<p>Great points @halflokum, and I feel like it ties into what I was saying earlier- that the process for the incredibly competitive BFA programs and incredibly competitive Ivies are not necessarily compatible. Even if the passion for a particular interest is the new thing- spending a month (or months) crafting the perfect essay and interview may not leave time for the intense process of choosing/rehearsing songs and monologues, filming prescreens scheduling auditions. After all, there is only so much time in the day. </p>
<p>Obviously there are great things about both paths (and many others) In the end, kids have to look at their options, and choose according</p>
<p>I totally agree that the odds of getting into highly selective BA schools are daunting. And a hook REALLY can help. I just mean that there are some kids, like mine, who really didn’t have a hook. Also, I do think they want kids who have a special talent or achievement in something, rather than doing a LOT of things. In my D’s case (the one that attended an Ivy), she was good at a lot of things and had achievements, but didn’t specialize in ONE thing. Even one of her main essays talked about the variety of things she was involved in. Yes, being from VT is better than say, another kid from Westchester County, NY or some such, but kids from VT do get into top colleges. That said, the odds were tough in some ways as our kids attended an unknown rural public high school that didn’t send that many to top colleges. In my D’s year, she was the only student in the senior class to attend any Ivy. Compare that to her freshman roommate who had gone to a very well regarded prep school where 8 kids in her class got into this Ivy Early Decision (and it was a small class). So, in some ways, it can work against you too (like at the time, our HS had one AP class). </p>
<p>This daughter also went through highly competitive grad school admissions twice (she attended two grad school programs). The application process also involved a portfolio. What state she was from was irrelevant for grad school and in fact, a huge percentage of her classmates were from foreign countries and she also was the only person straight out of college. She got into several Ivies and top 10 programs in her field. The odds were extremely difficult. I’m just saying that if you have the profile, as difficult as the odds are, one should give it a shot to apply to highly selective schools, but at the same time, be realistic and apply to safeties. (for grad school, my D did not have any safeties, but she surely did for undergrad admissions). The grad school she went to the second time around, accepted just two students for her program!!! </p>
<p>In my work as a college counselor, I had a student several years ago apply to some BFAs and some BAs (she had a total of 7 schools). She got into Brown and Stanford, but chose to attend NYU/Tisch for acting. </p>
<p>@soozievt. My comments were not directed really at your specific situation. I’m from rural NH. I was also only one of two kids my graduating year of HS that got into an Ivy school. But that was 1979 and frankly… I know I wasn’t that smart and all with due respect, neither was the kid who got into?? Dartmouth??? but I certainly understand the divide between schools that have feeder high schools vs. those of us that come from schools in mill towns where ivy colleges have no clue about where you have come from and what you know. In contrast, your kids were both then and now, exceptional. I wasn’t. I cheated on my French tests because Mr. Roy was drunk and not paying attention and was perfectly happy for us to find something else to do. </p>
<p>You can’t compare grad school applications experiences to undergrad. Different ballgame entirely. Where you are from and your hooks no longer matter. It’s all about how good your credentials and aptitude are for the field you have chosen. I know that from watching my niece who got boxed out of so many schools where she had the stats in spades to get into (but the unfortunate geography of being yet another brilliant female from Palo Alto, CA) to watching her get into every grad school she applied to later on and yes that list was Princeton, MIT, Penn, Cornell, Stanford, Dartmouth, Northwestern, Berkeley, Harvard and any other school in that realm that I’m blanking on. She’s the oldest of the grandchildren on my side of the family and is the pariah for setting the bar so high for all of the others that will come behind her. Were she not such a great kid, that would not be a joke. In our family it is fortunately a source of amusement that her cousins (my kids) and siblings have a field day with. :-)</p>
<p>The OP at this point is collecting a list of colleges to consider and clearly said they would be narrowing it down. If the OP has the stats to be in the ballpark for an Ivy and already has Yale and Brown on the list, then what’s wrong with adding one that people on CC aren’t that familiar with? I never suggested that she only do top schools, only that if she is making a list to start with, then YES, Princeton should be on it. And here’s why:</p>
<p>I’ve never ever seen this brought forward here on CC. Trying to do a service here by presenting a school that isn’t on the “usual list of suspects” on this forum!</p>
<p>SDonCC…Princeton has a theater group tradition for years (I forget what it is called and don’t have time right now to look it up) and they put on these hilarious original musicals every year and I have watched a few of them in their entirety on video and there is loads of talent there. </p>
<p>from their website: “recognized for its innovative choreography as well as an intimate connection with its audience. We challenge all of our members, including freshmen, to choreograph and perform in diverse styles. BodyHype is an eclectic group of people: our members currently train/have trained with ABT, Alvin Ailey, SAB, Boston Ballet, Walnut Hill, The Edge in LA and BDC in NYC. Our members are also varsity athletes, entrepreneurs, photographers, cinematographers, choreographers, actors, writers and musicians.”</p>
<p>@SDonCC Princeton looks like a wonderful place to study theatre! They’ve made huge recent investments in the arts. They have a great tradition of student theatre - I think Jimmy Stewart was in the Triangle Club. </p>
<p>No doubt the kids have world-class resources at their disposal.</p>
<p>I would agree Princeton doesn’t get the love here that Yale and Brown do, and it should not be overlooked.</p>
<p>If I were applying to any one of these programs I would apply early and learn as much as possible, attend classes, meet students and professors and attend plays so that your knowledge, understanding and desire is evident in your application. My point was it’s not possible to do this for too many high reach schools such as Princeton.</p>
