Advised Needed (for an inexperience Theatre Mom)!

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>My son got a case of acting bug fairly late (in the 2nd semester of his junior year in HS).
Before that, as far as colleges concerned, he wanted to go the usual way: a UC school, a science major... When one of his friends (with a very minor role) dropped out from a school play, he was asked to fill in at the last minute... and that was how he first got involved in acting. Since then, he's been in all 3 of his school's plays (even got one major role in the most recent play).</p>

<p>To make a long story short, he applied to Theatre Acting/Drama at UCI, UCSB, UCSC and CSUF. His SAT is decent (2000), but his GPA (>3.5) is good enough for only UCSC and CSUF. Now he has to decide between these 2 schools.</p>

<p>We have some concern about his choice of major (everyone knows how hard it is to make a living as an actor!!!) but we want him to be happy and be able to make his own choices in life. At the same time, we want to be able to guide him and give him good advises when asked. Both his Dad and I make our living in technical fields (engineering) and we don't know much of anything about Theatre Drama. I know there is a lot I'll need to read/learn about. At this time, though, I have some specific questions for all of you who's wiiling to help:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Does UCSC have a good Theatre Arts program? Please share what you know about this program!</p></li>
<li><p>We like UCSC because it's a good over-all school, and IF he changed his mind and want to go back to his earlier choice (one of the science fieds), then UCSC is right where he should be.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>3 From what I've learned so far, CSUF has an excellent BFA program. My concern here is that he doesn't have much experience in this field (compared to other kids who has been doing theatre for years) and won't be ready to pass the audition to get into their BFA program. Any thoughts on this?</p>

<p>4 If he won't make it to the BFA program at CSUF, is it possible for him to transfer to some other BFA programs as a Junior? I understand that he'll have to do auditions or pass some sort of test to be accepted into other school, but I just want to make sure that it's not too late by then to do so. Did any one here ever do that? And which school(s) did you transfer to?</p>

<ol>
<li>In addition to the above questions, I'll appreciate all advises from all of you who had been going through similar situation before!</li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>I certainly can’t claim to be able to answer all of your questions, but since you also asked for some “general advice” in number 5, I will give you some opinions. Of course, listen to lots of different people, not just me!</p>

<p>I wish now that when I was your son’s age someone sat me down and helped me figure out what my career goals were, and helped me find out how to achieve those goals–whether a college degree was even necessary (or if it was necessary, I would understand exactly why I was going to college). There are many succesful people in entertainment who don’t even have any college degree.</p>

<p>The concern that he may not be good enough to get into the programs he is most interested is a real one. Many people who are serious about acting take a “gap year” to get their acting skills up to the point where they can get into the sort of program they want. You can use this year to get some acting experience to beef up a resume, get some formal acting training, and even get some non-acting work experience.</p>

<p>A bachelor’s degree in theatre does not commit someone to a career in theatre. You can do something else for a graduate degree, for example law school. (Does anyone know of any graduate degree that you really CAN’T get if your undergraduate degree is theatre?)</p>

<p>KEVP</p>

3

<p>I don’t have a lot of answers but can offer a couple of observations: First, re: transferring, it’s my understanding that most BFA programs would require you to start over as a first-year student, since the curriculum for a BFA is so tightly structured. I’m sure there are some rare exceptions to this, but the general policy appears to be that a BFA requires four years. Second: my daughter did a BA in theater, concentrating in set design, and three years later was accepted into two master’s programs in clinical counseling. She made a good case for herself in her essays and has done extremely well in her grad program. I’ve seen some theater kids–those who changed their minds about theater as a career–go on to grad school in everything from law to museum studies to business/management school. In my opinion, it’s a wonderful undergrad degree that teaches a range of analytical and creative thinking skills. Good luck to your son!</p>

4

<p>UCSC - Santa Cruz has a decent theater community and if he’s at all uncertain about the major obviously a UC beats a Cal State. The CSUF program is only for musical theater isn’t it? Does he sing and dance? Surviving the cut system is risky for anyone but boys do have an advantage. I know some who have made it to the BFA there and they are not especially remarkable in experience or ability but they had skills going in to the program. Unless he is a strong singer or dancer I would go to UCSC.</p>

5

<p>Thank you all for taking the time to help me! You all have give me very valuable advises!</p>

<p>It’s great to hear that a undergrad degree in theatre does NOT limit you to only theatre grad programs! I came from another country where there was not much flexibility when it came to that (at least when I was going to school there). </p>

<p>At this point in time, my son will be happy in a good BA or BFA program. I believe CSUF offers BFA for both MT and Acting. My understanding is that if one can’t make it to their BFA program as a junior, one can still finish school there with a BA. However, we’re not sure exactly what that means? Will he still have opportunities to act in the school 's productions? Will he still get good training? We hear a lot of good things about the CSUF Acting program, but are they applied to only the BFA program? Or both BFA and BA?</p>

<p>We’ll try to visit CSUF and UCSC soon to get more info. about each program. We’re very much looking forward to these visits! In addition to that, we’re hoping to get inputs from the other sources as well: Former students of these program, current student, students’ parents… People who comes across this thread and have somethings to share with us…</p>

<p>@Actor12, you mentioned that UCSC has decent theatre community, can you share more what you know about this program? </p>

<p>Thank you all.</p>

6

<p>As I live on the other side of the country i dont know much about california schools, but i do know where you are coming from as a parent because my parent is from a tech career as well. What i can say that may be some general advice is that, while yes it can be hard to make a living off being an actor, there are many other jobs that you can have from having a performance or acting major. I know as a senior in high school who is planning on a BFA there are many careers that you can go into and study in grad school that a acting background can help, one in particular i have become interested in is drama therapy. My advice if you are worried about your son being in theatre and making a living is looking into jobs where a background in theatre can help.
Also i know that BA programs will let you son double major which may also keep your nerves at bay. Talk to your son about another major he would be interested in if he went to a BA program.
And finally for transferring, i know that it is a school by school choice as to whether they make the student start over at year 1 or if they can slip in some where. It depends on where you are coming from and where you are going. if you are going to one BFA to another, they sometimes let you skip a year and graduate on time if you come in as a sophmore. If you come from a BA to a BFA the likely hood is that they will make you start at year 1 again. but again it all depends, check with the schools and ask how it would work for a transferre, they will give you their certian policy which is your best bet.
Hope this Helped.</p>

7

<p>UCSC is a good school. It’s not one of the choosier UC’s, but still probably considered overall better school than a Cal State. I know one person in the drama program there and not much else except that I’m sure it’s a fine BA in drama and there is opportunity to minor in something else if that’s important to you. The city itself is a beachy town with a large arts community. There are plays and musicals that you could audition for outside of school pretty easily. Hope this helps.</p>