@katew529 Bravo! Well said. And, just to add, I don’t think so just because I have a daughter or because I am resentful, because, honestly, Elon was my D’s first choice school since last March and she got in early so the rest of this has been gravy for us (although stressful to be sure because of all the advice to look at all the options and the prescreens and application essays and unified auditions that she felt she “had” to do to fully embrace what might be out there for her). But, for the girls/young women and parents of young women/girls out there who have ZERO offers from ANY BFA programs, take heart. Be brave. Write the next play that casts all women or binary characters or even become a Director and cast women as men. In Shakespeare’s day, men were cast as women and everyone bought into it. Today, in my D’s Chicago Youth Shakespeare groups, young women are playing the roles of men and I forget completely about their gender once their compelling characters take the stage. You can and you will do this young women. You can and you will succeed. Do not let this process determine your fate. You determine your fate. Look outside the box, because the box right now is still built for men. I say that also to kids of color – of either sex – don’t despair! History is not on your side, but the future belongs to you.
@katew529. Hear hear ! Again.
It is so heart warming to read about all the acceptances.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
As the mom of a female, Asian actor I sincerely hope
times are changing. Fortunately, for her right at this moment she is in rehearsal for a new musical where she is the lead. Now, we live in a small city in the NW corner of the US, not NYC, but she has been lucky to often be cast in lead roles that are typically reserved for other-than-Asian types. I hope and pray she finds the same reception when she steps out into the world. All people deserve to be represented on the stage and screen and while we have a way to go at least there seems to be some dialog and awareness around this issue. I loved what Kumail Nanjiani at the Oscars:
“Some of my favorite movies are by straight white dudes about straight white dudes,” he said. “Now, straight white dudes can watch movies starring me and you relate to that. It’s not that hard. I’ve done it my whole life.”
Blessings to us one and all…
I just caught up with all the posts before mine. Regarding the lack of males in theater, I see that too, but I also see that many colleges these days have a similar issue – most boys with academic strengths seem to be going to the same schools (mostly large and mostly STEM or business it seems). The smaller LACs and arts type schools are generally having to struggle to get close to a 50/50 ratio, and usually without much success. Not sure if anyone else has noticed that but, for my oldest daughter, who is now a sophomore in college (business), the ratio started out to be important until she realized it was a lost cause because most of the schools she really liked were 60/40 women to men. Fred Rubeck and ELON was asked the same question during our information session and said the same thing. Not sure if its a population glitch in terms of these kids’ decade, but it is generally a thing right now.
That said, I hope the next generation or two values art as much as science and teaches their boys to do so, as well. Many parents won’t support their kids’ fine arts dreams because they know it will be hard to make money and support a family. That goes for girls and boys. The boys who go into theater are truly brave and their parents should be applauded. The push back here is not to dismiss the boys and parents out there, especially if they are not of color; rather, I believe it is the frustration of mothers who grew up fighting for a place at the table and who still don’t see the equity, in general, and esp. re: fine arts (or creativity, ironically), even if they see more “equality” in terms of numbers.
@latinaMTmom congratulations!! My son is a freshman BFA MT major at CCPA. Please reach out if you have any questions 
Don’t forget to post your acceptances on these two threads:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/21313147#Comment_21313147
@katew529 I haven’t been that present on CC for a few weeks and it is possible someone else already noted this. In regards to UNCSA and the more boys than girls admitted… that is not true. Reportedly many years back they may have actively accepted more boys than girls, but I actually don’t know that for sure. My D is a 2nd year student there and they were told the hope was to be 50-50 in her class. In then end, there were a few less girls admitted than boys her year, but it was just how it worked out to form the ensemble they felt would work best that year.
I have been told by my D that this year’s freshman drama class has more girls than boys at UNCSA. So, yay! Not sure about the class they just accepted, but if I hear I will post. I believe they aim for 50-50 or close to it.
The one program I know that actively wants more males than females in their program each year is the University of Evansville. They outright say they only have about 6 girls in the program each year and the rest are boys. However, not sure how that works for them, as I also know more than 6 girls are accepted per year. It is definitely a larger percentage of males in that program though.
Anyway, I just happened to see your post about UNCSA and wanted to let you know it is not UNCSA that does this. They may have in the past, but not in any of the recent years that I am aware of. My D would not be able to deal with a program that didn’t treat women in an equal manner. I think people assume UNCSA is conservative due to location - but it is actually quite liberal, supportive and inclusive.
Anyone know if BU calls are going out in one day or multiple days?
I believe (and I may be wrong) that the BU calls weren’t specifically for the BFA program, they were BU admissions calling and informing accepted students who were also eligible for the multi-cultural event that is being held in a week or so. BU calls those applicants the night before and everyone else hears via email/portal. I could be wrong but that is what I have surmised based on the BU 2022 discussion. Good luck to all - I am so happy we are nearing the end of this process!
Thank you @katew529, @MomofJ5, @actingdreams and @Noreplays2018 - you’ve said it all! The disparity and inequality has been obvious and painful to watch since my S started in theatre.
I’m saying that prayer and hoping for more and better stories, plays and roles that will raise the hard working, talented young women of this generation to the levels of participation and success they have earned!
Toasting to all with red wine & dark chocolate!
@katew529 My daughter is a freshman at UNCSA, last year they aimed for a class of 12 males and 12 females, they ended up with 16 females and 12 males. The head of recruitment actually said “the future is female”, I do not know what their ratio was in the past.
@Noreplays2018 - I think the reason that many LACs have a hard time balancing out their classes (to 50-50) is because boys by and large don’t perform as well in high school. They are less mature for their age and have a harder time with the executive skills needed to consistently get high grades. I have 3 boys and 2 girls - all equally bright with similar standardized test scores, but the GPAs are very different (though the boys’ improved with age and maturity). So to balance out the classes, the LACs would need to drop their standards for boys. You don’t see that in STEM schools because many boys do naturally excell in those classes (not saying girls can’t- girls can do anything they WANT to, but many boys with executive function problems often can excel in STEM despite those issues).
@breakingbarriers2018, @Noreplays2018, loved your posts above (#2100 and 2102, I think). Brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.
I think (hope?) that at least in film, opportunities for women are improving. The Oscar noms for “Lady Bird” and the commercial success of “Wonder Woman” proved that female-centric films can be successful. Did you all see Frances McDormand’s Oscar acceptance speech when she had all the women in the room stand up and then said “We all have stories to tell and projects that need to be funded” and encouraged the producers and executives to invest in those projects spearheaded by women? Hopefully they will listen!
Read a few weeks ago that the defunct Weinstein company is being bought by a group of women with the intent of creating a female-focused production house focusing on supporting women in every aspect of the business. Nice karma and I am hoping it happens.
In other news, thought I’d also let anyone waiting that Boston U decisions went live this morning. No for D, which did not come as a surprise. She said it was a rough interview and her first one at NYUnifieds.
D got a yes from BU! Exhalllleeeeeeeeee.
Congrats @artskids !
Thank you!
Wonderful news @artskids !
@artskids and all the others from yesterday- congratulations!!! It seems like it’s been a while since we’ve gotten so much good news. Best of luck to the others still waiting for their first viable? (Loved, affordable, etc) acceptance.