<p>Lots of HS students are in your shoes - they are interested in lots of things, and that is great. And in many ways college still is a place to explore and figure out what path to take. A BA in theatre does give someone more time to have other interests and even get other training, and fortunately in theatre it does not close doors to working in the field (unlike other degrees that are required to be employed, like nursing). Some BFAs allow time for other work, but usually less. </p>
<p>It’s not bad to be thinking about possible grad school plans now, but I wouldn’t let it get you all tied up in knots. Many people don’t really know exactly what they want to do in the long-term, even people who are very focused on BFAs. Some of this can just evolve. It’s not like being a pre-med and having to jump through very specific hoops in an unbroken sequence (and even with that, many people don’t). So, yes, imagine the future, but don’t worry too much about picking your undergrad based on a far-off grad plan.</p>
<p>When my D was decided among many different options for college - she’d applied to BAs, BFAs, auditioned and non-auditioned, she could imagine herself doing many different things, and the choice was very difficult. Her interests and focus had matured over her last two years of HS, but it was hard to choose one distinct path, because they are all very rewarding and exciting. My advice to you is to apply to a good list of schools that will provide different options that all appeal to you. Once you have your acceptances and FA offers, you can decide which school seems best. And maybe, as with my D, you’ll pick the school that seems best for you at the time. Eventually you have to take some chances, and just have faith in the process.</p>
<p>And as for being in NYC for college: I think this is a win-win kind of question. Sure, it’s nice to be in or near an exciting city (and that means lots of cities - Philly, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, etc., etc.), if you enjoy living there. Advantages include seeing professional theatre and getting connections for internships and work, and fun things to do in your spare time (if you like city stuff, and if you actually have spare time, which is rare in BFAs). But while NYC is especially dense with these opportunities, other cities have them, too, and colleges that aren’t in cities provide many of the same opportunities, though local theatres or work that goes on at school. Or maybe school itself is so time-consuming that that kind of work is best left for summers or after you graduate. </p>
<p>Most people have preferences about where they’d prefer to live during college. Some really love isolated LACs where campus life is pretty much your whole life. For other people, they’d go crazy in a week at a school like that. It’s the same for city schools. My D has loved being near NYC, but that is only a small part of her experience; a school somewhere else could give just as valuable an education.</p>