<p>Here’s some info on the BFA Dance concentrations:
New incoming students may be offered the BFA track as a result of their audition.
If not offered the BFA degree as a new incoming student:
Freshman students may apply for the BFA track in the middle of their sophomore year
Transfer students can apply for the BFA track upon completion of one semester
FYI - In the big scheme of things, the BFA vs. BA really doesn’t matter when you’re auditioning - it’s really all about the talent. Some who qualify for the BFA program don’t even take it because it’s so much more work.</p>
<p>Oh, thanks for the info regarding BFA and BA. My daughter is worried she will feel enormous pressure to prove herself in order to get into the BFA in modern dance because she always assumed she’d get a BFA. (Her other top choice school accepts all dance majors as BFA students and she assumed it would be the same at PP. But maybe it would be a good thing to leave room to minor in something! (She loves fine arts as well)</p>
<p>Just came back from accepted students day. I just want to let anyone know if you live far away and it will cost alot of money to attend the April 18th day, that it may not be worth it for you unless you have never seen the school and this is your opportunity to check it out. We drove 6 hours and got a hotel thru price line for $60.00 a nite(3 1/2 stars) for Fri and sat. Other than our time, it was not expensive for us. We took advantage of being there and saw Rocky Horror. The Show was very good and it looked like a fun show to do.
As for learning much about the school, it was disappointing. Heads of depts. were not there for questioning. The parents were able to get more info on meeting the gap of tuition from Sandra-head of financial aid. We were sold the idea of buying new laptops from reps of apple and lenovo. We were told our kids were coming to a great school with a great future ahead of it in the expansion plan(will not be done for our kids in the next 4 years). As parents, we did not learn any additional info. The students did get to meet other students and the 1st class was an acting class done in a dance room with parents watching (acting games). It was fun to observe. Kids got to go on another tour if they wanted. So for us it was a little disappointing. The people there seemed to be in a hurry and did not encourage a lot of questions. We had been to this school 2 other times, so we did not learn much more than we already knew. I hope this review helps other contemplating the next accepted students day.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting this. That sounds disappointing. We too were at the school for auditions and had the usual tour but no opportunity to interact with faculty. I guess the students did at the callback but I Know my daughter still has questions. Do you mind if I ask what suggestions they had for meeting the gap between financial aid and cost? Thanks for any info.</p>
<p>seamom,
if you find out anything … let me know!!! my d goes there and besides the scholarships & work study…that’s it. We are the gap. She did move out of the dorms which did save a little but not that much. Believe me, I feel your pain.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. We will not feel bad about missing the next accepted students’s day. I know there is an online chat that my D plans to ‘attend’ on Friday (4/10). We are a plane ride away, so no extra visits for us.
Hushinfazen, what major is your D? Does she like it?</p>
<p>Thanks Husinfazen. I too would love to know what your daughter is majoring in and would love any insights you have about the program. I figured I was the gap (my husband passed away 2 years ago) so it is truly up to me. My d is the last of 5 to attend college so I will do whatever I can to send her. She likes PPU because she is a mt kid with a strong dance background and she feels like she can pursue the dance as well as singing and acting. Of all the schools we looked at, this seemed to be a great dance program. She also really liked CCM but was really sick on that audition day–not sure if being well would have made a difference–but very sure she could not do her best. At any rate this is the direction we are leaning. She only auditioned for 6 schools. Didn’t get CMU or CCM and seems to like PPU. She knows that she will have to audition for BFA but I think she feels fine about that. What we don’t really know is about the quality of the voice and acting instruction? Also would love to know what a typical mt freshman schedule would look like. Thanks to all who post here. You help is invaluable.</p>
<p>Yes - we would also like to see a typical freshman schedule. Cannot find it online. Also wondering about current students’ experiences auditioning for MT BFA - is this stressful? How many succeed? Do students tend not to pursue the BFA after all and if so why not? Lots of questions.</p>
<p>My daughter really loves and appreciates attending Point Park!
