Best college majors for actors?

Hey folks! Acting's my passion but I understand that a performance career can be risky. Which college majors would you recommend for someone who wants to keep acting as an option but also needs a solid backup plan?

There's a wide variety of majors that you could consider as an aspiring actor who also wants a secure backup plan. Here are a few possibilities:

1. Theater Studies or Drama: These majors directly correlate with your passion for acting. They provide professional training and theoretical knowledge about theater, which can be invaluable if you decide to pursue acting as a career.

2. Film Studies or Cinematography: These majors help you develop a more comprehensive understanding of the ins-and-outs of filmmaking, which can help broaden your opportunities in the entertainment industry beyond acting – you could consider directing, producing, scriptwriting, etc.

3. Communication: A major in communication can equip you with skills in public speaking, interpersonal communication, and media production. This major can lead to various roles within and outside the entertainment industry, such as PR, advertising, broadcasting, and more.

4. Business or Arts Administration: This option could be a good idea if you ever wanted to start your own theater company or work on the business side of the entertainment industry.

5. Psychology: This major teaches you about human behavior, which could grant you a deeper understanding of the characters you might play. Additionally, psychology is a versatile major that can lead to numerous careers, including counseling, social work, human resources, and marketing, among others.

6. English or Creative Writing: These majors could be useful if you are interested in scriptwriting or storytelling. They also offer a broad skill set that can be applied to many jobs in fields like publishing, journalism, advertising, and content creation.

Bear in mind that the best major for you is going to depend heavily on your individual interests, talents, and career ambitions. Consider what you'd be most genuinely interested in studying, as well as the skills you'd like to acquire and how they translate to potential backup careers. Consider taking advantage of academic advising, and talking to professors in various departments, to get more personalized guidance on which major would be best for allowing you to pursue acting and providing a safety net.

Finally, if you're looking for ways to pursue your passion for acting while still in high school, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which lists a range of arts-related summer programs for high schoolers: https://blog.collegevine.com/high-school-art-summer-programs/. Many of them will allow you to focus on acting specifically, and you'd be able to network with current acting educators and professionals who would be able to offer more personalized guidance on how to balance your priorities.

Participating in one could even give you a boost during the college process, as admissions officers love to see that you're taking initiative and exploring your interests outside of the classroom! Good luck!