<p>Hello. I am 22 years old and thinking of transfering to another school for theatre. I would want a BA in Theatrical Studies. I have switched majors several times, but have never been happy with them. Theatre is my passion and I can’t live without it. I would maybe want to go to get my MAT in Education. Is it common for theatre majors to be over 22? Is this socially acceptable? I’m just afraid I wouldn’t get along with other students who are younger than me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>These days, just about everything is “socially acceptable”. People of all ages go to college or university. You can even find colleges or universities where the average age of a student is something like 26.</p>
<p>They will NOT discrimate against you for being 22, or 32, or 42, as long as you meet their admissions requirements. As far as the “other students”, that has to be answered on a case by case basis with each school, every school has its own culture. But also think about the fact that if go somewhere that has graduate programs in theatre there will definitely be other students as old as you. And you will be in the same shows as these people, working and socializing with them.</p>
<p>But if theatre is your passion, why are you worrying about what other people think? Create the life that makes YOU happy, and forget these other people who apparently want you to be miserable.</p>
<p>I have to wonder, if theatre is your passion and you can’t live without it, why haven’t you majored in theatre yet?</p>
<p>If you are planning to get an MAT, what are you planning on teaching? There are almost no (although there are a few) dedicated “theatre teachers” in American grade schools, usually theatre is dumped in the lap of the English department, or sometimes the music department. If you are hoping to teach theatre in an American high school, seriously consider also qualifying to teach high school English.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>(and, dude, 22 is still very young!!)</p>
<p>I don’t have anything useful to add except this anecdotal example: my daughter is a freshman at Fordham, which has an auditioned BA program. She told me that one of her fellow freshmen in the program is 29 years old. He was in the military and then worked in theater for a few years before deciding to audition for acting school. From what she told me, he fits in fine. The other thing I can tell you is that I teach in a university (not theater, however) where I see some nontraditional age students (many much older than you.) Not only do they fit into my classes, they are often the most interesting and deep-thinking students.</p>
<p>Agreed absolutely about the age–I think your age, 22, would make you an asset to the community, and you would be able to be more focused and mature. I’m sure you’d connect with some of the students.</p>
<p>As an English teacher, though, I feel I have to strongly discourage you from going into teaching. The system is being decimated, arts are being slashed, and it’s extremely difficult to find any jobs (my last job, there were 700 applicants for one position). Whole theatre departments are being destroyed and anyway, the job itself is horribly low morale–you are part of a top down bureaucratic machine that constantly tells you how lazy you are and how you must be punished. The ONLY way I’d go into full time teaching is if you can’t see yourself doing anything else–your passion would carry you. </p>
<p>What a lot of folks do here is supplemental directing, getting hired by public or private schools for one or two show. HEre, that’s around $3000/show (at most) and even then there are all sorts of politics involved in getting it–you usually have to have a huge resume and lots of connections. Occasionally, you can luck into an arts school, but it’s extremely, extremely competitive and you usually have to know someone. Sigh. Not to discourage you from going into theatre at all, but please reconsider going into teaching if it’s a practical decision. It used to be, but it’s not anymore.</p>