<p>In addition to the above advice, I would encourage anyone interested in theatre to look at the actual courses offered. You can tell a lot about the program from the course offerings - whether it is more conservatory-like, focuses more on the academic study of theatre, or gives a smorgasbord sampling of the various aspects of theatre. This can be helpful in narrowing down schools to which you want to apply.</p>
<p>Not an ivy, but a good school with a fast-growing theater program - Oklahoma City University. Many many types of majors, from BA to BFA to BM - vocal performance, musical theater, straight theater, theater for young children. All the dance levels you can imagine. While it isn’t an ivy, they have produced grads working on Broadway.</p>
<p>@sscncadams, I haven’t been on CC for a while, so I am jumping in late to the conversation. It looks like you have some great info here, but I want to offer myself as a resource as well since it sounds like we had similar situations going in. I currently have 2 children in BA Theater programs; 1 is a junior at American University, my younger is a freshman at Emerson College. We felt strongly about the BA track for both our girls, although the older one did audition and check out a few BFA programs. We are very pleased with both the programs our girls ultimately chose. My older daughter has had great training at American and is actually studying abroad in London this semester at BADA. She says she has already learned so much and is blown away by the other talented and bright students with whom she is studying this semester…not to mention being in London!! She has basically been in a production constantly since arriving her freshman year and has found the professors and other students to be warm, accessible and supportive of her goals. Because of her academic stats going in (similar to your daughters) she also received a VERY generous academic scholarship to American. Her access to the vibrant Washington, D.C. theater community has added opportunities for film work and local theater work. This summer she was in a D.C. Fringe Festival production that got lots of attention, for which she received her first ever paycheck for acting. She has decided to double major in Public Relations and she did an internship this summer at Fords Theater as a Communications Intern. So, as you can see, we can’t say enough good things about her experience at American so far. Lots of very bright, politically savvy students from all over the world.</p>
<p>Daughter 2, just got started at Emerson, so I don’t have as much to say. So far, she loves it and we have been super impressed with everything we have seen as parents. Again, part of the attraction is living in a great city! Emerson is in the heart of Boston’s Theater District and I won’t even go through the long list of fun things she has done in Boston in the 3 weeks that she has been there. Emerson is different from American in that they do actually offer a BFA track as well. My daughter has an interest in writing and directing, so she auditioned specifically for the BA. She has encountered a little bit of bias and people assuming that she is a BA student because she didn’t “get in” the BFA, which made her mad. However, she just auditioned for a student directed production and was the only freshman to get a callback, so clearly being a BA hasn’t held her back so far. They BA kids and BFA kids get access to the same teachers, facilities, etc and can audition for all the same things. However, BA students can study abroad, take a wider variety of classes and even potentially double major. The right choice for her.</p>
<p>The last thing I will say is to give a plug for James Madison and their theater program. In both cases, my daughters came down to a difficult choice between the school they ultimately chose and JMU. Truly, I think it is the best theater program in Virginia, hands down. The BEST college theater production I have ever seen (and with 2 kids going through this process, we’ve seen A LOT) was at JMU. The most amazing theater facilities we have seen are at JMU. The most accessible program administrators that we encountered in our process was at JMU. We LOVED it and I would have been thrilled for either of my girls to be in their program. We know many happy kids in their program, as JMU is a big draw in our northern VA community. The appeal of D.C. and Boston was just too strong, in the end, but I would definitely highly recommend JMU to anyone interested in a strong BA program at a great school.</p>
<p>Feel free to contact me directly, if I can offer any additional insights from our experience. Good luck!</p>
<p>And I would agree with what other posters have said about the theater programs at W & M and UVA. AMAZING schools, but kind of forgotten theater programs, if that is her top priority. </p>
<p>Would your daughter consider University of Michigan? My son is a freshman there and just loves the acting program. Not to scare you but he had a 34 on his ACT, lots iof AP classes and close to a 3.9 GPA and did not get into Northwestern. He applied early decision. Strange enough, a friend told us that the only people she knew who got into Northwestern applied regular decision. </p>
<p>I know someone (intimately) who was admitted to Northwestern ED a few years ago, and I think last year 40% of the incoming class was ED, so if it’s your top choice I’d still consider going that route. S was admitted RD last year (not Theatre) so that can obviously work as well. For what it’s worth, I’ve yet to meet any NU student who would describe the school as cold, unless referring to last winter’s crazy weather. ;)</p>
<p>We have a friend who was deferred from ED and then got in. It happens all different ways, if you are really sure it is your number 1 than go ED.</p>
<p>I would have LOVED an ED option last year, just to consolidate the dreaded “waiting” period. Trouble was, D was exploring both BA and BFA options (with her heart really in the BFA route) and there are so many variables that there was not 1 school she could say with 100% certainty was “the one”. Be very sure before you commit to ED, kids change a lot in a short period of time, and what my D wanted most in a school changed a great deal over the course of the admissions process. ED may improve your chances, but I don’t think it’s a HUGE mathematical difference in admittance odds- and if you need time, don’t be afraid to take it. </p>
<p>Finances are a factor as well. If finances are a significant consideration in your decision, and you want to compare/contrast college offers, EA is fine, but binding ED is not really possible. My D’s were accepted to NU and Williams College via Regular Decision and we felt that gave us the best ability to compare all the financial offers on equal footing. </p>
She has decided to double major in Public Relations and she did an internship this summer at Fords Theater as a Communications Intern. So, as you can see, we can’t say enough good things about her experience at American so far. Lots of very bright, politically savvy students from all over the world.</p>