Why can't my parents understand the passion I have for Acting?

<p>Hi, parents.
I know I may be offending some.. I hope I'm not. Right now I'm in a really crucial stage that I'm deciding in two very contrasting subjects: Acting and Business. My passion is definitely going towards acting.</p>

<p>(Please refer to my stats & especially my ECs here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/new-york-university/1232605-stern-tisch-gallatin-fall-2012-edii-new-here-help-appreciated.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/new-york-university/1232605-stern-tisch-gallatin-fall-2012-edii-new-here-help-appreciated.html&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/p>

<p>However, my parents doesn't acquiesce to my choice of taking Acting in NYU and rather have me in Stern instead. I believe that may be.... Parents are right in things and want you to be successful and all that, but why can't they believe in what I am passionate about? </p>

<p>My parents believe that Acting BFA doesn't get me high enough as what they expect... They want me to be successful. I do get that. In fact, I do agree.
But, isn't taking what you are PASSIONATE about makes you do whatever it takes in order to succeed in the future? - In order to provide the basic necessities of one's life? </p>

<p>With an Acting BFA, I know I wouldn't get an immediate response to be a profession film actress, or broadway actress. I have to keep working until I land on something big. I'd also like to work in a Business in the Entertainment, Media, and Theatre industry in the future.</p>

<p>If I do get Acting BFA in Tisch, and minor in the Business EMT minor in Stern, is it possible to get a job in the Business in the Entertainment, Media, and Theatre industry in the future?</p>

<p>I definitely need advices, dear parents. I'm sorry if I have offended some.</p>

<p>P.S. I have gotten chances from people through my stats. And I do am a perfect fit for Tisch undergraduate student, not Stern. I do believe that if I do get into Stern, I'd like it... but I won't enjoy it. It's not my thing... Not my passion. </p>

<p>Thanks, again.
<3</p>

<p>No real advice here, but make sure that you CAN major at Tisch and minor at Stern. When my daughter was looking into NYU, she wanted to major in journalism and minor in theater, but talked to someone there who said you could only major and minor within the same school. You can do a major/minor within Stern or a major/ minor within Tisch, but you can’t attend both.
At least that was how she understood it, and decided not to go to NYU. It’s something you would need to check on before you make any decisions.</p>

<p>I have checked already. And it also states in the FAQs. Since I, most likely, is trying to major in Tisch itself, you can do a minors only listed in the Cross School minors selection:
[NYU</a> > Undergraduate Advisement > Majors and Minors > Cross-school Minors](<a href=“Undergraduate Advisement”>Undergraduate Advisement)
[Double</a> Majors: Tisch School of the Arts at NYU](<a href=“http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/double_maj.html]Double”>http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/double_maj.html)</p>

<p>I think your parents would rather you have:

  • A comparatively stable daytime profession and have Acting as a fall-back profession</p>

<p>Rather than having:

  • Acting as your daytime profession and waiting tables as your fall-back profession (& moving back in with mom/dad as the fall-back for your fall-back option)</p>

<p>Can you go somewhere and double major?</p>

<p>I might double major when I get to Tisch. Double majoring from CAS or Steinhardt. I still have to check with Steinhardt. For CAS, I might double major in International Relations or something like that. I’m not sure. </p>

<p>I wish there was a possibility to major in Tisch AND Stern. But people say it’s unlikely or it’s too hard. I still have to check again. My first priority is getting into NYU Tisch. </p>

<p>Other schools I’ve applied to:
Emerson College, Boston for Marketing Communications
Northeastern University for International Business
AMDA, for another Acting BFA</p>

<p>UK Universities:
University of Newcaslte for Business Management
London College of Fashion for Fashion Business: Marketing and Management
Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts for Music, Entertainment, Theatre Business</p>

<p>To GMTplus7,</p>

<p>Yes I know, but I don’t know. The thing is, I don’t really have any other interest that beats my interest for the Performing Arts. If I took Business, I might not enjoy it and end up… in misery. Lol, but yeah. Don’t you feel pretty s*** taking something you don’t have interest on?</p>

<p>I do agree with you. My parents are like that. They want me to do acting as just a hobby. They don’t want me to risk my future and end up as a failure. But isn’t this my decision?</p>

<p>One thing that is important to consider is whether you can afford NYU. NYU has a reputation of not giving much financial aid – it usually finds its way to the top of the list of “non profit universities with highest student loan debt per student”.</p>

<p>Is there a way to know what kind of investment nyu tuition will be in terms of an acting career? I think as a parent, I’d want my student to pick a cheaper school for the degree, and get the acting “chops” in real life, if that is an option.You don’t want a lot of loans trying to make your way in acting. Even if your parents can pay, your parents might have to plan their expenses around you having a limited income.</p>

<p>If you’ve read any of the comments in the MT/T threads you will see that, while it’s possible to major/minor with a BFA it is very difficult. If you are truly interested in both then I suggest a solid BA program where you can blend the two areas and double major or major/minor. To truly benefit from a BFA Acting or MT program is really a 24 hours/day commitment with little time for anything else. It’s not just classes but auditioning, rehearsals, etc. Also, you must know the miniscule admission rates for NYU. </p>

