To: Doctorjohn (or anybody else for that matter)

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>My dd is a junior and we are getting ready for college auditions for next year. After reading pages and pages of posts, I'm concerned at what I'm reading with regard to the selection process at several MT schools. It seems that it is going two ways....those who have a lot of experience (i.e., equity cards already, been able to attend prestigious summer camps and coaching), and those who have done nothing but high school musicals, basic lessons, etc. </p>

<p>With intimidating acceptance rates, is it possible to appear to an MT school that you are too experienced and, therefore, don't fit into their profile for their class? It's just very interesting to me that so many students get accepted into several programs, while others are being rejected from the supposedly "easy" schools and accepted into the more competitive programs.</p>

<p>I'd appreciate any thoughts on this.</p>

<p>To Soozievt: Your dd seems to have been unusually successful in her acceptances. What makes a particular student so much more appealing than another?</p>

<p>Thanks again. I'm just trying to get a realistic view of what's ahead for my dd.</p>

2

<p>Megsmom,
Obviously, I'm not Doctorjohn, but one thing I've learned is that it is almost as possible to be rejected from some programs for being "too strong," etc. as it is to be rejected at others for not having enough training, experience, etc. Interestingly, there doesn't really even seem to be a pattern to it. Generally, some places are going to like what you bring to the table and others won't and there's really not a good way to predict it. A lot of it might even have to do with who they already have in the program at some of the smaller schools. For instance, the program I'll be attending already has around ten redheads in the department and I'd be surprised if they want any more for the time being. Others might already have their share of petite Natalie Portman types. That's why it's best to apply to a large number of schools. Doctorjohn wrote a nice post outlining a strategy for selecting a variety of schools on Theatre/Drama last year. Follow this [url=<a href="http://www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/66659%5Dlink%5B/url"&gt;www.collegeconfidential.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?4/66659]link[/url&lt;/a&gt;] and look for it on May 3, 2004 at 11:16 p.m.</p>

3

<p>I have never heard of anyone being rejectied for being too experienced or too strong. Several kids we know did call some of the programs and asked for feedback on their rejection, and I have never heard even from the grapevine any such thing. The one girl we know, S's friend who already has a strong professional resume did not get into some programs because of her poor grades and not so great SAT scores, and the schools were quite blunt about that. She did get into a number of programs where those factors were not as important. It was my impression during the process that the resume was no where nearly as important as the audition. There is a young man at S's school who got into a couple of MT programs with a very skimpy resume--little private training, mainly supporting and bit roles at school performances.</p>

4

<p>MegsMom, I am clearly not DoctorJohn but will offer my view on your inquiry. I do not think any of these programs are EASY to get into. Some have a more "prestigious" (if you will) reputation than others but I'd say most of them have very low acceptance rates which make them all pretty hard to get into. </p>

<p>I have observed so many variations in kids' acceptance results into these programs. I know kids, like you say, who got into Tisch but not Emerson, UMich but not Syracuse, UM but not Penn State or Emerson, CCM but not Syracuse, and so on and so forth. My take on that is that these programs are small to begin with and the audition process has a great deal of subjectivity with it. Clearly there are far more talented kids than a school can accept. So, it might come down to that they have enough blond soprano ingenues and another talented one lost out or they have enough character actors and someone lost out cause that was their forte as well. There are sort of "slots" in a small class and so a kid is not vying for every single one of the 15 or 20 slots but more like vying for perhaps 4 of them that fit their profile. In a situation like that, the odds are so slim that it is not unbelievable that some highly talented kid got into X program and not Y and X was supposedly rated higher or more "prestigious". I do not think a program is going to say "this kid is too good to come here". They might think about if the school is a good fit for that kid and if the kid would benefit from the program or not. I don't think there are too many 18 year olds that are TOO experienced. Some are more experienced than others. But LOTS is based on the audition, not simply the resume. As I posted to you once before, a girl from our high school got into a BFA program (only auditioned at two) and her background consists of only high school musicals (4), some voice lessons sporadically, dance classes, one summer program for ONE summer in NYC. </p>

