<p>Hi Everyone, </p>
<p>I just joined so that I could PM someone, but I thought I might as well turn my query into a thread - any feedback is helpful and appreciated!</p>
<p>Please pardon me for the long explanation of my situation, but it's complicated. I'm 25 years old, currently an MD-PhD student at Penn; I double-majored in chemistry and neuroscience in college (Yale '05). Clearly, I have no real MT background. Although I don't feel that I made the wrong choice for myself career-wise, I was never truly free to choose for myself until now - I support myself financially, and my parents have changed their view of what they feel is acceptable. (Basically, they're ok with me pursuing happiness rather than absolutely prioritizing stability and other practical measures of success.)</p>
<p>I love MT but it was never a career option for me: my parents didn't support it, and I didn't have enough natural talent or ambition for me to make it happen for myself. I recently went through perhaps the lowest emotional point in my life, where I realized that the only thing that made me truly happy and made me feel alive was performing in a school show we had. I decided that MT is what I want to pursue. </p>
<p>No one knows better than I do that this is a huge change and risk to undertake, and lots of people are concerned that I will be throwing away a promising career in medical research (lucrative, stable, all the things my parents wanted for me). I assure you that I'm not going to make any drastic changes without a solid back-up plan. I've talked to a few professors at University of the Arts (in Philly, which has a MT BFA program), and I'm currently taking lessons in voice, dance, and acting - I'm starting from the very bottom, since I have no skills in these areas other than casual high school/college/grad school productions. My goal is to get into a MT BFA (or strong BA) program in Fall '08. If I don't get in, I'll try again the following year while working toward my PhD. I'll do this for as long as it takes, or until my brain takes over my heart. </p>
<p>My question to all of you out there is: how will I be viewed by admissions committees when I go to audition for programs? Do people like me (older, already holding a 4-year degree, making a career change) ever make it through? What can I do to help myself in their eyes besides immersing myself in MT now (auditioning around Philly, in addition to the lessons)?</p>
<p>Also, I found plenty of lists of the top MT programs in the country, but if you could suggest any reputable lower-tier ones that I'd have a better shot at (I guess we call them "safeties"), that would be very helpful as well.</p>
<p>Reading through these forums, I'm moved by how supportive the parents are. It's wonderful, and you all deserve huge props! I have a realistic head on my shoulders, and I don't expect to be able to make up for the years of experience that your kids have - so please, feel free to be frank in any thoughts you'd like to share. To be forewarned is to be forearmed (as someone said long ago). No matter what happens, I'll do my best with all that is in me, and I can ask no more than that.</p>
<p>I suppose that's the gist of my query. Thank you for any insight you might have to offer. Take care,</p>
<p>anh</p>
<p>PS - I've often wondered whether the fact that I am obviously an ethnic minority (I'm Asian) is a liability in this business. Any thoughts? I have no hopes of morphing into Lea Salonga, I just want to get into a program for now.</p>