To be, or not to be?

[BlazeTheVampire]

Okay guys, this is extremely important to me so I really need feedback. I know a lot of you are older than and have wisdom that myself and my friends do not, so I thought I'd post this and ask for input.

My first year at college ended with my not being happy with Theatre. Whether this is because of the program there or because I've finally realized that it won't work, I don't know. But lately, I've been thinking more and more about dropping my Theatre major and just continuing with foreign language. If I drop the Theatre major, I'll pick up a second language and just translate for a living. It won't be my first-choice career, but it'll be the one that pay more and is more stable than Theatre.

Yes, I love the theatre. I especially loved directing. But now that I've gone into college theatre and seen what I have to contend with just at a college level, I've come to the realization that I can't sing, or even read music, and I can't afford to fix that. Music is vital to becoming a successful actor, and I really wish I'd gone to a school that taught it properly, but I didn't. So now I'm stuck, unable to do what makes me happiest.

Which brings me to my next point: I hate the college I'm at. I love the people I've met but the programs in which I'm enrolled are altogether terrible and un-comprehensive. This school wasn't my first choice but it was the cheaper choice. That said, I'd really like to go to Michigan State University and have wanted to go since I was a kid, but their residency rules make it impossible for me to go there on in-state tuition, which means I pay roughly 25,000 a year (probably more). All paid entirely in loans. That's 15,000 for my next year at the current university, and another 50,000 for my last two years at MSU.

Estimated total if I remain in-State: $45,000
Estimated total if I finish out the year and transfer for Fall '09: $65,000

So, my main difficulty is this: should I transfer to MSU and pay what I need to pay because overall, it'll be worth it, or should I find another college in state? And when I do transfer (this is final- I will not return to my current university for my Junior year) should I try to maintain my Theatre major or will it be a waste of money?

"To be, or not to be? That is the question."

 

[cleverlymadeup]

hmmm would michigan offer a better theatre program? cause you could take it there. also living with some from windsor, michigan is ALWAYS a better choice than the buckeye state

but really i'd say do what you feel is best for you, the money won't be that bad, you can get a job and work it off and if you do translation you can make a lot of money pretty easily

in the end you really have to do what will make you ulimately happy, also you can still do theatre on your own by volunteering and such at your local theatre

 

[Morderkaine]

Best thing for financial independance is a full time job. I would recommend dropping the theater, and go for the foreign language thing if thats what you want. You obviously arent going to be happy if you stay exactly where you are now.
The scary thing with schooling is that most people dont end up working in the field they have their degree in, sadly. Ive never worked in what should be my field (I have a bachelors in applied computer science), but I got a full time job straight out of university and own half of a house only 5 years later. Fortunately I didnt have school debt to worry about, student loans are a killer for years after....
Im really iffy on whether you should go to MSU, $20,000 extra in debt is huge and will cripple your finances for a couple extra years.
Hope this helped a bit.

 

[Isalan]

My advice would certainly be to go down the languages route. By the time you finish college the demand for translators (specifically chinese and russian) will be strong enough for you to land a very well paid job in a fairly short amount of time. Theatre on the other hand is an extremely difficult career to get into, and more specifically, to get paid well for.

At the end of the day, you should do what makes you happy, because you can't put a price on that, but be willing to look to the future as well.

 

[Necrohydra]

You must have a lot of faith in those of us here to pose such a question...

After going through the college grind, I'd say using what you know and getting real job experience (intern, intern, intern!) is key to getting a career....but that's not your question. I feel that college is the process of you paying a great deal of money to get a little piece of paper that says *I'm not an idiot*. You'll likely become very specialized in a specific area of your major after you graduate, and 90% of what you learned in college tends to go to the back of your mind (it's happening to me already). Honestly, I went to a pretty expensive school, and I probably could have saved a good deal of money by going to a state school. So, in this case..if you're confident you can get the experience and stand out, by all means, go the cheaper route. But there's something to be said for the alumni networks and prestige of larger and better schools, which pops up on a resume.

As for you major..I remember doing that dance. Several times throughout my college career, I thought that I hated my major and wanted to do something different. Then, I went on an internship, and remembered why I got into the major in the first place. However, I didn't really start having doubts until I was in my 3rd year. If you're not happy if your major after the first year, when you're taking intro classes still and not living and breathing the stuff yet...then I would consider looking at your other options. Doesn't matter how much you love something, if you don't see yourself being happy doing it 40-50 hours a week, don't do it.

