<p>Well said beenthere… It depends so much on the student and their track record. Even within MT, some kids will benefit so much from a BFA, while others do so much better with a BA. That’s why some of the discussions I see here about which is better seem so silly. It is so much about fit and what works for each student and each family, both academically as well as financially.</p>
<p>MTMummy, Thanks! Just sent my D a link about “Roundabout”. She is a frustrated (by us parents) MT kid, “stuck” at doing theatre in" the side", but blessed with a “Duke in New York” opportunity this fall.</p>
<p>(P.S. she’s looking for leads to internships in New York this fall).</p>
<p><a href=“http://dukeinny.english.duke.edu/fall/[/url]”>http://dukeinny.english.duke.edu/fall/</a></p>
<p>BTW, as a parent who has kids brought up with a rather privileged life, I DO want them to make an informed decision, and to be able to cope with the realities of life as a typical performing artist. Reducing my financial support could be a part of that, no? I want my son in particular (my D could careless)to understand he may not be able to drive BMW’s or spend winter “breaks” snowboarding at 5 star hotels in Lake Tahoe for awhile.We can’t either, what with paying for college.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap - She has probably already checked out the internships listings on Playbill, but if not:
[Job</a> Category Listing Index: Internship](<a href=“http://www.playbill.com/jobs/find/category_listing/7.html]Job”>http://www.playbill.com/jobs/find/category_listing/7.html)</p>
<p>“already checked out the internships listings on Playbill”</p>
<p>^ Yes, but she says most are summer positions, at least for now. I will forward the link though, thanks!</p>
<p>BeenthereMTdad, excuse me but are we married? Those are my kids you speak of… to a tee! Driven daughter, seeking son!</p>
<p>Very funny Snoggie. Maybe a second cousin?</p>
<p>beenthereMTdad, in many respects I agree with your comments but I think the problem you describe is not quite so straight forward. If I am a BFA MT student and after graduation decide I want to go to a grad program that looks for a concentration of undergrad courses in a particular area not within the scope of the BFA curriculum, I would need to take those courses, thereby delaying my entry into the grad program. This can also happen with a BA degree in other majors though. For example, if I majored in a humanities area and then decided to go to med school, even with the distribution and core requirements of a BA program, I probably would not have the requisite science background in biology and chemistry. There are many other areas of transition from undergrad major to grad school studies where this could apply equally to a BFA and BA degree whether the degree be in theatre or some other area. </p>
<p>Where, I think, the distinction between the BFA and BA becomes more relevant is where a student, in the middle of his undergrad education, concludes that the BFA program is not for him or her and decides to switch to a BA program in another major. There is no doubt that because of the very focused and structured curriculum of the BFA that the student will be behind the eight ball in meeting the core and distribution requirements of the BA and the longer the student has been in the BFA program, the more significant the credit deficiencies would be. This could even happen, though perhaps with lesser time delays to graduation because of the transferability of the credits in the major, where a student moves from a BFA to a BA in theatre. I fully agree with you that a student should not enter a BFA program unless the student is 100% sure that he or she wants a highly focused, tightly structured professional training program designed to prepare the student to pursue a career in theatre. If there is any doubt about that, then a BA program is probably the better choice because it generally provides the latitude to get a broader exposure to areas of study than typically found at a BFA program and provides the flexibility to change directions or majors, usually without extending the time required to get the undergrad degree. </p>
<p>My point originally was, though, that obtaining a BFA in MT or another area of theatre (or a BA) does not “doom” a student to be a “starving artist” waiting for the “big break” without any viable options, that a student with a BFA or BA degree in MT or theatre has many options available to him or her much as does a student with a BA degree in many other majors.</p>
<p>MichaelNKat: I agree. Education is never wasted. Would it be great if college was free? Then you will have Utopia.</p>
<p>Just came across this advise for graduates written by Michael Josephson and thought it was appropriate for the discussion here:</p>
<p>· By all means, set goals and go after your dreams, but know that your
ultimate happiness will depend not on your plans but your ability to
cope with unexpected turns and unavoidable ups and downs. You may not
get what you thought you wanted, but if you’re willing to adapt, you can
get something even better.</p>
<p>· Don’t ever underestimate the power of character. If you want to win,
don’t whine. Success is made from hard work, perseverance, and
integrity, not luck.</p>
<p>· Listen to both your heart and your head. Pursue your passions, but
don’t confuse feelings with facts. Almost nothing is as good or as bad
as it first appears, and all things change.</p>
<p>· Remember, pain and disappointment are inevitable, but tough times are
temporary. The enduring impact of experiences and the true nature of
relationships are only revealed by time. Persist with confidence that no
negative emotion can withstand your will to be happy.</p>
<p>· Fill your life with laughter, but don’t confuse fun or pleasure with
happiness. Don’t sacrifice a thousand tomorrows for a few todays.</p>
<p>· Live within your means and don’t overestimate your ability to resist
temptations that threaten your relationships or reputation.</p>
<p>· How you make a living is important, but how you make a life is vital.
If you don’t pay attention to your personal relationships, no amount
career success will be enough.</p>
<p>^I want that on a poster in my waiting room.</p>
<p>Findingpennies- thanks for posting that. My D was disappointed with the commencement speaker at her grad a few weeks ago, who spoke about her own passion rather than the students futures. I sent this to her and told her it was the commencement speech she should have heard.</p>