What college course should i go for?

Should i go straight to a performing arts 3yr course or go to normal college first (uk) ? please help :S?

• hi when i finish school (when im 16) i am going to college. i want a career in performing, theatre, tv,music videos ext... but with it being a tough industry they advise you to focus only on performing arts (no subjects) im worried that if i don't make it in the performing industry i will then be stuck with no a-levels and end up with a crappy job. but i can not picture myself doing anything other than performing. i was considering going to college the a performing arts one (when i finish college) but i feel like i would be wasting time! helpp what should i do? any successful performers , what did you do?

• Answer:

  I'm in the same boat as you at the moment. When I turned 16 I was planning to go off and go straight into an acting course and solely focus on this, but as you said: if it doesn't work out then your pretty much screwed. So what I did was go to college (well sixth form) and took up subjects related to performing arts: Theatre studies, Media, English combined and Sociology. These provide a back up plan for the future and employment. When my A-Levels are over, I plan to solely focus on acting by applying for acting universities, but I warn you, they are devilishly tricky to get into, so its best to have back up universities for another course you may want to pursue. Each university provides different acting courses suited to you, but if you prefer, like me, for acting training, then its best to apply for the good Universities such as Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Guildhall etc. You wouldn't be wasting your time after college by going to a performing arts college/university. Its providing you with the correct training, and with the qualifications from other subjects from the 'normal' college, you are providing yourself with a back up plan just in case things don't work out. I can only see myself in acting too, but its a known fact that only 18% of qualified actors are in consistent work. So its best to have extra qualifications for jobs that will help you alongside your acting career. Hope this has helped. :) Best Wishes in life!