<p>skipsmom, I would not allow the EMC possibility to influence a college decision. In the big picture, relatively few Equity members earn their card in this way, and most who do, are not college kids but rather actors who do a lot of work in their regional theatre. EMC takes 50 creditable weeks of work at a participating Equity theatre and you will have to pay the necessary fees when you apply. Not all theatres participate, there are restrictions on what constitutes a creditable week, and there are limitations on the types of work that can be credited. </p>
<p>Once you do complete your 50 weeks, you have five years to actually join Equity. When you do join, you will no longer be able to accept any non-Equity work, you will have to pay the $1100 initiation fee and begin to pay basic dues and also a percentage of any income derived from an Equity contract.</p>
<p>It’s an important decision for young actors and one that should not be entered into without a lot of thought. Many national tours these days are non-Equity, and these are often (not always, but often) where many new college grads get their first jobs. If you have your card, you are not able to book these jobs.</p>
<p>There are many excellent BA theatre programs out there but the Equity issue should really not be much of a consideration in determining where a student applies/auditions, in my opinion. There are far more important issues (and lots of them!) to be thinking about.</p>