Drama/Music Student, Need Advice on Programs ASAP

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>Hi all,
I asked a slightly similar question before, but now that I've got all my decisions I feel like I need to pose a new discussion because I'm literally losing sleep over this.
So, at the beginning of my college search, I REALLY wanted to go to New York. I couldn't see myself going anywhere else - though I applied to some schools in the D.C. area, I saw it as just a formality. My top choices were Pace and Fordham.</p>

<p>Here's what really happened: I got accepted into 7 out of my 9 schools academically, but I was only accepted into four theatre programs, only one of which was in New York (St. John's University, joint degree with American Academy of Dramatic Arts). The other programs are all in the D.C. area: American, George Mason, and George Washington. </p>

<p>So, here's the situation: I could go to D.C. even though I'm not sure I want to. But the thing is, I have NO idea what any of these programs are like, quality-wise. I always thought I had to go to NYC if I ever wanted to be successful, because isn't it the goal of any actor to get to New York, and going to college there would get me a jump-start on my career? And I don't see D.C. as a big "artsy" city. If anything, I feel like Philadelphia would have a better arts scene.
Or I could go to Pace/Fordham and re-audition. Pace offered me lots of merit aid and an invitation to Pforzheimer Honors College; Fordham offered me aid, but not as much as Pace, and it's just a lot more expensive anyway, so I'm not even sure we'll be able to swing it financially. But Pace doesn't have any vocal music programs, unless I get into Musical Theatre. Which I will only have one more chance to do if I decide to re-audition - if I don't make it the second time, I'll have to transfer.
Or I could go to St. John's/AADA, which offered me an amount similar to Pace, plus Honors College. Which is great- except there's no music program. I am a singer as well as an actress and I'm not sure I want to give either music or theatre up in order to pursue the other.</p>

<p>Or, my possible last resort: I defer admission/take a gap semester, take classes at the local community college, maybe intern a bit. I put up with the public ridicule for messing up this whole college-search thing and not being able to make a decision, and I try applying/auditioning again in the spring. I honestly regret not applying to any in-state schools now; my goal was to get out of Philadelphia, my hometown, but I'm realizing now that it has a lot more to offer than I thought, so maybe I should just try to apply to Temple or something. It'd be cheaper and at least I know the kind of reputation it has, unlike GW or GMU or AU (about whose reputations I have no clue).</p>

<p>For real though, I'm freaking out. Who knew the applications weren't even the most stressful part of all of this, right? I always swore I wouldn't be "that person" on CollegeConfidential, but the tables have turned and now I just really need some opinions from more experienced people out there.</p>

2

<p>Have you visited the DC schools? I think that would be an important part of your decision.</p>

<p>I think there are many paths to success as an actor, and they don’t all go through NYC! I believe Kerry Washington went to GWU and America Ferrera went to AU.</p>

3

<p>I agree that you should try to visit these schools, perhaps see if you can sit in on an acting class, look at the course catalogues to see what acting related courses are offered, research recent drama-MT productions at the each school, and look at the background of the drama professors. DC has a thriving theater community. There are a number of highly regarded theaters in the DC area that present outstanding productions. The Weekend section of the Washington Post will list the productions at various theater venues, if you want to see the range of current offerings. Also, do you have an interest in courses aside from acting? Both GWU and AU offer a wide variety of courses and are particularly well-regarded for courses in international studies as well as other areas. </p>

4

<p>Two pieces of advice my daughter got last year:</p>

<p>A theatre professor told her NYC can be a distraction to your theatre work. Most, if not all, of your theatre work is going to be at school - on campus. </p>

<p>You can minor in theatre at Fordham. Also, the theatre student we met with at Fordham LC said there have been a few non-majors who worked really hard, were very involved and, as such, were pretty much ‘adopted’ by the department. </p>

5

<p>I can hear your mind racing in your post. My mind does that! :)</p>

<p>First off, cut yourself some slack. You are being really hard on yourself for not making perfect decisions. I’m assuming you’re 18 or so, which means you need to let yourself be 18. My son refused to apply to any schools close to home too. I’m sure it’s not as uncommon as you think. Is there really public ridicule awaiting you if you take a gap year? Perhaps there is in your world, I don’t know. In our small town here, no one understands the theatre college search thing so my son could do it and no one would be the wiser. I hear that a lot of kids do take gap years. I’ve even heard that many of the students in a freshman bfa class can be a year or two older because of that. I think it’s wise that you are considering that option. </p>

<p>I wholeheartedly agree with the previous posters that visiting if you can is good idea and with @mountainhiker, there is more than one good path for you. </p>

<p>This is a really stressful process. I’m doing a lot of sleepless nights too.
Hang in there, we will sleep eventually!</p>

6

<p>You do not need to go to college in NYC to eventually make a career in NYC. Nor do you have to make a career in NYC to have a career. </p>

<p>I suggest thinking about which school you feel is going to give you the experience that you want for the next four years. If you truly feel like none of your option offer you what you are looking for you can consider taking a gap year and reapplying could be a good choice.</p>

<p>If the only reason you want to go to Fordham or Pace is in the hopes of being admitted to the Theatre program, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. Not that you might not be admitted, you just never know. Would you like being at those schools if you are not in the Theatre program?</p>

<p>FYI – DC has a pretty vibrant arts community. This does not mean that you should go to one of the schools in DC if not of them seem like the right fit, but the information about arts in DC may be useful Here are some links to recent articles: </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2013/09/how-dc-became-americas-second-most-important-theater-town/6130/”>http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2013/09/how-dc-became-americas-second-most-important-theater-town/6130/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“Theater Guide - Theater Scene in America | Arts America”>http://artsamerica.org/genres/genres-theater/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://theatrewashington.org/content/about-theatrewashington”>http://theatrewashington.org/content/about-theatrewashington&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“Theater & Performing Arts in Washington, DC | Upcoming Shows & More”>http://washington.org/DC-guide-to/theater-performing-arts&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Can you visit a few of the schools on your list to see what may feel like the best fit for you?</p>

7

<p>My daughter is a very happy sophomore at American University, double majoring in Theater performance and Public Communications. She is getting wonderful training, lots of performance opportunities and a great education. American has LOTS of contacts with the very vibrant DC theater community and many of the older students get cast in shows outside of the university. We live in the DC suburbs and we have seen lots of shows there; extremely varied, lots of talent…some weird shows, some traditional favorites. Saw Inherit the Wind there Saturday night.</p>

<p>On top of that, she found out yesterday that she has been accepted to do a semester abroad at BADA in London next fall. American has a great relationship with them. Studying theater in London is a dream come true for her.</p>

<p>Anyway, I could go on and on about how happy she is there, but feel free to ask questions here or private message me. Best of luck to you!!</p>