As the swarm of interview suits that descended on campus for investment banking and consulting recruiting disappears, some students are dressing up for careers in an even more brutally competitive industry: Hollywood. While the bright lights of fame probably appeal to many Princeton students, only a select few are willing to endure the common pitfalls of making it in the entertainment business.
"For every 30 auditions I'll go to, I will be lucky if I get one [part]," Amy Widdowson '06 said.
The selection process isn't all bad, though. While many financial firms scrutinize SAT scores and GPA figures, and Medical schools compare M.C.A.T. results, Hollywood does not demand perfect marks.
"I'm rather pleased that I am pursuing jobs that will not care about my GPA," Jed Peterson '06 said.
Though you would think most individuals seriously considering acting would attend a more arts-focused institution, like NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, the University attracts many child actors and actresses — most notably, Brooke Shields '87.
"One of my mentors told me that the best actresses are not those that are trained in acting, but those that are trained in life," aspiring actress Kimberly Seeherman '06 said.
Princeton is known for having a strong theater program. Quite a few students chose to attend Princeton over conservatories.
"I have become a much better actor having chosen Princeton," Paulo Quiros '06 said. "I was able to choose my roles and determine what aspects of my work I wanted to address."
Upon graduation, seniors Widdowson, Peterson and Quiros have all decided to pursue theater in New York City — and are even considering renting an apartment together. Seeherman, however, plans to leave her hometown of New York and pursue a career in Los Angeles. But aside from their geographic locations, these students' futures remain uncertain — there are no guarantees in Hollywood or on Broadway.
"Even when you do make it, you are not always on top. There is a lot of anxiety about not knowing what the future holds ... metaphorically speaking, you are constantly looking over your shoulder," Will Staples '00 said.
A writer and producer at Union Entertainment, Staples started out with an assistant job at a studio in Los Angeles, fetching people coffee. After a couple lucky breaks, he is now working on a script for an epic that will be directed by Rolan Emmerich, the director of "The Day After Tomorrow."
"You never know when things are going to work out and when they are not," Staples said.

While some students cultivated their passion for acting during high school, others discovered theater and acting while attending Princeton. One such actor is former Real World Chicago cast member and current "Days of Our Lives" star Kyle Brandt '01.
A football player in high school and at Princeton, Brandt chose to break away from his stereotypical jock image and enroll in an intro-level acting course his freshman year. After getting good feedback and encouragement from his professors and peers, Brandt became serious about acting, participating in about six plays during his four years on campus — a sizable feat, considering he remained on the football team.
Nine months after graduation and post-Real World Chicago, Brandt took the major step of moving out to Los Angeles — a decision he made even before the MTV cameras started rolling.
"You have to go to New York or LA if you want to make it, whether it is big-time theater, commercial, television or film," Brandt said. "Moving is tough, but you have to do it."
Brandt now plays a marine on "Days of Our Lives" who lost his leg while in Iraq and recently had a baby girl — though the child may have been fathered by another man. He has six months left in his three-year contract, after which Brandt plans to pursue roles in primetime television or film. But, Brandt admits, "Daytime is the closest thing to having a 9-to-5 job. It is reliable, fun and can be very lucrative."
Brandt is not the only football player-turned-actor to emerge from Old Nassau. Everyone's favorite television Superman, Dean Cain '88, turned to acting after a knee injury prematurely ended his pro-football career in his first season with the Buffalo Bills.
Though Cain's parents were both involved in Hollywood, he was not a famous child actor like his onetime girlfriend Shields, though he did play a part in his father's 1984 film "Stone Boy." So after Princeton, Cain did what most aspiring actors do: appeared in commercials and small television roles.
But even these less glamorous roles are fiercely sought-after in an industry with so many actors auditioning for so few roles.
"Often getting auditions is the biggest struggle, even more so than getting a job," Lorraine Goodman '83 said.
This was a recurring theme among both current and aspiring actors. "Acting is a tough life, and your success will depend on how much you love the art," Seeherman agreed. Having worked in investment banking the year after graduation, Staples said he was relieved to discover that "as soon as I came here to this industry, I felt like I was home."
For many aspiring actors, the fear of failure will either cripple their career or push them towards success.
"I did not realize how much I wanted a career in theater until I was presented with failure," Peterson said.
As in any industry, there are plenty of drawbacks and challenges to a career in acting, ranging from emotional to financial. Many actors recall a thrifty existence during their first few years in the business. "I was eating a lot of canned beans and just scraping by," Staples said.
Even for those who get lucky, the average annual salary for a first-year actor is only about $30,000. And on top of the financial pressures of housing and eating, there are countless other costs associated with the business, such as hiring a photographer for headshots (which can range from $100 to $600, not including the extra $200 for printing). Acting classes cost an additional $250 to $300 per month. Adding insult to injury, even after getting a job, actors have to pay a commission to both their agents and managers — usually ten percent for each.
"It is both financially and emotionally a rollercoaster," Goodman said.
"The industry can be pretty demoralizing if you do not have a dream you are holding onto that keeps pushing you forward," Staples said. "Ninety percent of friends who try to make it will go home because they realize it is not worth it."
A self-employed actress, singer, writer, director and producer, Goodman has been involved in all facets of theater and starred in three major Broadway shows. "As my manager calls me, I'm a jack of all trades and a master of some," Goodman said. She believes the biggest challenge of all is to "keep your body fresh and your stamina going."
While the definition of success is subjective, many attest that a future in entertainment requires a 100 percent commitment. "You have to know it is going to happen, whether it takes 10 years or 10 weeks," Brandt said. "Go out there with the right attitude and don't set any timers for yourself."
"It is now or never," Widdowson said. "This is the only time that I can uproot myself and move to New York City. As one of my professors said, law school will always be there."
The alumni circle within Hollywood is growing every year, as many graduates enter various career fields outside of acting such as writing and stand up comedy. Some also work for agents and producers. While a Princeton degree may not help as much in landing a job in entertainment as in other areas, "the alums are very happy to help Princeton students who are trying to make it," Brandt said. "They will point you in the right direction."
There are also various group forums that connect Princetonians with others in the entertainment industry, such as the Alumni Careers Network-sponsored Princeton Hollywood Group, founded by Staples and fellow alum Dave DiGilio '96. DiGilio wrote the upcoming motion picture film "Eight Below," starring Paul Walker and Jason Biggs.
"Alumni will always take your call, giving you the chance to ask questions," Staples said. "I have never heard of the case where a Princeton alum who wanted a job did not get an entry-level position in the industry. People will help you."