2- year Conservatory training vs. 4-year Liberal Arts

I would HIGHLY reccomend going to a 4-year Liberal Arts college and getting a Bachelor's degree. I don't mean to be pessimistic, but nothing is a guarantee in the theatre, job-wise. A bachelor's degree is MUCH more marketable when it comes to jobs, especially if you minor or double-major in something else. At my school, I only have to have 18 credit hours (that's 6 classes over 4 years) for a minor in most minor programs, and the majority of my minor courses count for my bachelor's degree requirements as well. Go for the 4-year degree!

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If you major in Musical Theatre or Theatre in a 4 year program is that enough training? Right now I think a 4 year college degree is better to get compared to the 2 year conservatory program. I am interested to hear more.

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*How much money do you have to work with as far as funding your education?
*What do you want to do in the performing arts?
*Any related fields you would consider going into?
*Any other career you might reasonably be satisfied with going into?

*Money isn't that big an issue. Big enough to keep me away from places like NYU, but not big enough to keep me away from places like NCSA or UArts.
*I'm interested in performing. I would like to study musical theatre, but somewhere that I know has quality training in all three areas, so that I'm not limited to musicals...I wanna do it all!
*I've directed before and found that I was quite good at it, so I would consider that.
*There really isn't another career I could see myself being happy in. I mean, if I absolutely had to choose, it would be writing, but I'm just not as crazy about it as I am about acting.


The main reason I brought this up is because to be perfectly honest...my grades are CRAP. I feel like my grades alone would keep me from going someplace really quality. I understand that the 2-year conservatories don't even look at your grades for admission.

A follow-up question would have to be, would spending a year or two at a conservatory be a good idea before going to a university? Would that help overshadow the grades thing and help me get into a better school afterwards? The only thing is, then that sets me back another two years before I can start working. Although women in my family do tend to age gracefully, I don't want to be too old!

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wait are you guys saying that conservatories like CCM and Boston are only 2 years? i thought they were four?

oh ok, thanks!

A Liberal Arts major is any major that leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. It can be anything from english to history to theatre, but it is NOT a pre-professional degree. It is differentiated from a BFA, Bachelor of Music, and a Bachelor of Science based on the percentage of classes that are taken in the major. In a BA program, about 1/3 of courses are related to your major. On the other hand, in a BFA, BM, or BS degree program, anywhere from 50-95% of coursework is directly related to your major, hence these are more "pre-professional" degrees, and not "liberal-arts" focused.

Youcan't really DO anything with a Liberal Arts degree, it's basically 'just' an undergraduate degree. Why not apply for Law School with it?

Gypsy- I choose the 2 year conservatory for many reasons.
1. I know Performing is the only thing I want to do and I can do with my life.
2. I also had horrible grades...my required academics were B's, A's, and C's. But my Math grades were either D's and F's (Hey I'm not ashamed I suck at math), I tried all my might with tutors like the math dean, but alas couldn't pass a math test to save my life.
3. My SATS were not very good either. I have always thought standerdized testing was a joke. I am so good at english, but the math part I bombed so if any one looks at my SATs they think I'm an idiot, which I am NOT.
4. I have a one track mind. I have no doubt that in a 4 year college I would fail my math classes. So, studying anything else doesn't make any sense.
5. I have a great foundation in acting, singing, and I have been dancing for 15 years, so a conservatory can help my craft and my audtion package, headshots,resume, and whatever.
and last6. I want to do my work as soon as possible, I want to start young so I have more chance of work.

The conservatory also helps money wise, so that never hurts.


Best of luck

♥ Bettina

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Trpguyy...You can't do anything with a liberal arts degree????

Did I really hear that? No...really? Cause that has to be one of the dumbest responses I have ever heard.

Anyone who completes a four year university degree program has actually STUDIED and WORKED for that degree. That means they actually went to classes, talked to people, heard other ideas, were exposed to new theories, and expanded their horizons.

Does that sound like a waste to you? If it does, I highly recommend you do to a two year school where you focus one one thing and have no clue about what the real world is all about. And then when you try to get cast and the director tries to talk to about something besides "Wicked" or Kristin, then maybe you'll understand.

Better yet trpguyy, go to AMDA. Please.

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just becuase you go to a two year conservatory does not make you an idiot or that you have no clue about the real world.

I have learned things from my family that I will never learn in school that are more vital in life than anything else.

I suggest if you want hard core training, go to a community college for two years, then go to a conservatory and get yor BFA in Musical theater. Or you can do that the opposite way around.

Really, it's what suits you best. Just don't think just because some one chooses a two year that they are stupid or whatever. Thats plain ignorance.

Do what feels best for you.

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A four year college gives you plenty of time to grow up.

I would not be the same kind of person had I plunged into the business two years before I did. That four years made me a better person, a curious person and frankly a more interesting one.

There are all sorts of directions to go with any theatre degree. At a recent reunion I asked my fellow drama majors which included some who had done nothing at all theatrically with their BA, if they had any fear of speaking in front of groups. The uniform response was no.

We included teachers, corporate trainers and career military. The last one once spoke in front of 600 ROTC cadets, but wasn't given the topic (The Role of Women in Today's Army) until about 10 minutes before she was to speak. She scribbled a few words on a piece of paper and held them spellbound for a half an hour.

The four year schooling will make you a better dinner date.

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