<p>Hoping someone here can help. Have called the conservatory twice for an answer to this question, but no concrete answer yet. Was told that the freshman Conservatory Theater and Musical Theater students are classified as BA students and need to audition during their freshman year for the BFA program. Since they seem to take so many freshman (50 -100?), does anyone know how many (or what percentage) actually go on in the BFA program in theater & MT? </p>
<p>Just wondering how it impacts the student’s training to remain in the conservatory as a BA student competing with the BFA students, who:</p>
<p>from website:
“The University also offers those students who, in judgement of the faculty, have the potential to succeed in professional theatre may pursue the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program after completion of the first year.”</p>
<p>Sounds like they don’t think the BA students have the potential to succeed, and if so, what is the point of enrolling in the conservatory?</p>
<p>Sorry, I must be missing something, but the conservatory folks are not providing the answer so I thought someone here might know. Thanks!!</p>
<p>I don't blame you for wanting a specific and concrete answer to that question, which seems like a basic one. I am curious: how do they answer you when you ask? Did someone even attempt to answer, or did the person answering the phone just promise to deliver the message to someone else?</p>
<p>I was told that someone would call me back. Twice. Two days in a row; I'm still waiting. </p>
<p>Since there are some kids reading this thread who have already been accepted, I'm hoping someone has already asked and had this question answered!</p>
<p>We have visited there and gotten information. I may be fuzzy, but my recollection is that it is not so hard to get into BFA if you have been doing everything you are asked to do, working hard, etc. during the freshman year. I think some students may choose the BA route because they do not want the added pressure of working quite so hard for the BFA (which requires a very full time commitment, as is true at most conservatory type schools). Also, some students choose the BA because it allows for a minor, for example, in business. We were not concerned about going there and not being ultimately accepted into the BFA program. It did not remind us of a cut system at other schools.</p>
<p>Students don't normally enter the BFA program until after their sophomore year. This is the quote from the catalog "The University confers either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree upon graduates of the Theatre Arts program. All students who apply for entrance into the Theatre Arts program are required to audition, and those accepted take a prescribed curriculum during the freshman year. Students who wish to be consid ered for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must apply and/or audition to the faculty during February of their sophomore year. In the case of transfer students, the application must be made during February of their second term at Point Park University. All other students in the Theatre Arts program qualify for the Bachelor of Arts program if faculty evaluation and other academic criteria are acceptable."</p>
<p>As you indicated some students prefer BA in order to take other courses.</p>
<p>Thanks, Ericsmom and pointpark dad for insight into the BA/BFA route at Point Park. Being able to continue studying MT as well as minoring in another subject is a very interesting concept.<br>
Do either of you know if those who choose the BA MT route have as many performance opportunities available as the BFA students do? In other words are they still looked at as being competitive in the program, given an equal shot at auditions, etc? Or is it more of a situation like when a school has a graduate and undergraduate program and most of the roles go to the grad students?
I'm very intrigued by the idea of BA in MT with minor in something else, as long as the performance opportunities are not limited. Sounds like the best of both worlds!</p>
<p>The BA option definitely doesn't limit performance opportunties! Point Park shows always contain a wide variety of BA and BFA MT's and also BA and BFA Acting Majors (both majors do musicals and straight plays and are treated as one casting pool). In addition, dance majors often do the musicals as well! </p>
<p>I peeked in on PPU's CONTACT in tech yesterday while at PPU doing some coaching. It looks great! - and it has MT's, Actors, and Dance majors all working side-by-side. In fact, an Acting major is the Girl on the Swing in the first vignette (of the 3 that make up CONTACT). I'm so proud of her - she's a former student who also played Jo in PPU's wonderful (and critically acclaimed by Pittsburgh's main theatre critic) production of LITTLE WOMEN earlier this year! PPU students have SO MANY opportunities to perform because PPU does such a range and number of shows - and while the undergrads can be in the Rep Company (grad student company) shows, I don't believe the grad students ever compete for undergrad production roles.</p>
<p>That's pretty cool that they are doing CONTACT! I didn't realize that anyone other than Broadway or the National Tour has put on this show. I bet PPU has the dancers needed!</p>
