<p>Hello- my daughter is a junior this year in high school and we are beginning our college search. She does very well academically and has strengths in math, science and visual and performing arts. She would like to apply to schools with both a strong academic reputation and great visual/performing arts programs. We would appreciate some perspective on Bryn Mawr’s art departments and programs. Thank you.</p>
<p>Our arts programs are split between Haverford and Bryn Mawr. Bryn Mawr offers dance, creative writing, history of art and film studies. The music and fine arts departments are located at Haverford. Theater is split between the two colleges and the classes alternate between both campuses. </p>
<p>I am afraid that’s all I can contribute because I am not familiar with the arts scene at Bryn Mawr. Maybe another student will take the time to contribute an inside perspective.</p>
<p>I’m a parent of a current Bryn Mawr student whose independent major is theater. She’s had most of her theater classes at Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore. The only classes she’s taken at Haverford have been non-theater ones. There are many opportunities at the tri-co for those interested in performance/production/directing. My D has been involved in all of the main stage productions (most faculty directed, but also some that were student directed) at Bryn Mawr; several of her friends have been involved in productions at Swarthmore and Haverford. There’s a newly renovated theater at Bryn Mawr. Many of the visiting theater faculty are from NY and Philadlephia and they are affiliated with theater companies. Good for networking/interships/etc. All in all, my D has had a very good experience at Bryn Mawr. She’s glad that she didn’t go into a BFA/pre-professional program. She believes that the liberal arts focus has made her a more rounded person and that it will make her a better actor. She’s hoping to take a year off after she graduates and work in theater (if possible) and then apply to an MFA program.</p>
<p>Example of a theater opportunity at Bryn Mawr/Haverford.</p>
<p>[Bryn</a> Mawr-Haverford Theater Program | Facebook](<a href=“http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bryn-Mawr-Haverford-Theater-Program/124400583179]Bryn”>http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bryn-Mawr-Haverford-Theater-Program/124400583179)</p>
<p>Arts programs… not robust at BMC. But math and science are excellent. Arts do better at Haverford, and easy to get classes there & get there for the classes… there are also classes available at Swarthmore and Penn but easier said than done to get your classes done there. My D had an excellent art/drawing class at Haverford… the instructor took the train in from N.Y. BMC theatre program is not bad, a small but enthusiastically dedicated group with a beautiful new theatre. “Great visual/performing arts programs”-- I would say, no. They are not bad, but not the centerpiece of campus by any means. Art studios at BMC are not busy beehives of activity… you go there if you want somewhere quiet. No formal major for theatre or film… you can make up your own, though, through the “independent major” route, but it’s not too easy, you have to get it approved, and with no real whole department you have to do a lot of cross-listing and searching or going out to the tri-co/Penn to cobble together a major. Again, though, great science & math & liberal arts! My D was interested in a film major but there is only a minor… she would have had a much more robust film opportunity somewhere else, but would still choose BMC over anywhere else… for many reasons.</p>