Art students face uncertain future

WASHINGTON, May 2 (UPI) -- At least one college art student facing graduation says she is concerned what her role will be in a U.S. economy gripped by recession.

Corcoran College of Art and Design senior Lindsay Perkins said facing graduation from the Washington school has prompted her to focus more on her academics amid concerns an art degree will be worth little in a tightening nationwide economy, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

"I feel like I have lost my motivation, because I don't know what to motivate myself to do next year," Perkins said.

"To some extent, I regret it. I don't know how to put it. I don't regret following my dreams, but maybe I regret the way I went about it. I didn't really set myself up for any place in society."

But Richard Freeman, director of the National Bureau of Economic Research, told the Post humanities majors such as Perkins could have job potential given the creativity associated with their degrees.

"If you think of a place like McKinsey consulting, and you come with an art degree, they may prefer you because they're looking for creative thinkers," Freeman suggested.