<p>Have you gotten your auditions set up for the MT schools? You should post on the MT forum as well. </p>
<p>While NYU does not have a good rep for fin aid, in fact, there are a number of posters on the MT / theater forum who have talked about getting better aid there than other schools. NYU’s MT program is by audition, and it is a BFA (through Tisch). Students often turn down “more selective” schools (eg, Ivies and other “top 20”) to attend Tisch, and it is the most academically balanced in terms of the BFA programs. </p>
<p>Muhlenberg is a school that offers excellent merit aid and has a great theater program. It is a non-auditioned BA program; it also offers talent scholarships, but these are by audition. </p>
<p>You should have Northwestern on your list. It is a non-auditioned BA, one of the best theater programs in the country, with an option to audition into the MT program sophomore year. I don’t know anything about aid there. </p>
<p>These are just some options for you. Finding academically strong schools with MT programs is not easy; but there are plenty of excellent schools that offer acting performance tracks within the theater major and also have strong dance programs and voice lessons available. Alot of theater departments don’t put on musicals – or do so on a limited basis – so you want to check this out, and if they don’t put on musicals you want to be sure that at least there is a strong student group on campus that puts up these shows.</p>