@actorparent1 Been lurking for awhile, but want to say I really appreciate the information you share. It’s a great help for a first timer. Thank you!
You’re very welcome, @NYAndOne! I’m so glad I’ve been helpful! 
Are transfer-CC students allowed to join this discussion or is it just parent of high school students here?
I sort of feel like anyone who is auditioning should be posting here!
Ok thanks NJNYvt, I only saw parents chatting about their kids, so that’s why I wasn’t sure if us CC students could join in as well.
@WhiteWolfLuvr this is a forum for parents and students. Please do post!
Curious if anyone is familiar with the BFA program at University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa? Also ~ thoughts on using a national audition coach for straight acting? I’m new to CC, so TIA for your patience and understanding!
@drama315, the Acting BFA program at U of AL is brand new, so not much to know yet. Their MT program is well known, at least in the southeast, but since the acting program is new, there isn’t really much information yet. My MT D did use a coach, but my Acting D cobbled together coaching - Mary Anna Denard’s monologue concierge, some online coaching (with someone who does college coaching, but on a very small basis) and some local coaching. I highly recommend a national coach - D2 didn’t want to go that route, but it would have been a LOT easier if she had.
@MTmom2017, Thank you so much! We have an initial consultation scheduled with a national coach next week. I feel like my D is late to the game!
I’m so out of my league. So many questions.
My DD is expecting me to help/arrange her acting college process but I feel like I’m filling out income tax forms by hand. (long silent scream for HELP!!) DH and I know less than nothing about the theater world. Getting DS into college was a breeze compared to this, and he was like pulling teeth.
When you say national coach, what do you mean? How do I find a good on in the Houston area? Will it be effective to do the process via Skype? What should we expect the process to cost?
I saw Ms. Denard’s website through Google. Is she known as a good coach? I think my daughter would be more at ease sitting down with someone but we need help with monologue selection, etc. She decided late in the game to major in Theater/Acting, with the goal of doing TV/movies.
@TQfromtheU I don’t have any specific coach recs, but I wanted you to know you’re far from alone. Most parents are “out of their league” with this process… that’s why this forum is so great! Use the search function to find previous discussions, and ask lots of questions.
The fact that you are even on this website at all is going to give you and your DD an advantage - the vast majority of parents and students never even find this place.
You can do it!
@TQfromtheU Mary Anna Denard is indeed known as a good coach. I believe Dave Clemmons worked in and around the Houston area. MTCA does much coaching via Skype and the coaches are outstanding. The cost will vary depending on what services you choose. If your D is a senior, I recommend moving quickly on the coach front if you choose to use one.
@artskids Thank you! I will follow up.
I’m trying to gauge what’s normal in the number of schools to apply to for a BFA in acting. My D attends a small private school that typically handles all of the college app process during the school day (finally! a reason to justify the tuition). My older D13 attended a school that limited the number of schools for applications to 12. It turned out to be fine because she was just going for a normal BA. My D19 attends a different school which has limited us to just 8 schools. Because the drama program there has been minimal, we have started using a coach (MTCA). They told us that the typical amount for this type of student is more like 15-16 applications because the acceptance rates are often well under 10% . Her grades aren’t stellar so she will be a tough sell as it is and her SAT is a mixed bag. How many audition BFA programs are your kids applying to?
@nyermom, My D applied to 15 schools last year (BFA Acting). She ended up not auditioning at 1 that was a late audition after she got a couple of acceptances. Unless your D has a safety (non-audition & academic/financial fit) that she really loves, 8 schools would be on the very low end. My MT D had 17 schools on her list 5 years ago.
@nyermom S - 7 BFA; 2 super reach academic schools; D1 - 11-12 (BFA Acting); D2- 18 (both Acting and MT) did not complete 2 auditions plus one academic safety. 7 was on the very low end but we were clueless starting out. 18 felt on the high end to us - I think D2 followed a little of the “everyone applies to these schools” mentality. In hindsight, I think she still would have done 16-18 but she would have changed the mix a bit.
@MTmom2017 and @artskids I spoke to the school and they are going to let us expand the number of schools. THanks for your breakdowns. We have one PA safety (though I hate that term) that we haven’t toured yet (oh yes! we are behind on that as well).
@MTmom2017 and @artskids do you mind sharing the list of schools your children auditioned to for BFA Acting? D is is narrowing down her list for BFA Acting and although she has a list of about 15, I I feel like most are highly competitive schools in terms of the acting program. I am wondering what are considered “safety” schools in terms of Acting programs? She is a great student and not worried about academic acceptance, but know many programs accept a very low number of applicants to the BFA. I am trying to find info on what schools would be considered “safeties” in that sense. Thank you!
@gidamom, I said this above, but truly, the only safety is a non-audition program (and an academic fit, but if your child is a really good student you should be covered). There are schools that accept more students, but if it is an auditioned program, it is not a safety. I am happy to PM you our list, but this is so individual - it really depends on what your child is looking for. Read the final decisions threads for the past few years - lots of schools are mentioned there.
@gidamom, this thread on “less selective” schools may be helpful - they’re not “safeties” per se, but better odds than the tippy top schools like CMU: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/2090100-bfa-acting-fit-schools.html#latest