B.A. to M.F.A.

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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<p>First of all, I want to thank everyone is this Forum - it is answering so many of my questions, and also raising new ones. I am beginning to think it might be more appropriate for my H.S. Jr. to do B.A. followed by M.F.A. (if she's still interested at that point). What I would like to know now is:</p>

<p>Is it more or less difficult to get into the M.F.A. programs than the BFA programs? </p>

<p>Do most people go from BA (or BFA) directly to MFA, or do they get some professional experience first? (And which route is more conducive to getting into an MFA program?)</p>

<p>How important is one's undergraduate school/experience/major in MFA admittance?</p>

<p>I would think that for the MFA, it would be even more important than for the BFA that you should be looking for a "name" program, with good connections in professional theatre. Is this correct, and which schools would these be?</p>

<p>How many years does the MFA take?</p>

<p>Is the MFA more important for stage vs. film work?</p>

<p>Can one work part-time (for $ to support oneself, not necessarily for professional experience) while doing the MFA?</p>

<p>Thanks so much.</p>

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<p>I am sure others will chime in as well… </p>

<p>“Is it more or less difficult to get into the M.F.A. programs than the BFA programs?”</p>

<p>I would say about the same. One difference being that students applying to MFA programs seem more likely to apply again if they do not get into the schools they want the first (or even second) time. Some students applying to BFA programs will do this and take a gap year between HS and college and re-audition for schools (or change their list and apply to some different programs the second time around). But MFA students, since they already have an undergraduate degree, seem more likely to try again later after working in the field. </p>

<p>“Do most people go from BA (or BFA) directly to MFA, or do they get some professional
experience first? (And which route is more conducive to getting into an MFA program?)”</p>

<p>Many actors will take a few years working before applying to MFA programs. Many will apply right out of undergraduate school , some will get in, some will not. Designers & Production students seem more likely to move straight from undergrad, although many will work for a few first years too. Directors almost always take a few years. Most MFA Directing programs will not accept a director right out of undergrad. Students applying for MFA training will range from college seniors to AEA professionals with Broadway credits who want the MFA degree (often to teach on the college level). </p>

<p>“How important is one’s undergraduate school/experience/major in MFA admittance?”</p>

<p>A student applying to an MFA program right out of undergrad will most likely have majored (or double majored, or at the very least minored/ trained intensely) in theatre. Students who may have majored in another area and did not take many theatre training classes (either at school or outside of school) would be at a disadvantage because they would not have as much training or experience as the other potential students applying for MFA training programs. </p>

<p>“I would think that for the MFA, it would be even more important than for the BFA that you should be looking for a “name” program, with good connections in professional theatre. Is this correct, and which schools would these be?”</p>

<p>Connections with an MFA program are important (although undergraduate program connections can help too :)). Some top MFA programs for actors in terms of connections are Yale, NYU, UCSD. Julliard does not offer an MFA but many of their students are older, having already received an undergraduate degree, and they are a top program for connections. However, there are many others as well. If your son is studying theatre in undergraduate school I would assume that the faculty would be able to help him identify appropriate graduate school options when he is a Junior or in the fall of his Senior year. We coach our interested undergraduate Seniors for graduate school auditions each year. Most schools do this, I believe. </p>

<p>“How many years does the MFA take?”</p>

<p>2 - 3 years depending on the program.</p>

<p>“Is the MFA more important for stage vs. film work?”</p>

<p>The MFA is probably more “important” for stage work. However, there are people with MFA degrees who work successfully in film and people without MFA degrees who work successfully in theatre. People pursue an MFA because they want the further training within the context of a master’s program AND the degree. Training, type, and talent are important to sustaining a long-term professional performance career. </p>

<p>“Can one work part-time (for $ to support oneself, not necessarily for professional experience) while doing the MFA”</p>

<p>It depends on the program. Many MFA programs will offer assistantships to all or some of their MFA students. Most MFA programs are pretty full-time, and an outside job during the academic year would be difficult.</p>

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<p>(Oops I posted at the same time as KatMT.)</p>

<p>Other people can answer more fully than I, but I will take a shot at this to start things off.</p>

<p>It is much harder to get into MFA programs than BFA programs.</p>

<p>Most people get experience before seeking the MFA, is my understanding. I believe “experience first” is the most conducive route.</p>

<p>I don’t think a “name” program for your BA counts as much as what you have gotten out of it and the level of skill you have acquired. With regard to a “name” MFA program…they are all quite hard to get into, I believe. You just see what program will accept you, as with the top BFA programs. By the time someone is ready to apply to MFA programs, they would have a good idea about the various ones. Yale is the creme de la creme of MFAs in acting, I think most people would agree.</p>

