Back up plans and can't take this DRAMA

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>mom2them: I have the same conversations with my junior D. But the difference is, she says if she doesn’t get in to any of the many, many schools she is applying to, she will take the money set aside for college, move to NYC, take lessons and audition, audition, audition. This is killing my husband, who wants to see her get a PhD in math or science. He has come to terms with her going to college to get a degree in MT, but if she doesn’t get in anywhere…I don’t know how he will handle it. He cannot fathom having a child who does not have a college degree. But she cannot see herself doing anything else, and it is her life. I know too many people with regrets…regrets that they did not follow their dreams, or didn’t push hard enough to follow their dreams. I have regrets myself …and if I can help my D find certainty, one way or another, then I will do whatever I can. She needs to pursue this. And if it doesn’t work, at some point she will give up. But at least she will know that she tried and gave it her all, and how can you regret that? Wasn’t it George Burns who said, “…it is better to be a failure at something you love than to be a success at something you hate”? Maybe I am being naive, but I know my D is smart and resourceful…if MT doesn’t work out, she will fashion a career that makes her happy and pays her bills. </p>

<p>On another note, I see you live near New Orleans. What about adding Tulane as a possibility for your D to expand her list? Do you know anything about their MT program? I have had a hard time finding anything except what I found on their website and what is on YouTube. It’s a great school, and it sounds like double majoring is a possibility there.</p>

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<p>We had a reminder of that this weekend when D ran into a friend currently at one of dream MT BFA programs who said NU was his first choice dream school but he didn’t get in, and we know at least 2 other kids in his program had the same experience.</p>

<p>But my main point was that for some kids their “dream” school can shift radically between the time they build their lists and the day they have to pull the trigger on a final decision (in MT that can often be 9 months), so it’s wise to include a variety of programs on the list. Nine months is a long time for a high school senior who is working to visualize their future. ;-D</p>

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<p>“for some kids their “dream” school can shift radically between the time they build their lists and the day they have to pull the trigger on a final decision (in MT that can often be 9 months)” </p>

<p>Agree with that 100% MomCares. Up, down, up, down–the ride is so much fun! What was the dream school at the school visit junior year becomes an afterthought even after a great audition. The school you may think is perfect for your child is at the bottom of the list. And of course, sometimes a bad audition can temper lots of prior enthusiasm. A school that you never heard of before researching the MT world becomes a viable option, I don’t know about most of you, but I had never heard of Oklahoma City University 18 months ago and now I’ve visited their “wall of queens!!”</p>