--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was definitely planning to go to…" description: "\"I was definitely planning to go to college, but I deferred my admission to Carnegie Mellon to be in a non-equity tour of 'The Sound of Music.' But I ma..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/jonathan-groff-4035_carnegie-mellon_i-was-definitely-planning-to-go-to-colle_411249.jpg" --- # I was definitely planning to go to college, but I deferred… ![“I was definitely planning to go to college, but I deferred my admission to Carnegie Mellon to be in a non-equity tour of 'The Sound of Music.' But I made very little money in the tour, and college is really expensive, and I thought I'd never be able to pay off those loans.” quote by Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/jonathan-groff-4035_carnegie-mellon_i-was-definitely-planning-to-go-to-colle_411249.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/jonathan-groff-4035_carnegie-mellon_i-was-definitely-planning-to-go-to-colle_411249.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/jonathan-groff-4035_carnegie-mellon_i-was-definitely-planning-to-go-to-colle_411249.jpg) > “I was definitely planning to go to college, but I deferred my admission to Carnegie Mellon to be in a non-equity tour of 'The Sound of Music.' But I made very little money in the tour, and college is really expensive, and I thought I'd never be able to pay off those loans.” [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He chose a short‑term artistic opportunity over immediate college costs, later facing financial strain and loan concerns. **In simple terms:** Choosing a tour over college led to money problems and loan worries. Key Takeaway Weigh short‑term dreams against long‑term financial health. Themes career choices financial planning artistic ambition education risk assessment Mood reflective concerned pragmatic Type advice personal narrative cautionary When to use this quote - career decision - budgeting - loan repayment Key Concepts opportunity cost loan debt career trajectory personal values Questions to Reflect On - What are the hidden costs of pursuing a passion project? - How can you balance artistic goals with financial stability? A Different Perspective Short‑term gains may create long‑term financial challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carnegie mellon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carnegie-mellon/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Sound of music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound-of-music/) ## Related quotes > [When I was a senior in high school, I worked at a theater where they hired New York actors. And they told me about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-a-senior-in-high-school-i-worked-at-a-theater-where-they/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [The 'snakebot', which is a type of mechanized, biologically inspired robot, itself has roots in Japanese laboratories of the 1970s. What the team at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-evans/the-snakebot-which-is-a-type-of-mechanized-biologically-inspired/) [Kelly Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-evans/) > [I was in college - Carnegie Mellon, which is one of the reasons Pittsburgh was appealing to me - and I personally feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-was-in-college-carnegie-mellon-which-is-one-of-the-reasons/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [I went to high school directly across the street from Carnegie Mellon, actually, and I knew people that were a couple of years older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-went-to-high-school-directly-across-the-street-from-carnegie-mellon/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [ My first job was a show called The Others. I had, like, three lines. Julianne Nicholson was in it, and Gabriel \[Macht\]. I remember… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/my-first-job-was-a-show-called-the-others-i-had-like-three-lines/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [I went to the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-mixon/i-went-to-the-carnegie-mellon-school-of-drama/) [Katy Mixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-mixon/) > [Matt Bomer and I went to Carnegie Mellon for drama together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/matt-bomer-and-i-went-to-carnegie-mellon-for-drama-together/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [In joint scientific efforts extending over twenty years, initially in collaboration with J. C. Shaw at the RAND Corporation, and subsequently with numerous faculty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-newell/in-joint-scientific-efforts-extending-over-twenty-years-initially-in/) [Allen Newell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-newell/) > [I remember having to hit a mark and having no idea how to do it, real childlike stuff, because Carnegie Mellon didn't do an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-remember-having-to-hit-a-mark-and-having-no-idea-how-to-do-it-real/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [I had always been interested in opera, going back to my college days at Carnegie Mellon. In my last year there, I even wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-had-always-been-interested-in-opera-going-back-to-my-college-days/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [ I actually met one of my business partners \[Neal Dodson\] at the Governor's School summer program, so we've known each other since we were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-actually-met-one-of-my-business-partners-neal-dodson-at-the/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [A 'reptilian revolution' has the potential to reshape manufacturing. The 'snakebots' being developed at Carnegie Mellon University aren't just useful for surgical or search-and-rescue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-evans/a-reptilian-revolution-has-the-potential-to-reshape-manufacturing-the/) [Kelly Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-evans/) > [I wound up graduating from the Los Angeles County School for the Arts as a theatre major and then was honored to be accepted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-groban/i-wound-up-graduating-from-the-los-angeles-county-school-for-the-arts/) [Josh Groban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-groban/) > [Looking ahead, future generations may learn their social skills from robots in the first place. The cute yellow Keepon robot from Carnegie Mellon University…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/looking-ahead-future-generations-may-learn-their-social-skills-from/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [I always wanted to be an actor, even as a little kid. So I went to drama school in the late '60s at Carnegie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor-even-as-a-little-kid-so-i-went-to/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) ## More by Jonathan Groff > [If I've had roadblocks along the way for being gay, I'm not aware of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/if-i-ve-had-roadblocks-along-the-way-for-being-gay-i-m-not-aware-of/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [When I was 20 years old, I got cast in 'Spring Awakening' and got swept up in this experience where it was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-20-years-old-i-got-cast-in-spring-awakening-and-got-swept/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I'd moved to New York to pursue a career in theatre, and it's very practical how you do it - I just went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-d-moved-to-new-york-to-pursue-a-career-in-theatre-and-it-s-very/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [While I was in high school, I saw Sutton Foster in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie,' and she was the one that was most inspiring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/while-i-was-in-high-school-i-saw-sutton-foster-in-thoroughly-modern/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I loved 'Weekend,' and it meant a lot to me when I saw it in the movie theater. I think 'Looking' feels more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-loved-weekend-and-it-meant-a-lot-to-me-when-i-saw-it-in-the-movie/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [Coming out, for me, was slightly painful. It was a relief, but it was also painful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/coming-out-for-me-was-slightly-painful-it-was-a-relief-but-it-was/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I never look at myself online, and I don't read gossip Web sites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-never-look-at-myself-online-and-i-don-t-read-gossip-web-sites/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I would say 'Looking' and 'Spring Awakening' are the most important and personal projects I've ever been apart of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-would-say-looking-and-spring-awakening-are-the-most-important-and/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [The hardest I've ever laughed was with Lea Michele.