<p>I DO NOT believe that a summer program or camp is a ticket to a BFA program. I know I never sent my kid to one with that hope or intent. She simply liked being immersed in theater with other kids every summer. Her program did not prepare kids directly for college auditions. They had classes and put on shows, which can also be accomplished in some home communities. And then there are NUMEROUS kids who attended either pre college theater programs and/or summer theater camps who did not get into these BFA programs. So, no ONE thing is a ticket to getting accepted. I think a kid needs training in the three disciplines and experiences on stage in productions. There are many avenues to getting these experiences. There are many avenues to getting admitted to a BFA degree program. </p>

<p>The fact that some kids got into several programs is not that unusual if you ask me. It is not cause they all have some "common denominator" on their resumes. Some kids have the skills or the audition thing "down" and for whatever reason, fit what the program is looking for. I know someone who has been leads at least five times at my D's summer program (and at home as well) who only got into ONE BFA program. So, it is not all about one or two items on the resume but more about the audition, the skills, the presence, the personality, the rest of the application (academics, essays, recs, etc. etc.) and if you fit a "need" in the class, and some pure luck, if you ask me. </p>

<p>I have no idea why my child got into the number of schools she did, as you asked me. She is no more special than the other kids on here. I know some attributes she has but they are not only not unique but I cannot begin to guess if they were the cause of her acceptances or not (only the auditors and adcoms could say why they let her in). Some attributes she seems to have are....has done over 40 productions, has been leads in many shows, production experiences vary ....adult and youth productions....regional, professional, community theater, school, summer youth programs....has taken voice lessons and dance (many types) for years...has gone to a summer immersion program for seven years which includes classes (that is the only place she has had acting classes including Acting Master Classes).....worked with an acting coach this past fall/winter to prepare for college audition monologues....has done quite a bit of choreography....has won awards on the state and national level with voice/theater/jazz...plays two instruments including at a high level on piano (awards as well)...jazz band (piano and vocals)....command of music theory...select dance repertory troupe...has leadership including creating/directing musicals...hardest classes....very good GPA..."gifted" academically...very good SATs and SAT2s...skilled writer (including college essays)...very good recs...creative...takes initiative....seems to have stage presence....quite verbal...forte is the belt voice...has wide range with voice...is comedic....is accelerated in school....many independent studies...very social....very confident....experienced with auditioning (not nervous)...very very passionate about musical theater....commited and dedicated to this field....very driven kid....</p>

<p>Now, do I think you need those attributes? I have NO idea...am merely describing her.....I don't know which, if any, mattered with regard to her acceptances....We can all list our kids' backgrounds and traits....and it is up to the adcoms to decide which of these is what they want (plus I believe SO much rides on the actual audition itself). If I knew the answer to what they want, I could make a lot of money, just kidding!</p>

5

<p>"As I posted to you once before"......</p>

<p>I think perhaps you have me confused with somebody else. Unfortunately, I don't remember your answering me and telling me this story before. Thanks, however, for your input. Your daughter sounds wonderful. Best wishes for much success.</p>

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<p>Jamimom,
Okay. Here’s how it’s been explained to me. Imagine that you’re a faculty member at X mid-low prestige BFA MT program auditioning prospectives at the Unifieds. In walks a girl who displays all the magnetism and “it” you look for. Her audition performance is on par with the better professional renditions you’ve heard except that perhaps her voice still needs some age on it. You look at her resume and see that she already has extensive professional experience and/or has received pre-professional training for the past 2-4 years at one of the better performing arts high schools or after school conservatories. You know that her training covers what you do in your department well into the second year and she is already as advanced as most of your upperclassmen. You also notice that she has high academic stats and are pretty sure your university won’t challenge her that way. You have past experience with kids like this coming into your program and a good number of them have been unchallenged and extremely bored as freshmen. Several have transferred out of your program or left school to work before they graduated. Still others have stayed around and become attitude problems due to their boredom. You ask her the dreaded question of “where else are you auditioning” and find that she is in the running at several programs higher on the food chain than your own and it would be reasonably safe to assume that you won’t get her even if you admit her. </p>

