Yearlong Audition: Brooke Marsh considers new major

Samantha Foster
Spectrum Editor

Before Brooke Marsh came to VCU, she knew she wanted to major in what she loved. In August, she decided that would be photography. Now, a few months out from having to choose her VCUarts major, Marsh has decided even though she still loves photography, she’d rather pursue a major she isn’t as familiar with.

Marsh has considered communication arts, but doesn’t think her drawing skills are strong enough. Instead, she’s been thinking about pursuing graphic design.

“I like a challenge and I like having to push myself to achieve good grades,” Marsh said.

At her high school, Marsh did not have the opportunity to take AP level art classes or film photography classes, but still took pictures in her spare time.  When Marsh applied to VCU, she used her photography, still-life drawings and watercolor paintings in her portfolio.

When students are in their second semester of the AFO program, they are asked to organize a portfolio of the work they have created over the academic year in their four studio classes: Space Research, Drawing Studio, Time Studio and Surface Research.

The portfolio is then submitted for review to the student’s top three choices of major.

Although Marsh is not yet sure which major will be her top choice, she is leaning toward graphic design. Her other two choices will be communication arts and photography and film.

This semester, Marsh is taking Drawing Studio, which is similar to the communication arts major and which will be the most useful if she chooses the graphic design route. Her class has been working on contour line drawing of still-lifes for the past few weeks. Later in the semester, her class will work on figure drawing with live models and perspective drawings.

Despite her interest in graphic design, Marsh has very little experience with it. She thinks majoring in graphic design will help her achieve her goal of becoming an art director.

“I pretty much like everything (in art), so it just comes down to what’s more practical for me,” Marsh said. “Graphic design would be good to start.”

While Marsh is excited to join the graphic design program, she also understands that it would be time-consuming, as well as difficult to be a part of other groups.

“I applied for ASPiRE and I got in, but it’s another thing. Graphic design is one of the majors that’s really tough and you have a lot to do,” Marsh said. “You have to take 15 or 16 credits each semester, no matter what, because you have portfolio reviews at the end of each semester. It’s really nerve-racking.”

Marsh’s mother has been encouraging her to join activities and student organizations within VCU, but Marsh considers her schedule this semester and for next year to be too busy, especially if she enters the graphic design program.

“(My mother is) just suggesting things because she knows if I did something in the community, I’d be happy, and I know I would, but I don’t think she understands that I have a lot to do,” Marsh said.

Marsh will be submitting her portfolio and applying to her major at the end of March, and will know within two weeks if she was accepted to her first choice or not.

“Luckily I have spring break before that, so I can go and put it together together for a whole week without having to worry about homework,” Marsh said.