It is really difficult to think of them changing paths when the entire family has invested so much time, money and heart into their performing.
I think the thing to find peace with for many of us is to know that the time spent pursuing a musical theatre degree and time spent performing has not been wasted even if they do not end up choosing theater as a career. These kids have gained valuable skills which will make them highly desirable in the workplace compared to their peers. Who will be asked to give a presentation - someone the boss knows can speak in front of important people? Who knows how to be a good team player? Who can work late hours to get the job done? Who is going to have a lot of creative ideas? Who can multi-task? Who can improvise and adapt to whatever comes up? An actor certainly can do all of those things. Their time in theatre has prepared them well for whatever profession they eventually choose.
Deciding to pursue a different major does not have to mean the end of their performing career. It may not be what you envisioned for them, but many doctors, lawyers, teachers, dentists, business people, etc. enjoy participating in regional and community theatre in their area. Many singers find church a great outlet. Others perform at area venues on the weekends. And maybe they are closer to home where you can see them perform more often. That wouldn’t be so bad.
It definitely isn’t easy to let go of dreams. And it may be harder for parents than for kids to shift gears when that happens. But it doesn’t mean you stop dreaming It just means your old dreams will be replaced with new ones. It is a brave decision to change course when you know you’re not on the right path. You may have to take a few turns before you find out where you’re going. But eventually you will get there.
@toowonderful - I didn’t take offense to your comment at all, but in this highly competitive landscape, the decision is not always ours to make. My D is very happy with her decision to attend Hartt, but U of Hartford would never have been a school she would have applied to, or considered, for academics alone. Our list was, out of necessity, long and pretty varied but we had a hard time finding schools that matched what D wanted 100%. The schools where academics and the MT program were a perfect match for her unfortunately didn’t accept her. Everything in life is a compromise and you do the best you can with the hand you are dealt. If my D ends up not wanting to complete the BFA program (I doubt it, but it could happen), we would likely look at a transfer to another school. Not the end of the world - I did it and it worked out for me.
^^^same situation over here! With UArts it doesn’t really apply, because almost all of the majors offered require some type of review so I couldn’t switch majors very easily. I did want a city campus though. But none of the schools that I thought would have been a perfect fit academically, artistically AND location-fully (I really didn’t apply to schools that were in locations I would have hated) accepted me. And two of them accepted my friend, which was hard, and I briefly considered taking a gap year and reapplying, but honestly it’s highly unlikely that I could find a school that is as good a fit artistically/locationally, not to mention financially! You can always find challenging academics, or so they tell me. And I’m actually not sure that’s my highest priority after all.
I would attend none of the schools I applied to if not for the MT major - I would go to school in Canada where it’s cheap and there’s free health care!
and Tim’s 
We have Tims in Michigan… AND, my son was thrilled to see there is one on campus at Wright State. YAY!
@MTmom2015. My daughter misses Tim’s and Meijer’s where she’s at but at least there’s a Target!
As one of the resident Canadians of the forum, I think I can categorically state that no one misses Tim’s more than I do when I’m at school! 
I’m done with freshman year in four days (!) and I cannot wait to get my hands on an iced capp!
Yep, Tim’s is in center of WSU campus. “Timbits” were a featured item on one of the scenes at freshman showcase. C’mon down.
I’m going to miss free period Tim’s runs so much next year 
their iced caps and tim bits will be always in my heart
This is sweet hearing all of you in the U.S. pining for TimHortons (no apostrophe, by the way).
My bad
I am a born and raised Canadian and I did not know there was no apostrophe. Huh.
My mom’s a newspaper editor for a major Canadian paper, and she says that she frequently has to fix the copy of her writers who don’t know that it doesn’t have an apostrophe. You’re not alone!
The more you know!
So it’s plural rather than possessive?
Timmy Ho’s!?!
WNYer here. Wings, Chicken Finger Sub, and Timmy Ho’s. Christmas Staples.
Have an Iced Capp (Supreme) for me!
I’m not really sure why, or who, decided that that was how the signage would look. It wasn’t always like that. It used to just be Tim Horton. No s at all, apostrophe or no. Then to Tim Horton’s, and finally to the current name. I don’t recall exactly when it changed. It really makes no sense to be Tom Hortons, plural, for each store. Tim’s name was Horton, no s. 
Plural and possessive aside, that is the coffee I will miss no matter where I go.
Theater HiringCo: WNY? Tonawanda here so you’ll understand the following: Duff’s or Anchor Bar? And you left out Anderson’s, Bocce’s and of course Ted’s! All must haves when I go back to visit!