<p>Later in the day, another girl with very similar basic traits comes in. She’s obviously talented, but is also still very raw. She’s pretty much only done the shows at her public high school and has maybe been to a random summer MT camp. She does, however, exhibit a lot of passion for “the game.” She is also about on level with the rest of the class you plan to admit experience and training-wise. </p>

<p>You have sixteen spots in your freshman class and generally take eight girls with a few more on the waiting list. Which one are you going to take a chance on?</p>

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<p>I know your post wasn't addressed to me but since I started the thread, I think I'll reply. Well, of course, I would pick prospect #2. It just makes more sense. But, that goes back to my original post of whether or not a student could be considered too experienced for a program, meaning would he/she be bored with the program once accepted because in the minds of the judges, this prospect has already completed a lot of what year 1 is all about.</p>

<p>I'm just trying to understand where my junior daughter would stand in terms of auditions. After reading so much of this forum, I don't know whether I should continue to encourage her towards the BFA or lead her to something more tangible in terms of future employment.</p>

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<p>Megsmom,
If she's like most of us, leading her towards something more tangible in terms of future employment would be like forcing her to drink low doses of poison for the rest of her life. Not quite enough to kill her, but just enough to suck out all her joy. Do you really want to send her down the path of what might have been? As far as where she stands, nobody here can know. Does she have access to a teacher who will give her a brutally honest opinion as to whether she has professional potential?</p>

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<p>My daughter has been encouraged towards MT for as long as we can remember. It started out with dance lessons, but when teachers discovered she also had a voice, things began to happen and she began auditioning for shows and actually getting cast! That's why I'm so concerned. These programs are so difficult to get into. I would hate for her to put all her hopes into being an MT major when it just might not happen according to statistics. But, yes, I agree with the simile of drinking low doses of poison. That's the problem. Maybe my maternal "protective" instincts are just kicking in.</p>

10

<p>MegsMom60:</p>

<p>Your question deserves a longer answer, and I'll try to get to it later today. But briefly, yes, I think your maternal instincts are running high. All of ours do, teachers as well as parents. (And many of us are both--ouch!) What lurks underneath your question about the inconsistency of admissions to college MT programs is the real question, "How do I keep my child from getting hurt?" and the real answer is, you can't. But you can help her position herself so that if she isn't admitted to ANY college BFA MT programs, she has some options after she's (rightfully) cried the bitter tears. Those options could include...</p>

<p>not going to college right away (thankfully, there's no draft--wasn't an option when we were in school), but spending six months preparing for auditions again...</p>

<p>going to a school with a good BA Theatre program, with the intent perhaps of considering an MFA later...</p>

<p>taking it as a sign that a career (repeat, career) in MT is not likely to happen, and deciding to do something else as a career while still doing theatre for fun.</p>

<p>There are many variations on this, and they've been discussed at great length for the three years this thread has existed. </p>

<p>What you can't do, I think, is to try to convince your child that MT isn't a good career choice. Of course it's not--it's a crazy business. (But as I've written before, the rest of the world is pretty crazy too. It isn't like it was when we were graduating from college and were relatively assured of getting work.) They will resist you to the last ounce of energy in their little bodies. If you think the twos were terrible.... The truth is, that they have to find out for themselves. And yes, they will fall down, and yes, they will get hurt. But it won't kill them, and the hurt will make them stronger, and making their own decisions will too. I think you just have to trust that.</p>

<p>What you can do is insist that they think about alternatives, the "just-in-case" scenarios. This is something they don't want to do, but it is a place where we as parents can push, a little.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

