BWW Blog: The Road to College

With twists, turns, bumps, and jolts, the road to college can be a rough ride. Once the touring process is complete, students must narrow down their list to the universities at which they are applying. The pressure mounts as applicants strive to make their personalities pop off the page with unique personal essays, impressive test scores and grades, and a hefty resume of extracurriculars. Applying to universities as an arts major can be especially daunting with the added responsibilities of preparing for auditions and creating portfolios.

For me, the college decision process was difficult from the start. As a high school freshman, I was set on attending a conservatory or a university with a prestigious acting program in a bubbling metropolis like Chicago or NYC. As I progressed through high school, my interests and goals began to evolve. While I was still an active performer, I started to dabble in scholastic journalism, as well as other areas of theatre such as playwriting and directing. I also began to ditch the idea of going to school in a city, as staying in state was a much more economical choice.

I toured several Virginia schools that would give me the flexibility to pursue multiple aspects of theatre as well as journalism. When I first attended an open house in September of my senior year for the school I currently attend, James Madison University, it admittedly was not high on my list. I knew JMU had a highly-esteemed theatre program, but I was surprised to learn that a considerable fraction of the students in the School of Theatre and Dance have double majors or minors outside of the school. In addition, all theatre students can take classes in the various areas such as performance, design and tech, and theatre studies. For me, it was very important that I received a well-rounded education at a school that offered more than just the arts. Not only did I want to get the full college experience with a variety of diverse opportunities, but as an actor, I feel it is important to encounter challenges outside of the arts and meet people with differing interests. When I am portraying a character unlike myself, I can pull from these experiences to make my performance more real and grounded.

That picturesque fall day I decided to sign up for an audition for the program. A decision that I did not know at the time would change the course of my college selection process. When I returned for the audition months later, I was even more impressed with the faculty and staff and all the rich artistic opportunities the program could provide for me.

For my audition, I prepared two monologues, two songs, crafted a theatre studies writing portfolio, attended a dance call, and spoke about my goals and experiences in an interview. The audition and interview process at JMU allowed me to audition for as many areas as I wished. While it certainly was a busy day, I think that auditioning in multiple areas helped me stand out from other applicants. In a program that says "no" to more people than they say "yes" to, I needed to offer a unique flair of talents. I was able to showcase my versatility in a diverse set of artistic disciplines and adaptability to a busy schedule, skills that are important to the modern theatre artist. After all, Lin Manuel Miranda not only wrote Hamilton, but also composed the score and starred in the Broadway production.

Wherever you are in your college journey, it is imperative that you find a community that can support your goals, inspire you, and challenge you to grow and learn. I am looking forward to continuing to better my skills and push myself as an artist throughout my four years here.

Photo Credit: Madeleine Bloxam Photography