<p>I'm a junior currently beginning this college process. I have a list of about 17 potential schools I might be looking at. I recently talked to someone who is attending Ithaca and he said that if I am seriously considering acting I should BFA, as the BA kids aren't taken seriously. My only problem is that I want to make sure I'm not setting up myself for failure in the real world in case acting doesn't work out. I want a good education in addition to an acting education. I am also unsure if I will end up going into the production route of theater or maybe even teaching. I'm kind of all over the place. I'm fairly smart, and I dabble in all aspects of creativity.</p>
<p>As a high school student I've participated mostly in school-run shows, although I just got casted in a community theater show for this summer. I do take voice lessons and enjoy singing, but I don't think I stand a chance competing against some of these people auditioning for MT. There's also still a big part of me that wants to do musical theater. I may also want to double major or minor in something merely educational (mostly to satisfy my parents who aren't quite cool with this whole shindig). GAH, I don't know what to do, or which places I can actually get into. I just got my SAT scores today; 1930, and my GPA is about a 3.5. Where should I be looking, and what programs?</p>
<p>Also the only school I visited so far is Emerson College, ironically my top choice, and I plan to BA with a focus in acting there.</p>
<p>First, the college you go to may not offer the option. </p>
<p>Second, if it does offer both choices the BEST person to talk to about it would be your college adviser. He/She should be able to tell you which degree is more marketable for whatever career path you intend to take.</p>
<p>In other words, whether a BFA is better than a BA or the other way around depends on what you want to do in terms of a job. (A lot of psychology majors face this problem-but it is between a BS or a BA)</p>
<p>Where I am right now I definitely want to be an actress. Most schools I’ve looked at have the option for both. I think I want to avoid the conservatory feel just to make sure I’m getting a basic liberal arts education.</p>
<p>My counselor basically agrees to anything I say, mostly because he wants me to be happy. I also think my parents would not be happy with me strictly doing acting-they are the type of people who are very into making safe and academically sound choices (Mom went to Brown, Dad to Bowdoin, got a Business degree at Bryant, and then Wash U for Law School, so they have high expectations for my education), but I also want to be happy with my choice.</p>
<p>*Oops, I meant the adviser that you will be asigned to once you get to college-they will know a lot more than your HS adviser now does haha. He/She should know exactly which type of degree is more attractive to employers.</p>
<p>Something that can help make your decision is what other major/minor would you want to add to your course load? (The thought behind this idea is that it would be easier to get 2 BA degrees or 2 BFA degrees than 1 BA and 1 BFA).</p>
<p>Lastly, a lot of “artsy” majors are designed to be what I call “second majors.” This means that the course load is smaller than other demanding majors like nursing/engineering-so it is easier to double major because less credit hours are required for the degree. (The English program at my school is about 36 credit hours this is not very many courses compared to other majors (The theatre is 45)). In other words, it should be possible for you to get another major or minor (Education can be a minor) to help make you AND your parents happy.</p>
<p>Your college, not HS, adviser would also be able to give you advice about what majors/minors would go well with a Theatre degree.</p>
<p>Best of luck-and sorry for the earlier confusion.</p>
<p>Well, you kind of have to decide before applying since most BFA’s are by audition and very small programs. Good grief, some of them only take 10 people. At schools with a well-known BFA it may be taken more seriously than a BA at that school but there are a lot of very good BA’s in other schools.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are leaning BA since you want education and options beyond theater. That’s not possible at most of the BFA’s and many are in less academically selective schools, as well.</p>
<p>Character, you are really on the right track, asking the right kinds of questions. Search around this forum for a lot of the discussions regarding BA and BFA. There are many differences in each college for each distinction. Its not necessarily the BA or the BFA but the flexibility that each college offers along with gen ed requirements although usually a BFA is more regimented with a specific more rigid curriculum. The posters here on this forum would probably provide some suggestions if you could give us a little more information as to whether you have any criteria such as whether you want a certain location, city or suburban campus, large or small school. Take some time to really read a lot of the threads here and also in the MT forum. Congratulations on your GPA and SAT scores. Try to enjoy the journey you are about to embark on. Wish you luck!</p>
<p>If you want to succeed as an actress, you are going to need to commit yourself to it 100%. There is a strong tendency for people who have something to fall back on to end up doing just that and falling back.</p>
<p>If what you really want to be is an actress, I would advise focusing on that exclusively for now. If you later change your mind and decide you want a different career, you can re-educate yourself at that point. There is NO rule that says you have to major in the same subject in grad school that you did as un undergrad, or even that you have to major in a related subject. I got into law school with no trouble even though my undergaduate degree is in theatre–without any sort of “dual major”, my BA is just in theatre. This page for Harvard Law school (NOT where I went!): [Admissions</a> FAQ](<a href=“http://www.law.harvard.edu/prospective/jd/apply/the-application-process/jdfaq.html]Admissions”>http://www.law.harvard.edu/prospective/jd/apply/the-application-process/jdfaq.html), just says a “Bachelor’s degree”, it doesn’t specify a BA or any particular subjects.</p>