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<p>Doctorjohn - you are WONDERFUL!!!!! I'm was feeling the same apprehension as a self-proclaimed "over-protective mother" - you couldn't have said it better!</p>

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<p>Thesbohemian, I certainly am not qualified to answer that question. It is a very interesting one. Perhaps Doctorjohn can address this better, as he has seen the situation firsthand.</p>

<p>I can tell you that for instruments I have seen this situation many, many time. A polished, highly trained kid auditioning with an impeccable resume vs a kid who is nearly as good but with a local teacher and lots of room to grow, perhaps using a student violin vs the other kid's very expensive one. My gut would say to pick the kid who is certainly going to be maxed out and has not yet had the training. But I do not make the choices, and year after year, in music, the ones with the training and resume have consistently won out, in Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Pittsburgh. In fact, one of my kid's music teacher who is well known in his field often says "It's not what you know but who you know." For some auditions, you are pretty much a shoo in if you play well and are the private student of certain teachers. Particularly if the teacher has talked to whoever is in charge of the auditions. I have personally experienced this in the area of string instruments and in enough numbers that I can say this. For drama, particularly musical theatre, I don't have the experience, and I just don't know enough kids who have gone through the process to make any statement. I can only offer anecdotes which really mean nothing more than possibilities. </p>

<p>Just off the top of my head, I am thinking about my son who is is an athlete. Many raw talented kids interested in a spot. Every single kid on his team was "polished" in that they had spent years in the sport, gone to sports camps--many of them designated for kids who excelled in the sport, were on top teams. In fact when he looked at colleges and the teams, he knew most of the players from all of his years playing. It is very rare in his sport to get a raw talent kid, since the biggest indicator of sticking with the sport through college is the commitment the kid has put into it before college. Now this is a sport, not performing arts. Also looking at a top level voice program I know at a college, it would take an unusual kid indeed to be able to prepare for the audition for the program without training. I can't even pronounce the requirements, nor do I recognize the repertoire. When my son listed some of his works, I had trouble figuring out which was the work and which was the composer. And I am not totally ignorant of classical music, having so many kids taking so many lessons for so many years. Again, the kids in the program were highly trained.</p>

<p>I think that in the sampling I could see this year, which included informal chats with parents and a glance at some resumes, for MT, the kids who tended to do well had impressive academic credentials as well as the talent. There was ever so much talent. From the sounds coming out of the audition rooms, I would be hard put to say one kid was more talented than another. The resumes all looked pretty danged good to me too. The kids that tended to get hurt in the process where those who felt that their talent would give them a "leg up" in the process, getting them into a better school than their mediocre grades and test scores would. I don't think so. There is just so much talent out there, that even a 10% weight on the academics can be an issue. I was, by the way, one of the people who thought that MT would be a hook. And it may well be at non audition schools where the resume is scrutinized (NW emphasized that resume was very important for their non audition theatre program). However, I was dead wrong in thinking that for MT programs, it was going to count. I did not see many unimpressive resumes out there. The one kid at my son's school with limited experience was probably the only one; he did not have a head shot, his resume was skimpy. My son taught him his routines for the auditions, and lo, and behold, he did get into a few programs. Perhaps he is brimming with raw talent, perhaps he fits the profile that Thesbo is describing, perhaps he just had one great audition, perhaps those schools gave his rigorous private school grades a bit of a boost; his SATs were respectable, who knows? I do know that the girl with professional credits but low SATs and a transcript with mainly pass/fails on it (due to the time she takes off from school to perform) did not get into some programs, but she did get in others. I believe she is going to Boston Conservatory. NYU, her first choice, which she applied ED turned her down despite her strong affiliation with one of their studios. S says they called and they did not feel she had the academic numbers. Now though she had a stronger professional resume than any I have seen, she is no celebrity by any stretch. And who is to determine whether NYU turned her down for someone with raw talent and not as polished? THey take enough kids that if any program has room to accomodate a bit of both, they do. It seems pretty clear to me that NYU heavlly counts the academic. The word is that the weight is half on the academic, but that is really deceptive, because I think that if you are below a 3.0, for example and below, say a 1150 (am just guessing at both threshhold), you are going to be hard put to offset that with your resume and talent. In fact with a great audition, it may come down to your resume--if you are an up and coming celebrity recognized by the school, they just might give you a pass; don't know about that raw talent unless there is something truly unusual they want. </p>

