Parents- what would you do?

broadwaybelter07 · 04-22-2009, 12:51 AM

Alright, so here's my current situation. I'm an MT transfer, currently a sophomore in college. I got accepted to UArts, my top choice. Sounds great, right? Here's the thing- my parents are not pleased with the number of preliminary transfer credits they are accepting, roughly 1 semester of the 4 I'm going to have completed in May. Essentially, I will be starting over again as a freshman. BUT, there is a reevaluation of studio-based coursework after the completion of my 1st semester there, which makes me cautiously optimistic that they will accept more credits.

The second, and probably bigger obstacle, is the fact that I will be an extra 9k in debt (estimated) for each year I attend UArts. To me, this isn't the ideal situation, but I will be graduating with a more marketable set of skills which I hope will lead to more opportunities to pay off said debt. My parents currently pay nothing out of pocket to send me to my current university and I would not be asking them to pay anything more. I am relying on need-based Stafford Loans and (hopefully) a private loan to fund the next 3 years of my education, all of which I will be paying back myself.

So parents- if your child was in a situation like this, what would you want them to do? I'm trying to gain a little bit of perspective as to what it's like for them, as we're going to have a big sit-down discussion this week to make a final decision.

BrownEyes · 04-22-2009, 06:45 AM

BB07 - it's hard to answer your question without knowing more about the school you're hoping to transfer from ... if you can provide more information about your current school, the reasons you are hoping to transfer, and the major differences between your current program and UArts, I'm sure people will respond with their thoughts and suggestions ... best of luck!

MichaelNKat · 04-22-2009, 07:09 AM

Broadwaybelter, a couple of comments:

First, the situation involving your transfer credits I don't think is all that unusual for a BFA program. I would guess that your liberal arts credits are transferring but few of your studio credits. A lot of transfer students face this same dilemma at many schools.

As to the additional cost, only you can decide if the benefits of attending UArts outweigh the additional expense. My daughter is a MT sophomore at UArts and had several very good options at the time she chose to go there. We strongly believe the strength and quality of the program make it worth the expense but every person's financial situation is different.

To the extent it is relevant, there are a lot of employment opportunities in the vicinity of UArts because it is in the heart of the business district of the city. There are a gizzillion restaurants utilizing student staffing that seem to still be doing a good volume of business even in this economy. Center city Philadelphia has not been as hard hit as many other areas, at least from what I have observed. If you would be staying in Philadelphia over the summer, employment opportunities increase as students from the various colleges go home.

HoosierMom2012 · 04-22-2009, 07:25 AM

Broadway - As a parent I'd say if you want to spend another year and a half in school and take on that debt, it is your decision. I think the consideration that strikes me though is your age upon graduation. I don't know how important this is. I just know that when I talk to my D about getting an MFA right after her BA she keeps telling me she would be too old to go out and audition and work and that there are only certain golden years in MT.

thecheckbook · 04-22-2009, 09:09 AM

Kristin Chenowith just turned forty! Forty is the new thirty. I agree, to give an opinion I would have to know what school you're going to and how you are doing academically.

broadwaybelter07 · 04-22-2009, 09:37 AM

I'm currently attending a state school in Connecticut (WCSU). I'm in the BA Theatre program, Dean's List last semester, cumulative 3.4 GPA. I usually take on about 16-18 credits a semester.

I was aware that very few credits were going to transfer, regardless of what school I went to. Pace only took 8, UArts around 18. So in comparison, they're actually being very generous!

I made a pros/cons list for attending UArts (and a separate list as to HOW I'm going to make it happen, but that's a whole different story) and without a doubt, the pros outweigh the cons.

PROS:
I'll graduate with a BFA in Musical Theatre.
The degree of training will make me more castable post-graduation.
Connections/networking with local PA theaters- Equity connections.
More performance opportunities each school year (between Mainstage and Equinox).
Earning potential will be greater in the long run.
Higher chance of getting into a Master's Program (if I later decide to get my MFA).

CONS:
Will most likely take 1-2 extra years to get my degree.
Will have to take summer/intersession classes to graduate on time.
More student loan debt (majority will be Stafford loans).
Not guaranteed on-campus housing.

Maybe I'm just blinded by my ambition, but I really can't understand most of my parent's reasoning. Neither of them finished their BA, so for them to put a timeframe on my education frustrates me greatly. My sister is allowed to take on student loan debt to follow her passion, but it's not alright for me to do it because theatre is just a "risky" business. Honestly, I don't mind graduating at 23 or 24. I think a one or two year difference in age is really no big deal in the "real world". Besides, who puts their age on their resume anyway? ;o)

HoosierMom2012 · 04-22-2009, 09:59 AM

Broadway...I hope you post soon that all is worked out and you are on your way to UARTS!!!

