<p>actressmom, that is wonderful news about your D’s friend. What else has she landed (as far as paying jobs) other than the feature film? (I am assuming that the girl is working steadily, as you said the girl is “making it.”) </p>
<p>Certainly the entertainment business is replete with people who have little to no formal training, yet “made it” anyway. But it is equally as full of people with little to no formal training or education who have not made it and are struggling. My feeling as a parent is that college not only is providing my D with training, but also an education and a degree that may end up meaning something down the line, not only in her ability to land jobs on stage, but also to land jobs offstage, either in areas ancillary to onstage work or at least related to the arts. Plus, in my view, college is not just about training in order to get a job: it’s about all the great experiences that kids have at college, meeting new people, interacting with teachers who challenge and stimulate, and all of that jazz. It’s not, in my view, just vocational school. :)</p>