<p>Again, Thesbo, I am just thinking through your questions, and have absolutely no idea what they do in the MT process. It could all depend on the mood and mindset of the actual people auditioning. But in the fields where I have had more experience in sheer numbers of kids; ie the classic music (string instruments) and athletics, an impressive resume with names of teachers/coaches that someone knows does carry an awful lot of weight. I have personally seen some "inside" deals.</p>

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<p>"But you can help her position herself so that if she isn't admitted to ANY college BFA MT programs, she has some options after she's (rightfully) cried the bitter tears. Those options could include..."</p>

<p>Doctorjohn--excellent post. Thank you very much for your words of wisdom. I just have another question, if you don't mind. Given your quote above and the options you listed, how many schools would you suggest a student audition for based on acceptance rates? Since there are so many MT schools out there, what if a student just happens to audition for the 7-8 (or so) schools that reject him/her. What if a student is accepted into several "lesser" programs, but rejected from the better known ones--the ones that have showcases, etc.? Should these rejections be indicative of a person's success in this field? In other words, just how important is a degree in MT for a wannabe? </p>

<p>If these questions have been answered before, I'd appreciate any input as to how to find the answers. Being new to this board is quite intimidating, given the amount of posts and threads. Even with using the search function, it's sometimes difficult to find the answers to specific questions.</p>

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<p>MegsMom,
I don't know that I have answers to your exact questions. But I have had and do have similar thoughts and worries from time to time. So much of this is person-specific. I know that my son has a much better chance of success in visual and performing arts than he would in accounting (or other such endeavors). What exactly he'll end up doing in the arts remains to be seen (and I suspect that the "what" will evolve over time). My husband and I expressed our preference to him that if he chose to study theater that he do so within the context of obtaining a college degree because it increased his knowledge, flexibility and resiliency in this uncertain world. His passions have long been in performing arts (and we think he's terrific). But when my son applied to colleges he did so with the framework of what he wanted to learn next (in terms of enhancing himself intellectually and artistically). As it turns out, he was pleased to be accepted into a top notch drama program. But, I could imagine him succeeding in any of the schools he applied to; he would just have to take a different path and perhaps a follow a different time frame.</p>

