<p>Acting is a love. Pop music is a love. What do I do?</p>
<p>I have looked at schools for both, and I feel like I'd do better at acting. My problem is I'm afraid that if I do acting, I'll have to give up music. In addition, a school I looked at for its environment has no reputation whatsoever for theatre, and I'm aiming more for a BFA. Which should I pursue? My heart loves both, but...</p>
<p>In addition, what are some non-auditioned BFAs w/ a good reputation (as safety schools)? Thanks!</p>
<p>PS - Thanks to everyone for putting up with me! I'm so indecisive when it comes to these things.</p>
<p>P.S.S. - Thanks to all those in both the music and acting forums. You've really helped!!!</p>
<p>Well, of course, I have to ask the question: if you love both music and acting, would you ever consider musical theatre as an option? It seems like a good, effortless combination of both your loves!</p>
<p>Similarly, while I know you said you’re interested in BFAs, would maybe looking at BA programs or programs that offer plenty of flexibility be more your style? Then, you’d be able to pursue both. I think I’m a liiiiiittle bit unsure of what you’re looking for in a program. What are you looking for in a school, exactly? The opportunity to do both, or the opportunity to focus intensely on just one?</p>
<p>What are you looking for now that is different than what you were looking for previously? Schools where there may be opportunities to pursue your music? If you can narrow it down to a more specific question, posters will be able to help you with more specific suggestions. :)</p>
<p>Just so the wheel does not get re-created on this thread, with lots of suggestions that have already been made that may or may not work for Marylandchick… here are links to some previous discussions so the discussions will not be duplicated. </p>
<p>Thanks, both of you! I looked at MT, but I’m more into writing music than performing it. KatMT, thanks for the link-ups! </p>
<p>What I am looking for is a school located in/close to a big city, one that will let me audition for outside productions while I’m in school. I also am going to need financial aid - a lot of it. Since the FAFSA doesn’t consider jobs being lost in the past (therefore causing us to go into debt to obtain food and other necessities), I need a school that will still award good aid. I want a school that has good alumni connections. I know, that’s a tall order. I don’t know if a school like that exists. Most schools only offer 2-3 out of the 4, some only offer 1 of the “wants” I have. Thanks, all. Sorry I’m so pathetic :P</p>
<p>I don’t know what the financial aid is like and many times its hard to predict until you get the offers, but have you looked at Berklee? Also Michigna State University might fit your needs. While Lansing is not a huge metropolitan are like Boston would be but it not in the middle of nowhere either. They have a great music program and I know students that also have tied theatre in with their major</p>
<p>I can’t remember if anyone mentioned Belmont in Nashville to you before. They have commercial songwriting degrees as well as an auditioned theatre program.</p>
<p>Musical theatre is a good way to combine music and theatre. These days Musical Theatre is very much about pop music, so your pop music interest would be a benefit.</p>
<p>The fact is, at some point you have to decide what is going to be your main career, and what is going to be a hobby. (You don’t every have to give anything up, you can always keep it as a hobby). And you don’t need a degree for a hobby. I have a lot of hobbies that I do not have degrees in.</p>
<p>If you are really having trouble deciding, you may want to take more time before applying to colleges to think this over.</p>
<p>A TON of indie pop bands/artists come out of Wesleyan, which also has pretty good theater. (Amanda Palmer, MGMT, Tim Cohen from Fresh & onlys…there are others I’m blanking on.). CalArts is a hotbed in both music and theater as well. Though really college is not much help in popular music, except in a general sense that it’s better to be educated than not.</p>
<p>Jkellynh - Wesleyan and CalArts? I’ll have to look at them!! KEVP, I want to thank you (sincerely!) for giving me a reality check! Seriously, I was living in this fantasy world that I could do either everything or nothing! austinmtmom, thanks for the suggestion and the PM! I’m a little late responding to it, but I’m about to!!! Do you know how Belmont’s fin. aid is? broadway, thanks for the recommendation of Mich. State. I will definitely check that out!</p>
<p>To all - does anyone know of alumni from any of these schools that have “made it” in the theater/acting world?</p>
<p>Oh, and also to those who suggested MT to me, I shall take a closer look! Does anyone know of any alumni from MT schools that have “made it”? I think the main reason I wasn’t considering that is because I didn’t think of myself as an MT kind of girl.</p>
<p>Did we already mention Pace? Can’t recall. Generally generous FA if scores are good. Definitely supportive of outside auditions. Strong MT program. Big city:-)</p>
<p>After a lot of soul-searching, and a meeting with my adviser, I have decided to pursue acting, with a healthy dose of music as a hobby on the side! My parents want me to do another year at community college after this one, but part-time instead of full time. I’m still making a list, though, in case I decide to apply right now after all.</p>
<p>Marylandchick - I go to CalArts and in my class there is a BFA 3 musician. Here it’s possible to “double major” only in your third and fourth year (and you have to fight really hard to get this opportunity - and needless to say, be a very good student), so you would have to pick your “main major”. BUT you can take classes in other m</p>
<p>marylandchick - I don’t know all the circumstances behind why your advisor and parents want you to spend another year in community college. But have you considered going ahead and applying to a few of the schools on your list this year and seeing what happens? What happens if you get accepted? What kind of financial aid could you get? Would any of the programs that do accept you be the right “fit” for you? Would it then make sense to go ahead and pursue training at that school rather than going to community college another year? My guess is that you will learn a lot about yourself just going through the process. Even if it doesn’t work out for you to actually accept an offer from a program, you will have a better understanding of the process and of yourself.</p>
<p>AdaQuince - Thanks for the info…there goes my chance (probably)
austinmtmom - That’s a good idea…I just might do that! Personally, I feel as though I would benefit from a non-community college.</p>
<p>A concern about doing another year of community college is that once you get in to an acting program, how many of those 2 years of credits will transfer and how many will just be a waste of time (credit-wise). A lot of BFA’s make you start at the beginning of the program and they have fewer gen-eds for your CC credits to count toward.</p>
<p>Although a lot of the BFAs will want you to start as a freshman for the arts aspect of the requirements, the gen ed courses that you will take will help you have more flexibility in whatever college program you do wind up going to. Where you have interests in music and acting, getting most of your gen eds out of the way will allow you the possiblity to double major. Hopefully the comm college you are going to will give you some options to also explore your interests in music and acting as many CCs have some solid departments in these areas. If you do take the Community college route, be sure to get some music and theatre experiences as extra curricular activites. Music and acting are not mutually exclusive, you should look for a college that will allow you to explore both directions .</p>