<p>I've heard that regardless of what your major is, you can always take acting classes and so forth outside of college. So, if acting doesn't work out, then what? I was thinking about majoring in nursing and minoring in acting, theatre, whatever. Or should I go to school in an area with big industry (LA, etc.) and major in something non acting related, but act and have auditions because of location? If that makes sense.</p>
<p>Any advice?</p>
<p>I say if theatre is your passion and what you really want to do, go for it. You could always minor in something “practical” like business or finance, so if acting doesn’t work you have a backup.
As long as you have a degree employers are generally happy. They don’t really care what it’s in.
Best of luck.</p>
<p>there is no right or wrong answer. IMO, you should major in what would make you the happiest and fulfilled in college. I’m not of the opinion that someone entering college has to have their career choices made.</p>
<p>gec414, I’m having the same dilemma. I love acting, but lately I’m considering pursuing another career while minoring in acting OR taking up outside training on the side. but I feel like I need to choose one path or the other now because it seems to me that at most colleges with great theater programs, it would be too late to decide to join the acting program in your sophomore year. …someone, feel free to let me know if that’s not true at certain schools. because if it isn’t, that’ll change a lot for me! haha.</p>
<p>SDonCC, I love that philosophy, but I’m not sure how to convince my parents about that, considering I don’t have any experience/supporting arguments. they think I must must must pursue a practical major that will guarantee a job. But I’ve read somewhere that a large majority of people end up working in fields unrelated to their majors? I’m not sure what the exact statistic was. Do you know what I might be talking about?</p>
<p>Tell your parents to give you a well researched list of undergraduate majors that will guarantee you a job in anything these days. I think they’ll find it to be pretty dang short. As far as I can tell, the only four year degree that will guarantee you a job is Military Science since Uncle Sam can always use more cannon fodder. My old boyfriend from freshman and sophomore year in high school got his in Architectural Engineering at Georgia Tech and you know what he does? Assistant Manager at Lowes … </p>
<p>Even an advanced degree in most things guarantees you diddly squat. I know people with JDs, MBAs, and MS Degrees in Engineering and Computer Science who are waiting tables and doing temp work right along with some of my actor friends. On average, the people I know who seem to be the most consistently employed in their fields majored in Design/Tech or Archaeology and no … They don’t make much money at it. If you just want a “job,” your best bet might actually be to just learn a trade at Community College or learn to drive a truck. It’s much cheaper … </p>
<p>I wish I could find a written report on it, but I heard a segment on BBC Radio last week wherein they highlighted some research that showed the complete mismatch between the actual job market and degrees offered by British universities. It’s no different here. </p>
<p>My mom wanted me to be a lawyer and used to blow me a huge line of **** about getting a degree in Waitressing. I took some glee in sending her a link to this New York Times article along with a note that said, “See, Mom? They’re ALL Waitressing Degrees!” 
<a href=“For Law School Graduates, Debts if Not Job Offers - The New York Times”>For Law School Graduates, Debts if Not Job Offers - The New York Times; </p>
<p>And for God’s sake, don’t get caught up in the prestige game and take on a lot of debt for any of it … [degree-not-worth-debt-cnnmoney:</a> Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance](<a href=“http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/113010/degree-not-worth-debt-cnnmoney]degree-not-worth-debt-cnnmoney:”>http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/113010/degree-not-worth-debt-cnnmoney)</p>
<p>I just think that anyone who’s undecided should go for a BA, and go to a school where there are plenty of options to take classes and do theater on an extracurricular basis whether you’re a major or not. You don’t need to major in theater to become a professional actor… and, you can major in theater and then decide to pursue a different career entirely!</p>
<p>I don’t disagree with SDonCC but I will say that if you are thinking of majoring in acting then you should go into most colleges with that major because it is easier to change out of a theatre program than to get into one and that’s not the case with most other majors. Just make sure, as SDonCC said, whatever schools you apply to have options should you decide to switch out of your major.</p>
<p>fishbowlfreshman is right. There are no undergraduate majors that lead to guaranteed career paths. I teach at a university that has a famous school of business. The undergrads there generally do get placed into 6-figure jobs upon graduation. One does see a higher rate of job-placement for students in a few majors, but not for most. </p>
<p>On the other side of the coin, realize that a theater/acting major will not prevent you from applying to professional schools, or to most other jobs upon graduation. What grad schools and employers are looking for is your ability to follow through the requirements and earn your degree. A good GPA is important, but not even critical-- I have seen students with less than stellar GPAs admitted to grad programs and accepted into their dream jobs on the basis of excellent college extracurriculars. There is no guaranteed path to success… or to disaster. Of course, if you get a theater degree and decide to apply to med school, you will have to take a few extra courses. There are programs set up to facilitate exactly that. The door is never really shut.</p>
<p>Many would argue that it is imprudent to invest time and money in a career with such a low possibility of return. I would argue that their position is an over-simplification.</p>
<p>Follow your dream and never give up. If you do that and work your butt off, then it will all work out for the best in the end.</p>
<p>thanks for the helpful feedback, everyone!</p>