<p>My son has been accepted into two BFA MT programs as well as a BA MT and a BA Theater. My wonderful mother, who "has to say what I think and then I shut my mouth," has said quite a lot about why she thinks a BA is better than a BFA. And she has shut her mouth, but her facial expressions are still quite eloquent :-)</p>
<p>Her big point is that a BA is more "useful." She's a great advocate of the benefits of a Liberal Arts education. Basically, she thinks the BFA is impractical and doesn't provide her grandson with a backup plan.</p>
<p>I say, performing is what he wants and it's the only thing he wants. He loves hands-on learning and gets incredibly frustrated writing research papers. I really can't see him enjoying the scholarly aspects of a BA program. Actually, my biggest concern right now is that both BFA programs he's been accepted to take pride in their strong emphasis on Liberal Arts!</p>
<p>So, I guess what I'm trying to understand is whether a BFA has more limits on future education or employment options than a BA. My experience, with a BA in English, is that employers just want to see a degree, and then it's up to me to demonstrate that I am qualified for the job. Would a BFA be viewed differently?</p>
<p>Francesca, my D is going for a BFA at a school not known for academic rigor, and she writes papers that just about curl my hair! So BFA does not necessarily equal no papers. As for what you can do (outside of performing) with a BFA, I know three assistant district attorneys who went on to law school with BFAs.</p>
<p>I know people who went to law school, medical school, and MBA programs with a BFA. The doctor did have to take a year or so of pre-med he didn’t take in undergraduate school. I think the business degree seekers may have taken a few business courses and worked in business before applying for MBA, but that probably would have been the case if they had BA degrees that did not include that coursework. </p>
<p>I think for most the “back-up” plan emerges once they are out in the business pursuing performing after graduation. Most of the people I know who have switched career paths didn’t do so because they were not finding work as performers, but because they WANTED to do something else. My doctor friend was in Broadway shows as a performer and was teaching, choreographing, and directing professionally before he decided he wanted to be a doctor. </p>
<p>I teach in a BA MT program, and advocate for a well rounded education, but you can receive that at many BFA programs as well.</p>
<p>There are no guarantees that your son will always want to be a professional performer, but if that is what he wants now why not pursue the training at the program he wants to attend. If later he decided he wants to do something else he can go back to school if needed. For many jobs that would not be needed, and the BFA would be fine.</p>
<p>I talked my d into a BA in vocal performance. After 2 years of having a hard time getting dance classes because they conflicted with her required classes, she transferrred to a BFA in MT. She will take 5 years to get her degree. She is finally happy. I thought she would have a more worthwhile degree as a BA and as a legit soprano, better teaching oportunities as a backup. I neglected to consider what would make her happy and fulfilled. The extra year of tuition is my punishment for pushing when I should have been supporting.</p>
<p>The papers my D writes are exceptional…she’s really good at that stuff. But the topics are so esoteric, my eyes cross when she tells me about them. I’d sell hot dogs on a street corner before I’d do her lib arts homework.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies. I know my son can’t totally avoid doing research papers! It’s just that I know he wouldn’t be happy in a program where research and writing are the main focus, and that’s what my mother insists is the best degree to have. She’s got a rather good track record of being right, so I feel a bit nervous when I disagree with her. </p>
<p>Of course, she didn’t want me to take the wacky job where I ended up meeting my husband! We’ve been happy together for 23 years and she admits she’s glad I didn’t agree with her that time :-)</p>
<p>My H and I are having a discussion on this very topic, although a year earlier. </p>
<p>My D yesterday said that she knows she could be better at writing serious essays but working at that skill just doesn’t appeal to her as much as reading monologues and doing anything theater-related. </p>
<p>At the same time, she’s attracted to schools like Sarah Lawrence and Bard for a Theater BA if she can’t get into a BFA. She knows she will have a hugely writing-intensive experience if that’s where she ends up. </p>
<p>My guess is in her case she’ll make that decision when the time comes, with the options she ends up with. If she goes to a BA school that is writing-intensive, she’ll have her eyes wide open (she’ll also have less intense BAs on her list, of course). </p>
<p>I would say that a year from now if a Bard/Sarah Lawrence type school ends up making her feel uncomfortable, I’d be reluctant to take the risk of urging her to go, regardless of the fact that my H’s values and mine tend toward your mother’s. If she really can’t feel it - as your son doesn’t seem to - I think it’s very likely she would end up 1) having to make a change, 2) feeling really bad about herself, and 3) seeing some part of it as us pressuring her. The fantasy that some great liberal arts prof would wake up her intellectual side and the school would mold her into this wonderful college type is a very dangerous bet to place, literally, our money on. </p>
<p>She’ll get liberal arts just about everywhere she wants to apply; she already has crossed conservatory programs off her list, wants to be at a college or university, and will happily take those courses, BA or BFA. But I know the balance and intensity will be something she’ll have to make a very personal decision about. There’s always grad school if she feels she hasn’t gotten enough of one or the other this time around.</p>