There are no guarantees anywhere in life, let alone in college.
Not offended at all, @toowonderful!! But has been said often, MOST of these great MT programs are in kind of ho-hum schools academically. NYU is clearly the exception! But I think MOST of the kids choosing the MT path will not have the luxury, financially and acceptance-wise, to choose an MT program in a school that they would have considered going to if MT had not been their chosen major.
Our D completely reordered her list on her own just before ED-season (no urging from us) to favor schools she wanted to have degrees from (in her case Northwestern, Yale then Brown), but we never asked if that was because she assumed she wouldn’t do theatre for the entire rest of her life or solely due to the experiences and peers she wanted for her 4 college years. She did grow up having both parents as living reminders that some working actors switch professions, though, which might have influenced her thinking.
My whole family is made up of various types of artists so I too have witnessed the burnout factor! Doing a 7 week summer program definitely helped me to know what I was getting into. I tried to apply to schools I would still be interested in without theatre, but I cannot imagine a world where I’m not involved in theatre in some capacity (that could change, of course). That said, I think location is important as is the type of school (for example, I wouldn’t have been happy at a big football school no matter the quality of the theatre dept).
We lived this scenario as was detailed in our final decision thread. It was hard to see the dream start taking a different shape but I am glad she realized it before she started so she could look for and find a wonderful school that will challenge her mind and allow her to continue pursuing her passion. We know a number of very talented kids who have left BFA programs after both freshman and sophomore year, kids you would never have imagined leaving top tier schools for a wide variety of reasons. I also know non-MT kids on their second and third school. What is really going on is ALL these kids have way more pressure than we ever did to know what they want to do at 18. MANY, many will change their minds even if the don’t change their schools.
You hit the nail on the head, @evilqueen. Eighteen year olds are truly expected to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. I have heard parents say about their 16 year old “they better get it together and figure it out.” I always ask if they knew what they wanted to do at 16. They tend to dial it back and look at things differently. Heck, I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up!! LOL
AT NYU Steinhart there was a shuffling between VP students who started as classical voice majors and ended up switching to MT. There was one student who dropped out by junior year and maybe two or three who switched majors all together within NYU. A few students took on double majors–in journalism, dramatic literature and math. Many ended up taking business or entertainment business minors through Stern and Tisch, in preparation for jobs they may want in the future. But in general, most students stayed with the program.
I can’t say that about my NYU studio art major D. There’s is a very intense major and a bunch of kids switched out as a result of the academic work load and creative/ conceptual art that they were expected to produce. Art made MT look like a piece of cake.
The young man who played opposite D many times: 2 years older, crazy talented, and fabulous looking, loved his freshman year in MT. Got the lead in a summer stock show, and HATED it. Wasn’t till it was a “job” that he felt that way. HATED it. High tailed it out of MT. He was very thankful to be in a big, fun university with a great music program. He wants to compose so it works. I was very surprised.
D has experienced several “MT firsts” and each time I’ve probably watched with the thought in the back of my head that ‘maybe this will be the thing that persuades her it’s not how she wants to spend her life’, but I agree with whoever said earlier that for most people change is a gradual organic process rather than a sudden epiphany. And obviously there are people who really do enjoy a lifetime’s work of performing, so that might happen as well. In my case I gradually realized that my desire for a sense of control over my life/finances and an acting career weren’t very compatible.
Whatever they decide, it will be fun to watch and see their lives unfold!
Right on @GSOMTMom ! I feel exactly the same
winnieroot - when my daughter did her first summer stock stint I remember thinking that there is no other way for a college student to experience performing 7 shows a week, week in, week out. Funny, our daughter loved it, so I thought we were done. In retrospect, there were some comments that could have hinted at her dissatisfaction a few years later.
When I asked her recently if she was sorry she went to NU instead of Yale given her complete change in career she said absolutely not! She would never had discovered Big Ten football!
This might be one for the record books. My D, a freshman at NYU Steinhardt in MT Vocal Performance, decided to audition for Tisch New Studio on Broadway as a transfer, and was accepted. D is excited about Tisch and is looking forward to taking a different path to reach the same goal.
S will be learning/rehearsing/performing 4 back-to-back shows this summer - 2-week runs with no breaks between. This may be where the rubber meets the road. Will he be “Roadrunner”, leaving us staring at the dust left behind (beep, beep)? Or a “skid mark” over the cliff? Or a Tasmanian devil blowing a new path through the mountain side? To be continued. . .
Watch out for falling anvils and boxes marked ACME Explosives!
@princessjpmom - congratulations!! is she starting as a freshman at Tisch (in terms of studio classes) or entering at the 2nd year of training? Were gen ed requirements different? (does she have to make up ITS/ITP and the 2nd semester of WTE)
Thank you, Toowonderful. D is taking ITS in the fall, and will be entering first year training for NSB, although still classified as a sophomore. As a transfer, she does not have to take ITP. She has already taken two semesters of WTE so she should be good there. Some Steinhardt classes will count as GE and remaining will be electives. Here’s to a smooth transition from Music MT major to Drama MT major!
The day I started this thread my son was actually back at UArts visiting his old friends and returning to his favorite spots in Philadelphia. (We had given him the plane ticket as a Christmas gift.) My fear was that he would come back full of regret for having left. Thankfully, he’s said nothing like that. He’s back to rehearsing for community theater, hanging out with his girlfriend, and working at his uncle’s law firm. But anyway – thanks for all these kind words. This experience was a tough one, so it’s good to know we’re not alone.
You are so not alone. Even if they stay within the program, their interests can change. I am still a bit sad that my son, who is a fabulous dancer and I loved loved loved watching him, is gradually moving more towards play writing. I so miss those years of watching him but I know that I have to give him the space to grow and do what is his passion. I am glad he is in a program that encourages and allows him to explore this but I still miss those tap dancing days.
hey @dcsparent I studied Poly Sci! Lots to talk about – sorry had to say a joke. Sorry the MT dream is gone…but happiness is what we want for them so I applaud your S’s decision!!