<p>I want to major in theatre but I also want a well-rounded education, and plan to double major in international relations, so I don't want to go to a conservatory. Can anybody tell me, what are the best schools for theatre with a good general ed as well? I'm looking for another fit school. </p>
<p>I've looked at Muhlenberg, Conn College for my additional fit school (my reaches being Ivies.. I definitely need another fit) but I was hoping for a school with a little bit more to do in the area and (frankly) one with a little higher stats than Muhlenberg.</p>
<p>Why do you want to double major in Theatre and International Relations? What career requires a double major in Theatre and International Relations? Pick one of them for your career, and the other for a hobby. Get the degree in the field you chose as your career, you don’t need a degree or major for a hobby.</p>
<p>I don’t see how International Relations can be a hobby, so I am guessing what you want to do is have a career in International Relations, but want to be involved in theatre while you are in college. Nothing wrong with that. Keep theatre as an extra-curricular. Look out for schools that will let you do this–that say you don’t have to be a theatre major to be involved in the shows.</p>
<p>I am following up with KEVP’s comments. If you want to go to school for theatre, and get a BFA, it is very hard to double major. A BFA at most (READ: NOT ALL) programs takes up all of your time. Between classes, homework, projects and oh yeah, rehearsals, you have very little free time.</p>
<p>It IS possible to double major but only at schools that offer a BA programme. But, as it has been pointed out, these type of programmes are not for serious actors.</p>
<p>TheRealKEVP and basically every comment below- I’m planning on a BA, because I was under the belief that only conservatories gave out BFAs and I was told that many successful actors have a BA, they are virtually the same but a BFA is a ridiculous amount of rigorous practice and a BA is more theory. Second of all, I’m not trying to combine majors. International relations is my backup, since everyone knows that you can’t rely on theatre alone. Plus, I think that our (the U.S.) global affairs are very important to be knowledgable in.
actor12- Thanks for the suggestions. I’m applying to NYU and Northwestern, but I was told that Northwestern is as selective as an Ivy. And unfortunately, I live on the east coast, so my mom is not cool with California schools! Any others you can think of? I’ve looked so much but I just can’t seem to find one that really fits!</p>
<p>High-level but not Ivy academics and great theater program not in CA is a lot to ask and I’m not as familiar with east coast programs. Maybe Emerson would be worth a look. Elon has a BFA so I don’t know if the BA there would be a good way to go. It’s also seemed more like a singer/dancer school than serious actor type program but that’s just based on one visit so I could be wrong. It’s also not super-hard to get in academically. It’s not easy to find both at one place.</p>
<p>Pbunny… My S is also thinking of going this route. He is a strong but not top academic student, but also loves acting. He is a little worried about the inflexibility of a BFA, and is considering doing the BA, but is still on the fence. He is looking at BA’s at NU, Fordham, USC, U Minn, and a handful of LAC’s with strong theater… Muhlenberg, Vassar, Skidmore, etc. It can be done. Don’t give up hope.</p>
<p>Southern Methodist University might fit. Flexible and reputable BFA in Theatre Studies, was just ranked in the Top 100 schools nationwide, and Dallas is a big city with a ton going on all the time. Take a look!</p>
<p>Thanks for so many helpful answers! Finally! I am looking at American, Northwestern… Just added Vassar to the list yesterday
Photomom5- Do you mean that the New School has general studies?</p>
<p>My list right now is Yale, Williams, Northwestern, and Columbia (reaches!), NYU, Vassar (fits), American, Muhlenberg, Sarah Lawrence (Back ups).</p>
<p>KatMT- I remember looking up both JMU and UVA but there was something that made me cross them off-do you know if they have good international affairs opportunities/good financial aid?
Oh, which also reminds me… I’ve heard twice now that NYU does not give out good financial aid, can someone verify this???</p>
<p>Okay, so what you REALLY want is to have a career as an actor. That’s great!</p>
<p>But you will find that entertainment careers are very competitive–many people want to be actors! It really takes a 100% commitment to succeed as an actor. Splitting yourself in two directions the way you are is I think only going to hurt your chances as an actor. Think about this–you will be competing with people who, while you were taking International Relations courses, spent the time taking more acting courses, and so may well have stronger and wider acting skills than you have learned.</p>
<p>It’s true that you will almost certainly need a survival job. But I think International Relations may not be the best choice. An International Relations job is not going to be willing to give you time off to go to auditions and work on projects. It’s probably going to require a lot of travel, which will mean you will often be out of town when auditions are being held.</p>
<p>You are too young to worry about a backup plan. While you are young and energetic, go and pursue your dreams. Go back to the backup plan when you are as old and miserable as I am. Save your plan for being an International Relations major for graduate school. There is NO requirement that you study the same subject in graduate school that you did as an undergraduate. None at all. If you just want to be knowledgeable about global affairs, then you can certainly read widely in that field on your own and keep up with the news. You don’t need a degree to do that.</p>
<p>Expect a big bunch of loans from NYU financial aid. It’s also one of the most expensive schools anywhere so if money is going to be a problem that’s not good.</p>
<p>You are too young to worry about a backup plan. While you are young and energetic, go and pursue your dreams. ~KEVP</p>
<p>LOVE this, KEVP! (I wish I could add all sorts of emojis). While my mother keeps telling my D to be “realistic”, I keep telling her to go after her dreams. Because I believe in that and her so much, a lot has been sacrificed these 17 years. I don’t ever want her to live a “shoulda, coulda, woulda” life!</p>
<p>The New School encourages their BFA students to explore other classes, and allows them to choose from their other schools. Look into it, it is not a conservatory style program.</p>
<p>KEVP, while I appreciate the advice, I’m pretty set in my plans. International Relations is also an option if I realize I really don’t want to make acting a job. And lot of people double major. It’s not going to hurt the amount of acting classes I will take. A lot of acting lessons will be through my own experiences, I don’t want conservatory type acting because I know that for me that is going to be way too much discipline in an area that comes from my heart.</p>
<p>Does anyone know about the strength of theatre and its opportunities at Middlebury and Haverford?</p>