Hope that helps.

 

[TheKnifeJuggler]

So are you choosing to either take one road on the path to theater, the other to a stable job, or do you plan on walking the line in between?

I'm probably not helping though.

 

[BlazeTheVampire]

My problem here is that I need to make the choice now. I got a lot of prerequisites out of the way while I was still in high school, so starting Spring semester of '08, I was taking classes that were only required for my Theatre major. If I'm going to drop that major, I need to make the choice this summer before I take a bunch of classes I don't need.

I'm trying to look for other Universities that have in-state tuition. Some Michigan schools charge in-state for Ohio residents. Eastern Michigan University is a good example. So if any of you have any suggestions for schools good in Theatre and Asian Languages, please, let me know. Somehow this decision is even more difficult for me than initially heading off to college. I'd had my mind set for four years on what I was going to do, and suddenly that's changing, so I feel like my world's been turned upside down.

 

[AnGeL.SLayer]

Hmm Take it from someone who's faced the same decision that you shouldn't ever stop chasing what you love. I'm sure you've heard me say once or twice about letting go of art as a profession. I realized that I couldn't make a job into what I love doing, I would just end up hating it, but that was my personal choice.

If you really love Theater and know you could wake up every morning loving the life you lead then by all means don't let it go. Take the time to learn the things you need to make you the best at what it is you do. Do what you need to do but don't ever set yourself up so that one day you will wake up and realize that you hate where you've let your life go. As corny as it sounds, Just follow your heart and you'll be suprised at the strength that you gain from it.


^_^

EDITED: I feel the need to say that no one here can make this decision for you...I know you know this but I still feel compelled to say it. There is no easy way out in this...as much as we all need an easy button. You can sit here all night and listen to us tell you what we think you should do, but only you can answer that for your self. Perhaps you should take a walk..only knowing the Toledo area as well as only an Ohioan can I wouldn't suggest it this late at night >.<'

 

[BlazeTheVampire]

So are you choosing to either take one road on the path to theater, the other to a stable job, or do you plan on walking the line in between?

I'm probably not helping though.

My original intention in double-majoring was to use translation as a backup in case Theatre didn't work out for me after I graduated.

The thing is, it's already not working out for me. I'm not up to par with everyone doing well in the program because I lack the training they have. I can't read sheet music, let alone sing it, and that's too big of a weakness for me to even try to consider myself on the same level as people who have been doing Musical Theatre their entire lives. I had thought that majoring in Acting and Directing would lead me clear of Musical Theatre, but most of the plays are musicals, and therefore I'm not getting the experience I need because I sound like nails on a chalkboard.

EDIT: I know, Angel, on both fronts. Any attempts at talking to my parents about it only end in them yelling at me for changing my mind, so let's just say I'm searching for better input. Different views, you know? To think of something I may not have.

 

[Gitsnik]

I'd say using what you know and getting real job experience (intern, intern, intern!) is key to getting a career....but that's not your question. I feel that college is the process of you paying a great deal of money to get a little piece of paper that says *I'm not an idiot*.

Unfortunately not everyone reads those pieces of paper, but definitely agree with Job experience.

Blaze: If you can't read sheet music you could learn online ( http://www.musicards.net/ for example). I note that we joined escapist within days of each other and your post count is WILD compared to mine - but I work full time so it doesn't count.

Having never completed a university degree and only holding a Certificate IV (read: one year training) in my industry I have to say that I don't hold much store behind school. I've got a solid grounding in every aspect of our business I can get to (accounting, IT, marketing, audio and film) because I've taken the time to work through what I can learn on the job.

So, to give a bit of advice from a sage old man who is all of 21 and has been doing this since he was 14... Do what you are happy doing. If you score crap in your university degree you don't have to tell anyone that, all you have to do is say you have one (me, I scored 36/100 on my highschool finals but I still passed!). But if you are not happy doing your Theatre then don't do it.

It's funny that you need audio, because if you ever became, say, a drama teacher, you just have to be able to listen to the students sing, not sing for yourself

My parents suck too.

Can you American's "defer" a year? Out here you may take 12 months from your degree and pick it up a year later. It might be a good idea to get a 12 month internship at a theatre or similar environment to learn from someone in the business, then you can pick up where you left off and you'll have a lot more money.

Edit: Don't compare yourself to the other students. At the end of the day only you can tell yourself you're awesome - what right do these petty mortals have to judge you?

