<p>You've raised several questions and I'll comment on them. </p>
<p>One has to do with what can you do with a BFA in MT if you don't get work in theater? As a parent of a BFA in MT student, this does NOT concern me at all. For one thing, a college degree will ALWAYS be beneficial in terms of getting employment. Most students have many strengths or skills, not just performing. For instance, just talking of my own kid....she excels as a writer and also someone who creates. I know if she doesn't make it on stage, there are lots of things she is capable of doing and even interested in....writing shows, musical directing, accompanying, choreographing, even performing outside of theater, and other things too. She is going for it as a performer in musical theater but that doesn't mean she is not skilled or interested in other things she could do if she doesn't get work on stage. </p>
<p>Secondly, I posted a while back a list of skills that those who are trained in theater possess that make them quite attractive employees in other disciplines....so I don't want to recopy that but through searching, you may find it. Attributes like collaboration, preparedness, taking direction, problem solving, creating, etc. all are developed in actors and transfer to many other disciplines. Many folks in the work world are working in careers that are not necessarily directly related to their college majors. A college degree will be beneficial in getting work and it is not totally about what the major was. Many BFA students in some BFA programs take considerable liberal arts courses as well. Some even minor in something else. They have become educated thinkers. That alone is useful in many jobs. </p>
<p>Upon graduating, a student will try to make a go of it in theater and during that time, while auditioning and making the "rounds", she will most likely have to hold some type of flexible job. This is a common thing to do initially after graduating from a BFA program. </p>
<p>Then you mention that your true passion is actng and you prefer to work in TV or film. In my opinion, your best avenues are either a BFA in Acting (not MT) or a BA in theater with the potential of going on for a MFA in Acting. For your goals, those seem like better routes in terms of the appropriate training. In fact, a BA might be good for you as you are wary of job prospects with a BFA and you can always go on for a MFA. With MT, there really is not a MFA route so a BFA is the main college training available. But I think if you prefer to go into film and TV, I'd suggest training primarily in acting, not MT. </p>
<p>You asked if a college degree is necessary to go on in acting....well, not necessarily. You could do a training program or classes that are not college based or even several two year acting schools, while auditioning to get work. But this seems to go against everything else you wrote. You are concerned about being able to get work if you don't make it as an actress but if that is a concern, then a college degree is going to help you lots more in that regard than just taking classes or some other acting training and auditioning...because if you do not make it in that scenario, you don't have the education or college degree to stand on to get "other" work. </p>
<p>You asked about putting a career on hold for four years and brought up auditioning while going to school. This is a personal decision but putting it "off" in order to train is a good thing because then you are merely 22 and still a young actress but also more prepared and skilled at it. Training never hurts! However, it is possible to audition while attending school and taking a leave if you get work. This is difficult in that many auditions conflict with classes but I guess you can make it work on occasion. It is a personal decision. Some kids do it and take a leave and then come back. I know ones who have. My daughter recently told an agent that she does not want to audition for theater while in school because she really wants to be in school now and says that she doesn't want to be faced with a decision that if she got cast in something, what to do and knows she really wants to be in school and so that would just make her torn when she can sit now and say she truly wants to be in school and likes it and wants the training. She'd prefer to use summers only to get work, for now. She does NOT see this as four years "wasted" but rather four years "gaining"...she'll be better suited to get work when she is done. Actually in her case, she'll only be 20 when she graduates...surely still a "young actress". </p>
<p>I don't see going to college as pushing your career back four years. You are FURTHERING your career. You are not killing time but you are making yourself into a better actress in terms of getting work in the field by being trained, plus you are getting an education under your belt in case you don't get work as an actress...kinda win win. Your career also can involve summer stock or other professional work during the four months you have off each year from college. </p>
<p>Does someone HAVE to get a BFA to make it? Surely not. But these issues are the ones to weigh.</p>