Changing Majors

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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@desertrat Some questions I had regarding your original post–

Is your D’s scholarship contingent on her remaining a MT major? I would definitely check into that because some talent/academic scholarships (even if packaged as financial aid) might be given out by the MT department of the school and may not be available to her if she switches out of MT.

Why do you think she should finish out the year in MT? Do you think she is going through a rough period in her program (ie, not getting cast and feeling defeated by that)? If so, I can see advising her to see what next term brings. Or is she is very certain she wants out of MT because she doesn’t even enjoy studying it? To me, there is a difference in saying, “performing as a MT actor may not be my career path after graduation” and saying, “I am getting nothing out of this major and I am unhappy.”

By the end of sophomore year my D decided to take on two additional minors (the business of entertainment and English lit) because she did not really see herself auditioning after graduation. However, she loved her MT program and there was no doubt that she wanted to finish her degree. She attended NYU (VP, MT, Steinhardt) and she was friends with many older alumni of the program who were out there auditioning and trying to make it in NYC (and some were quite successful). She discovered she didn’t want the uncertainty and the rejection involved with auditioning, and did not want to go on tour, work on a cruise, or do regional theatre (which is a reasonable path that most beginners take.) She loved theatre in the context of being a student and loved being in NYC (our home). She realized that though she did not want the lifestyle of an actor, she was drawn to the business side of entertainment. She did not do summer stock, but instead interned in theatre marketing, PR, production, development and casting. Eventually she got a position in talent management, but is now back at NYU pursuing her MBA.

I am also a little confused about your statements about residency in NYC and going back to school later. The biggest savings one can garner as a NYC resident are offered by SUNY or CUNY undergraduate programs–which do offer free tuition with the requirement of working in NY state for 5 years post graduation. There are SUNY and CUNY graduate programs, too, that may be an option down the road. And yes, they are less expensive for residents. However, grad school is more complicated than that. There are many top (private school) programs that will offer major scholarships for grad school. Also, there are different requirements for different grad degrees and I have found that in my experience, some private schools may allow you to finish the degree in fewer credits in a shorter amount of time than the CUNY option. My younger D (BFA in Studio Art) was able to get a degree art education in 10 months through NYU (full-time). If she tried for the same degree in CUNY grad programs, it would have taken at least an extra year and possibly more because of a bunch of pre-requisite requirements. So instead she went for the more expensive NYU option–luckily getting a scholarship–and finished the degree very quickly. So a year after completing her BFA degree she has her MA in art education and is working as a NYC teacher since September. So to me, her salary as a working teacher this year pays for the higher cost of NYU considering she would still be in school pursuing the same degree.

Good luck to your daughter!

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She will continue to have free tuition regardless of her major as long as she keeps her grades up. My feeling is that she needs to have a plan before giving up on MT. She is going back and staying in the program at least this spring. I just want her to be sure and take a writing class or two before making a permanent decision. I’m hoping we can talk more over break. I don’t think she’s unhappy, maybe some self-doubt about her future.

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If she is looking to make a change and her heart really isn’t in it her program they may ask her to leave before she has a chance to change majors. Prepare her for the fact she may not pass her juries (if they have them or whatever type of assessment her program requires). Rigorous BFA’s usually weed out people not fully invested.

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@desertrat …you wrote:

Why does she need to know yet what major she’ll switch into? If she has doubts about her current path and you said she is miserable, just switching out of this program and into liberal arts, she can take spring semester to explore all sorts of subjects (including writing) and then declare a major at the end of the year. The sooner she switches into liberal arts, the better, as well as graduating on time. She can even use the spring to explore those writing classes like you want her to do. And if that is not the major she wants, she can choose another one.I don’t see why she needs to know her new major or career yet. Not only that, college major isn’t everything. Many jobs and careers are not directly tied to one’s college major. Many people in the professional work force are not working in a job focused on their college major.

You mention a “permanent” decision. The only decision for the moment is she doesn’t want to pursue MT. As to what she does pursue, that can still be wide open. She doesn’t have to make a “permanent” decision yet about her future major, career, or life. The only decision to make for the time being is that it isn’t going to be MT as her heart isn’t into that any longer.

