A shift from the musical "Grease" stage to the academic field of Ethnomusicology.
Allie Schulz's Journey from Broadway to UCLA
Allie Schulz, a first-year transfer student at UCLA, is making a name for herself in the world of music and academia. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Schulz's passion for music took her on a journey that saw her perform on Broadway and now, as a student at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
Schulz enrolled at the Los Angeles City College (LACC) as a Music major, with UCLA as her ultimate goal. Her journey, however, was not without challenges. She was overwhelmed by the process of transferring to UCLA, dealing with administrative details and gathering college transcripts from multiple schools.
In her quest to reach UCLA, Schulz met with a counselor at LACC who provided her with the necessary prerequisite classes. Her perseverance paid off when she was awarded a dedicated transfer student scholarship made possible through the generosity of the Herb Alpert Foundation.
Before her stint at LACC, Schulz graduated from Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan at the age of 18. She then moved to New York and attended Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). After her tour ended, she decided to study romance languages at Hunter College in New York City. Her studies at Hunter College reinforced and inspired her ability to make music.
Schulz's breakthrough came in 2007 when she won third place on the reality TV show "Grease: You're the One That I Want!" on NBC in Los Angeles. This victory led to her being cast in the Broadway musical "Grease." After playing Sandy on Broadway, she understudied Sandy, Patty, and Cha-Cha for the Broadway production of "Grease." Later, she played Rizzo on the national tour of "Grease."
After her successful career on Broadway, Schulz decided to return to academia. She is now majoring in Ethnomusicology at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. An Ethnomusicology degree typically enriches a musician's understanding of diverse musical cultures and traditions, often deepening their creative perspective and pedagogical approach.
In addition to her studies, Schulz is now writing music, playing shows, and releasing records under the artist name LAE in Los Angeles. She has also been awarded a fellowship to teach at the UCLA Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Koreatown. After teaching there, she decided she wanted to pursue a master's degree in education.
Schulz's journey from Broadway to UCLA is a testament to her resilience and passion for music. She believes that when deciding to finish your degree, you don't have to have the whole plan figured out. Trusting your instincts, she says, is enough.
- Allie Schulz, during her time at Los Angeles City College, took advantage of online education platforms to supplement her learning experiences in education-and-self-development and diversify her interests with movies-and-tv and entertainment.
- In her pursuit of a master's degree in education, Allie Schulz has been leveraging online resources for continued learning, emphasizing the transformative power of online-education and the importance of life-long learning in her journey.