i've been acting for a while. and by a while i mean practically my whole life. i'm not amazing or anything but i've gotten into 3 very prestigious summer conservatories and a professional production. but i didnt get into college. i applied to 8 universities and i was rejected from every one. what do i do? i mean i can work for a year and earn money which is always a plus and i can do more shows and stuff and build experience but how do i prevent this year from repeating itself? all i want to do is go to school and study what i love. its the only thing getting me through the hell that is high school. i've been waiting for this for so long. and it just came as a huge slap in the face. what the fuck am i supposed to do with my life now?

I'm sorry. How about taking some classes at a community school? It will show you're serious about learning, plus the credits are less expensive and may transfer when you transfer to another school.

Just relax. Don't crack under pressure, you'll do yourself no good. Don't give up or lose hope. Maybe it's about time you try to find an agent, if school isn't going to well. (if you don't already have one). Where are you located? If you're in New York or Los Angeles or close to them, I would look at schools there, because there definitely are some.

i'm in rochester ny
upstate

i want to go to college
if i dont get in for acting i'm afraid my parents are gonna make me just go to some random college and get a degree in anything and i know i'll be mieserable

I hope your parents don't make you do that. I love acting, have been doing it for a while now in my high school and the community. And as much as my mom supports me, she still wants me to go to college and get a degree in something other from theater and drama, which sucks. She keeps saying that acting is unpredictable, which she's kind of right I suppose, and I may not make it.

My suggestion is find some colleges, rolling admissions or community colleges, and apply there. I am sure there are a bunch of other colleges that will accept you. There's somewhere for everyone, at least that's what they say.

Here's a link to rolling admission schools:

http://www.princetonreview.com/college/apply/articles/types/rollingcoll.asp

Hope this helps!

Why don't you apply to Hunter,City University? That way you will be in the city and can audtion for fun jobs while you are in school? They are really inexpensive and will still give you a decent education and a big city experience. other close options are Hofstra, Suny Purchase, Rutgers or Wagner in Staten Island (actually they have a good theater department)

Did you apply to schools that were realistic choices for you? Applying to eight schools may seem like alot, but if your application wasn't as strong as others, I could see being rejected by all 8. Anyway I'm sure there is a school with rolling admissions AND a drama department that will accept you for the fall. Just keep looking. Good luck!

all of my schools were within my academic gpa range but its impossible to rate for theatre stuff cause its not like there is a number scale or anything. but i mean i think i should have gotten into at least some of them academically...

i think i should have gotten into at least some of them academically

But you didn't. Give yourself a short amount of time to deal with the disappointment and then do something about it. You will find that you'll feel better if you take action, such as trying some of the suggestions that have been made.

It's known by many that this year is a particularly difficult one for getting into college. (Although next year is supposed to be worse and then start getting "better") Regroup and then reapply to different choices. There are so many out there you should be able to find one that's right for you. By the way, some colleges don't require an audition at all, some not until the end of Freshman/beginning of Sophomore year. Try those!

neverdefeated --

I hadn't heard that ----- "It's known by many that this year is a particularly difficult one for getting into college. (Although next year is supposed to be worse). What's the reasoning for this???


~T

In hindsight, I wish I'd thought of community college as an option, to get the general ed stuff out of the way. I was at an in-state school (okay, a few in-state schools), and I observed that those students who transferred from community college always seemed to fare quite well after transferring. My guess is that they had more focus without the party atmosphere that is freshman year. The community college route would have saved a LOT of money, too.

quote:

And as much as my mom supports me, she still wants me to go to college and get a degree in something other from theater and drama, which sucks. She keeps saying that acting is unpredictable, which she's kind of right I suppose, and I may not make it.

And if you do get a BFA in theatre/drama/etc., you're going to be hounded to go back to school for something else. Heads up.

Fluff - It's been written in the newspapers and everywhere. The baby boomers kids are peaking at college age next year and most are going to college creating a extraordinarily tight situation for many colleges and kids. This year's bad, next year's worse and then it settles out a little.

Meekelhead,

Did you apply to schools that required an audition (i.e. dance/voice/acting) like CCM, Boston Conservatory, NYU? And I assume you applied to other schools as well - Carnegie-Mellon, Suny Purchase? I'm not sure which schools you applied to so it's hard to tell if you were turned down because of an audition or your GPA.