Lastly, she ought to sit down with an academic advisor now to get some, well, advice.

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You don’t know my daughter and she is prone to making hasty decisions without really thinking things through. It’s the age, as well as her personality. I’m fine with her pursuing other majors, I just want her to be sure before she makes any changes. I will support her in whatever she decides to do. Yes, I have recommended that she talk to an advisor.

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I understand she needs to think it through. I was just saying she only needs to think through whether or not to stay in the MT major. She doesn’t need to know yet what major she will eventually pursue.

By switching into a BA track for spring semester in sophomore year, it gives her a semester to explore and find that major before committing to it. There is that advantage.

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@desertrat I think it may be a great idea not to make any decisions until you’ve spent time with her over semester break. As you mentioned, YOU know your child. A little time and a few conversations you will not only hear what she said, but what she didn’t say. Sometimes as a mom I just want validation that I’m not a horrible, terrible person for disagreeing with my child. I’m not saying that’s what you wanted, but if it was… YOU ARE NOT A HORRIBLE, TERRIBLE PARENT. Hugs and best wishes sorting it out over break.

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I understand how you are feeling a bit…my daughter made her big switch at 16. She had been an equestrian her whole life and had planned on pursuing medicine in college. She did acting on the side for fun. I spent thousands and thousands of dollars on those pursuits and right before college visits she explained to me that she didn’t want to continue with her career choice of being a doctor. I know that is different than switching once they are already in college, but I know the feeling of wondering if they really know what they want at such a young age. Well… they do :). She is thriving as an arts major and I can’t see her doing anything else. Get a feel for what is going on when she gets home, but I would trust her gut and let her do what feels right for her. :slight_smile: Good luck.

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Some perspective from a parent of a D who has her MT degree and is now evaluating her future. First, I think sophomore year in general is a very difficult year for students of any major. I say this from both the perspective of a parent who watched my daughter have a very difficult sophomore MT year, and as a professor who sees students struggle that second year. Classes tend to get harder and more demanding, and in the MT world the demands of both didactic work, auditioning for school performances, and the intense physical nature of MT training all start to add up. So it is not surprising your D is having second thoughts.

As for changing majors, you will obviously need to sit down and talk it out. But again as both a parent of an MT degree holder and a professor, I am a proponent of having kids find their passion and follow it. And those passions change (recall that the neuronal connections of the brain are still developing in that age group). My D fought through it even when she had doubts about whether she was in the right field, and came out with a degree. But one of the things I always tell parents at question-answer sessions during audition days is that I have no idea what she’ll wind up doing 5 years down the road. Right now she has performed in either professional or community shows since graduation in May. She has made what I think is a mature decision to work locally for at least a while, where she keeps getting cast for things, vs. move to NYC and find several part time jobs and struggle to pay the bills. When she is ready to take that jump, she’ll have saved money and gained a lot of experience. And she may not ever make that jump. When in college she did a lot of work with the admissions department, loved it, and may very well follow that career path. She’s about to start a part time job with a local performing arts complex, and I can see her moving into theater management. Or she’ll go to NYC perhaps.

The point is this; it sounds to me that you have a lovely young woman for a daughter, and she has a wonderful mother who cares for her and wants the best for her. My spouse is a college counselor and will tell you that it is not at all uncommon for students to change majors in college. And most do just fine. I’m one of those types who has to have a plan, always thinks long term strategies, etc., and it’s been a big adjustment for me to back off a bit and let my D take the reins for her own life. But she’s doing just fine. I’ll bet your D will too. Just know that when you speak of her making a permanent decision, that it really isn’t permanent. Regardless of whether she changes majors or not, her future will be what she wants to make it.

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I thought I’d come back and update my original post. My daughter did complete the year in MT, but this summer has changed her major to communications. I’m hoping this is the right path for her. It’s going to be like starting over for her. New curriculum and making new friends. She might graduate in time with courses taken during breaks. We shall see ! Added stress is that my other daughter quit her job and is starting law school in the fall. Lots of changes in the new school year.

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Thanks for the update @desertrat ! Best wishes to your daughter!