What would be the best major for me?

What is the best major?

• Hi I recently submitted a question and I am just clarifying what are of advertising I want to go into. I am really interested in becoming an art director or the one that actually comes up with the ads. I am going to be a sophomore this upcoming year and I really want to work for a top ad agency one day and what I really would like to know is what is the best way to do that? What I mean by this is; what is the best major to go into and what about grad school? Currently my major is marketing and I plan on going to grad school but I have no idea what to major in or what grad school would be best. I would definitely appreciate all the advise. Thank you!

• Answer:

  Hi, Cheryl Thanks for the clarification. The people who come up with the ads are the art directors, who are specially trained graphic designers, and the copywriters, who are specially trained writers. Each share the responsibility of authorship equally, so neither one is better than the other - it's simply what you enjoy more (or have more talent in)...art or writing. Ten years ago, you could get an undergraduate degree in a general field like marketing and have some expectation that an ad agency would provide further training on the job - especially on the copywriting path. But the hiring needs of agencies today make that unrealistic. Creative Directors tell us they want fully-trained junior art directors and copywriters right out of school. In the case of an art director, that means you already have a portfolio filled with top-notch ads that you created on your own, which demonstrates your understanding of page layout, typography and computer design skills, using software such as using Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign (or Quark). This is the minimum. Ideally, these technical skills have been augmented with training in marketing, ad theory and branding theory. In other words, your undergrad marketing degree won't get you into a grad-level ad design program because you have no design background and no knowledge of design software. A school might admit you conditionally, meaning you have to prove yourself by taking several courses first. So...long story short, the best undergrad major you can have for a future career as an advertising art director would be to major in advertising design. If your school doesn't offer that, then a double major in marketing (with a specialty in advertising) and some type of design will prepare you for grad-level courses. One last note. There are a lot of portfolio schools out there that claim to prepare people for art director jobs in one year. I'm dubious of that promise. They might be able to teach you the software in a year, but it takes a good while to learn how to think like and advertising art director - and that's the most important thing. Good luck! Sean Trapani