I’m sorry I don’t know my d’s exact schedule but her’s might be a little different. She takes several upper level ballet classes with the dance dept chairs approval. I will ask her and report back. Point park was a perfect fit for her because she is able to pursue her chosen MT major & a dance (ballet) minor which very few strong MT programs will allow. Point Park’s dance program stands on it own and she looks forwards to auditioning for both Dance & MT shows next year. She reports that her acting classes are amazing and her private voice instruction is the best she had.<br>
seamom, you are amazing, five kids in college!!! I am so sorry for your great loss and hope that your baby has the college experience she is looking for.</p>
<p>Thanks Hushinfazen. Me too! She will be the only one to go through without my husband’s support but she has an amazing family and lots of love and encouragement. I am struck by how similar our daughters sound. I don’t know what level ballet my daughter will be in but I am assuming an advanced class and she has quite a bit of dance experience including some professional shows. That is why she is also attracted to PPU. I still would love to know about the schedule so if your daughter replies–would you please post? Thanks so much for your kind words.</p>
<p>We went for a visit to PPU recently and the admissions office gave my D a program guide for MT. Here is a basic freshman schedule based on which required classes are in the 100 category.</p>
<p>3 credit classes taken each semester: English, Acting, Voice & Speech, Dance
1 credit classes taken each semester: Private Voice, Piano/Theory, Sight singing, MT History</p>
<p>I am a little confused my daughter and I visited PPU today and discovered the BA/BFA situation. I would assume that the students admitted to the BFA program are the more talented students and therefore have a better shot at the roles in shows and a better chance at the senior showcases. Does anyone have any information about how and when it is decided whether or not you are admitted to the BA or the BFA program? I can’t see spending a year there in the BA program only to be asked to try out for the BFA program as a sophmore and being rejected. Do I understand this correctly?</p>
<p>All theater and MT students are admitted to the BA program as freshmen. Even if they are not accepted in to the BFA program, they are not excluded from any of the BFA classes. Their BFA is intense, and not all students are up for it. The number of classes (hours) required for their BA is equivalent to some BFA programs, I’ve heard. Some students choose the BA so they have time to minor in something, like dance. If you check the school’s website, the Showcase students chosen this year are mostly from the BA programs. If I’m not mistaken, they bring in outside jurors to decide who makes the Showcases.</p>
<p>This is the course work for BA MT students at PPU. Its very intense! Along with these 42 credits BA MT students must have 36 University Core Curriculum credits, 19 Department Required credits, and 5-23 General University Electives. Crazy crazy!</p>
<p>THEA 101 Acting Level I -3 credits
THEA 102 Acting Level I - 3 credits
THEA 104 Voice & Speech Level I - 3 credits
THEA 105 Voice & Speech Level I - 3 credits
THEA 120 Found Mus Theatre Tech I - 3 credits
THEA 121 Found Mus Theatre Tech I - 3 credits
THEA 205 Acting Level II - 3 credits
THEA 206 Acting Level II - 3 credits
THEA 213 Voice & Speech Level II - 2 credits
THEA 214 Voice & Speech Level II - 2 credits
THEA 237 Mus Theatre Tech Level II - 2 credits
THEA 238 Mus Theatre Tech Level II - 2 credits
DANC 121 or DANC 111 - 3 credits
DANC 122 or DANC 112 - 3 credits
MUS 111 Private Voice I - 1 credit
MUS 112 Private Voice II - 1 credit
MUS 211 Private Voice III - 1 credit
MUS 212 Private Voice IV - 1 credit</p>
<p>This is the BFA course work:</p>
<p>THEA 101 Acting Level I - 3 credits
THEA 102 Acting Level I - 3 credits
THEA 104 Voice & Speech Level I - 3 credits
THEA 105 Voice & Speech Level I - 3 credits
THEA 114 Stage Movement I - 2 credits
THEA 120 Found of Mus Theatre Tech I - 3 credits
THEA 121 Found of Mus Theatre Tech I - 3 credits
THEA 205 Acting Level II - 3 credits
THEA 206 Acting Level II - 3 credits
THEA 213 Voice & Speech Level II - 2 credits
THEA 214 Voice & Speech Level II - 2 credits
THEA 237 Mus Theatre Tech, Level I - 2 credits
THEA 238 Mus Theatre Tech, Level I - 2 credits
THEA 301 Acting Level III - 3 credits
THEA 302 Acting Level III - 3 credits
THEA 337 Mus Theatre Tech, Level II - 3 credits
THEA 338 Mus Theatre Tech, Level II - 3 credits
DANC 105 Intro to Tap Dance I - 1 credit
DANC 121 or DANC 111 - 3 credits
DANC 122 or DANC 112 - 3 credits </p>
<p>This information comes straight from Point Park’s website.</p>
<p>calisamom - You have to be invited to audition for the BFA and upon my daughter’s invitation, she decided to pick up a minor in dance instead. The BFA program requires tons more courses and in the “big picture,” it really doesn’t matter if you have a BFA or BA in Musical Theatre when you audition in the real world - it’s really all about the talent and whether you fit the part (which is usually more the case than anything she’s found). All senior MT and Acting majors get to audition for the “Showcase” and “yes” they are auditioned by professionals from outside the University (they bring in agents from NYC and LA). My daughter made it into the “Showcase” for both cities and has been cast in six shows at PPU with two leading roles and is graduating with a BA not a BFA. Some students in the BFA program have never been cast in a PPU show - like I said, it’s really all about the talent and what they’re looking for. Hope this somewhat answers your question.</p>
<p>Absolutely, this helps tremendously. Thank you all for your information. I had mentally written off this school as an option. There is nothing like the experience of a current student to answer these questions. The counselor that we met with was a little clueless, all he really wanted to do was talk about his PITT experiences, frustrating.</p>
<p>crna33851 - no problem…I wish I had found this Web site before my D started at PPU - it would have been so much easier to talk to students or moms about things instead of trying to figure it all out on our own. PPU is a wonderful school for the arts and the students are given tons of opportunities for auditions. The other great thing is that they also post local auditions. Some of the big amusement parks even audition right at PPU (if that’s of an interest to your daughter for the summer months). My D is graduating in a few weeks and will miss PPU and the teachers; I’ll miss having her close to home. Good luck to your daughter.</p>
<p>Oh PPUMTmom,
Thank-You for all of your posts and congratulations to your obviously very talented daughter! I feel the same about my daughters experiences so far at PP but it is great to hear such positive feedback after 4 years there. Keep us posted about her plans.</p>
<p>hushinfazen</p>