Collegehelp: I see you’re from WNY (grew up in Tonawanda myself). Being from WNY, I would encourage you have your niece and her mom look at the SUNY-Fredonia theater website. Last I checked there was an excellent article on there about how getting a degree in the performing arts gives you a host of work habits and experiences that are valuable to many different companies. For example, working collaboratively, attention to detail, being able to express yourself in presentations, and many more. This article was amain factor in my accepting and endorsing my D’s decision to pursue the BFA.