Academically Strong College for Preparation in BOTH Science and Musical Theatre

Hello! I had a post about this before, but it was on the general board and I don’t think I specified enough about my dilemma.

Anyway, I want to double major in science and musical theatre. After college, I want to pursue theatre for a while. Later in life, I want to go back to school to purse a career in medicine because I have always dreamed of that, too, and I’ve always believed you are never too late to go back to school. I know people will think I sound crazy, but they are truly my two passions. I couldn’t imagine life without both, and I know I will regret it if I don’t try out theatre before going into medicine.
Because I am going to double major (I have to major in both, because if i want to major in theatre, the stipulation is that I have to major in science, too. Basically what I’m saying is that I’m not allowed to major in theatre and just take the science classes that would be necessary for med school.).

The problem with this is that I need to go to a school that is academically challenging and successful in both academics and theatre. On top of that, it is quite hard to double major with a theatre degree. The schools that allow that are usually BA programs for theatre, which I have heard do not always prepare you as well for a professional career in the arts. On the other hand, if I wanted to pursue a BFA to get more preparation for the professional world, they most likely would not let me double major.

So, my question is, can anyone think of any academically strong schools that would help me pursue these goals? They can be really great BA programs that truly help for the professional world or really flexible BFA programs that would help me in my goal to double major. Either way, they have to have great academics.

I know this is a difficult one, but any and all help is welcomed and appreciated!!

Northwestern. It is a BA - but they are WELL known for preparing their grads for a career in theater, and of course it is a stellar school for all academics. the way their system works, they encourage multiple majors/minors

Agree with Northwestern. That was the first one that came to mind.

Carnegie Mellon is strong in both it is hard to do both there.

Boston University might be worth a look as would Bard.

University of MD is strong in both.

You could do both at Tufts but I am not sure their theater program would prepare you for the professional world.

UMBC in Maryland is a great STEM school. Too many wonderful things to list here, but look them up (and google their President, Freeman Hrabowski, who is an amazing man). It’s not a musical theatre program, but does have a BFA in Acting that participates in KCACTF and allows students to workshop and perform in new works. My daughter double majored in French and Acting, which I realize is not as rigorous as Science and Acting, but her departments were both supportive and somewhat flexible when upper level classes were limited for
scheduling.

Northwestern, Univ. Michigan, and Boston U. are my first thoughts. All are tough to get into, particularly for the theatre departments.

OTOH, thinking about your stipulation that the school must prepare you for professional theatre work, Jenna Fischer went to Truman, which isn’t really considered a hotspot for pro-theatre prep, and made her way from there. A lot of days I think it’s not so much about the school, but more about what you’re willing to put into it yourself. The school isn’t going to hand you the career.

This would be possible at James Madison University. BA with professionally focused training.

Some of the things to consider is the amount of time needed for labs, will this impact rehearsal time? You also need to consider a school where you can receive the highest GPA, has a sound preprofessional program with strong MCAT preparation. Taking the MCAT’s a few years after graduation will take serious prep work, it would be better to take the MCAT while an undergrad.

@charmk Check out Muhlenberg, which is strong in pre-med and theatre. Might be worth your while to dig into the Case Western website regarding their theatre program as well. They have pretty good music and dance programs; not sure about musical theatre.

American University has a good BA Theatre program and offers pre-med degrees. You’d need to talk with them (or any school) about feasibility of double majoring. Adelphi University might be another option.

You also might consider theatre as a minor and then getting involved with student organizations for acting. My D’s former acting teacher majored in Pharmaceutical Studies in undergrad, went immediately into professional acting with a regional company, got an MFA in Educational Theatre at NYU and is now working for the State Arts Council.

How long?

Are you willing to constantly audition and perform (IF you’re one of the very few who are cast) for little or no money for several (maybe many) years to gain experience and establish your credentials? Are you or your parents able to continue to pay for private voice, movement, and acting lessons well after college? As well as headshots and reels? And audition travel and lodging? Would you live at home or NYC or LA. Will your parents fund your cost of living? Are you okay with tutoring, nannying, dog-walking, waiting tables etc… to pay rent. It can take 5 to 10 years to start to gain traction in the industry, if your talented and lucky.

Per your criteria, you can’t apply to the bigger name Broadway/Hollywood feeder schools like U. of Mich, CM, Juilliard and UNCSA, as they don’t allow time for double majors. Google their curriculum and you’ll understand why.

Alternatively, in a BA program like Williams you really need to aggressively supplement your course work with lots of extracurricular theater - very late nights and long days in sometimes erratic student productions. A BA program is typically not going to provide the consistent voice and dance training needed to immediately pursue a professional musical theater career. Will you have the time and resources for private dance and voice lessons during the academic year? Will you have the summers free and the resources to participate in summer intensive training? Is that compatiable with the research and physician shadowing seemingly required now days to become a competitive med school applicant? The standard now seems to be to take a post undergraduate year for MCATs, resume padding research and med school interviews. When would that happen for you?

It is absolutely possible to double major in MT and another discipline at University of Michigan. It may take more than 8 semesters, but depending on how many AP credits you come in with and whether you are able to place into higher levels of some courses, already have sufficient piano skills, etc it may be possible to double major and finish in 4 years.

Out of curiosity, who is not allowing you to major in theatre and just take science courses…?

@JaneyM, the OP @charmk wants to apply to med school, and med schools are going to want to see at least a year of college level Biology, General Chemistry, Physics and Organic Chemistry (all with labs) and one semester of Biochemistry. Plus there would be other required general courses for whatever second major the OP chooses. Sorry, I don’t see that possibly working with UM’s extrodinarlly time intensive MT BFA curriculum in 4 to 5 years.