Which acting route should I go?

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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<p>I'm going to be a sophomore in high school this fall and acting has been my passion since I was 6. I am planning on applying to Bard College at Simon's Rock this fall, but I prob. won't go due to finances. I'm going to apply and see what happens. What ever happens, happens. That's what I have to say about that. My parents are having another child due around XMAS time, so I may have to help with the new kid. I also have a brother who is a year older and he wants to go to Johnson and Wales- Charlotte to become a chef. My younger brother is three years younger and he prob. wants to be a pharmacist or something with computers.</p>

<p>I am going to be in Advanced Drama and in a play next. It has been a while since I've done Theater, I've gone to the film acting route and have two talent agents in the Southeast. I would also like to audition while in college. I also have an interest in print journalism and dramatic writing. I would love to write and star in my own show or write for a travel magazine or go into arts journalism. I wouldn't mind being a columnist or reporter either though. Acting has always been my #1 passion though. As of now, I am going to look at BFA's/BA's and would like to double major. I also have a 3.2 GPA (will go a lot higher) and I am in/was all in honors and one AP course. I am planning on taking the ACT this October and the PSAT. I want to take an SAT subject test in World History next June too. I will have about 6-7 AP's the time I graduate. The BFA's of my list are:</p>

<p>NYU
Chapman (Screen Acting)
USC (wouldn't mind their BA though)
Syracuse (maybe, but I like Newhouse the best)
Florida State (I haven't made up my mine on that)</p>

<p>I also may like a liberal arts education. Schools that I like for that are: Marlboro, Bennington, Sarah Lawrence, Bard, Muhlenberg, Kenyon, Point Park (like their acting program), Flagler, Lake Forest, Centre, Evergreen State, New College of Florida, Rollins, Lewis and Clark, American's acting program & journalism, Reed and Wesleyan. I'm not sure if I do acting for all those schools, writing more. </p>

<p>I also like George Washington, IU- Bloomington, U Maryland- CP, Mizzou, Northwestern, Yale, UNC- Chapel Hill and UGA for journalism. Lehigh, Susquehanna, Loyola Marymount, College of Holy Cross, Villanova, Suny Purchase (dramatic writing) and West Georgia (safety) are the other schools on my list.</p>

<p>I would like to stay in the Northeast, California or Florida ideally. I like the suburbs and the city more than rural but I'm open to anything. I'd also like schools which have good scholarships. I want more training for modern theater and for film acting. I'm not into classical theater like Shakespeare or Musical Theater. I have no rhythm and people use to stare at me in Chorus, lol. Any BFA schools you think a good fit or any other schools? Is there any way to double major in Dramatic Writing and Acting at NYU? I could always do journalism for graduate school. Thanks and any feedback is great! I know I'm younger, but don't know if I'm in the right direction. :)</p>

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<p>I also may want to do some acting programs next year. I like NYU in Dublin or NYU in NYC for Dramatic Writing. I also NYCDA’s program too. I haven’t done any summer programs this summer, lol.</p>

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<p>bump???</p>

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<p>I have another question. If I do go on the Simon’s Rock route, is there any BFA I could go to for my last two years without starting over? I’m thinking if that happens, I could always get an MFA. Also, do you know any programs which may be good for me? I’m thinking about if it doesn’t work out too, so I have a back up plan. Thanks again!</p>

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<p>Most BFA programs require transfers to start as freshmen, because the acting training can vary so much from school to school. Some academic credits may transfer, though.</p>

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<p>I have a feeling I wouldn’t do a BFA if I transferred. Any regular suggestions for a school or advice anybody? Any feedback is welcome.</p>

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<p>It’s great to be looking to the future and dreaming about the paths you may take, but my sincere advice is to cultivate living in the present moment through a kind-hearted observation of the smallest things right in front of you.</p>

<p>The ability to fully attend to the world through each of your senses will help your acting career immeasurably. </p>

<p>All of the schools you mention have fine programs. My other advice is get into as little debt as possible, so that you have the freedom when you graduate to truly follow your dreams.</p>

<p>All the best to you!</p>

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<p>Thanks Laura, I appreciate your advice. I just wanted some advice and wanted to know people’s opinion. I am also worried about debt/money and that is the reason I’m worried I won’t go to Simon’s Rock. I really do not want to be in 100k debt the time I am only 22! :)</p>

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<p>The School of Fine Arts at UCONN is only about 500 undergrads or so. Nice campus too.
A small school within a big school. OOS is up to about 35K, though.</p>

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<p>Thanks slumom for the suggestion. I also want prestige too, but doesn’t have to be a top 10 school. I’ll check it out.</p>

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<h1>26 Public University in the country, a lot going on there…not just Basketball !!!</h1>

<p>It is getting more & more difficult to get in at UCONN. </p>

<p>My D is a graduate of the School of Fine Arts & she enjoyed it, but did not really end up doing something tied to her major, so many don’t.</p>

