<p>So I want to go into theatre, though I’m not sure if I want to go into acting, director, technical theatre, or other stuff. Anyways, all the really good colleges you always hear about are all out of state for me and they’re really expensive. So I was wondering how much going to a good school mattered? Right now, I’m looking at the University of Iowa and Drake University. Will I have the same chances of having a career if went to those schools than if I went to other popular schools? Thank you!</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know of any other good theatre schools in Iowa?</p>
<p>octavian, when you are more sure what your focus is, you will know better what college is best for you. The short answer to your question is “yes, mostly.” Colleges that specialize in your field will certainly offer great opportunities, connections, a likeminded community, as well as training. You don’t have to have a ‘top’ or name brand. It simply should be a college that you feel is a fit for you, that you can thrive in. However, and it’s a big ‘however,’ if you are driven, you can always find a mentor or an internship or other opportunity in most any college. </p>
<p>Now for cost: have you considered financial aid scholarships? If you can’t afford out of state colleges, many private colleges and some public offer need based scholarships that can make the private college a cheaper option than the in-state public university. This is the case for both my D’s, who are both attending expensive private colleges; with the generous scholarships, the cost is actually less than in-state, believe it or not. THere are also merit and talent scholarships.</p>
<p>So while it is very sensible to factor in finances, I would advise against automatically writing off colleges that are expensive.Obviously, if you get in and they don’t offer you a scholarship, you can’t go. But you just never know. And you should also investigate the colleges close to you to see what they have to offer and whether you are a fit.</p>
<p>In the meantime, though, you probably should decide what your area of focus will be. Schools that are great in training for technical theatre can be very different from schools that are great for training in acting.</p>