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The Green Room / Re: ARTICLE: NY TIMES saying no to college
« on: Dec 05, 2012, 01:28 pm »
I am currently a 2nd year Stage Management student at UNCSA (University of North Carolina School of the Arts).
Growing up - especially towards the end of High School - I felt like I had to go to college because I was just taught that's what you do, that is the way to succeed. I ended up taking a year off in between HS and College, allowing me to get an Associates Degree, make sure this is really what I wanted to do, and choose a place to do it. When picking a place I was advised that (especially for theatre) it is not all about what you learn - anyone can teach the hard skills - it is so much more about where it leaves you after 4 years. What experience have you gained? What connections have you made? So, while I know and acknowledge that college is not completely necessary for working in our industry I greatly value the chance to gain specifically designed experience in a controlled place that also connects me to so many professionals in the industry. It is possible to do the same thing without college, but with more networking and a tad of luck.
Although I think there is starting to be a paradigm shift now that more people are looking for college degrees in theatre since they are offered regularly. Or at least that people with degrees are being hired more often. What do you guys think? Is there some truth to that?
Growing up - especially towards the end of High School - I felt like I had to go to college because I was just taught that's what you do, that is the way to succeed. I ended up taking a year off in between HS and College, allowing me to get an Associates Degree, make sure this is really what I wanted to do, and choose a place to do it. When picking a place I was advised that (especially for theatre) it is not all about what you learn - anyone can teach the hard skills - it is so much more about where it leaves you after 4 years. What experience have you gained? What connections have you made? So, while I know and acknowledge that college is not completely necessary for working in our industry I greatly value the chance to gain specifically designed experience in a controlled place that also connects me to so many professionals in the industry. It is possible to do the same thing without college, but with more networking and a tad of luck.
Although I think there is starting to be a paradigm shift now that more people are looking for college degrees in theatre since they are offered regularly. Or at least that people with degrees are being hired more often. What do you guys think? Is there some truth to that?