Being a Theatre Major... stress & venting

I am soooo stressed about college applications and stuff and definitely need guidance. I am soooo obsessed with musical theatre and in love with it, that it's my obvious direction. BUT, my parents are not willing to let me do it, and are telling me that I should be a teacher or a music teacher. I don't want to do that cuz I get frustrated teaching something I know well, and am not patient. I am only passionate about singing and theatre, and it's the ONLY thing that makes me happy.
I know most colleges don't need you to declare a major the first year, but I wanna go to NYU, and there you declare first year.
I wanted to know of anyone's opinion about being a theatre major, or if any of you have or are, if maybe you could let me know about how it works for you, and what you would recommend.
I definitely wanna be in NYC, cuz there are a lot of oppurtunities there.

Anyways... sorry... i HAD to vent about my frustration and stress.

I'd appreciate advice.

ALSO:

what are your opinions on whether it's a good idea for me, if i do choose so, to go to NYU and study theatre where there's a ton of people in the drama department, unlike a smaller school, like maybe CUNY/SUNY with less people. would it be better for me to be a big fish in a little pool or a fish in a big pool?
would it be still a good idea to do NYU if i got in just cuz it probably has teachers who could help me out more in that field, or do you think that a CUNY school would do just find with teachers like that?

sorry this is so lengthy.

Hey I am goin to be a theater major as well. I start in Sept. b ut thankfully my parents are all for it. Tell your parents that u are majorin in something else. Do all the paperwork yourself. Explain to them after u are excepted how much it means to you. thats what my friend did and he is goin to be a theater major. When you have to audditon for the school, just tell ur parents that you are goin to visit it with some friends, unless you are lucky enough to have them come to your city for audditions, Good Luck Keep ya head up and if u want it bad enough you will do whatever it takes to get it!!!

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My daughter is doing a double major...musical theater and music education. It'll take five years, but what a spectrum she'll be covering.

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Hi,

Just my opinion on this subject from some personal experience...

You want to go with a smaller school. They are more likely to give you a scholarship, and contrary to popular belief from some, they are more likely to help you get employement/placement after you graduate.

Getting an undergraduate degree outside of NYC would be a smart idea on a financial spectrum. I'm getting my undergraduate in my home state, then I'm going to NYC for graduate school. I'm also pursuing a second major.

And NYU....don't be so sure they will place you in some fabulous place or get you great connections. For a few select people, they will, but for run of the mill students, I have to disagree. HUGE buddy system in that school. But that's just my experience.

Best of luck, and from one who has been there, I understand your stress entirely! :)

Laura

Marymount Manhattan College seems to have some very good programs in theatre. I'm applying there this year myself.

YES! I second that. NYUstud is very helpful with NYU questions. He didn't seem annoyed when I asked him 200 questions about it a while back.

Since this is the college thread, what's the word on Fordham University? I'm thinking of looking into there...

I'd love to play a cucumber if given the opportunity.

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I am going to be a freshman at BU this coming semester and will be a communications major and theatre minor. The program looks very promising. It really gives a wide range of all aspects of theatre. There is no musical theatre just acting with music.

But I also applied and was accepted to Marymount Manhattan, Fordham, GWU and NYU.

Marymount Manhattan is very performing arts oriented. Their performing groups are very spectacular. The dance program was very extensive and so was the acting. Musical Theatre is only offered as a minor there.

Fordham, you will want to apply to the Lincoln Center school. The education there is more liberal arts based and has a strong teaching staff.

GWU I'm not too sure how the courses are for the theatre program. I know as a minor it was a good program.

NYU is obviously one of the better schools for Musical Theatre. It's location is the key to its success. Being able to get real people into the class room there is of course a wide range of acitvities. The school is really hard to get into and maintain, but it is well worth it.

There's a whole show about some dudes painted blue.

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if anyone is looking for a good small department not too far from NYC, look into Hofstra. i am going to be a junior BFA there in the fall and it is an amazing department. i highly recommend it.

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For all your college MT questions, you all need to check out:

www.collegeconfidential.com

Look at the "College Discussion" message board. Selected "college discussions". There is a thread called "Colleges for Musical Theater - Part 22". This and all previous 21 threads will give you the most complete and insude information about any MT college in the US.

I do attend one of the top major choices on collegeconfidential (and in the US)..Oklahoma City University. It's a fabulous school with a huge industry reputation and costs less than than some of the other majors. Feel free to PM me..I'll be happy to answer any OCU questions. I'm here to help! :)

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hey if you have any questions about being a theatre major i go to IUP (indiana university of PA) it's gonna take me 5 years to get out of there. but it's worth it....

and don't fret and get all frustrated. try being a theatre major (costume and makeup focus) while dealing with a broken elbow. yeah i fell off the stage (which wasnt too high off the ground) and broke it. now that's stress. but yeah feel free to ask anything and i can try to help you out.

Meg

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