes shows you have an academic interest and capacity for the subject, and may also expose you to new approaches you've not considered. In addition, there are certain art schools that will want you to have had high school art classes in order to be accepted to their school, so...





In other words, if you have a particular art school that you're interested in, it'd be a really good idea for you to contact their admissions department directly and ask them.
Reply:you have two years of school left so fine art at college then uni do you mean???


if you did mean college first then on to uni then..





You dont need to take art at school to do that. I didn't take it and i studied fine art.





All you need is a certain number of GCSE's in any subject and you'll be fine.





You learn everything you need to know on the course, i didnt even have a portfolio to get in, they didn;t have time at my interiew to look at it!