<p>The MFA is critical for being a teacher but is certainly not a requirement for doing well professionally on stage or screen. Somebody who really wants to get into film might be better off getting a BFA rather than taking the time to get a BA + MFA, because in film work youth counts for so much…in theatre work it counts for less.</p>

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<p>I was cooking dinner and talking on the phone while writing my post so I took forever to actually post it… ;)</p>

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<p>I second all above. </p>

<p>Most of the students in the MFA programs that I have met were in the business for a time and decided to go back. They are late twenties. Most of the programs I am familiar with are three years.</p>

<p>My D is seriously considering it, and she is getting a BA Acting, but she wants to work for awhile before she does. She also needs to save up money for it, because the schools she is talking about ain’t cheap.</p>

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<p>I would like to echo KatMT. Excellent answers. Couple of extras though. </p>

<p>I would argue that it is more important for your MFA to be from one of the top schools. These are well known, and there are several. I won’t bore anyone (or start any unnecessary back and forth) naming them. Connections are part of the strength of the program and the training. </p>

<p>It is hard to get into the top programs right out of undergrad. Not impossible, just tough. Grad programs want to know you are really serious and not just putting off the “real world.” (whatever that might be.)</p>

<p>Finally, the vast majority of MFA programs pay tuition and a stipend (assistantship.) It is a full time occupation (and by full time I don’t mean 40 hours per week.) I knew of only one person that tried to hold a gig outside of grad school and they ended up being kicked out of the program. While it has been some time since I was in grad school, I have sent many students into programs and I know this hasn’t changed. There are one or two schools at the top echelon that do not give assistantships or stipends. But those schools also very rarely take 22 year old students. </p>

<p>The MFA is extended advanced training. It is not necessary. If you get into a good training program it is three years of intensive training (there are a few two year programs left.) From that perspective, it can only be positive. </p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Kjgc, you say, “the vast majority of MFA programs pay tuition and a stipend (assistantship).” </p>

<p>This is good to know. I did not realize this. Could you elaborate a little, especially with regard to your statement that the programs “pay tuition”? </p>

<p>I am curious what the tuition is for most MFA programs these days, and how much students actually have to pay.</p>

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<p>I googled “acting mfa tuition waiver” and discovered that there are programs that do indeed offer a tuition waiver plus a stipend to all their students…it is tied to assistantships.</p>

<p>How can colleges afford to do this? Do any of the highest ranked programs do this?</p>

<p>What is involved in the assistantships…is it like being a TA who teaches undergraduates?</p>

<p>Is the stipend enough to live on? Do MFA students incur debt because they need loans to cover their living expenses?</p>

<p>I’m really curious.</p>

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<p>I went to a graduate school which offered it graduate students a full tuition waiver, plus a teaching assistantship stipend. I am sure it is more now, but in 2000 the assistantship stipend was about 10,000 per academic year. In exchange for the tuition waiver and stipend we worked in the department. I was in the MFA directing program, and our assistantship was directing the MFA actors in scenes and providing administrative support for the Intro to Theatre class. I believe that the actors (in addition to being in the acting company for the Intro to Theatre class) worked different administrative jobs in the department, and occasionally taught acting for non-majors. The designers and technical directors assisted in team teaching the stagecraft class and worked in the shop I believe. </p>

<p>There were some students who managed to live completely on the stipend and thus did not incur any graduate school debt. Others chose to take out Stafford Loans to cover living expenses over the 10,000 per year stipend. It was not possible to have another part-time job for the most part. And we also often had commitments related to school in the summer (see below :)), so earning money outside of school was difficult. </p>

<p>This was a similar situation to the other schools where I was accepted that provided tuition waivers and stipends. In exchange we would work for the department in some fashion. </p>

<p>On a side note the graduate school also paid for us to study in London for 6 weeks during the summer between our first and second year, providing us with a stipend, a tuition waiver for the class that we took on campus before leaving for London, and for the class we took in London. They also provided us each with round trip airfare, lodging in London, tickets to 11 productions, round trip trainfare from London to Stratford and overnight accommodations during a trip to see shows at Stratford. In exchange we worked for the campus summer theatre for the 6 weeks before we went to London to study.</p>

<p>In retrospect, I have no idea how they afforded all of this for all of their graduate students! I guess it is less expensive to pay graduate student assistants a stipend to teach and assist in classes and/ or provide administrative support than it would be to hire people to work at all of those jobs. Perhaps that is where the money came from?</p>

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<p>Thanks so much KatMT, very interesting to know!!</p>

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<p>“How can colleges afford to do this?” Easy. They get the better end of the deal. In exchange for the tuition waiver and a small stipend (I made just enough to eat ramen noodles, have an apartment and buy an occasional libation on Friday night) I taught a class, or ran the scene shop, or worked in the box office. My actual physical pay came to about minimum wage, but with the waiver included I was making good money. I know of programs that do not pay, but again, the majority do. They call them different things, though, so don’t count on google. Ask.</p>