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/the-hardest-i-ve-ever-laughed-was-with-lea-michele/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [Dating can be painful, can be great, can be confusing, can be weird, but I don't do it online because I'm not really an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/dating-can-be-painful-can-be-great-can-be-confusing-can-be-weird-but/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I loved traditional musical comedy. That was my passion. Then 'Spring Awakening' happened, and it took that rock n' roll and pop music to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-loved-traditional-musical-comedy-that-was-my-passion-then-spring/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I feel like certainly there are people expecting 'Looking' to be representative of everyone that's gay, the entire gay community. And it's a dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-feel-like-certainly-there-are-people-expecting-looking-to-be/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [It's so awesome to be a part of something that is successful not because there's a famous person in it or because it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/it-s-so-awesome-to-be-a-part-of-something-that-is-successful-not/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [When I was doing 'Spring Awakening' the first couple of years I was living in New York, I was gay, and I was living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-doing-spring-awakening-the-first-couple-of-years-i-was/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I'm not on Twitter. I'm not on Facebook. I'm not on Instagram.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-m-not-on-twitter-i-m-not-on-facebook-i-m-not-on-instagram/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) [Explore all 117 Jonathan Groff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) ## More Carnegie mellon quotes > [I always wanted to be an actor, even as a little kid. So I went to drama school in the late '60s at Carnegie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/i-always-wanted-to-be-an-actor-even-as-a-little-kid-so-i-went-to/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [Looking ahead, future generations may learn their social skills from robots in the first place. The cute yellow Keepon robot from Carnegie Mellon University…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-wilson/looking-ahead-future-generations-may-learn-their-social-skills-from/) [Daniel H. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-wilson/) > [I wound up graduating from the Los Angeles County School for the Arts as a theatre major and then was honored to be accepted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-groban/i-wound-up-graduating-from-the-los-angeles-county-school-for-the-arts/) [Josh Groban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-groban/) > [A 'reptilian revolution' has the potential to reshape manufacturing. The 'snakebots' being developed at Carnegie Mellon University aren't just useful for surgical or search-and-rescue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-evans/a-reptilian-revolution-has-the-potential-to-reshape-manufacturing-the/) [Kelly Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-evans/) > [ I actually met one of my business partners \[Neal Dodson\] at the Governor's School summer program, so we've known each other since we were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-actually-met-one-of-my-business-partners-neal-dodson-at-the/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [I had always been interested in opera, going back to my college days at Carnegie Mellon. In my last year there, I even wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/i-had-always-been-interested-in-opera-going-back-to-my-college-days/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) > [I remember having to hit a mark and having no idea how to do it, real childlike stuff, because Carnegie Mellon didn't do an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-remember-having-to-hit-a-mark-and-having-no-idea-how-to-do-it-real/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [In joint scientific efforts extending over twenty years, initially in collaboration with J. C. Shaw at the RAND Corporation, and subsequently with numerous faculty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-newell/in-joint-scientific-efforts-extending-over-twenty-years-initially-in/) [Allen Newell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-newell/) > [Matt Bomer and I went to Carnegie Mellon for drama together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/matt-bomer-and-i-went-to-carnegie-mellon-for-drama-together/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I went to the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-mixon/i-went-to-the-carnegie-mellon-school-of-drama/) [Katy Mixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-mixon/) > [ My first job was a show called The Others. I had, like, three lines. Julianne Nicholson was in it, and Gabriel \[Macht\]. I remember… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/my-first-job-was-a-show-called-the-others-i-had-like-three-lines/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [I went to high school directly across the street from Carnegie Mellon, actually, and I knew people that were a couple of years older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-went-to-high-school-directly-across-the-street-from-carnegie-mellon/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [I was in college - Carnegie Mellon, which is one of the reasons Pittsburgh was appealing to me - and I personally feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mottola/i-was-in-college-carnegie-mellon-which-is-one-of-the-reasons/) [Greg Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mottola/) > [The 'snakebot', which is a type of mechanized, biologically inspired robot, itself has roots in Japanese laboratories of the 1970s. What the team at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-evans/the-snakebot-which-is-a-type-of-mechanized-biologically-inspired/) [Kelly Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-evans/) > [When I was in college at Carnegie Mellon, one of my roommates my freshman year was a big opera fan. I had seen some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-schwartz/when-i-was-in-college-at-carnegie-mellon-one-of-my-roommates-my/) [Stephen Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-schwartz/) [Browse all 31 Carnegie mellon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carnegie-mellon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was definitely planning to go to college, but I deferred my admission to Carnegie Mellon to be in a non-equity tour of 'The Sound of Music.' 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