<p>I’m a soon-to-be sophomore at Smith College. I started acting on stage when I was about 8 years old and was adamant about getting an agent, but my parents were getting a divorce/lost their jobs, so starting a career of my own was not an option. I stopped doing theater for many years, getting on stage again in my junior year of high school. I’ve received positive feedback from my (few) acting teachers, and won a school-wide Shakespeare monologue contest, twice.</p>
<p>Recently, I’ve been considering a career in acting and wondering if I should transfer schools. I definitely want a BA since (correct me if I’m wrong) it seems important to have another option in case things don’t work out + I’m interested in many other academic areas. But, part of me does want to just want to commit myself wholly to this…I’m an idealist.</p>
<p>Is graduating w/ a double major in Theater & something else from Smith adequate if I want to pursue a career in professional theater/film/t.v? Are actors graduating w/ a B.A from Northwestern or a BFA from NYU more prepared for the acting industry? Are these degrees looked upon more favorably?</p>
<p>What I would suggest is staying at Smith and supplementing your theatrical training with summer programs if at all possible. </p>
<p>Really, you could hardly be at a better place! </p>
<p>Many people have gone on to acting careers after graduating from an LAC. There is one school of thought that considers this the best path, because it produces actors with the best all-around education.</p>
<p>You didn’t say how far along you are, you just said you were “graduating”. If you are about to graduate, I don’t see any reason to transfer now. If you feel you need more education, there is always graduate school.</p>
<p>But people from all sorts of places become succesful actors, even people with no college degree at all!!!</p>
<p>I do however think that the people who succeed in acting–IN GENERAL–are the people who commit to it fully, and that the people who have “something to fall back on”–IN GENERAL–do end up falling back</p>
<p>It’s too late for this summer, but next summer try to intern down the street at the Williamstown Theatre Festival or Powerhouse at Vassar. Also look in to doing a year or semester abroad in an acting conservatory in Russia or Great Britain - there should be plenty of abroad programs recognized by Smith. </p>
<p>Also, hop on the bus and do more theatre at the other 4 schools in the consortium. </p>
<p>I agree with arwarw - the area you are in is chock-full of theatre opportunities! And you are in the consortium, so use it and take classes at neighboring colleges. UMASS has a great theatre department.</p>
<p>Smith is a great school, and since you are not saying you don’t like it there, I’d continue. Remember, transfers to most colleges are given less FA than incoming freshmen. so if you are at Smith with a good FA package, stay there!! Look into the theatre department and talk to someone there who may be able to direct you toward actor’s training in the area.</p>
<p>Good luck! Glad you found your passion for acting!</p>
<p>also look into NTI for a summer experience as well as a semester or summer abroad in London. The 5 college consortium has a lot of opportunities and through the 5 colleges you should be able to pull together an ensemble of courses which has similar facets of BA Acting programs. Spend some time calling these schools and finding out if you can reasonably put these kinds of courses in your schedule. What are the prerequisites? Can you transport yourself to these other schools in time to make it to your other classes. Also look at Stella Adler or Atlantics summer programs in NYC. Check out some excellant summer Shakespeare programs. I believe either Tanglewood or Berkshires has an excellant program as well as something else in NJ. I’m hoping other regulars on here more familiar with these programs will chime in. Bottom line, Smith is an excelllant school to graduate from and you can make this work for you. Its probably too late to try to transfer to any Acting program for September anyhow. But don’t take our word for it, can’t hurt to call around if there are non audition acting programs. and most Acting programs require 4 full years or at least 3 with transfer credit so it would set you back financially and with the curriculum. Hate to kill someone’s passion though and have regret. I suggest you spend a few days calling around to a variety of programs and ask them what would be involved with transferring in terms of credit, FA, and when you could complete your undergraduate degree. One more option, there may be an exchange program whereby you could attend a semester at another US college with a BA in Acting taking acting courses to supplement your training. If your question is If I know I want to be an actor and complete an undergraduate degree, am I better off getting a BFA or a BA in Acting? I would say arguably Most Likely Yes. If your question is, can I become a successful actor if I complete my degree at Smith? I would say that the profession of acting requires a life of pounding the pavement and opening closed doors and making connections and a life of continuous training and there is no direct route to that end goal. If you are determined and disciplined than the answer to that question is up to you.</p>
<p>I agree with all of the above advice. I second the idea that you can “study abroad” at a US school. I know someone in a BA program who spent at least a semester at NYU. There are lots of ways to get great experience and training, without having to start over.</p>
<p>Oh, great advice about the "study abroad"in the US. Someone from our town goes to NYU, but is doing his “study abroad” at Second City in Chicago! How cool is that?</p>
<p>You may also find theatre specific study abroad options available to you on other campuses. I believe that Florida State and Syracuse both will accept students not matriculated at those schools to the programs. it is work asking if you are interested.</p>
<p>There are also programs in the summer through Cap21, Circle in the Square, Stella Adler, and others that will allow you to supplement your theatre training… as well as direct summer and semester programs at training schools in England and Ireland.</p>
<p>Lots of ways to supplement the training you are already getting through Smith and the Five College Consortium.</p>
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