The hardest decision of my life... Help

Colleges and Universities A-Z Middlebury College
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<p>So, now that I'm done hearing from schools, I can breathe, right? Or at least, kind of? I need some advice and expertise to help me choose where to go, as my parents are being somewhat biased and incredibly unhelpful. I am planning on double majoring in Theatre and French or some kind of interdisciplinary think (like gender or european studies, etc.). Ultimately I am incredibly interested in a profession in theatre, as an actor, director, writer, producer–anything. However, I also love Art history and fashion and am interested in PR and Journalism, professionally speaking. I know, I'm all over the place.</p>

<p>Now, I was accepted to Middlebury, NYU (College of Arts & Sciences), USC (School of Theatre), UCLA (School of Theater, Film & TV), Oberlin, Sarah Lawrence, Bard, Eugene Lang, UC Santa Cruz and was waitlisted at Wesleyan. I'm really excited and have some really amazing choices, but as you can see, all of these schools are so, so different, which makes them really difficult to weigh against each other.</p>

<p>The ones I am most drawn to and am most seriously considering are Midd, NYU, USC and Oberlin. So, it almost comes down to rural LAC vs. big, urban private universities. I live in Los Angeles and have lived in cities my entire life and live in a family that is really active in the arts, making NYU and USC both incredibly comfortable to me. However, I feel like I don't want to play it safe... I kind of want to experience something new and get out. </p>

<p>Arguably, Middlebury is the most prestigious of the four, not to mention particularly in the fields I'm interested in (theatre, foreign languages and social sciences). However, naturally, I would think that the professional and career opportunities that come with schools like NYU and USC would be invaluable in terms of working in the real world. I'm absolutely in love with every aspect of Midd, except the ruralness frightens me a bit, as like I said, I've lived in big cities my entire life. Oberlin also gave me a really nice merit scholarship and has just been really warm and personal throughout this entire process, making me feel nothing but good things toward them, which I'm sure, was exactly their intention. </p>

<p>Sorry I'm ranting and writing a lot, I'm a little overwhelmed... Essentially, it comes down to whether or not I want to dive into working in theatre, film, fashion, etc. (NYU or USC), or if I want to hide out in the wilderness and really enjoy college; small classes, great professors, prestige, beautiful scenery, rigorous academics, etc. Where do you guys see me most? What would be the smartest decision? At this point, it really feels like there is no "wrong" decision, so I'm not necessarily stressed, but that in a way makes the situation as a whole a little bit more overwhelming. Any kind of help or advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Thank you</p>

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<p>As a fellow theatre lover, and one who used to have aspirations to do them professionally as well, that’s a really challenging choice. If you’re good, and I’m assuming you are given UCLA and USC are fantastic for theatre and film, the urban choice is obviously much stronger if you’re confident in your choice, and willing to invest some serious dough for a bit fewer options in terms of career. With Middlebury’s LAC background and breadth in your degree, you will be more prepared for other kinds of work if you do not end becoming an actor. So I guess I’m not being terribly helpful, so i’ll stop there, but it sounds like you decision is definitely be an actor and risking a slightly less luxurious life, or broader degree and still giving acting a shot with slightly weaker connections but a better fall back. You’ve got some great options, but I think going away from the city you grew up in is also a benefit. Experience something new, going out of your comfort zone is excellent training for the life of an actor :P</p>

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<p>I completely agree with MiddTim…although one thing I would like to suggest to you is to visit the campuses in which you are most interested and maybe even spend the night with a student to get a genuine feel for the school. You might discover that one simply does not offer what you assumed it did looking at pictures and reading student reviews. I know next to nothing about theatre but I do know that actors by definition are extremely expressive individuals and seek opportunities of expression outside the context of the theater. Therefore, you would want to choose a school that nurtures that quality of yours most wholly. Since I don’t know much about any of the schools you’re considering besides Midd, I can’t say much else, but if I may, I might just throw in that given Midd’s small size, relative academic superiority, and tendency to attract a particularly eclectic and energetic group of students (or so I’ve heard), its “per capita expressiveness,” if you will, would in my opinion make it a great option. Best of luck with your decision!</p>

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<p>I think the key here is that your family is already active in the arts. If that’s true to the extent that you already have connections, then, you don’t have to worry so much about using college as a calling card for the industry. Personally, I think a liberal arts education can only help one professionally.</p>

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<p>I guess I’d have to add the obvious - the true strength of USC and NYU, especially for drama, is in their grad programs (which are among the very best). You can always attend those after your time at Middlebury. You’d have the experience of an outstanding and unique undergrad and an equally outstanding grad program. It also looks a lot better to have different schools for undergrad and grad on your resume. Good luck!</p>

