<p>“Almost always, the big roles are held by people who have been in the business since they were children or who had parents in the business.”</p>
<p>Where are you getting this information? There are thousands of actors, in theatre, TV, film and many more areas. How can you make that kind of claim? You’re sounding like you are basing your opinion on what you’ve seen of a very few very famous people, and even with that I’m baffled by this conclusion. Even if we listed all of the Tony and Oscar winners of the past several years, your theory would not pan out.</p>
<p>In addition, you can’t even claim from those incredibly limited groups whether a BA, BFA, acting conservatory (like AMDA) or no training at all will get you “there” faster. </p>
<p>Listen to your doubts. You are expecting answers to something that cannot possibly be predicted. Become educated, trained, and experienced however it feels best to you. If you’re not sure, even in the fall that you apply, then apply to a spectrum of schools. See how you feel in the spring of your senior year, and if you still aren’t sure, take a chance on what feels best. The only truth is you can’t do two things at once - although as you know, you can strike something of a balance if that’s what appeals to you when the time comes.</p>