“My major requires a lot of networking, putting yourself out there and getting practice for auditions.”

Eleri Fester is a 19-year-old theater major with a concentration in acting at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is in the second semester of her sophomore year and in her first year of the university’s conservatory program. We dove into a conversation about college from her perspective as a college student in a non-traditional major.

Hazle Purvis: What made you decide to go to college and do you think you made the right decision?

Eleri Fester: I do think I made the right decision to come to college. Mostly because my major requires a lot of networking, putting yourself out there and getting practice for auditions. I had never done real auditions before, other than auditions in high school. I am gaining a lot of acting skills that I never would have discovered on my own.

Q: Are your parents supportive of you going to college?

A: They absolutely are. I was a little scared when I told them I was going to be an acting major. but they were both very supportive of my decision. They were very proud of me for going to school for something I was passionate about.

Q: Would you say that you were expected to go to college? Was college a standard set for you or was it something you took on by yourself?

A: It was expected of me. My eldest brother went to college. He is significantly older than me and my other older brother. Since that standard was set so many years before, both of us were expected to go to college.

Q: Who pays for you to go to college? Did that affect your decision to go to college? If so, how?

A: I am paying for most of it. I am getting help from my parents for books, but tuition I am covering on my own. I do have some scholarships that help me out and ease my financial strain.  It affected where I decided to go to college. I also got accepted to Syracuse University, but the tuition was too high there. Despite having a good GPA in high school, I knew there was no way I could get a full ride and I definitely could not afford to pay $85,000 a year. I am glad I did not go there because I ended up falling in love with Milwaukee.

Q: Have you taken out any student loans? If so, did you have any fears about taking out student loans?

A: I have taken out $1000 in loans so far. Since I live off campus this year and have to pay rent it was helpful to get a little bit of weight taken off of my shoulders. There was an initial fear when I took that loan out, but after having my mom explain the whole process to me I felt a lot more sure of my decision.

Q: Do you think graduating with your degree will help with your overall job security?

A: Absolutely. In the theater world, getting your degree looks fantastic on an actor’s resume. It shows that you are serious about your craft and you are willing to put in the work to improve it. It proves that an actor is trained before the audition even happens.

Q: Do you think college degrees are worth the money?

A: I think so. However, you only get out of it, what you put into it. I know some people who are not making the best use of their time at college and it does not seem like a worthwhile investment for them. For me though, I think it is worth it.

Q: What advice would you give people considering getting their degree?

A: I would not push someone to get their degree if they were feeling unsure about going. I have a lot of friends who have decided not to go to school and I fully support their decision. If you are going to college, you need to be passionate about what you are majoring in. I think people should pursue whatever makes them happy.