4 answers
Cynthia
Student
1
Question
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What are some the best colleges for performing arts?
I’m a rising senior and am trying to map out what colleges would be the best for me.
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4 answers
Becky Haluska
Content Developer
57
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Becky’s Answer
All careers and paths have multiple options and are often presented as the broadest category for those still in high school. Being more specific will get you recommendations for areas and institutions known to those trying to help guide you along your path.
You can also do the research yourself and get as granular as you'd like or need to be. The first place to start is to list what you want to do when you finish furthering your education. This is where you should be pretty specific. What industry do you want to work in? What industries might also fit the skills you will have when you finish with the training and education you seek? What would you like to do in the industry? Who would you like to work for?
Once you have a general idea of your long range plan you can search jobs listings for the industry to see what they are looking for in candidates. The list of skills needed and your list of things you want to do in your career can then be used as the framework to build a list of further training and educational requirements you need to achieve your goal(s). Use the framework to find training programs and degrees that will give you the additional skills you need to be a qualified and stellar candidate for the jobs you want. Further evaluate the programs on your shorter list by looking at things like internship opportunities, placement rates, networking opportunities, etc that will help you get the step forward in your job/career search after completing the offered program.
Website searches and school counselors are great places to find the information you need to create your own fully thought out, researched plan. It can be a daunting task, but the more footwork you do the better able you will be to navigate the path in front of you. The knowledge you gain through researching and creating your plan will better prepare you to make adjustments along the way as the career landscape changes and you learn more about what really excites you about the work you are choosing.
Wishing you great success on your career journey.
You can also do the research yourself and get as granular as you'd like or need to be. The first place to start is to list what you want to do when you finish furthering your education. This is where you should be pretty specific. What industry do you want to work in? What industries might also fit the skills you will have when you finish with the training and education you seek? What would you like to do in the industry? Who would you like to work for?
Once you have a general idea of your long range plan you can search jobs listings for the industry to see what they are looking for in candidates. The list of skills needed and your list of things you want to do in your career can then be used as the framework to build a list of further training and educational requirements you need to achieve your goal(s). Use the framework to find training programs and degrees that will give you the additional skills you need to be a qualified and stellar candidate for the jobs you want. Further evaluate the programs on your shorter list by looking at things like internship opportunities, placement rates, networking opportunities, etc that will help you get the step forward in your job/career search after completing the offered program.
Website searches and school counselors are great places to find the information you need to create your own fully thought out, researched plan. It can be a daunting task, but the more footwork you do the better able you will be to navigate the path in front of you. The knowledge you gain through researching and creating your plan will better prepare you to make adjustments along the way as the career landscape changes and you learn more about what really excites you about the work you are choosing.
Wishing you great success on your career journey.
Ross Smith
Research specialist and editor
10
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Ross’s Answer
Hi Cynthia,
My father was a music professor, and I grew up around college and university music, theater and art departments.
Performing arts is a very broad category: Classical music, jazz and rock, opera, ballet, modern dance, theater from the ancient Greeks to Shakespeare to modern avant garde and Broadway musicals.
No college or university will cover all of these art forms equally well. They all have specialties. So to help us better guide you, my suggestion is that you resubmit your question and give the specific performance areas you are interested in pursuing.
Ross
My father was a music professor, and I grew up around college and university music, theater and art departments.
Performing arts is a very broad category: Classical music, jazz and rock, opera, ballet, modern dance, theater from the ancient Greeks to Shakespeare to modern avant garde and Broadway musicals.
No college or university will cover all of these art forms equally well. They all have specialties. So to help us better guide you, my suggestion is that you resubmit your question and give the specific performance areas you are interested in pursuing.
Ross
Mahogony Jules
Rapper/ singer /songwriter
5
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Mahogony’s Answer
Hey there, Cynthia! You know, New York is a treasure trove of top-tier performing arts colleges, boasting names like the illustrious Juilliard, Bernard, NYU, Columbia, and Fordham. I'm a Queens, New York native myself, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone and head south to immerse myself in an HBCU university, a dynamic and richly cultural arts hub. Right now, I'm broadening my knowledge at Bethune Cookman University, a place teeming with a diverse array of performing arts majors, spanning from music to theater and everything in between.
I'm delving into Political Science as my major and Pre Law as my minor, and I'm also a rapper, singer, and dancer. My plan is to step into law school after my undergrad, earn my J.D, and focus on entertainment law. This way, I can expand my legal comprehension of the arts. It's definitely an exciting path you might want to consider if it piques your interest!
Originally, my sights were set on Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a place celebrated for its top-notch band and dance programs. If you're thinking about taking the HBCU path, let me tell you, there's an abundance of incredible opportunities waiting to be discovered on campus. These experiences have the potential to significantly boost your creativity and performing arts abilities. So, go ahead and explore, Cynthia! The world of performing arts is waiting for you.
I'm delving into Political Science as my major and Pre Law as my minor, and I'm also a rapper, singer, and dancer. My plan is to step into law school after my undergrad, earn my J.D, and focus on entertainment law. This way, I can expand my legal comprehension of the arts. It's definitely an exciting path you might want to consider if it piques your interest!
Originally, my sights were set on Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a place celebrated for its top-notch band and dance programs. If you're thinking about taking the HBCU path, let me tell you, there's an abundance of incredible opportunities waiting to be discovered on campus. These experiences have the potential to significantly boost your creativity and performing arts abilities. So, go ahead and explore, Cynthia! The world of performing arts is waiting for you.
Grant Hogarth
Technical Writer
11
Answers
Longmont, Colorado
Updated
Grant’s Answer
Absolutely, Ross hit the nail on the head with his advice. So, what's your dream to perform? That's your starting point in choosing a school. After that, you can consider other factors like the school's reputation, tuition fees, and the success rate of their graduates in landing jobs in their desired field. Give this some thought and let's revisit it. There's a lot of options, one will probably fit you perfectly.