Once upon a time, Gaga was just Stefani Germanotta, a normal girl with big dreams of making music.
At 17, Gaga was accepted to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She even lived in a dormitory on campus while studying. According to Marie Claire, Gaga was a student in Collaborative Arts Project 21, or CAP 21. It was here that Gaga began to hone her acting skills, as the school is a full theater program. According to the school's website, CAP21 "replenishes American musical theater by training the next generation of performers and infusing talent and source into the broader entertainment industry."
Lady Gaga left NYU to pursue music full time
After just one year at the school, Lady Gaga officially dropped out of New York University during her sophomore year. She was only 19 years old, but she believed that she could pursue her dreams without a formal education. "I loved New York University, but I thought I could learn about art better than school," the singer admitted in a 2009 interview with Elle. "I really felt like New York was my teacher and I had to push myself and go it alone."
That leap of faith really paid off. A few years later, Lady Gaga burst onto the music scene with her 2008 debut single, "Just Dance." The track was nominated for a Grammy the following year. Her hit debut album "The Fame" spawned other singles including "Paparazzi," "LoveGame" and the smash hit "Poker Face." Exploring the streets of New York outside of NYU also served as the inspiration for that album. So dropping out of school turned out to be the best decision for the singer.
Lady Gaga was also cyberbullied at NYU
Although Lady Gaga had a valid reason for leaving NYU, the pop star faced a serious problem while she was there. Gaga was bullied online when she was a student in college. NYU alumnus Lauren Bohn shared the story in a 2016 Facebook post. “I remember coming across a Facebook group that broke my heart. Her name: 'Stefani Germanotta, you will never be famous.'" The group apparently regularly shared nasty comments that demeaned Gaga's talent.
Having been bullied since she was a child, Gaga was no stranger to bullies, sadly. However, the phenomenon has finally had the last laugh. Not only is she famous, but the singer has sold millions of albums and has performed all over the world. She is also a renowned actress, starring in "American Horror Story," "A Star is Born," and "House of Gucci." She has won multiple nominations and awards for her work, including an Oscar for Best Original Song in 2019 (for the song "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born"). Along with her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, Gaga also created their own non-profit organization, the Born This Way Foundation, which supports youth mental health.
Bohn praised the singer not only for her creative gifts but also for her caring spirit. "Stefani, thank you. Thank you for always thinking that you are a superstar, for and using your cracks to make the light shine brighter. Humans, let's do the same." Well said!
