Okay, I guess I don’t actually understand your post then. I’m not sure what help you’re actually looking for since you have quite a long list in your original post. Sorry!
She was asking for the best theater/set design schools within the list she provided.
Gotcha.
What is confusing is that if student’s grades are not good enough to get merit aid, then student has no chance to get into schools like Northwestern, Vassar, Cornell etc.
This is an old discussion now, and I probably shouldn’t revive it, but I want to try (once again) to respond to @Virginia718’s question.
First, no one (other than you) has said this student’s grades aren’t good enough to get merit aid. His grades and test scores would qualify him for generous merit aid at any number of schools.
But merit aid very rarely amounts to a full ride, so unless the student has sufficient family resources to cover the balance that’s left after the merit aid is applied, even the most generous merit aid school remains unaffordable. And I am not, under any circumstances, going to advise a theatre major to take out substantial loans - that’s just insane.
So, by necessity, this student cannot consider any school that does not offer very generous need-based aid. Hence, the list I posted. Those are the only schools this student can consider - many of them have excellent theatre programs, but far fewer have excellent tech programs. And that’s why I came here looking for advice - from those of you who are far more familiar with theatre studies than I am.
I think, at this point, with everyone’s help, I’ve identified the best programs from the schools on my list. But if anyone else has recommendations regarding any of these schools, I’d still love to hear them. If the student does not get into any of the schools he applied to this year, there’s always next year . . . This student knows what he wants, and absolutely has the patience to wait a year and try again, if that’s what it takes.
How about Kenyon? Their website says they meet 100% of need, and boast about their theater major’s successes:
http://www.kenyon.edu/academics/departments-programs/dance-drama-and-film/after-kenyon/
@craspedia - I appreciate the suggestion, thank you!
I’ve just taken a look at the Kenyon website and, even though Kenyon meets full need (and quite generously, also), they do include loans in their financial aid packages. And I can’t in good conscience advise a very low-income student to take out some $25k in loans (over four years) in order to major in theatre. There’s no guarantee of future earnings, and he has no family resources to fall back on.
Too bad, because it’s a wonderful school, but that much debt is just too risky.