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<p>Yeah acting & the performing arts is a tough business. I also like print journalism and screenwriting, but those are no money makers. I could see myself as a lawyer one day too, who knows. I looked at UConn and I didn’t like one thing. You have to sing to audition for the BFA in Acting and I am a terrible singer. I know people on these forums have said to get lessons. But I honestly do not think my voice will get better. You can get training for acting and dancing to get better. You have to be born with that singing voice and I wasn’t it. People use to STARE at me in Chorus, lol. I just don’t want to try out for something which I wouldn’t have a shot with. I think that is something which may be a deal braker and why I wouldn’t audition for Suny Purchase or Julliard. I also tend to like more modern theater and tv/film acting more than classical/Shakespearean.</p>

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<p>"You have to be born with that singing voice and I wasn’t it. "</p>

<p>That isn’t necessarily true.</p>

<p>Singing is a technique. People don’t all come out of the womb amazing singers, or bad singers, and that’s it.</p>

<p>If you’re literally tone deaf that’s probably a dealbreaker, but there’s no reason you can’t learn to sing.</p>

<p>Also, based on your first post, I just get this slight sense that you are being just a little presumptuous with your college plans. It’s great to have an idea of what you want to do and the schools you’re interested in, but there’s no reason to narrow yourself. In a year, you may have totally dropped the idea of auditioning for an acting BFA. Just remember to be open and flexible.</p>

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<p>Thanks for writing! You could get lessons if you have a voice there, but I have nothing to work with. I’m that bad, lol! I’m open for anything, I would be planning on appyling to lots of schools. I have schools such as Mizzou to Sarah Lawrence. :)</p>

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<p>early_college – sorry it has taken me so long to reply to your PM request… From reading your posts here and on other threads, you strike me as an intelligent young person, who may be a bit bored with HS, and looking for a more challenging environment of kindred spirits? I had a few friends look at Simon’s Rock when I was in HS…. And my best friend’s younger sister went there, and it seems to be a wonderful place for the right student.</p>

<p>At this point it seems the right “route” is to continue to do research and explore the different types of options that will be available to you when you finish HS (or Simon’s Rock if you end up attending). Of the schools listed above…. SU Newhouse is a WONDERFUL communications program, but not an acting program, and because the Drama Dept. at Syracuse is a closed department for the most part (certainly in terms of training courses, and mainstage performance opportunities), you would not be able to be a Newhouse major who also takes classes or audition for the drama dept mainstage productions. </p>

<p>As others have mentioned it would most likely be difficult to do the 2 years at Simon’s Rock, transfer to a BFA program, and expect to graduate in only two more years. You would most likely need to start in the first year of training in a BFA program, and it would probably take you 4 more years (depending on the program possibly 3 – 3.5) to complete. However, if you went to Simon’s Rock next year and finished in two years, you would be the same age as many college freshmen, so four years of conservatory (or another college route – like Newhouse or something of that ilk) would have your graduating at the same age as the typical traditional college student. </p>

<p>If you are interested in Simon’s Rock it cannot hurt to apply. They offer financial aid to many students, and it may end up being financially feasible with the aid? You will not know unless you give it a go. You do not have a decision to make until you have all of the facts, and an acceptance in hand. The application/ interview process may also help you further clarify your path. </p>

<p>The choices you make, and the experiences you have now will open new doors and illuminate new paths. However, you are NEVER locked in, unable to change your mind. You will continually make discoveries, grow, and can always follow a new path. I know people with BFAs in acting who are now doctors, lawyers, therapists, teachers, etc… I know people with undergraduate degrees in areas other than theatre that have successful careers in the performing arts. My cousin’s undergraduate degree is in communications, but she always also performed…. dancing, singing, figure skating, etc… on her way out to LA for an internship in broadcasting after college graduation she stopped to visit friends working at a theme park… she was cast, and ended up never making in to LA for the internship. The theme park job led to a few years with Starlight Express in Germany. She has also performed on cruise ships, in Las Vegas (where her other job was on the local news…. using her undergraduate education :)), has worked as a back-up singer, sold real estate, …. the list goes on. </p>

<p>Each experience that we have in life helps us to figure out the next step in our life journey. From your posts here on CC it sounds as if you are inquisitive and engaged in the learning process. Keep asking questions, and exploring new opportunities, and you will figure out the appropriate next step.</p>

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<p>Thanks KatMT. I want to go to Simon’s Rock for a head start in life and have more options. High School does challenge me and I can get stressed, but it can a bit boring and I’m not intrested in the classes I have to take. I would do a BFA, but not if I go to Simon’s Rock. I think it would defeat the whole purpose of my plan, to get a head start. I think if I end up going to the Rock, that I may just transfer to a school like Sarah Lawrence. I could always do a MFA in Acting, but money will prob. be tight. My plan is to apply to Simon’s Rock and see what happens. If it is meant to be, it will happen. Thanks again!</p>