Just chiming in with a few thoughts on USC BA. I read @rljjr’s post and she made several good points. However, I have seen the BA program work well for many students and want to share some observations to give another perspective.
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Casting: Getting cast in a production is not guaranteed to BAs (but the BFA program has BFA-only plays for each year, so BFAs get parts in those shows–however I’m not sure how large parts are spread around). Many who choose the BA option have the same amount of training, ability, and HS and professional credits as BFAs, so it’s really not an easier or less competitive program or group of talented actors. On the plus side, there are numerous opportunities to be cast in about 2 dozen school productions, as well as excellent ISPs (Independent Student Productions). As an example, the lead in the big musical last year was a BA. Digression alert! My son was also admitted to UCLA Theatre major and they were told on admitted student day that UCLA focuses on training, not production experience, so there are not many opportunities to perform there. In contrast, USC produces many plays, but of course the casting is competitive. In the theatre design realm, BAs get to design productions from the largest to the smallest stages, as do BFAs.
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Community: BFAs take their req classes together as they progress through the years, and they are cast in BFA-only plays, so they tend to be close. BAs need to reach out a little bit more to connect with other BAs as they, too, take many classes together, but can be mixed and matched across sections of a particular class. They are given many opportunities to work together but freshman year is a time for finding friends.
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Training/Intensity: The number of acting practice-based classes a BA takes is up to her/him. It is true they have fewer required Theatre courses in the BA vs. BFA, but BAs can fill up their elective space with additional specific acting / theatre classes they wish. A few are reserved for BFA (they are reqs for the BFA and are taken in sequence for their program), but I suggest all who are interested to look at the USC course catalogue. A BA can select a very high level of rigor of acting training, or choose to use this free space for a second major or a minor (for example, USC’s Musical Theatre minor is only open to BAs). But BFA definitely gives the student more of a 12-hour/day conservatory feel.
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Advisors: Perhaps the new Acting Dean (new this year) will address the dissatisfaction many students feel about advising. In the past (and perhaps still), these advisors focused on the sequence of courses to meet graduation reqs in 4 years. For career guidance or recommendations on which Theatre classes to add in, the best resource has been asking a favorite professor. In the Theatre Design majors, the Professor who is Head of Design meets with each student to find out what sort of classes they’d like to take (and often helps advise how to get waivers to opt out of a pre-req if appropriate), and discuss what upcoming show in the next semester the student would like to work on, with seniority and faculty advisement playing a part here too. There is also a go-getter working in the SDA Career Office who sends out frequent emails with L.A. Internship openings. SDA has made great contacts with many of the large and boutique talent agencies and film/tv production companies, and SDA students can gain work experience behind the camera that can teach a lot about how casting and other processes work.
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Professional Acting/Modeling: The BFA program does not allow their students to audition or to work pro jobs during the school year. For one thing, the BFA requires intense hours and for another, the group takes their classes together in sequence so if a student had to drop a req. class (due to conflict with a film/tv job) there is no way to easily make it up. BAs also have more time for a personal life (sororities, clubs, cheerleading, sports, dance, etc). Young actors who already have agents and have worked as children most often select the BA at USC SDA to keep their options for work open. OTOH, the BFA program is focused on helping new grads find representation.
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Alumni: For those wondering how prepared for professional acting a BA is vs. BFA, here is a very recent sampling of currently working alums: https://dramaticarts.usc.edu/alumni/alumni-marquee/ Since these alums self-report, it is not a complete list by any means. Here’s another reference: https://dramaticarts.usc.edu/alumni-stark-sands-b-f-a-2001-and-charl-brown-b-a-2001-both-nominated-for-a-tony-award/ You’ll note one of these Tony nominees was a BA while the other was BFA.
Despite the pros and cons, each student will value one option over the other and if they have the choice, it may be hard to decide. Each year, we hear about a few BFAs who switch to BA, and a few BAs who switch out of the major. About a year or two ago, there was major disappointment when SDA didn’t rehire a favorite adjunct acting teacher and then responded poorly to a group of students who tried to protect this teacher. The Dean who headed SDA then is no longer with the School, but I do think those students that year were the sort of activists who make a department better.