<p>I just reviewed your list and it looks like you’re only applying to those that offer acting and those that offer business. You need a good college that has a wide variety of degrees and classes and fit both your requirements and your parents requirements. Spend some time on the Acting and MT threads for ideas of colleges that would be a better fit.</p>

<p>Having gone through the decision to get an Acting BFA with my own daughter and from reading the forums on CC for the past few years, I’d make the following suggestions:</p>

<p>1) DO NOT focus on one particular school and its details if there is an audition involved. Don’t just worry about NYU, but make a list that is balanced with many options, including non-auditioned schools that fit your needs.</p>

<p>2) I agree that studying what you want for college is very important. We have no idea if my D will actually have an acting career. The important thing is that she is studying and learning and developing skills for life. If she has to switch gears at some point - which so many people do - then she’ll make that decision then.</p>

<p>3) That being said, it can’t hurt, if it’s possible, to start laying the groundwork for a “real” back-up career at the same time. If you truly enjoy the idea of business at all, especially in the arts, then find some schools with great theatre departments that also offer double majors/minors in arts management. There are many (I can’t think of any right now, but people on the theatre forums could help). </p>

<p>4) Don’t discount the value of a great BA, especially if it does allow you to double major. And don’t discount the financial issue. We can pay for our D’s education, but because she is getting her BFA at a school with excellent scholarships, we can also help her with a post-grad degree if needed (for her it’s more likely to be teaching than business). </p>

<p>I saw your thread on the theatre forum. You need to be more clear - copy your post here and ask a more open-ended question there about your situation. You will get lots of great advice from people with a lot of experience.</p>

<p>I agree with the posters who suggest creating a broader list, but to suggest that NYU is not a great place for combining business and the arts represents a gross misunderstanding of the opportunities there, whether it’s through classroom or internships/jobs/volunteer opportunities in the arts and arts management in the city.</p>

<p>As the OP noted, there is an arts management minor available through Tisch/Steinhardt/Stern.</p>

<p>A double major is quite difficult with a BFA, but a minor? not as hard. This will impact the room for a more well-rounded liberal arts education, but enough time for a minor for sure. </p>

<p>My D is in Tisch Drama. The school focuses on training the next generation of artists – not just students schooled in technique, but well-versed in thoughtful analysis of society, art and theater, and offers many opportunities to learn about how to apply their education beyond simply stage performance.</p>

<p>Not to mention that to the general public, the name “Tisch” is like the name “Harvard.” It doesn’t mean that the education is better than anywhere else, but just that it is so well-known beyond just the educational (or in this case, theater) cognoscenti.</p>

<p>another school to add to your list would be Skidmore, which has a BS in Theater and also offers business. It is unique among the liberal arts college in that regard, to the best of my knowledge.</p>

<p>Look into where the actors who work come from, IB.</p>

<p>You don’t have to go to a conservatory to act. In fact, it may be counterproductive.</p>

<p>You can get excellent training in a good BA program, and maybe even more and better experience doing all sorts of things.</p>

<p>For example, Steppenwolf in Chicago was begun by a group of theater kids from Northern Illinois. </p>

<p>I’m not saying Tisch is waste of time, but you should read the book outliers, and note that the most important thing you can do for yourself is to get as many hours in productions as you can get. That is the way you will get better.</p>

<p>You can learn some things from an acting program, though I tend to think that MT kids, who need to sing and dance, benefit more from a program like that.</p>

<p>Almost any theater program will do, as long as you are willing to work hard and show up.</p>

<p>Take as much acting as you wish, but make sure you have some degree that can actually support you and your future family. Parents do not live forever. My D. graduated with Music Minor, I supported her all the way on this, encouraged all the time. However, she is currently in Medical School…and participating in Opera production there, I am glad that she can do what she loves to break from very challenging academics, which she also is very passionate about.</p>

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<p>Not so sure about that. I never heard of Tisch and barely heard of NYU before reading these forums. Not sure why NYU seems to be so popular around here, despite its well known around here reputation of poor financial aid and high student loan debt.</p>

<p>Apply to a strong LAC with drama. God speed!</p>

<p>Thank you so much for all these generous advices. I appreciate all of it.
I now am realizing that it’s not only about NYU Tisch. There are also other schools out there that are also amazing. </p>

<p>@SDonCC: Yep! Skidmore visited my school in Singapore a month ago. I went to the university meeting. It looks like a liberal arts college I should look at. Thanks for the heads up!</p>

<p>Any other schools I should look into in terms of double majoring?</p>

<p>Lawrence University in Wisconsin. Can’t beat them.
But many others…</p>

<p>Any other schools I should look into in terms of double majoring? </p>

<p>USC has both a UG Business school- Marshall , and a great Performing arts school.
They also are know for their generous FA program, in contrast to NYUs reputation. Plus its in LA, the entertaining capital of the world.</p>