Hi,
I'm going into grade 12 next year, and I'm really unsure about what courses to take and my career choice in general.

Right now I'm a recording artist in my city and I'm working very hard on a demo. Singing and performing is what I love to do.
My parent's don't like the fact that I am very determined to make it into the music business, since it's very unreliable, so they want me to have a back-up plan just in case.

I'm leaving my public school with where all my friends are to a private school outside my city so that I can focus just on school and music and achieving good marks.
I've never taken music as a course in school, my singing is a really big thing to me outside of school..
but now that university is coming up I'm thinking of taking some music courses and another subject of courses that I could EASILY balance with my music career to make my parent's happy.

Anyway, my favourite subjects in school would have to be the social sciences(psychology etc..), performing arts(drama, singing, dance), media(fliming, directing), business, fashion/magazine editing, english, anything communication/technology and law.

I have so many things to choose from, but I don't know what would be best to balance with my music.
I really need some help with what subjects I should focus on, and any idea with what courses I could take in university? What I could major with?
Also, I'm in Canada right now and I want to move to the states for university. So I will be taking the SAT test, & I'm hoping there will be lots more opportunities over there for my music.
If anyone would like to recommend a university to me that relates to the courses I like that would be great also.
Thank you so much for you're help and sorry this post is so long!

- Cassy

p.s. i didn't know where to put this post. so it can be moved if it has to be.

I think the post i fine here. You are facing a very common decision for teens your age. I am sure someone with a better knowledge of college prep will answer. But I do want to point out that most people don't start on a long drive without a spare tire and some extra cash, just in case something unforeseen happens.

Well, since you're looking for what to do after college, try thinking about which kind of job you'd be interested in; what job could you see yourself in; what do you have or could you gain a good, well-rounded knowledge of. Starting with the things that interest you is a good place to start and you've already made a list with lots of possibilities. Editing or communication/technology might be a good balance. The other choices are either usually as unreliable as music or might require more education (but there exceptions depending on the job). It sounds like you might like a liberal arts college though. Liberal arts schools offer a variety of the subjects of study that you're interested in so you could dabble in each of those to see what you could feel comfortable with as a career.

As long as you've been dabbling in a few of your top subject picks, there's probably no need to commit to a major until, at the latest, your junior year of college, and you could completely change your focus by sophomore year and be completely fine. Although it's also very good to be prepared. I can tell you from experience when I graduated last year. I'm also trying to balance my writing career with another job but I wish I prepared myself with that as well as you seem to be.

In your first year, you might try the general education requirement classes in your favorite subjects: take an English class, social science, an arts class, maybe business or technology, or some others you might be interested in trying. Then ask yourself if you'd like to learn a lot more about this for at least the next four years.

The spare tire metaphor is an apt one. It's likely easier to be drafted into the NHL than achieve a successful recording career, as there are millions of people trying to get into the business.

As for universities, look up the ones you're interested in and study their catalog. Don't limit yourself to one. Check out the faculty of the programs. Do work your first year on getting the GERs out of the way. Be prepared to spend a lot more time on course preparation. Do not fall into the trap that partying is your priority. I say this as someone who has taught at the university level for almost 35 years.

Brings to mind what a man,once famous in Britain,was told by his father. He'd said he wanted to be an actor, not a lawyer. His father said " Well, always remember that if you fail as a lawyer you can always go on to be an actor. If you fail as an actor you can't go on to be a lawyer"

In short,get the education while you can and have some piece of paper to prove it.If things don't turn out well enough in music you'll have that to fall back on.Have the 'spare tire'.

By the way, the young man chose to study law at university. He became England's most important judge ! And in his spare time he was still a good amateur actor.

I will tell you what my son has done.

He is interested in majoring in Elementary Education. But what he has done so far is attend a Jr College in the area. He just graduated fro it with a 2-year Associate degree in Pharmaceutical Technology. A couple months before he graduated, he got a job with a local pharmacy which is part of a National chain. Come fall, he plans on transferring to a four year university for Elementary Education. Actually he is very interested in coaching basketball. The Company he is employed with will let him transfer to the location they have where he will be attending school. So he will have a half way decent paying job while he is attending the university. And of course having this Associate in Pharmaceutical will always serve as a good back-up should his career in education not pan out.

Another example, totally different. I go to a man in the area for banjo lessons. He has been at it for a long time. Like 40 years. He was a music major in college. He has his own store where he sells musical instruments & gives lessons on several of them. Piano, guitar, banjo, violin, just to name a few. He had also taught music in his local school system for 15 years. And he also has a Bluegrass Band he performs with. Been doing this since college. The guy has been busy during his 62 years & enjoyed every minute of it.

I hope these examples helps your perspective on the possibilities. And I wish you the best of luck on your future education.

if you really think music is a strong possibility for you, focus on that. Put 100% of your energy into music. Take classes that focus on it. Do whatever it takes to succeed in that area.