15

<p>MegsMom60,
I have been reading CC for two years now and have never posted but felt compelled to share my D's story with you. Last year my D applied to only three schools for MT. She was waitlisted at UM, deferred and then rejected at Penn State and accepted at NYU. She was given some good scholarship money at NYU but we still could not afford it. Unfortunatley for her, my husband is on the faculty at Penn State and we only pay 25% tuition. In addition, she was accepted to PSU's honors college and given more money. In the end, we only pay for room and board. She had auditioned for the BA program at Penn State and was accepted. That was her back-up plan. She just completed her freshamn year and has no regrets about the decision to pursue a BA in theater. In fact, she would say that it is the best place for her. She has studied with Mary Saunders-Barton (as Monkey mentioned, Mary is a jewel) and also took private voice lessons with a music performance grad student to continue with her classical repertoire. My D was able to enroll in the beginning ballet course that the BFA's take and finished two semesters of ballet and will take advanced ballet next fall. She took all of the acting classes that the BFA's took and did quite well. She had several callbacks this year for Penn State's main stage productions and ended up getting a part in their musical, Sweet Charity. She was the only non-BFA freshman to get into the production. Academically, she ended the year on the Dean's list, completing honors courses and deciding to add French as a double major. The honors college strongly recommends a year abroad and she has plans to spend a semester in France. To top off a great year, she auditioned for the Fulton Opera House in Lancaster PA (thanks to Monkey's suggestion) and was cast as the understudy to the lead in Carousel and will perform in the chorus. She will be paid a real salary and is given room and board. One year ago, this kid was devastated. She desparately wanted to go to NYU but knew that she couldn't without a huge amount of debt. She will graduate from Penn State with no debt and even money in the bank to help her pursue her career in theater. As her parent, I shudder at least once a week thinking about how tough her life will be but maybe I would feel the same if she were to graduate with an English degree or a psychology degree. In some funny twist of fate, she is in the right place for her. My D loves to learn and be challenged intellectually but is still passionate about MT. No matter what path she takes, theater will always be a part of her life. Regarding her training prior to college, she had some dance training but more jazz and tap rather than ballet. She plays two instruments (piano and violin) and is very good at music theory. She had three years of private voice lessons (both classical and belt) and recently Mary Saunders told her that she was ahead of the freshman BFA's in her vocal abilities. She never attended a summer program but performed locally at our community theater. Since we are in State College PA, there isn't any other theater opportunities nearby. She had several leads in her high school shows (Laurie in Oklahoma, Maria in West Side Story, Cinderella in Into the Woods) and was involved in every aspect of theater, from costumes to crew and tech. Her acting is probably her strength which is why she was placed in the Stella Adler studio at NYU. In the end, I believe that there are many ways to achieve this dream. Sorry for such a long post!
Patty</p>

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<p>It's so nice to hear another path to happiness! This is not a cookie cutter business, and there is no "right" way to go about it. I think that's why it's so hard for pragmatic parents to wrap our minds around it!</p>

17

<p>pspa-</p>

<p>Welcome to the CC thread for MT, (acting too)!</p>

<p>"As her parent, I shudder at least once a week thinking about how tough her life will be but maybe I would feel the same if she were to graduate with an English degree or a psychology degree."</p>

<p>Your quote struck a chord with me. I have an older son who graduated with a major in math/minor in music. He was panicked just prior to graduation and for a little while after about finding work because his friends were having a hard time finding work in their major and getting stuck working at low paying jobs to get by until something else "came along". I told him how important networking was to any business. Once he started really networking he immediately got a job that he was happy with. It was not his dream job but he was still happy. He continued networking and getting his resume out there and sure enough within 3 months he landed his dream job.</p>

<p>I can't put enough emphasis on the networking angle of getting/finding work. It doesn't matter what major it is, you can't sit by the phone waiting for it to ring. You have to constantly be out there marketing yourself. You also have to be good at creating your own job that will make you money. These skills don't have anything to do with how talented you are, but they are necessary if you want to work. The talent will only get you so far.</p>

18

<p>In today's world, unless you are going for a nursing degree, or something similar, it is hard for almost any recent college grad to find employment. Parents, think about your own so-called "majors" when you attended school. How many of you ended up working in the field you originally choose? Not every one of our MT kids will be on Broadway, but many will have wonderful careers as directors, stage managers, producers, writers, agents, teachers, lawyers, business execs or even US President (hmmm, sounds familiar). </p>

<p>We can't protect our children from disappointments. They will stumble and fall, make mistakes and learn to move on. It is all part of growing up.</p>

19

<p>I definitely agree with you; but, it still is nice to dream of getting exactly what you want. I would imagine that most BFA's or BA's would be VERY disappointed in having to teach when they can't make a living out of theater. While they can still use their talent in community, regional theater, etc., isn't the goal of studying theater in college to get a job in professional theater? I always worry about the kids who are very talented dancers, have wonderful GPA's and good coursework in high school, but decide to forego college to pursue their dancing. I realize, of course, that dance is a little different from theater in that the time frame for actually being a professional dancer is limited, but still. How many of the kids who forego college to pursue dance actually go back to school when things don't work out? I guess I'm just of the mindset that once a student chooses to stop their educational momentum, it's hard to get it going again. I know, I know, people do it, but it isn't easy.</p>

