Is it worth it to attend a conservatory as an undergrad?

<p>Hello everyone!
It's still a couple of years before I start applying/auditioning for schools, but I really need this question answered sometime in the near future, to help me plan.</p>

<p>So, my dream school is Tisch (me and 300 other MT students...), and if I am not accepted there, I fully planned on attending a conservatory.
The problem is, my mom doesn't agree. For the record, she COMPLETELY supports me, as well as my plans of a career in theatre. But, she doesn't think that conservatories are a good choice for undergrads (she attended a state school- albeit one with a good theater program- as an undergrad/conservatory as a grad student, while my dad attended a conservatory for both, and they both think that the former is the better option).
So, I just wanted to get some opinions from people who are currently in either type of program/kids are in either type of program.</p>

<p>Thank you so much! :)</p>

<p>I think you’re going to find a very similar answer to almost any question about what the right option is for undergrad: it really depends on YOU.</p>

<p>What do you want academically out of your program? What type of campus do you want? What type of school environment do you want? If those questions, amongst others, point to a conservatory, then there’s your answer. Keep in mind that many academic universities also offer conservatory-like training, so that may be the the right balance for you also. This is only one of the many choices that will arise when deciding what programs are the best for you… good luck! :)</p>

<p>Well, you will get a bunch of opinions if you ask…but it seems to me like you have your own built-in “control group” right in your own family. Your mom did state school-conservatory (one option) and your dad did conservatory-conservatory (option two). They are BOTH recommending non-conservatory. Sounds like they are in a position to know, and they know YOU which is a huge advantage over other people on this forum who don’t and can only give their opinions on what THEY would do in THEIR situation.</p>

<p>Do you know the specific reasons why your parents feel that the nonconservatory route would be best for YOU?</p>