You’re almost there. You’ve made it through a lot of applications, prescreen recordings, live auditions, and interviews. Soon, you’ll start receiving those coveted acceptance letters in the mail (you may already have a few!). When you’re choosing a college program for music, theatre, dance, or visual arts you know you’re signing up for a lot of work. Perhaps more so than with other majors, where you ultimately decide to study can greatly impact your overall career in that field. And you don't want to end up at the wrong place.
Odds are, if you applied to the school, you already covered the basics: size, location, program type. You know that, on paper, it makes sense for you. But there’s a big difference between looking good on paper and actually spending four years there.
You’ve got to dig a little deeper before sending in your deposit. Here are some other factors to consider.
Happiness
There’s a lot of buzz right now about happiness ranking, or what college has the happiest students. It’s a good idea to get a feel for how happy current students are in your specific program, too. Try to do an overnight stay if you can and ask a lot of questions. Find out why they chose that program and if it’s meeting their expectations. Does it align with why you would choose that program? Happiness can be a good indication for the overall student body, but remember that just because other people are happy at the school doesn’t mean you will be. It’s important for you to feel it on your own, too.
Connections
When you’re considering attending the school instead of just applying to it, you should consider a program’s network as a whole. This could include faculty, guest faculty, famous alumni, and location. For example, a program that has a great location might not necessarily have famous alumni, and vice versa. You want the program to have connections that can help boost your career. Is that why you’re going to college in the first place?
Money
This is a big one, and a lot of final decisions are made on this factor alone. How much financial aid a program offers you is a good indicator of how much they want you in their program, but it isn’t perfect. A lot of programs, especially in the arts, are strapped for funds and can’t give out a ton of financial aid. If you get accepted to your dream school but still need financial help, see if the program can recommend some private scholarships or grants.
As the acceptance letters start rolling in, you should start thinking about where you really want to go and why. Remember, this is where you’ll launch your career as an artist. You want to find a place that will foster your passion and help you make the next step into the professional world. It’s a big decision, and it’s important to consider all your factors before choosing a college.
