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| | We've had several requests for a page on colleges. This is just the beginning. Please be patient. Help us out if you can. What is it about college? Why are so many people wishing you to go? Not everyone is going to excel at college, or, for that matter make it past the first year. Is school your thing? Yes? No? Either way, you may have several things to consider.
What type of college is for you? I have to admit, I like when one of my students tells me that they are planning on majoring in technical theater or design. But I also wonder if they are making a wise decision. Not to worry. Everyone who goes to college still has plenty of time to change their minds.
Now, this is very important. I tell this to all my students. Yes, starting with freshmen.
Okay, think about this. How old are you? Most likely between 14 and 18. How old were you when you started making intelligent, informed decisions for yourself? I don't mean what outfits you're going to wear, or what to watch on TV. I mean something important. So, how old were you? How many years ago was that? Most of my students admit to making important decisions just a few years ago.
Let's say you've been in some sort of control of your life for 3 years and you're 15 years old. You've been taking responsibility for yourself for 20% of your current life span. Now, let's say you're going to live until the ripe old age of 90. Yup, at the rate we're living, that'll be the average by the time you reach it. So, people are asking you, "What are you going to do with your life?" YUK!! My answer to them is this.
You expect me to make a decision, based on my 3 years of experience, that will affect the next 75 years? Get real!
Alright, now I'm getting in trouble. I can hear your parents, some teachers and several guidance counselors telling you to ignore this tech theater guy. Yes, these people do know you. Probably better then you think. Not for nothing, but now that I'm older, I do realize that people who are older do know more. Remember, they've done what you do. They may not admit it.
Back to my rambling. If you can't stop doing what you enjoy. I mean, if you try to stay away from tech theater for a while and you just get drawn back in again and again. Then majoring in tech theater may be a good thing. But what school? Is a tech theater school right for you? They can be very focused. Sometimes too focused on just doing the theater stuff.
Here's what I usually advise my students. Choose a college that has a lot to offer. Go to a place that allows you to take classes in different departments without too much of a hassle. Suppose you are strong in science, but love tech theater. You may wish to take a couple of science classes on the other side of the campus. At some schools, this is a problem. (BTW, I wasn't very good at science. I dodged half a semester when they were dissecting things.) I did like physics. It's physics that keeps the set from falling down.
What to look for in a college: - Do they have a tech program?
- Do they have an acting program? Sorry, without them, no plays to work on.
- Do they award AA, BA, BS, MA, MFA, etc? (I earned my BA, then worked in several fields including theater, for 10 years. Then I went back to get my MFA so I could teach.)
- Do they have other classes you would like to take. College is the time to explore various subjects to see what else is out there.
- Is the school far enough from your parents? Or, perhaps too far? Think about this. If you're very far, the parental units will come to visit fewer times, but they'll stay a week! If you're closer, they'll come visit, take you to dinner, go home.
- Don't simply follow your friends. Make your own, informed, decisions. Remember, you can always transfer!
I'm sure all this may ruffle some feathers. Please send me your comments and I'll create a comment page for just this section. I would like to ask you to contribute to these college pages.  | Your stories of getting ready for the college interview would be most helpful to others. | | Suggestions of schools with good theater programs. |
NY Times Article "One Answer on College Doesn't Fit All Graduates." |
