I'm going to UC Berkeley next semester...what can I do with a BA in theatre?

You can do anything you want with a BA, because a liberal arts' education leading to a BA means that you are well-educated, that you write and communicate well, that you are capable of critical thought, and that you can reason and resolve issues. A well-rounded education means that you are capable and qualified for just about any position. In addition, a BA in theater will indicate to potential employers that you have poise and presence--you may get a job in marketing, in a business that needs people to "sell" their product, or in a government position that calls for public presentations. So perform, study, be creative, enjoy--and get a good, well-rounded education! Think outside the (ticket) box for a future career.

You can probably get a really good job pouring coffee at Starbucks. I suggest a business degree and maybe a theatre minor.

Probably the most common thing to do with a BA in theatre is teach, either at the high school or college level (or even at the middle school level). Young drama students tend to really look up to their drama teachers, so if you enjoy working with talented kids (or even not-so-talented kids), it might be a great career option. You're right; you do want to have a back-up career just in case your acting doesn't pay off. Psychology as a minor; that's interesting. You must have an interest in the subject, which is great. I do too. That would also probably help you in getting a teaching job, as you might better understand the students. However, don't plan on getting a job in psych with just a minor -- even people with majors in psychology have a hard time finding a job; you pretty much need a doctorate. Sounds like you have high ambitions and are already thinking about getting your life in order. That's great! Just don't grow up too fast... this portion of your life will be over before you know it. Many congratulations on your acceptance to Berkeley -- it's a great school. Good luck and have fun!

Now Dave, be nice. Yes it's true you can pour coffee, to Mel Gibson and then sleep with him, be in one of his movies, become semi famous, then just like Ron Howard, go behind the camera and be a directors assistant. Make about 40k a year.

With all great and due respect to the wonderful answers you've been given (and they are wonderful), forgive me if I approach it from another angle. Your question seems to be, "What do I have to do to make a living-slash-have a career while waiting for my acting career to happen?" When I graduated with my degree in theatre (granted, it was a graduate degree--even worse...), my major professor said the question was, "What are you going to do to subsidize your art?" That may not sound like a big difference, because both are about the excruciating challenge of paying bills and pursuing art. But one, it seems to me, is saying "Because I need to earn money, and can't yet do it through art, my art will be peripheral." (To quote you, "I'd hate to end up waiting tables..."--meaning, your paycheck is already trumping acting?) The other, it seems to me, is saying "Because I need to pursue my art, I will do what is necessary to make that possible--but the art will remain central." And if I have to wait tables, so be it. Acting in particular is a crazy, time-consuming business which requires incredible flexibility in your life--economic as well as geographic as well as temporal. Whatever you end up doing, it has to be something where you can say "I have an audition at 2 PM, and I will not be able to work then. And if I'm cast, I'm out of here--and if the show ends in 5 weeks, I'll be back asking for a job again." Substitute teaching, temping, and (yes) waiting tables are time-honored for that very reason. Do you make any money? No--but that's not the point. You're (presumably) in your 20s--you can live on ramen and ride AC Transit and sleep on a futon if you have to. Your goal right now is to subsidize your art, in bits and pieces if you have to--until such time as you either learn to love the life of a working actor, which is permanent temporariness, or you decide you'd rather have the money, and you'll happily find something else to fit your skills. My point is, if you're ever going to do it--start out as an actor, I mean--now is the age to do it. Once out of your 20s it becomes harder, once out of your thirties it becomes painful, once out of your forties it becomes delusional...That, frankly, is why teaching is such a trap: it actually can pay halfway decently for what you have to do, and if you're not careful you'll wake up one day and be a teacher who acts sometimes, rather than an actor who teaches sometimes. Congrats on eventually having a degree from Cal on your wall--it will look lovely, I'm sure. But it won't get you anything; what will get you something is that passion you mention--and you have to indulge that for as long as you can get by, whatever the sacrifices required. Otherwise, you could save yourself a lot of trouble by ditching the BA in Theatre now, and going straight for another career, one where you can get a nice entry-level job with regular hours and some small benefits. Then you can buy season tickets to Berkeley Rep and watch the people who did whatever it took to get there... Not a practical answer, I know, but I suspect that if you were practical, you wouldn't be an actor...! But really, whatever you do, much good luck with it--believe me, I know where you're at, passion and all... (P.S.: As the theatre owner said in "Shakespeare In Love", when asked how he knew things would work out: "It's a mystery." Just know that there are doors which will open for you which you don't even know about yet. Keep your eyes open for them...)