<p>Think of it this way, all of the time you spend taking the classes for your “second major” is time that other students are spending improving their acting skills. And then these are the folks you will be competing with at auditions when you graduate.</p>
<p>The posts that people write saying “usually a BA program gives you X, a BFA program usually gives you Y” are basically correct, but the point is that “usually”. You need to look at the specific programs instead of assuming all BA or BFA programs are identical, because they aren’t. I feel as though my BA program gave me a lot more “hands-on” experience, more like a BFA program.</p>
<p>Wow I did not expect so many replies! This is great guys! So I’m response to mom2gals I prefer a more urban setting. I live on the east coast, but I’m really not too picky as per location, although not a big fan of the south. I think one of my biggest fears with bfa is straight up not getting in. Like I said before I’m kind of an underdog compared to all of these people, I don’t have much experience and if you can’t tell from my username, I’m mostly a character actress and not a leading lady. If I do end up minor or doubling majoring, it will most likely be in English. Kanick don’t I have to make the decision about which program I choose before college? Also almost all of the ba programs I have been looking at include an audition. Does this make them special?</p>
<p>Instead of focusing on BA or BFA turn your focus to the kinds of programs that interest you in terms of educational environment, opportunities, school size, location, cost, etc… you may find that you end up with a combination of BA and BFA schools on your list.</p>
<p>Some BA programs are more hands on and professionally focused than others. Some BFA programs offer more academic opportunities than others. Look at the program, not the degree.</p>
<p>At some schools that have both BA and BFA programs the BA students do get significantly less opportunities and training than the BA students. At others BA and BFA students are more integrated. When looking at schools that have both degrees this is an important question to ask.</p>
<p>You mention being nervous you cannot get into BFA programs, so the BA could be an option, also that they could make it more possible to double major. There are auditioned BA programs that are just as competitive (or even more competitive) for admissions than some BFA programs. There are non-auditioned BFA programs. </p>
<p>If you build a list of schools with one or two non-auditioned, academic, financial “safeties,” and round out your list with more competitive schools academically and/or artistically you will be well set. Make sure that you would be happy to attend all of the schools on your list.</p>
<p>Some schools to look at include:</p>
<p>Temple (non-audition BA)
Muhlenburg (non-audition BA… audition for scholarships)
James Madison (auditioned BA)
American (auditioned BA)
Montclair State (BA and BFA programs)
University of RI (non-auditioned BFA)
Penn State (auditioned BA, BFA degrees in MT and non-performance areas.) </p>
<p>These are just a few to look at that may or may not already be on your list. A combination of different types of programs.</p>
<p>Check out Fordham Lincoln Center’s auditioned BA program. The program is similar to a BFA program but they have a core academic requirement. Your stats seems to be in line with Fordham’s.</p>
<p>Character Actress, Please do not take a school off your list being afraid to audition. Character actors are just as if not more important than leading ladies. Many of us have left a show talking about the character actors and forgetting the name of the leading lady. Every audition college program needs a few of you. It doesn’t even matter what you have or have not been in so far but how well you do in your audition. Choosing your monologues carefully to convey what your nitche is and nailing the audition. There are many stories imbedded in CC forums where kids with very thin resumes get into plum programs. Cast a wide net, do not underestimate yourself, follow your passion, do your research and we are going to love following your journey.</p>
<p>CharacterActress, also look into The New School for Drama. They have had an MFA program for years but are starting a BFA program (audition) this fall. It is not a traditional conservatory type program and is in New York City.</p>
<p>In acting school auditions, it is misleading to say the resume doesn’t matter, though. The piece of paper with the list of shows is not very important, but the knowledge and skills that you gained from participating in the shows can be huge. It helps actors to grow if they have a variety of experiences, have worked with different directors, etc. The high school kids who were the stars of all their school shows and did nothing else are at a disadvantage. The kids who sought their stage experience outside the high school will have encountered a broad range of audition situations, for example, which helps them a lot when they are doing college auditions.</p>
<p>^^ Agree! I’ve told this one before but I read a comment from a Juilliard admissions officer, that they don’t want to see kids who are just big fish in a small pond. They want to see at least an attempt to get to the lake! I love that - speaks volumes.</p>
<p>Clemson’s BA program is very unique. Check it out. You have to audition but the chances on getting in are higher. They have connections for internships and professional jobs after graduation.</p>