Joe college or hot young star

Parents Forum
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<p>I thought this was an interesting read. Thoughts, opinions? I've read comments about this article on several sites and it speaks about America's general thoughts on the purpose of college. </p>

<p>Is</a> college worth it for young actors? - latimes.com</p>

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Two years ago, Emma Watson was facing a quandary many young adults encounter: Is college worth it?</p>

<p>For most 18-year-olds, a university degree is an expensive but necessary investment leading to personal growth and a well-paying job. But for Watson, already a multimillionaire as a result of playing Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" movies, the calculus was more complex.</p>

<p>Should she trade red carpets for Red Bull-fueled nights studying? Would the knowledge gained be as valuable as the roles she'd have to forgo? And was it possible for the actress to fit in with classmates who had watched her grow up on-screen?</p>

<p>Watson opted to attend Brown University — a decision that confounded Hollywood directors and publicists.</p>

<p>"I've had to say no to stuff that people have been gobsmacked about. I've had big directors say to me, 'What do you mean, you can't do this movie? We don't understand,'" the actress, now 21, said recently by phone from her native England. "I always hear, 'What do you mean she can't do this magazine cover?' or 'What do you mean she can't have this meeting for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?' And my agent will say, 'She's at school, sorry.'</p>

<p>"Yes, it's hard for me to turn down amazing opportunities. But I've been working solidly since I've been 9 years old. So for me, to have this space to learn and figure myself out a bit is obviously worth it."</p>

<p>Transitioning from child star to adult actor never has been easy. But the explosion of kid-oriented entertainment on cable TV and in the movies means more teens than ever are competing to make the leap into adult acting jobs. So opting to take time out for a college degree — never a requirement in Hollywood to begin with — seems increasingly difficult.

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<p>Those who think college isn’t worth it for highly paid actors or others able to make a lot of money while young are missing the point of the college experience. There is so much more to life than one’s career. As someone said in the article, you can act at 21 as well as at 18. However, you can never have the college experience like you can at 18. Best for those who want to attend college to do so and not give it up for early work. Also, there is mention of actors who felt they missed something by not attending college for a major related to acting. I doubt those who went will have regrets at our age while those who could have gone may wonder.</p>

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<p>There are other “hot” young actors & actresses who have gotten their bachelor’s degrees; depends a lot on the individual. Brooke Shields at Princeton was only one such person, as was Jodie Foster at Yale and Natalie Portman from Harvard. Christopher Reeve went to Cornell.</p>

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<p>Kudos to Emma Watson for opting for 4 years of normalcy in her life. </p>

<p>And when your looks fade or the public goes fickle on you, you have that degree to fall back on!</p>

<p>As a side note, I always think it is amazing that the Harry Potter kids were cast when they were so young and were able to stay with the series. You’d think there would have been at least some attrition & replacements.</p>

<p>Edit: Well, there was some attrition as characters got killed off! but the original main cast is still intact.</p>

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<p>From what my Harry Potter encyclopedia (younger daughter) reports, Miss Watson’s stint at Brown was hardly common… Other students were, ehem, not always so tactful, and it was reported that every time she would make a comment in class the peanut gallery in the back would chant “Three points for Gryffindor” or other related quotes…</p>

<p>Publicity is a hard thing to overcome… Maybe at Michigan Tech :slight_smile: she would not be as recognized (:-)</p>

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<p>You don’t think that people at Michigan Tech would have seen the Harry Potter movies (or even just the commercials)? </p>

<p>Isn’t James Franco at university too?</p>

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<p>@ turbomom, I can’t say I believe that, at least to that degree. I find it suspect that students would be that inconsiderate and insensitive. It always seems like a tactic by PR to exaggerate the teasing to gain sympathy for the actor.</p>

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<p>Young actors may not need to go to college for theater. But the more they learn about history, science, psychology, art, the more they can bring to their roles as adults. They need to know how people think and react to things beyond their current experiences. They need to have a sense of time and place to do their jobs well, particularly in historical pieces. And especially for those who grew up “on set,” meeting, socializing and learning from those who had a more “normal” childhood might give them insights that they otherwise wouldn’t get.</p>

<p>Which do you think is a better example for the young star: Emma Watson at Brown, or Lindsay Lohan? (Yes, I know they’re extremes.)</p>

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<p>Midwestpride–I can imagine it happening, and not because the students are deliberately insensitive. It’s almost a reflex…“Three points for Gryffindor!” and I think Emma Watson would do well to let it roll off her because it’s always going to happen. </p>

<p>Like people asking tall people “how’s the weather up there?” Everyone thinks their joke is original, and it’s so NOT, but what can you do?</p>

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<p>I think it speaks very poorly for the Brown professors for not being able to maintain decorum. I don’t recall hearing problems like this at Princeton with Brooks Shield.</p>

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<p>Watson decided to leave Brown, didn’t she? A transfer to NYU was one rumor.</p>

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<p>kayf–I don’t know how bad it was, cause I wasn’t there, but I think it’s more on the lines of geeks having fun. Though I could be completely wrong.</p>

<p>I can’t imagine any comment that would come to mind if Brooke Shields were in my class. I mean, Blue Lagoon?</p>

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<p>Well we don’t know if the rumors are even true. I must admit when I read about the “points” I burst out laughing and I wouldn’t be surprised if it did happen a couple of times, but then I read another article in which Watson refuted those rumors of teasing and that her leave from Brown was wanting a more flexible schedule.</p>