 

[mshcherbatskaya]

Can you move to Michigan, take a year off, work, get your resident status established, and then continue on with school? Also, what are the scholarship options for you as an out-of-state student?

 

[Oh-Wiseone]

Do what you want to do, better to be poor and love your job than rich and hate every moment of it.

 

[Fire Daemon]

It is always possible to move into the theatre later in life, you don't need to start acting at 20 to be an actor until your 80. I say take the language option and build up your financial status. Then follow your dreams.

I don't fully understand the workings of theatre and how to break into the industry so I may be wrong. Still don't feel like your life ends after collage and you are stuck with whatever you choses, you have so much ahead.

 

[BlazeTheVampire]

Can you move to Michigan, take a year off, work, get your resident status established, and then continue on with school? Also, what are the scholarship options for you as an out-of-state student?

I literally would have to take a year off of college- they have a 12 month policy. My parents won't let me take a year off, though. They're afraid that if I take a year off and settle into a full time job that I'll never go back, and I can't say I blame them for thinking that. Yet at the same time, they're doing absolutely nothing to fund my education, so I guess to hell with what they think.

As per scholarships, there are very few offered through the University for out-of-state transfers. I would have to find outside help on that front, as I tried to do for Freshman year (but failed miserably despite the number of applications I filled out).

 

[Gooble]

I reckon you should drop the theatre major and carry on with two languages-I'm guessing that you'll enjoy it enough, despite it not being your number 1 option, and you could always have theatre as a hobby, doing amateur dramatics and such.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

well looking at actors and what they went to school for, most did NOT study theatre in university. singing you don't always need, good to have, lord knows a woman with a good singing voice is heavenly however not needed

as i said before go for languages and do theatre as something extra cause you enjoy it, if you become successful great and if not you have translation you can do very well in

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

You must have a lot of faith in those of us here to pose such a question...

Or clutching for straws.

I think perhaps Blaze you're overestimating the effect of music and training; Sean Connery and Winona Ryder are widely applauded as great actors and usually play themselves.

Look at Gene Kelly, "Can't sing, can't act. Balding. Can dance a bit".

The most important thing out of this is you happiness, and it comes above here, your friends and your family.

I went to a Uni that I detested and I came out with a huge debt, no prospects, a smoking habit and a very bitter outlook; I got back but it was tough.

My advice: Head for MSU, get some singing/music lessons in; I'm sure you have a friend who's willing to give you some pointers (Hell, Guitar Hero if you have to) and look for some theatre work outside college. I'm certain your YWCA or the like will have work, and even the occasional pantomime.
(And panto is a LOT harder than it looks)

Find out what you want to do (Not easy even at my age : About double yours) and plough your heart into it. Enough willpower WILL get you there.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

I think perhaps Blaze you're overestimating the effect of music and training; Sean Connery and Winona Ryder are widely applauded as great actors and usually play themselves.

Michael Caine is the king of that no matter where his character is from he still speaks with his cockney accent

at least Sir Sean tries to hide his speech impediment scottish accent a bit

 

[werepossum]

Is a degree from MSU inherently useful in getting a job in theater? I'm assuming the language program at MSU will be as good or better than at your university, so the only variables will be quality of theater program and cost. First off, you're likely to have at least as much problem with your lack of a music background at MSU with its better theater program as at your state school. Can you take five years to finish college? If so, you could devote next year to learning music inside and out while also getting stronger (and thus more marketable) in languages.

From that point I think it would be worth transferring to MSU if your heart is set on theater. $20 is not in and of itself a huge amount of debt to take on to follow your dream, even if you only end up doing it as a hobby.

One final thought - look carefully at MSU's in-state policy. Perhaps it is possible to attend a small private school in Michigan for a year, taking an intensive music and light language curriculum, while establishing residency. (Or you could claim to be an illegal alien; they get in-state tuition. LOL)

Either way, I think you need to either give up theater as a formal study or get the music background you say you need before continuing at either school. As to which - I'd hate to default to a vocation I didn't really want at your age.

 

[Saskwach]

I think perhaps Blaze you're overestimating the effect of music and training; Sean Connery and Winona Ryder are widely applauded as great actors and usually play themselves.

Michael Caine is the king of that no matter where his character is from he still speaks with his cockney accent

at least Sir Sean tries to hide his speech impediment scottish accent a bit

Jcak Nicholson, Tom Cruise and (arguably) Brad Pitt are all masters at acting themselves.