1. Attitude is everything.
Your success in the theatre department has more to do with attitude than talent. It's all about being positive with yourself and others. If you are open to trying new things, encouraging towards others, and have a generally optimistic outlook, you will start building a good reputation in the theatre world as a whole.
2. You won't have time for anything else.
Want to join a sorority/fraternity or have dreams of being president of a club? While it's certainly not impossible, you'll find that theatre keeps you plenty busy. So much of what we learn happens outside the classroom in the shows we create. It's all about dedication. In the real world, you need to be extremely dedicated in order to have a successful theatre career, and that involves making sacrifices.
3. There will be lots of drama, on and off stage.
When you're in theatre you are automatically a part of a theatre community; it's just like living in a small town. There's always some sort of drama going on. Don't tell anyone anything you want to keep secret, or the rest of the department will know by lunchtime. But, it's also got the great parts of a small town too. At the end of the day, everyone is there for one another. There's always someone to sit with at lunch or go get junk food with in the middle of the night. You definitely feel like you have a system of support.
4. You'll be scared a lot of the time.
There's a lot of fear that goes into a theatre degree. It's a risky profession, so there's always that underlying fear that you'll have to live in a cardboard box and only eat banana peels after graduation. There's also the fear of auditions, of performing in front of others, or even of new exercises in class. It's important to take some time for relaxation and learn some de-stressing techniques. Make sure to take care of your body and your mind.
5. You will face rejection and it will hurt.
Every theatre major will have to deal with rejection and criticism at some point. There will be times when you work as hard as you can, and it's still not enough to get the part or please the director. It's okay to be upset, and it's okay to cry. But it's important to never give up and to keep working and keep moving forward. Theatre, especially in college, is all about improving yourself. If you approach rejection with this mindset, you will succeed.
6. You will have some of the best times of your life.
There's no better feeling than being able to study what you love. In college you'll learn so much, make lots of strong friendships, and have a ton of fun. Though sometimes it's difficult to be a theatre major, you'll become a stronger person. Pursue your dreams!
