<p>I'm making a list of colleges to apply to in the fall and need some help.</p>
<p>I love acting and definitely want to major in it - specifically a BFA programme rather than a BA as I hope to have a career in acting and feel that the intensity will help me to better prepare for the future. Also BA programmes are usually less competitive to get into and are looked down upon by casting directors who favour the BFA. However I am also academically talented and consistently achieve the highest grades and actually like to study. So I'm searching for a university that's highly ranked both academically and is also renowned for its acting programme. </p>
<p>I have looked at conservatory-style programmes, for example Carnegie Mellon and SUNY Purchase, but neither leave enough time for general studies and I would like to take a minor in a different field such as business studies, creative writing or philosophy along with my BFA in acting as I am also interested in these areas. </p>
<p>If possible I would like the programme to include some form of screen acting as my true passion is acting for the camera as supposed to theatre. </p>
<p>So far the only university I can seem to find that fits all of my criteria is NYU Tisch - which is my first choice as it is located in New York City (my favourite place in all of America). I've heard that the programme is extremely selective so I need to apply to several other universities in addition. </p>
<p>I would prefer to study in New York but am willing to look at different states providing the university is a good fit - although there are some places that I would not choose to study in such as Texas, Ohio, California and Los Angeles (personal preference - I don't mean to offend anybody!). </p>
<p>Before anyone suggests Boston University, it does not offer financial aid to international students and, although I am originally from the US, I am now a British Citizen. My family are not extremely wealthy but we can afford $40,000 a year without difficulty (including housing etc.). But I am still going to apply for more expensive universities that do offer financial aid, so please suggest any universities that sound good for me and not just ones that are within my budget.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance</p>
<p>Emerson College in Boston
My daughter’s friend attends Webster University in St Louis-gave her a lot of scholarship moment for theatre
Northwestern U-Evanston, IL
Syracuse university
Rutgers</p>
<p>Have looked at these and they all look great! In particular I like Syracuse university as it’s near New York - do you know if you can definitely take a minor in a different department as it doesn’t say anywhere on the website?</p>
<p>While it is a BA, Fordham has a very strong program and is academically rigorous, and meets your criteria of being in NYC ( and right next to Lincoln Center!). I do not know what the situation is regarding financial aid. </p>
<p>Northwestern might be a good fit as it is academically quite rigorous also. </p>
<p>Perhaps Yale? New Haven is a short train ride to NYC. You haven’t shared your stats but perhaps this might be an interesting avenue to consider? </p>
<p>The New School is also in NYC and attracts a very bright group of students. They have recently added a BFA in Acting. (They had a MFA but added the bachelors level program last year). </p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon is a top notch academic university, but the theatre school is an e tremely intense conservatory experience and you would not be likely to
experience much outside of that milieu.</p>
<p>Thank you for the good advice, very helpful. I was considering Yale as although it is a BA programme it is amongst the top acting programmes in the US and an Ivy League institution and will look at Fordham (which I haven’t heard of). The only problem is that I have been home schooled for the past two years due to acting commitments and I know that without a high school diploma it will be harder to get in. I am taking the SATs in October and always scored an A* in my UK exams/coursework whilst at high school (I think the equivalent of a GPA average of 4.1?) and was top of my class at the highest ranking private school in London, where I live now. I have heard of the programme at Northwestern but not looked at it in detail, likewise the New School.</p>
<p>If you are a top student then Yale, NYU Tisch and Northwestern would be myrecommendations. However, Fordham (agree a good choice) and Syracuse may offer you money if you are a top student. Syracuse is about 4 hours from NYC. Rutgers is very close to NYC. Here is Hollywood Reporter’s top undergraduate schools</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/top-25-drama-schools-319963[/url]”>http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/top-25-drama-schools-319963</a></p>
<p>Pace University in NYC is on this list also. Also The University of DelawRe which I hear has a lovely campus and I know it has an honors program.</p>
<p>All of these schools include a section for applicants in their undergrad admission pages of their websites who have been home-schooled. Home-schooling is becoming increasingly popular here, but there will be specific criteria to meet and document and so the sooner you begin to review those pages the better so you can begin gathering the required documentation before the busy audition season begins. Given that you are coming from overseas, for economy of time and money, you might want to audition during the “Unifieds” in NYC, Chicago and/ or Los Angeles. The only downside is not being able to visit the individual campuses, which many have found very enlightening! It will be incredibly helpful if you can visit your top choices, at a minimum. So many posters talk about the “fit” and how much being on the campus and among the students helped them determine that.</p>