Being a Theatre Major... stress & venting

Posted: 8/1/04 at 8:51pm

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.

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 8:55pm

I'm doing what might satisfy your parents, but kill you academically, a double major. I'm planning on majoring in theatre, and the 2nd major is changing, but it's currently political science. If you want to teach in theater or something, you can look for another major.

And I'm a diva, so I'm going to a smaller school. But that's just me. Updated On: 8/1/04 at 08:55 PM

[DiRrTy_ReNtHEAD420]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:01pm

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!!!

[StrStruckDreamr9]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:06pm

I intend on doing what LadyGuenevere is. My parents completely support my pursuit of a career on Broadway as long as I have a "back-up." They just know how difficult Broadway is, and want to make sure that I'm always taken care of. In regards to your college choice, it really depends on your personal prefence about college size. I, for one, dislike large, seemingly impersonal schools. It all has to come down to what you in your heart want. Sounds cheesy, yes, but it's true. Best of luck!

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:08pm

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.

[aspiringguy715]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:09pm

Somehow I feel my parents won't "understand" if I lie about a major, DirtyRenthead. $45,000 of tuition money is not something to lie about.

I suggest the backup plan, I've heard that double majors of Musical Theater and Music Education aren't all that bad, as many of the vocal classes are reccomended for both majors.

That's what I'll be doing!

[Laurencia98]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:23pm

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

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:28pm

Does anyone have any good suggestions on school where I could do possibly a theatre major and an elementary or secondary education major that is near the New York area? I'm intrigued by Marymount Manhattan.

[PJ]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:35pm

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

[NYUstud]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:39pm

If any of you have NYU questions...PM me!

[PJ]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:43pm

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.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 9:52pm

I'd love to go to NYU, but, the fact is: I won't be able to get in. My SAT scores aren't exactly high and I don't think I have the talent to break through into that school. Ah well...

[LadyGuenevere]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 11:37pm

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

[Coondiggitydogg]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 11:48pm

i've heard that they are good. I'm not really looking there though. I find myself applying to some serious theatre schools like northwestern, michigan, syracuse, BU, CMU and at the same time to smaller ones like UVA, GW, cornell. I dont have NYU up there because i hear that it is a factory and that they place you in a specified type of theatre and if u are in experimental, you are stuck playing a cucumber or doign a whole show painted blue. And i hear it is a factory where they take you in and send you out a bit more polished but nowhere. am i way off on that? and what ahve u heard about the other schools i mentioned?

[Phantom2]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 11:55pm

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

[showstopper]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 11:58pm

there are two other schools in nyc that friends of mine go to for musical theater. Pace has a pretty good program but doesn't give scholarships for talent. Wagner on staten island is where you can double major. They have a good theater program and a friend of mine got a big scholarship for talent and academics. Just call the school and have them send you information on their program. Good luck with your search.

[Phantess]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 11:59pm

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.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 12:28am

I'm sorry, but what are BU and GWU?

I think Marymount is the one that is sticking out. How's the auditon process? What do you have to do? etc...

[Phantom2]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 12:35am

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

[thetheatregirlinside]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 1:34am

I am a theatre major in a small college town, and I love it! I plan to go to graduate school on the east coast somewhere. I love the small classes because the teachers have time to pay attention to everyone. I have heard other experiences at big colleges where they were lost in the crowd. I feel like I have developed alot just from the attention that you get one on one.

[dramafreak13]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 2:49am

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.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 3:16am

I've been a transfer student at Marymount Manhattan for 1 semester and am very happy with what they have to offer. The major is broken into several specific performance and non-performance concentrations, including BA Performance and BFA Acting. I can't tell you much about the audition process because my concentrations are Theatre Management (major) and Theatre Education (minor) so I only had to do an interview. Check out the website, I know the theatre department page has all of that info as well as a list of available theatre major and minor concentrations.

I definitely recommend giving Marymount a look if you're considering a small (less than 2000 students) liberal arts school with a lot of theatre and dance students. The two-building campus is on the Upper East Side (71st Street).

None of my classes were larger than 25 students and individual attention and guidance is always available if needed. A lot of the theatre faculty has strong ties to the professional theatre world too, so the small environment makes it much easier to make those connections. Feel free to PM me with any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.
Marymount Manhattan

[WayWicked]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 3:17am

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! :)

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 12:43pm

I really want to go to Marymount.

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 8/2/04 at 12:45pm

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