<p>Yes, it is being at TA. Exactly. My last year, I taught two classes a quarter. Other years I did other things. One of my compatriots was a freshman advisor. I went to school at an immense institution so there were quite a few jobs they were willing to pay us to do. All but one or two were in the department. </p>

<p>The stipend depends on the school and the “can you live on it question” depends on who you are. It was a long time ago, but like I said, I did it. And I had the added cost of art supplies (don’t laugh - until you’ve bought a set of grumbacher water colors you don’t realize how expensive that stuff is…). Others in my class took out a loan or two. </p>

<p>I have a student I sent to a program this year. It is an excellent program and highly regarded. She has a full tuition waiver and has enough to live with a roommate, and live a spartan life. I’ve sent at least one student to grad school on average each of the last 12+ years. The programs have ranged from Tisch to FSU-Asolo to UMKC and Ohio State. All have provided some level of funding that made it highly accessible to the student. Not all of lived off the money, but some people believe cable TV is a necessity.</p>

<p>Yale doesn’t do this. And there are several other programs that also do not do this. If you are interested in MFA programs, I would suggest (at the very least) planning to go to the URTA auditions. </p>

<p>I think I answered all the questions. IF not… let me know.</p>

<p>And just for fun I’ll add this. My wife, who was in the sciences, made more money as a grad student per year than I did my first year teaching. Just a fun fact. (She was in grad school for molecular cell biology and worked in a research lab for her assistantship.)</p>

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<p>^ ^^^^ ^ Best advice to an aspiring actor yet: marry someone in the sciences. ^^^^^</p>

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<p>Thanks for the further info, kjgc. My son is in an Acting BFA program now and hopes to be able to find steady work as a professional actor and/or director, and for as long as possible…but he acknowledges that he may want an MFA somewhere down the road, to make possible the greater security of teaching. </p>

<p>By that time I’m sure he will have learned everything you shared…and more…on his own. </p>

<p>I wanted to learn more about this now, for myself, because our family contribution to his current tuition is somewhat steep, and he also has some loans. </p>

<p>I had been wondering if he would have to take our large loans for graduate school, when and if such a time arrives…which would probably also be at a time when we might not be able to help. I wonder if some MFA students have problems because they are still under the obligation to make payments on undergraduate loans…?</p>

<p>It is comforting to know that, in general, an MFA is “doable” at most schools if one lives spartanly and/or has a working spouse with a good job!!</p>

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<p>NJTheatreMOM,</p>

<p>My daughter is currently in a MFA program at a large state University. All the graduate students received assistantships in one form or another. She is a TA, she helps out a professor with two classes and has been assigned office hours. She would eventually like to teach so she was thrilled with her assignment.</p>

<p>She applied to many programs and the competition for the MFA spots is really stiff. She had a major disadvantage going into the process because she was a new graduate. She only had a one year gap between grad and undergrad. Her professors had mentioned that they usually don’t take anyone under 25. </p>

<p>When she was going through the process, she researched many, many schools. You can usually find information on the present students on the school’s websites. Many attend showcases so the seniors will have their resumes on display. This will allow you the opportunity to see what type of student is accepted.</p>

<p>One that is really interesting to look at is the Brown/Trinity Consortium.</p>

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<p>Those headshots and r</p>

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<p>I know - it is fun to go back through each class and try to figure a trend of how each student was chosen. It is quite obvious they are all accomplished academically.</p>

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<p>Hi all, I found this thread on MFA programs and thought I’d jump in. My S is in his first year MFA at CMU. From the journey he has taken I would say it is definitely harder to get into a MFA program. He was an NYu undergrad and then worked in NYC as a director and playwright. There are exactly 2 students in his program. He was waitlisted for Columbia( 6 students). He has great theater credits and loves the program he is in now. It was just time to meet new colleagues, work in a new surrounding and feel fully supported to try new work. He is on scholarship no stipend. We feel this is a great chance for him. If anyone has any questions about this program , I’ll try to help!</p>

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<p>Camge, is your son in the CMU MFA program for directing? Are directing MFA programs usually smaller and/or harder to get into than MFA Acting programs, do you know?</p>

<p>Anyway, congratulations on his accomplishment!!</p>

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<p>MFA Directing programs are generally much smaller than MFA acting programs… accepting 1 - 4 per class depending on he size of the program and the resources.</p>

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<p>Hi NJTheatermom,Thanks so much. Yes the MFA directing programs are a lot smaller. Strangely enough not that many schools have them. For example NYU. The good side to this though is that when you do get in one, you get a lot of attention.</p>