It sounds like Anne Hathaway's experiences in education were something of a wrestling match between her and her parents. In truth, she'd been in love with the idea of becoming an actress ever since seeing her mother star in a performance of 'Les Miserables' and wanted to follow in her footsteps. Her mother's career hadn't been a huge success, though, and she was keen for her daughter to take on a more reliable career. Therefore, Hathaway found herself studying English and political science at Vassar College in New York. She believes, at the time, she was heading for a career in teaching or psychology.
It wasn't to be. Eventually her passion won out - she never stopped performing in amateur plays while studying, and when the opportunity arrived to appear in the Princess Diaries in 2001, she dropped out and never returned.