<p>UCB–</p>
<p>the kids in this generation really prefer urban schools. I understand the draw of New York.</p>
<p>Good suggestion on USC, too.</p>
<p>I like the idea of an LAC with econ or business.</p>
<p>Just make sure you look at the production calender of the theater dept. If the kinds of shows they are doing appeal to you, then that is what you need to know. JMO</p>
<p>When my daughter got into Tisch, a classmate of hers (not a theater student) said to her mom, “Wow, that’s the Harvard of the theater schools.” Maybe it’s because I live on the East Coast, but I find that Tisch is a well-recognized entity, and of the theater programs, yes, I’d venture to say it’s the most familiar to the general public. Doesn’t mean that it’s better (although our D is having a fabulous experience there).</p>
<p>You know, too, it’s a reach school for anyone, but Brown has an open curriculum.</p>
<p>You might look into that as well.</p>
<p>There, you will be able to design your own program to incorporate both.</p>
<p>I think Grinnell in Iowa has an open curriculum, as well. </p>
<p>I’m not sure which other schools offer this kind of academic freedom, but I’d also want to look into that, if I were you. fwiw</p>
<p>IBstudent18 -</p>
<p>Are you an international applicant or an overseas-US-citizen applicant? That can make a huge difference in the whole college application process.</p>
<p>Two schools that we visited last summer with our theater tech major were Milliken U in Decatur, IL and Columbia College, Chicago, IL. Both have a variety of theater/communication/performance majors as well as solid business programs. The weather would be definitely un-Singapore-like at both of those locations, but they may be worth your investigation.</p>
<p>IBStudent- like others have mentioned, be careful about setting your heart on NYU if you decide to look at a BFA program in acting. Auditioned BFA programs are highly competitive, and acceptance is based as much on your audition as on your stats. Come up with a well-rounded list of programs that would allow you to double major, or to minor, and that you would be happy with. I also notice that you have AMDA on your list. While I don’t have anything against AMDA, I would double check to see that their units are transferable to other programs, and to graduate programs should you choose to continue in school. I have heard of several instances recently where grad schools did not accept the AMDA coursework. In addition, just from your stats, I would say AMDA might leave you wanting a higher level of academics than they offer. Just make sure to do your research! Good luck!</p>
<p>Just don’t pull a Dead Poet’s Society and dress up like Jesus and kill yourself…</p>
<p>OH CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN!</p>
<p>Responding to several posts. </p>
<p>Lefty-Lou, while it is true if you are majoring in another school (other than Tisch), you can’t do a minor in Tisch, the fact is that a BFA Drama student in Tisch can double major in College of Arts and Sciences and can minor in most schools at NYU as well. </p>
<p>While it is hard to double major with a BFA Drama, some do it. It is more manageable to do a minor combined with the BFA. That would be an option for the OP if she were to be admitted. </p>
<p>I do agree with the idea for someone who truly wants a double major to look into BA schools with strong theater programs. Even so, I think NYU/Tisch would be one option for the OP to also do work in arts management, etc., while training in acting. Many Tisch grads work in the entertainment business other than performing. </p>
<p>GMTplus7, I do not agree with your advice that acting should only be a fall back option and I don’t agree that if one majors in acting that the fall back job is waiting tables and/or moving in with mom and dad. My D has a BFA in Drama from NYU/Tisch (focusing primarily on musical theater) and knew that from graduation day going forward that she was expected to support herself and she has done so (2 1/2 years and counting) and she has never waited tables and never will. ALL of her work is in the fields of theater and music. She is involved in many facets of the field. This is true of most of her friends who are alums as well. She may not be rich but she is supporting herself starting at age 20 and is working entirely in her field of passion. </p>
<p>ucbalumnus, just so you know, Tisch is very well known in the theater world. As that is not your area, I can understand you may not have heard of it, but I can assure you that the acting world surely has and it is one of the very well regarded programs in the field. I understand your valid point about financial aid (and this girl in particular appears to be an international student), but my daughter got very good financial aid from NYU! Just saying. </p>
<p>poetgrl, I don’t agree that one is best off learning acting in the real world or just by being in productions. Yes, people make it in the acting world having gone down many paths to get there. There is no one way. But I can’t agree about discounting conservatory or excellent training. It can only be beneficial and I don’t agree that it would be counterproductive. </p>
<p>Finally, I agree with those who encourage the OP to NOT focus on one particular school like Tisch (as that is likely one of the well known ones you would know about as you live in Singapore). There are many excellent colleges in the US where you could focus on your interests. Apply to NYU/Tisch but the admissions to the BFA are very slim and so you need to expand your college list to include many programs that offer the kind of studies and training you seek.</p>
<p>PS, I cross posted with takeitallin but agree with her that NYU/Tisch and AMDA are like night and day. Look into this very closely. There are many schools in between those two extremes.</p>
