Academics and Quality

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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<p>Any advice for a confused Junior?</p>

<p>I've been looking at BA programs, because I think I would benifit from more of a liberal arts-style education. I like learning, so if possible I would like to double major or minor. However, more importantly, the program has to be serious and reputable (not just "there" like some school's drama departments are). </p>

<p>As interested as I am in performance, I also have a passion for theatre history/literature/criticism. The availability and quality of those types of courses is also important to me.</p>

<p>So, one question remains: Does a school like this exist?</p>

<p>I've been looking a lot at Northwestern. Unless I'm mistaken, it pretty much has all of the above, and it's a wonderful place. Are there other schools that are like Northwestern in this respect? </p>

<p>Oh, thanks in advance, btw. :)</p>

2

<p>Check out Brown, Sarah Lawrence, Bard, Skidmore, Southwestern,</p>

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<p>Are these types of schools usually non-audition?</p>

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<p>The schools megpmom has listed are non-audition. I know of a couple auditioned BA programs that might suit you- Fordham and American.</p>

<p>You could also take a look at Muhlenberg or Lawrence.</p>

<p>In terms of BFAs, some have a broader curriculum than others. The Theater Arts track at BU sounds like it would appeal to you. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>LeftofPisa- Thanks for the advice! I already checked out BU (actually visited!) and I loved the campus and the students, but the girl who gave the tour said that there is only actually one literature class, and you take it as a freshman. Also, it is impossible to double major within 4 years (though you can minor in the CAS).</p>

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<p>That girl may have been talking about the BFA in Acting, not Theatre Arts. I may be wrong, I just don’t feel like checking the Theatre Arts curriculum right now). From what I was told by the people at my BU audition this year, the Theatre Arts has a much more lenient schedule class-wise, so they can branch off into other interests as well. It is a great program, and more and more of the BU students have been choosing it each year. You may not be able to double major though, I’m not sure about that. But from what it sounded like, it seemed like there would be no problem with you taking several literature classes.</p>

<p>Also, maybe look at Fordham’s BA? They are audition though.</p>

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<p>Ahh, just saw LeftofPisa also suggested Fordham =)</p>

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<p>I second (third?) theatreguy and LeftofPisa’s recommendation of Fordham. You might also check Emerson’s BA acting programs, although they’re better renowned for the BFA track.</p>

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<p>I saw a performance of Into the Woods at Davidson College last night and it’s one of the three best musical productions I’ve ever seen (keep in mind I’ve seen dozens upon dozens of shows from community theatre to Broadway, so I do mean a lot when I say that). The students seemed really happy, there were even non-theatre majors as leads, and the atmosphere on campus sounds like something that might suit you. Consider checking it out.</p>

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<p>There are many, many wonderful theatre departments at BA schools. </p>

<p>My D crafted her list to have many lovely BA options. The programs at Northwestern, Vassar, Goucher, Bard, Brandeis, SUNY New Paltz and Minnesota (BA) all have excellent performance training and the opportunity to study liberal arts thoroughly.</p>

<p>I would recommend taking the suggestions here from the theatre perspective, but also simply finding college that appeal to you in general and then looking at their theatre departments. You will find many wonderful BA programs all over the country, at all kinds of schools.</p>

<p>What some kids on this forum find limiting about BAs, and why they so often are trying their hardest for BFAs, will be what you find liberating, in the freedom to pursue other interests. Everything is good - people have rewarding theatre careers and satisfying lives by starting out in many different educational pathways.</p>

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<p>I agree with EmmyBet. Pick out BA schools that are of interest to you, and then look at their course catalog, their list of productions – department and student sponsored; look at faculty bios, many BAs will have working theater artists on the faculty; and if you can, visit the school to sit in on a class or see a production. If you go to a school that isn’t “known” to be a “theater school” you may have less competition for roles, although that doesn’t mean that there won’t be some amazingly talented kids at these schools. There are many extraordinary actors who put their BA school decision first, and do acting for fun or maybe with an intention to pursue it professionally. Not every one who has talent or an interest in theater goes to the “known theater” schools!</p>

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<p>Okay, so I really like the idea of checking out “normal” schools and then zooming in on their theatre dept. – but how do I know the quality of the program? For example, I visited a school that I loved in every other respect, but it only had 10 drama majors per year (in a class of over 1000). Is that some sort of indication?</p>

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<p>^^^No, the number of theatre majors is not necessarily an indication of the type of program. Fordham only has 20 and it’s an outstanding program. The Jesuit philosophy of education and large core curriculum may appeal to you as it did to my S who is currently a freshman. Another program that he strongly considered attending was Boston College.</p>

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<p>James Madison University in VA has a BA Theatre program that would meet your criteria in terms of program strength and academics. It is an auditioned program.</p>

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<p>You’ll have to decide what is important to you in terms of a theatre department. My D and I are doing this now, in fine detail, as she decides among her acceptances (BFAs and BAs). Some criteria you might want to look at are:</p>

<p>1) the balance between performance courses and theatre history/literature. At some colleges it’s clear that a theatre BA is pretty much an English degree that looks mostly at theatre;</p>

<p>2) the opportunities to be in performances - including tech, design, directing, etc. What kinds of classes they offer in those areas as well as what performances they have (official department shows, smaller shows, student-run shows, etc.);</p>

<p>3) faculty and what kinds of specialty areas they can offer; and</p>

<p>4) availability of classes - they might be on a list, but are they offered regularly, do they have prohibitive pre-requisites, do you have enough time with all of your other requirements to fit them in.</p>

<p>I would say these details are particularly important to the BA theatre student, as most of them are moot for a BFA, where the programs are openly performance-focused, have plenty of faculty for different areas, and make classes available in a structured way by definition.</p>

<p>There are lots and lots of other criteria - from other threads you can see that many students are understandably concerned with aspects that will affect their future career, (such as Senior Showcases, professional connections), specific theoretical focus (such as certain acting methods, or classical/modern), and others.</p>

<p>Then of course there are criteria that apply to most college searches, such as size, location, campus style and personality, etc. - these will not determine the quality of the theatre program, but they should appeal to you.</p>

<p>Good luck! It’s nice to see someone asking this particular question, as most theatre kids have to give serious consideration to BA programs while making their list, and often during their post-acceptance decision process (as we are), and many, many serious theatre kids decide they want to go the BA route from the get-go. It’s a very valid choice.</p>

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<p>EmmyBet:</p>

<p>I see that your D has URI as an option. What can you tell me about the BFA training for acting? Even though it is a non-audition program is it worth exploring it as an option or better go with some of the BA schools with good theater programs that you suggested?</p>

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<p>My D researched URI’s website and liked the curriculum, but I’ll say honestly that it was a back-up school for the auditioned BFAs on her list and she did not visit before she applied. It was a way to have a BFA option on the east coast that she could pretty much count on.</p>

<p>She got into several schools that she prefers over URI, so we did not visit over spring break, as we had planned if it were a serious option. </p>

<p>Gwen Fairfax has commented on URI’s theatre program, has visited and seen shows. She is a good source of specific information on the school. My D is very unlikely at this point to go there, but everything we learned about it sounds wonderful.</p>

<p>As for curriculum, it is a BFA, and by definition, their curriculum is theatre-heavy. BAs are preferable to students who want more liberal arts opportunities or to double major.</p>

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<p>thank you! How can I look into gwen’s comments on URI?</p>

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<p>If you search on URI, or search for Gwen Fairfax, you can look for her posts. Or you can send her a PM.</p>