Nick Allen watches his favorite reality show "Real World" in hopes he will one day be on the other side of the screen.
For Allen, it was love at first sight.
"I think this would be a unique experience that most people don't get to do," he said.
Allen, a junior advertising major, is in the process of making a video of himself to prove to the casting director he deserves to be on the show.
" I want to find out if people think my life is as funny as I think it is," he said. "Where else can I run around naked?"
Allen is among the thousands of students, who have grown up with reality TV and who all have the same dream. The number of college students applying for reality shows is increasing each year. Despite the strong draw, professionals say students need to be aware of the consequences of appearing on reality TV.
For the upcoming casting call for the "Real World," casting directors have already received applications from more than 25,000 college students, said Sarah Levey, senior casting director of shows like the "Real World," "Starting Over" and "The Simple Life."
For some students, it is pure curiosity that draws them toward the screen week after week, Melinda Messineo, assistant professor of sociology, said. Students applying know the editing capabilities producers can do to warp reality, but still they strive to be a part of these shows.
"I think we like to look into other people's lives out of curiosity and compassion," she said. " We want to see where we stand."
Messineo, who teaches a class on "Society in the Media," said this reality obsession began with the generation that grew up watching Jerry Springer.
Shortly after, the reality trend began. Today, reality television has its own genre of programs that feature people in real circumstances. Within this invasion of reality TV, there are many kinds of shows that attract different people and age groups.
Shows such as "Survivor" and "Fear Factor" tend to attract the adventurous types. Other students prefer shows that deal with personal problems and resolutions like "Starting Over." Shows like "The Apprentice" and "Real World/Road Rules" attract many college graduates and students.
"We get bored easily and continue to make situations interesting and provocative," Messineo said.
If a student decides to apply for a reality show, she has to understand the way it will affect her own reality and college career, Assistant Director of the Career Center Tara King said.
Many reality shows require that the applicant drops what they are doing for a few months in order to shoot. If a student cannot do that, she will not be able to participate.
If a student is accepted onto a show and has to pack up and leave immedietly, she must go through the same steps any other student would to withdraw from the university.
She agrees it could be a great and life changing experience; however, she also cautions students.
"I think this could be a great opportunity and something new, " King said. " However, we caution students if they plan on going on a show to always have a plan B."
The number one fear the Career Center has for reality-bound students is the fact they might not come back.
"Once they leave, chances are they won't come back," King said. " My fear is they won't finish their degree."
She suggests waiting until graduation.
Although Allen is preparing for his big debut on his favorite show, he agrees waiting until graduation is the smartest choice.
"My parents will kill me if I drop out of school now to go on the 'Real World,'" he said.
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