<p>for providing more info in answer to my question. I spoke with a student working in the PPU conservatory office yesterday and he confirmed what Ericsmom, pointpark dad and now Coach C have posted re: the BA/BFA. He also mentioned that many choose the BA route because they want more flexibility with their schedules and that going the BA route does not negatively impact their performance opportunities. I was very impressed with this young man as a representative of the conservatory!</p>
<p>Just thought I'd add what I found in the Undergraduate catalog:</p>
<p>"This program is open only to those students who, in the opinion of the faculty, possess the level of maturity, discipline and ambition necessary to complete the intensive degree requirements of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Acceptance into the Bachelor of Fine Arts program is dependent upon the requisite Grade Point Average (3.0 G.P.A.) and the approval of the Theatre Arts faculty."</p>
<p>So if you have good grades, do the work assigned, have a postive attitude and try to continue to improve yourself, by the way they describe it, it's not that difficult to get accepted to the BFA program. I think it's a nice alternative to the cut system at other top schools. I think it' provides a better assessment of a students abilities and potential.</p>
<p>When we saw Contact there this past weekend, several of the students in the production were Sophomore or above BA students. At the informational meeting we were told some students also choose to stay in the BA program so they can continue with a more broad curriculum.</p>
<p>I took up LivvieJayne on her offer for more information about PPU and asked her a specific question about the BA to BFA process. We e-mailed privately but she said I could share her response with anyone on CC. I've not included her information about the question of BA vs. BFA in general, but I am posting the specific infomation about BFA auditions by the BA students at PPU.</p>
<p>She said:
The facts are this: everyone starts as a BA major. in the spring of your sophomore year, you can audition for the BFA program. it is highly competitive and tough to get into the first time you audition- the point of having you audition is basically because you've been at school for almost 2 years and can determine if you want to follow this intense course of study rather than the BA program which has less requirements and therefore leaves room for other options (ie a minor, double major, etc). After your audition, you will have one of 4 results: they will accept you, ask you to reaudition in the fall, reaudition in the spring, or not reaudition at all. Many students are not accepted their first audition, and not because of anything talent related: the point of the audition is to present as polished and professional an audition as possible with material that is wellsuited to you and shows you off. Most students dont get it the first time because the auditors simply felt that they needed a better song or monologue, or something of that nature- nothing talent related!! If they ask you to reaudition in the fall, it means that they feel you just needed to pick better audition material. A reaudition in the spring generally means that they feel you need another full year of school before you are ready to present an audition of as high quality as they would like. if they ask you not to reaudition...it's pretty selfexplanatory. i auditioned this past spring and was asked to come back in the fall- i met with every single auditor (there were 10) and got a lot of really really important and beneficial feedback. the overall consensus was that they simply wanted me to sing a more legit song as opposed the belting one that i chose. it's not completely a measure of talent and it doesnt mean you are terrible- i was in 4 shows this past year, and people can go their entire career at PPU and never be cast once. they just wanted something different out of my audition. simple as that. out of eveyrone who auditioned this spring, 2 girls and maybe 9 guys got it, 5 or 6 of us were asked to come in the fall, and eveyrone else (25 or so) asked to return next spring.</p>
<p>Thanks again to LivvieJayne as these specifics were very helpful in my understanding of the process and of the intermixing of the BA and BFA majors.</p>
<p>A couple other important facts to add to Livvie's great info:</p>
<p>Some PPU students choose never to audition for the BFA and still play leads in shows - it's a personal preference that is based on many factors, including a tuition differential which makes the BA cheaper than the BFA (because BFA's take more courses).</p>
<p>Some of those who are BFAs are those who go for 4 years and are not cast at all.</p>
<p>Being a BFA does not guarantee you a spot in the extremely limited PPU New York Senior Showcase. To be chosen for PPU's Showcase, you must go through an extensive interview/paperwork/prep process.</p>
<p>Why is there a tuition differential? Is there a tiered tuition whereby a higher amount is paid if units exceed a certain amount? </p>
<p>What does seem unique about PPU is the intermixing of the programs and opportunities available. Are there courses specifically limited to BFA only students??</p>
<p>I WAS going to audition for this school but now I'm having second thoughts. I mean, it's so stressful to go through the audition process once when you're initially trying to get into a school. It's finally a relief to get into a school and get started on your education. Who wants to think about still auditioning to get a BFA while you're already at the school of your choice? It just seems like there is so much more stress than there needs to be, after you have already gone through all this crap at your initial auditions</p>