20

<p>I do not think getting a BFA is akin to "foregoing college" or "stopping the educational momentum". A BFA is a degree program and an intensive major, if you will, more than a typical college major involves, but it is still a college degree. For one thing, having a college degree, no matter the major, is still an education and is still something useful in the work world. The actual major itself does not mean that is all one can do. Like if someone majors in history, they are still educated and can be employed in a variety of jobs, not just ones to do with history. </p>

<p>Also, at most BFA programs (some more than others though), there is a significant liberal arts component so it is not like the kid is ONLY studying voice, dancing and acting even though they do that in a heavy dose. I know my child will be doing conservatory type training three days per week and other coursework two days per week at NYU/Tisch. She values academics and enjoys learning about things other than theater even though theater is her deep passion. She wants to be educated. She wants to cause she enjoys it and wants that background but also a good actor is one who has an education or worldly knowledge to draw upon too. </p>

<p>Anyway, while she definitely intends to pursue her lifelong passion on stage and that is the direction she is going for full force, she and we know there are many other things she could do (and yes, with this degree too). She happens to excel as a writer. I know there are many things she could do in life that involve writing. She loves to create shows. She loves directing and musical directing and choreographing. She can play piano and sing...like in piano bars or other venues. She's done these things already and would love to do them in the future. There are likely many things she or we have not even thought of that she could do related to theater and the arts. Those will all be options should her career on stage not take off once she puts her all into that. She is going to be in this thing at her college called University Scholars where they get involved in leadership in the arts in the community. Who knows what may come of that too? There are so many things she could do related to the arts with this degree. But beyond the arts, she will have a COLLEGE degree (always helpful in this day and age) and an education and that will serve her well in whatever she aims to pursue down the line. Plus, an education is NOT only about what job it may lead to. Education is worthy in itself as a person, as a life. You can never lose that. </p>

<p>I do not see it as either/or when it comes to going for a degree in theater. You have picked a passion, a field. You are getting an education at college. You may do a job down the line in that field or in something else. That is true of almost ANY college major. By choosing to major in theater or to do a BFA program, it is not like closing out everything else you could ever do for a career. </p>

<p>I do not see those who pursue a professional degree program in theater as foregoing an education. </p>

<p>You asked if the goal of studying theater is to get a job in professional theater? I'd imagine when someone picks a college major or degree program, they are thinking of hopefully doing something in that field down the line but it is not like a failure if they change course at some point either. They are young still. For instance, I know someone who majored in engineering in college. She did not go on to be an engineer. It certainly was not a waste. She is now in law school. She posts on the CC forums and I have met her in person. Just one of many examples. </p>

<p>I don't see my D who is pursuing a BFA degree as foregoing anything. She is an excellent student and could have gotten into various regular selective colleges. She did not give up anything by opting to do a BFA degree. She is even going to a pretty selective college, NYU, regardless of its BFA program. She will be educated. College is just one stepping stone in life. It is not limiting you to certain things later on. The world is their oyster. They are just beginning to dive into the sea of opportunities that awaits them. Who knows where it will all turn out? I like what Jamimom has once said on the Parent Forums....college is sort of a halfway house to adulthood. There is more to going to college than just what ya major in. And where they all end up in ten or twenty or thirty years, I dunno but let's all check back here, ok? And if the kids who opted to study theater in college are doing something else worthwhile with their lives, I will still view them as a success and their BFA degree will not have been worthless. Their lives may have just taken on a new direction. One thing often leads to another. It is not always a straight path either. </p>

<p>For me, I don't care what my kid ends up doing for her career. If she wants it to be on stage, then I want it for her only cause that is her passion. If she ends up doing something else and she loves it, that is fine by me too. I'll know she will have had an education and it will serve her well in life. The major is not the end all and be all. College is not only about what job it will lead to. Education is also part of being a person with a developed mind, job or not job. </p>

<p>Susan</p>