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There are many career paths that require specialized training in a “craft” or skill set. For instance, dentists must master the craft of dentistry which can involve everything from cleaning teeth and gums to performing delicate oral surgery procedures. Just as they require lengthy periods of education and training, so too do many visual or performing artists.

Currently there are over five hundred programs of specialized study available to students in the United States and Canada. Colleges, schools and universities exist in every state and many schools offer numerous opportunities under one roof. For example, the Art Institute of California has an extensive number of programs intended to provide professional training in everything from culinary arts to graphic, interior or video game design.

A student beginning a college search for a visual or performing arts school should work with their high school guidance counselor to review all of their options for a formal education. There are two and four year programs for almost any imaginable field of artistic or creative study, some even extend into graduate work, and it is important for the student to have a basic set of goals for themselves in order to choose the correct school.

For example, simply wanting to be a sculptor will not help a student choose the correct art school. Hoping to be a sculptor who works on large public installations or commissions is a much more focused indicator of which schools to look at.

Also it is a good idea for a student to look at the educational histories of their own favorite artists or professionals to understand how they worked their way to a place of successful prominence. Some artists are self-taught, but most have some educational background, and this is a good starting point for students beginning a college search.

Once a few schools have been selected a student must realize that they will need some sort of portfolio to demonstrate their interest and experience in their chosen course of study. A student looking to enter a culinary program should have a resume or history of restaurant, catering or food service work. A student looking to enter into a dance program must have previous training, choreography or some other relevant history in dancing.

For those looking into a formal arts degree a good measure of creativity can really pay off. Video essays, unique projects and unusual approaches to the admission process are usually well-received at art schools, but this never means that a standard application, essay and interview are not equally successful.

A student performing a college search for a visual or performing arts school will still need to do all of the relevant analysis of each school to be sure it meets their needs and that they have a good chance at gaining admission. It is important to consider the location, costs, degree programs, and selectivity of a school prior to seeking admission. This is to save wasted time or money applying to a school that is dissatisfactory or that has requirements too high for a student to meet.