As the end of December approaches, seniors are scrambling to pull college applications together. But there are some students who might be having more trouble than others.

There are few students as CHS who participate in AP studio art. There are even fewer students who actually attend art school and major in art. Those who do must face intimidating tuition costs.

On average, art school costs about $40,000 a year in the United States. You’re lucky if you can find a school cheaper than that. Maybe you could sell the furniture in your room? Or maybe just sell your house? But that’s still only about $15,000 more than the annual state school tuition.

Not only is it hard to get into art school, it’s even more competitive to get a big scholarship. I know that my parents only have enough money for maybe two years of art school tuition. Without art supplies. Or food. Or water. Or any other important things. (Who needs clean clothes anyway?)

However, in the past 10 years, Texas state schools have started to branch out in the art department, implementing better programs to prepare art students to get a job in the artist industry. So maybe I won’t have to sell my mom’s jewelry. At least until the Ramen Noodles run out.