Pohsmom · 04-22-2009, 10:00 AM

If you have truly made the decision to pursue MT as a career (and as a Sophomore in college you are have a couple of college years under your belt and perhaps are in a more mature place to make that determination than the incoming Freshman straight out of high school --although you couldn't ever get THEM to agree LOL--)you really might need the additional training if you stay in a BA Theatre program. You could argue that the additional expense going to UArts is like paying for acting, singing and dancing lessons that some BA students take to supplement their curriculum. Just a thought...

BroadwayWannabe · 04-22-2009, 10:34 AM

i am pretty sure you are guaranteed on-campus housing at uarts as long as you have your deposit in by may 15th....even as a transfer

Someonesmom2 · 04-22-2009, 10:41 AM

Have you considered maybe continuing in your current program and trying to graduate a semester or a year early, and then pursuing an MFA? If the time that you're going to invest in pursuing a BFA is going to be equal to or greater than the time that it would take to finish your BA and an MFA, I think that you may want to consider that instead of losing so much of what you've worked for already. Taking summer school this summer and next, while also loading up during the school year may allow you to graduate next summer and begin an MFA program in September 2010.

While a BFA may seem preferable to you now over the BA, wouldn't a BA and MFA in the same time it would take to pursue the BFA be even better? I don't know how difficult it would be to get into an MFA program right out of undergrad with a BA, but it seems that you would be losing so much of what you've worked for.

Another option to consider is completing your BA (possibly early), and then taking intensive training for a year or so, maybe in NYC, while also auditioning.

Two more cents: if you ever decide to pursue another path in the future (perhaps law school), I would think that a BA would be more advantageous to you than a BFA.

ttmom · 04-22-2009, 11:36 AM

Agreeing with Pohsmom, I think the training you will be getting at UArts more than makes up for the time and financial differential it will take to get the BFA. As far as the loan debt for theater being more risky, I disagree. Loan debt is risky, period. There are no guarantees, especially with this economy, that a different degree will guarantee employment on graduation. Many kids in even technical fields are not getting hired. I know; I have a graduating senior. Then you have the "if only" factor. For the rest of your life you could find yourself saying, "If only I had gotten my BFA then maybe I would be ...". I feel this is especially important since YOU will be the one accruing the debt, not your parents. I also disagree with the statement that the BFA will not translate to another path. I know of more than a handful of BFAs who have gone on to get a MBA or a law degree, and the skills you will get as a BFA will readily transfer to many fields, such as public relaions, communications, public speaking, human resources, customer relations to name a few. My husband is an attorney and he came from the NFL (he gradated college with a degree in football!). Finally, as to the BFA being a "hindrance" should you change fields later, I offer this anecdote. My daughter just got her certification to be a physical trainer and posted her theatrical/trainer resume to try to get a summer job to supplement her summer stock work. Lo and behold, 2 days later, yesterday she got a phone call offering her a full-time managerial position co-ordinating credit unions in Illinois and Missouri (too bad they are not interested in her brother)! Not the interview, the JOB! With great pay! She has neither banking or managerial skills, but they loved her resume and said she has the personality and communication skills they are looking for( on top of her grades, ...). So, I say, go for it and pursue your dream!!! Your parents may be unhappy with you now but in the end I believe they will come around. It is your life, after all. My two cents.

soozievt · 04-22-2009, 12:25 PM

Side note...
ttmom...congrats to your D! That's great news. I agree that a college degree in theater can translate to all sorts of jobs. Many people in the work force are not working in careers that are directly related to their major.

ttmom · 04-22-2009, 12:42 PM

Thanks soozievt. She is not taking the job as it is full time, she is a soph/jr in college, and she has a summer stock commitment she is thrilled with at the MUNY, ;') A full time job in MT would be a different story. I was just trying to show the OP how a BFA MT degree can translate to many other fields. Wish it were as easy for my sculptor/anthropology double major son!!!

*kjgc* · 04-22-2009, 01:27 PM

I never suggest people don't follow the passion. But the one part of this discussion that I think needs to at least be stated: No matter where you go to school, your chance of making a good living in theatre is limited. The debt you incur will change how you are able to work. I am not giving advice as to whether or not you should go to any school. I am simply stating that if you are looking at this in a simple fiscal sense, your earning potential might rise if you go to one school over the other. However, (again in a simple fiscal sense) the significance of that rise is minimal.

This is a difficult decision and I wish you the best of luck making it.

riaria · 04-22-2009, 01:38 PM

I feel for you and my daughter is also planning on uarts this fall but the money is almost impossible to justify. We are going to help but with no savings its gonna be lots and lots of loans for us both and I am literally up every nite thinking of this.Also they were not generous at all with our daughter because she had poor grades in H.S so no scholarships,although 4 other bfa programs accepted her with scholarships, this is the school she has her heart set on. So we are now looking into all our options for borrowing 30,000 + a year pretty scary!!!! You and your parents have to decide and let the chips fall where they may,but the poster who said about going for the ba then the mba might be on to something.Maybe you and my D will wind up there and both be poor together.Good Luck