Hi, my son is a junior at NYC’s Laguardia High School majoring in drama. On the one hand he is keen on becoming a professional actor. On the other, he’s good at his academics and says he’s not ready to make a career decision yet. So we’re considering schools with robust liberal arts but with theatre programs that would be on the radar of casting directors for both live stage performance and film. Probably mostly BA programs, but we’ll consider BFA if includes robust academic curriculum, like at USC. Our college list includes: USC, UCLA, Pitzer, Pomona, Northwestern, University of Chicago, and Brown. Can anyone comment on the reputation of theatre programs at the following : Bard, Vassar, Wesleyan, Connecticut College, Williams, Middlebury, and Hamilton? We’re excluding NYU and other NYC campuses; as he grew up in NYC, he’s looking for a college experience elsewhere. Are there any other schools we should be considering?
Michigan
Why not Yale? We looked at Vassar, Brown and Wesleyan when we were visiting schools and my D was also looking for an academic/artistic balance. Wes has a really active student theatre community so it would be a good place to go to commune with other multifaceted students. Vassar’s drama dept has produced some well-known actors and their facilities were really nice. Students were lovely and friendly. I knew a strong musican/actor/academic who went to Connecticut College and was really happy - it’s a bit less competitive academically than most of those on your list but it’s got a supportive environment for artists.
Other than Yale, which seems like a no-brainer to me, the other college I would think you’d want to add is Loyola Marymount. LMU is on the way from the airport when you visit UCLA and USC - the students I know there are also balancing acting with academics and they seem to love it.
If you’re looking for good academics, a traditional college environment and a high profile Acting program with a BFA you could add on Chapman, Syracuse and BU. They all have great BFA programs, but if your son wants to apply for a BA I’d avoid going for a school that offers a BFA Acting unless you know for sure the BAs aren’t treated as second class actors. I think it’s a real likelihood at schools where the BFA programs are competitive.
Your son might look into Skidmore as a complement to Vassar, Sarah Lawrence as a complement to Bard, and Kenyon as a perhaps more theatre-oriented alternative to Williams. Middlebury might be underrated for theatre. Hamilton’s theatre and studio arts building should be seen.
Btw, I don’t really see Northwestern and UChicago as belonging on the same list in most cases, particularly for a student interested in theatre, for which NU would seem to be the stronger choice.
I think that you have assembled a great list.
P.S. Initially my response was limited to Northwestern University, but I quickly realized that it was already on OP’s initial list of schools. Also agree that the University of Chicago doesn’t seem to fit.
UoC raised my eyebrows too @merc81 - I don’t see how it fits at all with what the OP wants.
OP requested poster comments on Bard, Hamilton, Middlebury, Vassar, Wesleyan, Williams & Conn. College.
First examine each school’s first year retention rate. Then ask what if my child realizes that theater is an EC & not an avocation.
First year retention rates:
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Northwestern University 98%
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Bard College 85%
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Williams College 98%
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Vassar College 95%
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Hamilton College 95%
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Wesleyan University 95%
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Connecticut College 90%
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Middlebury College 96%
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Pomona College 98%
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UCLA 97%
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USC 96%
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Brown 98%
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Pitzer College 94%
@Publisher - theater most certainly IS a vocation…
We’ve been through this (I have a junior at Tisch) and, honestly, I’m not sure I’d have Hamilton on my list. One doesn’t think “Ah, Hamilton - now that’s a strong theater school!” It’s a lovely school, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not known for theater. I’d add Skidmore to your list. You’re going to need safeties and Skidmore would maybe be one. And Bennington as well - I know a very talented actor who had a terrific experience there. Muhlenberg would be another.
@toowonderful: Semantically, what was said is that theatre is an EC and not a hobby. So there’s that to consider . . .
Well if your son, who is a high school junior, decides that theater is not his chosen profession or career goal, then you should consider the academic qualities & career placement of the school.
Northwestern University, Williams College, UCLA, USC, Brown & Pomona College are all outstanding academically as are several of the other schools on your list. Make sure that double majoring in another school or college(if a university) is easy to do. It is very easy at Northwestern, for example, but I am not sure about USC & UCLA.
Hamilton’s fantastic new theater building, with its prime location near the center of campus, seems to be part of a growing commitment to fine arts in general there. I agree with @merc81 that Hamilton should be among the schools your son considers, particularly if he’s seeking a balanced academic environment.
This is EXACTLY the dilemma my son is facing. He is a very strong student; reasonable for him to be applying to Ivies and the equivalent, is passionate about acting and wants to try to make it as a career, but believes (and his M believes!) the best preparation for acting OR for whatever he might do eventually is to get a strong liberal arts education. So we are looking very closely at comparisons between Northwestern, Columbia, Yale, many of the same schools as above. Harvard has a now 4 year old program which is new but seems very exciting; anyone have any sense of it professionally? Yale seems a bit more theory driven but I believe has fantastic NY connections; Columbia/Barnard looks great…He grew up with Northwestern in his back yard so in that sense might really rather go elsewhere but their professionalism/academic strength seems hard to beat. Any input appreciated!!
@Nanouchka and @eswmom I think most of the best options are listed in this thread, and if you search this board you will find some other threads similar to this one with lists. I will just agree with @CaMom13 that Yale should be on your list.