It’s Gonna be Totally Awesome
(Oh God, did I just date myself with that reference? Is AVPM still a thing people are aware of??)
So You’ve decided you’re going to go for it!! (If I skipped a step/problem/dilemma, please let me know)
So when applying to colleges, you really have to look deep within yourself and figure out what you want to get out of the 4 years you’ll be there. Everyone will tell you
DRAMA TEACHER 1: GO TO NYU
VOICE TEACHER 1: GO TO CARNEGIE MELLON
DIRECTOR 3: If you graduate from University of Michigan, you have a guaranteed career!!
BUT honestly, at the end of the day, it is not about how prestigious the school is (Well...it may help a little bit...but honestly, you get fairly similar results with all the top 20 theater schools)
1)What do you want to study? How much do you want to study it?
Are you 100% Costume Design? Do you want a program that lets you try other designs so you can decide how much you love/hate them? Do you love Musical Theater and acting, but also have a little side-crush on Stage Management?
Typically, a BFA degree is more Conservatory-ish...meaning, most of your classes are concentrated in your specific concentration, and you typically take fewer liberal arts classes. If you are thinking about double majoring or minoring, a BFA probably is not for you. I was able to minor in Studio Art, but that is only because my major already required quite a few art/art history requirements, so I only needed to take approx. 3 more classes to complete it. I think this might be the main reason many people drop out of the BFA. Even as an actor, you typically have 8AMs (to get all those dance/movement studios in) then you could be in theatre practicum 3pm-7pm...then, you could have rehearsal for a show 7pm-10pm...then you have homework. A BFA is a full load. But it also really helps you get the training you might need to perfect your art.
The Other Route you could take is a BA. This degree makes it easier to Double Major/ leave the theater building, but you also get a very well rounded theater education. At Ithaca, the BAs could concentrate in Directing, Acting, Stage Management, Dramaturgy, Theater History, etc. This opens a lot more doors for you if you aren’t absolutely positive if theater is the path you want to take.
2) Location! Where are the alums going??
So This is big. Like I said earlier, there is theater happening everywhere. So if you are more interested in California, I’d suggest looking at schools out there. If you are interested in Chicago, I’d suggest looking into that region. When I was busy applying to my one college, I didn’t even think about this being an issue, but theater communities are tight and hard to break into, and going to a school that feeds a lot of alum into that community is a perfect in. That being said, it is possible to break into a different community-- I do know of a few people from Ithaca who went to Chicago to get work. However, these people are typically unemployed for a bit longer than the people who go to NYC after graduation.
This can be HUGE. You don’t realize how big of a jump college is until you make it. It can be scary! All of your friends you’ve been hanging out with for the past 18 years are suddenly 500 miles away...who do you talk to?! You really want to find a great support system for what you are about to do. People who will sit with you in the hallways if you just need to cry it out for a second after a end-of-semester review...People who will make it fun to be working those 12 hour days...People who will care about how you’re doing and be there to support you. You want to feel like you belong! Ithaca was amazing at this--More about that later though.
ALSO, how is the alumni community? Do people leave the school wanting to help people who went there? Is there pride in having gone there? Do they have a mafia that will get you jobs??
4) As a designer, will you get designs?? If your an actor, will you ever make it to the main stage??
This is important. Also, for aspiring actors or directors or whoever. Something to consider is that if it is a huge school with an MFA program, what are the chances of you being a leading player on the Main stage?? Will you be doing basement shows your whole college career? Will the costume shop manager ever see one of your beautiful renderings? Or will all the big stuff be going to 25-30 year old grad students who you may get the opportunity to assist by senior year?
5) How’s the town/city the school is in?
You’ll have some time for fun!! Do you absolutely love that area you’ll possibly be spending 4 years in? Do you feel safe there? Does it match your personality? Is there exciting theater happening? Are there other colleges there? Is there a nightlife? These are all important things....your happiness and comfort are important!!
6)The professors and facilities
Some schools might have an AMAZING acting program that they are world renowned for, but little-to-no Directing program...If you’re a director, that may not be the best fit for you! Schools tend to boast the thing they are really known for, and it makes it look like the entire program is God’s Gift To The World, but you really have to look closely. This might seem like a no-brainer, but, for example, at Ithaca, people would come in every year and try to declare a Costume Construction Concentration. While Ithaca does have costume construction classes and a draping class and you get to be a wardrobe supervisor a couple of times, it doesn’t have enough to be worth your time if you don’t want to be a costume designer as well (Which is what the degree is actually in).
Big universities use teaching assistants. They might have a professor that had ~worked on Broadway~, but is that professor actually teaching your class? Or is it a Graduate Student who is only 4 years older than you and has never actually worked in the industry yet?
Are you one of 50 in a lecture hall? Or are you one of 6 sitting around a table? Would the professor know your face if they passed you on the street? Do they know your name? When learning an art, it is so easy to get lost in the masses. Everyone needs their own specialized attention, and it can be frustrating if you arent getting that attention that you need. What’s the point of the pricetag that you are paying at that point? (At least, that is how I see it).
You will leave school with debt. You will also leave school with a lot of tips on how to be frugal because of that debt. And alot of recipes that involve eggs/rice/and/or chicken patties. Unless you have a huge trust fund, you need a school that is going to help you out!
After you graduate, expect to spend a couple years at the bottom, pounding the pavement, and working for very little money. (This is where I am at currently). This is extremely challenging if you have $1000/month in student loan debt that you need to make payments on...and if your dream is to move to the city right after graduation, expect your rent to be ~$700 at the very cheapest... The debt that you create at school tends to be an afterthought for many, but it can be a serious damper in your theater plans, as you become desperate to make your payments, those non-theater jobs start looking more and more appealing. And they are hard to resist!!
Every theater department is right for someone. And if your talented, even if you didn’t go to NYU, people will notice eventually.
Well...until next time!! I hope this is helping some of you guys!!
titsay
turnnoffyourmind
origamiaround
2087
areudirty