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</p>
<p>I was afraid that post might be misunderstood after I reread it when it was too late to change it.</p>
<p>Nobody who can get in to Tisch is going to be hurt by working there.</p>
<p>Let me just say that.</p>
<p>Acting is like writing. Nobody can really be taught how to act, but everyone can be taught how to do it “better.” within their given talent level.</p>
<p>So… make of it what you will. I’m not much of a one for thinking a major in theater or any other art is a waste of time. while few will work in the field, most majors I know have been quite successful in life. It’s a good major for a million different reasons, even just the time managment skills alone. </p>
<p>My post, however, was directed at an international student (read: full pay) who has to negotiate with her parents. We are not her parents and Tisch and a double major sounds extremely challenging, best case. A recipe for disaster, most likely.</p>
<p>Like SoozieVt, but with a twist: our S graduated with the BA from an LAC far away from NYC, double-majored in Theater and Music (two very separate departments). As it happened, his LAC had an open curriculum but he ended up taking a distribution of courses in many departments. He moved to NYC immediately after graduation. He’s been acting professionally for 5 years now and counting. The list of economic and lifestyle sacrifices he makes is long, but he’s centered and very content with his artistic and personal life today. </p>
<p>To the OP: most parents of my son’s acting friends wish their children had majored differently. Join the club and thank your parents for permitting you to major as you wish. You’ll have to make this journey on your own, in terms of their understanding. Perhaps eventually and incrementally, they’ll see the merits in terms of discipline, time management, and other non-acting values of an Acting major.</p>
<p>I can share that my S’s technical skills off-to-the-side have kept him afloat (for rent and groceries). In his case: self-taught skill with a camera has generated a sideline business of photographing theater troupes and doing actors’ professional headshots for pay. He is capable in a foreign language, and I see you have several. This enables him to tutor privately. When he first moved to NYC with his BA, he found a room and 20/hr/week job by working as a “manny” (male nanny) for a wealthy family. This allowed him to audition heavily in his first year. By Year 2 (and you must must be able to handle a LOT of rejection to get to Year 2…), one troupe that auditioned and cast him became his home-base artistically. He volunteered a lot of time on their business development. He has grown along with that company, artistically and to a lesser extent monetarily. He’s now their “Marketing Director” - as well as “Creative Partner” (actor plus). He’s never taken a business course in his life, although if he had I’m sure it would be useful also.</p>
<p>My thought is, if you decide to go the BA with Theater Major route, you <em>might</em> consider a Business minor, but might be equally well-served developing some hard technical skill that will allow you to work in day jobs other than waiting tables. My S has gotten more mileage that way. </p>
<p>Also realize there’s nothing wrong with actors waiting tables. Actors do it because the hours are flexible, the relationship between restauranteurs and stage actors is well-honed in NYC, you can take off for months if you get a part without losing any ground in your day job. Also: actors’ talents in improv, personal charm, physical stamina, timing and (sometimes) handsome appearance all bodes well for tips. That said, my own S never waited tables after graduating, but plenty of his friends did and do.</p>
<p>Honestly I think the hardest parts are: continual rejection until you gain traction and not giving up trying during the first year in the big city. JMO.</p>
<p>Something I wonder for you, with your skills in Mandarin (highly desirable language for NYC) - look into a minor where that can flourish so it becomes your dayjob. Some examples I know: my DIL (daughter-in-law) works with children who have autism. Private agencies in that field need workers who can go into Chinese homes in NYC to work with children and teach CHinese-speaking parents to guide their own preschool children. IF you already feel you could work with special needs children, any specific courses as an undergraduate in Teacher Education, coupled with your Mandarin, might bear fruit someday as a behavioral therapist assistant someday in NYC. </p>
<p>Here’s another idea: while an undergraduate, shoot for whatever it takes to get trained and certified to teach foreign languages. I don’t know if there’s a variant on the TESOL practitioner, who teaches English as Second Language. I do know that just “knowing” a language doesn’t make you a capable teacher of that language. Can you get courses to help bridge that while an undergrad? If so, when you graduate, you might find it lucrative (and flexible enough to go with acting…) to work for a tutoring house in your foreign language(s).</p>
<p>To me, developing your hard/technical skills might be more compatible with an Acting/Theater major after you graduate, as compared to a minor in Business that you don’t care as much to pursue.</p>
<p>Of course, you can bartending also…but again, what if you are not capable to obtain the skills,…it is not for everybody. The same for many other skills.<br>
Doing pottery makes me very happy. I do not know single person even internatilnally known artists who sustain themselves financially doing that. No, all of them that I know have “day” jobs or have other sources of incom…although some of their peices are sold for $500+.
