<p>Hi, Shaun - Welcome! You will absolutely be able to “pay it forward” at a later date. Indeed, in addition to the wonderful professionals who post here, such as Kat, Suzie, and Emmybet, some of us whose kids have completed the process also hang around! </p>
<p>I was reviewing this thread prior to commenting on some of the most recent posts, and I saw this statement in your original post: “I would prefer to find a program, whether BA or BFA, with a high number of Gen Ed requirements so if she has a change of heart she would have credits to transfer to another Major or school . . . Dream school would have . . . a great Arts Admin or Entertainment/Music Industry double-major or Minor option.”</p>
<p>I agree that one of the problems you are having making up a list is that you are conflicted. As a parent, I completely appreciate your hope that your daughter will have other training/skills to fall back on in case her performing career doesn’t work out. And I certainly not in a position to second-guess your knowledge of what your family can provide financially for her post-secondary education. But it may be that there are inherent contradictions in the list you are trying to construct.</p>
<p>Your daughter sounds very talented, and you sound very proud of her accomplishments in her chosen field. As several posters have pointed out, many of the top acting programs, be they be BFA or BA, are extremely demanding, and while it’s possible to double major or minor in a second field, the student has to be very committed to doing so in order to make it work, particularly while doing their best work in their primary program. And, I believe that in most cases the second majors/minors taken by acting students are in a liberal arts field, not a second professional discipline. I think that do otherwise would be very challenging.</p>
<p>I know you are concerned about several different contingencies (what if she doesn’t like the program? what if she can’t find work as an actor?), and I can definitely relate to trying to cover all of ones bases. But at the end of the day, I think what you’re discovering is that it’s not a workable way to choose a college. </p>
<p>Please keep in mind that many Acting BFA’s ultimately become successful in other fields without taking other undergraduate professional training. Some go into other forms of communication, some go on to law school or business school, and others teach. Of course, in order to do any of those things it’s pretty important (essential?) to have a liberal arts education. But just about any school that grants the BFA is going to require a reasonable amount of such education. Schools that don’t require such courses are generally conservatories, not colleges! In addition, many (but by no means all) acting major programs give the opportunity/require the student to get experience in other theater skills, such as lighting, sound, and directing. These can all be marketable skills. </p>
<p>Please also keep in mind that many students see their initial intended major (or school) fail to work out for them. Often they are able to switch gears at the same educational institution (sometimes in an entirely different field - I know of a former music major at Harvard who decided to go to medical school). If not, many students transfer to another school with excellent results. (I speak from parental experience here.) </p>
<p>I wish you and your daughter the best.</p>