I think some of the suggestions on the board here are good. There are a few other options as well. YOu can go to college for another major. Many actors I know (and a few family members who are successful actors) major in politics (believe it or not) or broadcast journalism. My daughter will be applying but would also like to study entertainment law, for example.

My brother went to Harvard, and then switched to Yale Drama for his master's. Didn't study at all in undergrad and still made it in the business. Another friend of ours son is studying politics at American U,but he took this semester to study at NYU in a reciprocal deal that the universities have with each other. He has been with CESD for the past 3 years, and now that he is with NYU for this semester, it allows him to go to school and audition too. It's worked out very successfully for him.

Another school that many agents and directors recommend is American Academy of Dramatic Arts -www.aada.org on Madison Avenue in NYC. They also have a location in LA. You can take the actor training program for 2 years and then transfer to a 4 year school - here's some info:

Two Year Degree-Associate of Occupational Studies

Students graduating from the two-year actor training program at the New York campus are awarded the academic degree of Associate of Occupational Studies (A.O.S.). Admission to the Academy's Second Year of training is by invitation.

Third Year Academy Company - Certificate of Advanced Studies in Acting

A third year (by invitation) of advanced training and performance program, Academy Company, leads to a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Acting.

Four Year Degree - Bachelor Options
Students choosing to further their academic education with more advanced degrees may transfer their credits to most colleges and universities throughout the United States. The number of credits successfully transferred depends upon the amount earned, choice of college, entry requirements and the desired degree. The Academy has articulation agreements with universities that facilitate this option:

St. John's University - Through an Articulation agreement with St. John's University, signed May 15, 2006, Academy students have the option of transferring to St. John's University for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Television and Film Studies and other fields offered at St. John's College of Professional Studies. This opportunity combines AADA's conservatory training for actors with St. John's University state-of-the-art professional film and television facilities. Degree specifics for students and alumni are:

AADA students who successfully complete the two-year program at our New York campus may transfer 60 credits toward a B.S. Degree in TV and Film Studies at St. John's. Successful completion of an additional 66 credits (two years) at St. John's will lead to the B.S. Degree.

AADA students who successfully complete one year may transfer 30 credits toward a B.S. Degree at St. John's.

AADA alumni (1974 forward) are also eligible for transfer credit toward the B.S. Degree.

Scholarships are available at both AADA and St. John's University.

Hunter College
Students who wish to continue their studies toward a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre may apply to Hunter College (CUNY) www.hunter.cuny.edu . Academy graduates who transfer to Hunter College receive 27 credits towards a B.A. in Theatre.

Antioch University Los Angeles - The American Academy of Dramatic Arts has entered into an Articulation Agreement with Antioch University Los Angeles that allows Academy students to complete a Bachelor of Arts with an individualized concentration in Acting and Dramatic Arts or in one of the standard areas of concentration: liberal studies, psychology, child studies, business and social entrepreneurship, creative writing, or urban community and environment. This Agreement clarifies the transfer process and ensures that the maximum number of credits earned at AADA will be counted towards Antioch BA degree completion.

AADA students can enter Antioch with as much as half of their coursework towards the BA degree completed.

Students who successfully complete one year at AADA may also transfer their coursework credits of C- or better. AADA Alumni are also eligible to participate under the terms of this agreement. Antioch's innovative curriculum, variety of course offerings and flexible time schedules make it a perfect match for AADA students who wish to obtain a BA degree.

For further information, current AADA students and alumni may contact the Registrar at AADA or the Antioch University Los Angeles Admissions Office (www.AntiochLA.edu). Prospective students may inquire by email or telephone to our Admissions offices.

For more information, please call our Office of Admissions in New York at 800-463-8990 toll free or email us at admissions-ny@aada.org.

There is also the NY Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, School of Film and TV - www.sft.edu on 19th St in NYC (great website too). They have a 2 year conservatory program which might be what you are speaking about being accepted into.

There's also another great resource called College Confidential where you can go to get good info on colleges. They have a great musical theater forum there and discussions about performing arts colleges. www.collegeconfidential.com

I hope some of this helps.

Good luck!

quote:

And if you do get a BFA in theatre/drama/etc., you're going to be hounded to go back to school for something else. Heads up.

This is very true. My mom is all about seurity. I was originally going in for a Creative Writing degree but she shot that one down. So now, I'll be doing Journalism, which to me is like selling out. But I'd rather not go through four years and get pressured by my family to go into college and do something else. I hate being in the confines of school. Even if college is supposed to be about freedom. I would have rather not paid as much for freedom.