I enjoy my “day” job even more than my hobby. how you can tell that you will not enjoy it? You have not tried anything in your life yet.</p>
<p>What you are calling “day” jobs are often what is called “survival” jobs for actors. My D has survival jobs to pay the bills in addition to her work performing. But all of her non-performance survival jobs are ALSO in theater and music. She is not unique in this way. </p>
<p>Also, being a performer is not a “hobby.” It is an art and skill. Artists are needed beyond the hobbyist level.</p>
<p>If the OP is an international applicant, he/she needs to be thinking about preparing for a career in his/her own country. There is no guarantee whatsoever that he/she will be able to get a work visa aftergraduation.</p>
<p>A family member of mine majored in acting and was very involved with his craft for many years. Then went to New York with friends to live so he could follow his dream. He auditioned for a year (when he could get the auditions)…did temp work so he wouldn’t starve, took out of state small acting jobs in desparation and finally decided to go on to get his Masters in Fine Arts (so he can teach and feed himself). </p>
<p>I’m sure he will do well (he is at an Ivy League school getting the MFA). But his future has not exactly turned out the way he thought that it would. </p>
<p>Your parents want you to be able to feed yourself. And that should be a pretty high goal for yourself as well. </p>
<p>You can major in business and still take acting classes and still audition for parts (doesn’t take a degree to do that). </p>
<p>I know it’s not what you want to hear, but it’s practical advice.</p>
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</p>
<p>Back in the early-mid’90s, the only undergrad areas of NYU which were respected by most neighbors and classmates at my NYC specialized high school was Tisch and Stern. However, my high school wasn’t exactly known for its budding thespians…though we do have some famous alums in the acting business ranging from James Cagney to Lucy Liu. </p>
<p>Incidentally, the latter ended up transferring out of NYU after one year and finished at UMich with a BA in Asian Languages and Cultures. </p>
<p>You don’t necessarily need an acting degree to get started on an acting career.</p>
<p>soozie,
'Also, being a performer is not a “hobby.” It is an art and skill. Artists are needed beyond the hobbyist level. "
-Not to put anybody down, I was also told that my pottery peices are great art. The fact that I am making them after my job (which is also my main activity that I enjoy immensely) and not before or in between do not make them any less significant than anybody’s else artistic expressions. I am also selling them, not for income though, but for having space for my next items, which still does not make them less artistic. I also produce much more than lots of other potters or so I was told.</p>
<p>Yes, hobbyists can make great art. Totally agree. I’m just saying that the world of the arts needs people who are doing this as a career. While it may be difficult to make it in the world of the arts, I’m glad we all benefit from those who have pursued it full throttle. Just because the odds are challenging, doesn’t mean some people shouldn’t pursue the arts as their careers. As I said, my kid has and every single job she holds is in the arts.</p>
<p>Not disagreeing with soozievt, but I would add some advice to be sure to allow for some more traditional academic interests in addition to the professional acting training (if that’s the route you end up choosing). You might be surprised where your interests will take you.</p>
<p>If you are like many other BFA students, you have been doing theater since you were a child, and it probably was the focus of your high school activities and social life as well. You are probably very good at it, and see it as a way to succeed. </p>
<p>But a lot of the same skills that make you a good actor can help you succeed in other careers as well. My D ended up with a dual degree in Theater and Business-Public Relations. She was surprised to find she liked the business courses and did well in them. So that’s when she changed to the dual degree. She felt like this combination gave her more options for her future.</p>
<p>Not sure why an actor would have to double major to pursue different careers after college. An English major can open a business; a Philosophy major can try to work on Wall Street. An actor is learning how to evaluate, express, understand and interpret ideas and human experience – all transferable and useful skills. </p>
<p>Similarly, a finance major can go on to pursue an acting career if so inclined! Or, write novels instead of working for a bank…</p>
<p>I was not trying to imply a dual degree is required. Heck, everyone knows of people who didn’t even go to college who have great success in life. </p>
<p>What I was trying to convey was to take advantage of learning opportunities while you are at college. Its not unusual for a college student to change their major or their mind about what direction they want to pursue in life.</p>
<p>I’m with SDonCC on the issue that a college major doesn’t dictate the only area one can pursue in life and future career. So many people in the work world are working at jobs that don’t match their exact college major. Someone with a theater major can go on to do other things. Their degree will be valued in the work place. Also, just because someone majors in theater, it doesn’t mean they ONLY studied theater in college! My kid studied and loved coursework outside of her theater major. She has a varied skill set and is hired in many capacities within the arts, including performing. In my view, she attained a college education, and is more than just her “major.”</p>