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<p>And nobody has mentioned that the theater dept at Middlebury is one of the best undergraduate programs around. It is interdisciplinary in that the faculty require historical, political, and cultural study for each of the plays it performs in the true liberal arts tradition. For good or bad, theater at Midd is sometimes described as similar to its varsity sports programs – requires great dedication, time, collaboration, team work, and excellence. It also provides opportunities to work with Equity actors each summer as part of the Potomac Theater Project, which spends about two weeks in June in Middlebury before heading to NYC (Chelsea) for its 2-3 week season. Undergraduates get to work with equity actors, do stage, set, and costume design, and learn about professional theater. Check it out and see what students in the dept have done and what opportunities there are as undergraduates.</p>

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<p>I know people in the theater who have gone both routes and succeeded. The best playwright I know came out of Colby. I know working actors from Oberlin and Amherst. You will start your career sooner in LA or NY though NYU A & S isn’t Tisch. You need to decide if you want 4 years of school apart from the pressures of career or get your feet wet right away. Meryl Streep did quite well after Vassar. Haha.</p>

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<p>Holy Crap, my college choices are so similar!
Basically Tufts instead of Oberlin, and UT AUstin instead of UC Santa Cruz, and BOOM!
We were even both waitlisted at Wes… lol</p>

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<p>Funny to be wait-listed at wes-John W, where are you?
I think mythmom has it right, tho after reading your post, I think NYU might suit you better, or at least if you didn’t make it, you wouldn’t obsess that you made the wrong decision.</p>

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<p>I don’t think NYU will be as helpful to you as you think with all those Tisch kids floating around. So, I would choose between USC and your LAC’s, unless you yearn to be in NYC.</p>

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<p>That’s what I was reading into the post-a sincere desire to be “in the Big Apple”</p>

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<p>thank you guys for all of your advice, you’ve all been really helpful. you’re not incorrect in that i am sort of yearning for the big apple. the program i am in at CAS is a major in dramatic literature and theatre history with a minor in performance in Tisch. also, a lot of performance opportunities are open to the entire university, apart from Tisch’s and Steinhardt’s mainstage productions, which there are less of anyway. in case i didn’t make it clear, i’m definitely planning on getting an MFA after college. I purposefully applied to more academically-based BA rather than BFA programs because I wanted a more well-rounded education, yet they all have really nice professional opportunities as well… sorry if i’m kind of contradicting myself, i’m a little overwhelmed with all of this and have been researching non-stop. </p>

<p>anyway, yeah, it’s also a matter of whether i want to work in college. the other reason i chose CAS over Tisch is because Tisch is very strict with outside work in that it is strictly prohibited (my brother is graduating from there this year), while CAS is less labor-intensive and will probably allow me to enjoy the artistic resources of NYC more holistically. USC’s School of Theatre is also a huge hotspot in terms of work, but obviously more in film and TV than theatre, though it’s still present, and the school is far more lenient with outside work. Oberlin and Midd are both fantastic LACs, both providing winter terms, where I could probably intern or work in NYC or London or something. From what I know, Oberlin’s alumni network in the NYC arts scene is a lot stronger than Middlebury’s which makes it a little bit more enticing. Also, I feel like I might fit in more at Oberlin than Middlebury, just in social terms… I’m a pretty artsy guy and the notorious preppiness and jockiness at Midd makes me a little apprehensive. </p>

<p>So, as you can tell, I’ve barely made progress in terms of solidifying a decision but all of this research and information is still incredibly helpful and I already feel more confident in my ability to make a truly educated decision, so thank you thank you thank you guys for all of your help… And don’t hesitate to keep helping!</p>

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<p>Be careful about reading too much into " the notorious preppiness and jockiness at Midd". There may be a lot of prep-school graduates and a lot of athletes at Middlebury, but it’s one of the most accepting places you’ll ever go. As I’ve said before, it’s not at all unusual to spend a Friday night at the art opening of the school’s quarterback, or the opening night of a play staring the Lacrosse goalie. It’s a very involved community. Check it out before dismissing it.</p>

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<p>obviously, I think he should keep his spot on the waitlist. ;)</p>

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<p>My daughter has just been accepted at NYU/TIsch (Acting), which has been her dream school for years. Also wait-listed at Oberlin and Barnard, with a theater major, and was rejected by Middlebury. When we visited both Middlebury and Oberlin in August, we were impressed by both of them, but for someone who wants to do serious acting as their life’s work, we felt Oberlin would be better in terms of the range of courses in various aspects of acting. We had a great meeting with the then-dept. chair. So both Oberlin and Tisch have been at the top of my daughter’s list! Oberlin is about 45 mins. from Cleveland, which has an amazing theater scene, according to the dept. chair we spoke with. We were not looking at the West Coast at all, so can’t help you there! Hope this is helpful, and good luck with your decision; at least you have some great choices!!</p>

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<p>MMMom, I’ve been guilty of the same error, but sometimes you have to pay close attention to thread dates. This thread is nearly a year old. This person is finishing up her First year at whatever school she decided to attend.</p>