acting student in desperation!

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>I am hoping someone would be able to help me-</p>

<p>I will be attending the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in the fall- as a theatre major (acting) and already I am in a desperate search to get out. I am from New York, and massachusetts is just not my cup of tea. Don't get me wrong, it is a good school, but I feel I am just settling for mediacrocy. I am an extremely ambitious person and audtioned at numerous schools, got rejected from two, admitted to one, and waitlisted at another. When it came down to it, the school I was waitlisted at didn't end up using their waitlist- thus making me have to make a decision- and my best choice was UMASS. I was wondering if anyone knew the degree of difficulty it is to transfer, esp. into another college/ universities acting program- and If UMASS-Amherst is viewed as a fairly good school (will look good to have transferred from)</p>

<p>Thank you so very much</p>

<p>You mean transfer after your freshman year, (next year)? Well, that's what I will assume. Ok, it will be VERY DIFFICULT to transfer into a BFA acting program at a top tier school and maintain your standing as an incoming sophmore. I suppose it's possible but highly unlikely. You will have a more realistic chance of getting admitted as a freshman. Most schools are going to want to start you at the beginning. Does that answer? Maybe someone else will chime in with another thought on the matter.</p>

<p>I have looked at numerous programs- I am very, very eager to go to school in Manhattan next year ( I wanted to go this year but was not permitted) I know it is difficult, but so is getting into any of these programs in general. I am very ambitious, although I am well aware getting into school for theatre is the luck of the draw. What about a B.A. program? Possibly the Eugene Lang College/ New school or Fordham? both are B.A. programs. I appreciate your help very much, for I knw this career isn't easy, I am just trying to get started on the right foot.</p>

<p>not familiar with Lang. Fordham and New School are good. What about NYU or SUNY Purchase or if you could be outside the city, Bard, Sarah Lawrence or any number of other options. Are you married to the idea of a BA rather than BFA?</p>

<p>Also Long Island University</p>

<p>avtussel07-</p>

<p>You might be pleasantly surprised at U Mass. By now, you must know that it is part of a tri-college consortium which allows you to take acting classes at both Smith and Hampshire. My cousin, who has had credits on Broadway, runs a Theatre Co. in the Berkshires and directs throughout New England, has toured in Europe and teaches a "Movement for Actors" at Smith. He is fantastic. If the other theatre faculty is anything like him the quality of the theatre program may be very high. Why don't you talk to the theatre chair at U Mass and see what opportunities are available? They might have programs or courses that are affiliated with NYC acting studios or companies. That area of Mass. is rife with performing opportuniites, especially in the summer.</p>

<p>Another thought--does your waitlisted school take transfers? If not, talk to the Acting chair there and see if he/she has any suggestions. You may have to send email inquiries to several NYC schools and see what is available.</p>

<p>I am very, very much intrested in Fordham and New School- those would be my top choices as of right now. I am not married to a BFA- I would be perfectly content with a BA program AS LONG as it was at a school with a rich and strong acting/ theatre program.</p>

<p>I know, I am already biased to UMASS- it was lovely- and smith and mt. holyoke are fantastic- but I can't seem to escap the idea of not being here, in New York, in my roots, immersed in manhattan. I was waitlisted at Syracuse, and they do accept transfers- the waitlisting letter said to apply next year- because they are aware you will have to accept some other universities offer of admission. I just feel like I have "settled" for a school, and although I am quite certain I will have myself a good time at UMASS- I am much, mcuh more concerned with being in a great program. I feel that I will be working my butt off this year trying to get into another school, and not truly enjoying college life. I honestly want this so much, and I prepared for failure and all that, It comes with the territory, I just hope I will be successful in my transferring and acceptance endevors.</p>

<p>I'm totally new at this, but just because I know a lot about the college admissions process & transferring in general, I have to agree with freelance--maybe UMass will turn out to be a great place for you! It's good that you are considering all of your options (because I'm learning that you really have to stay on the ball for this!) early, but don't completely rule out the option of staying at UMass. Good luck :-)!</p>

<p>As was written -- by being part of a college consortium, you may find all or much of what you want. When we visited Amherst a couple of years ago, we were told that the kids can auditio for the plays of the other colleges. </p>

<p>So you should give it a chance, as you investigate all the options. If you look elsewhere on this MT board, you will find a couple of threads devoted to transfer issues.</p>

<p>Fordham's Theatre department is small but has an excellent reputation. The number of celebrities, writers, directors coming out of the program is quite high. But it is sraight drama and rooted in the liberal arts so you need be academically inclined as well. You may take Acting and Movement, along with Philosophy, Theology and a Classics course.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.fordham.edu/theatre%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.fordham.edu/theatre&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>thank you very much, yes, I am very, very intrested and hoping to transfer to fordham's theatre program- I am hopeful it won't be as hard because it is a BA program- but still difficult none the less. All I can do is do my upmost best this year, get new audition material, and have a rockin audition. I am so eager to go there- I'm just counting down the days until I audition!</p>

<p>Hi, I was just curious as to how you ended up liking the school and wheter or not you are still planning on transfering...I in a theatre program that cuts so I am also considering other schools just in case, if you have any advice that would be great!</p>