BFA Acting Programs, where to apply????

<p>I've been given a list of schools to apply to by a monologue coach. I don't want to do a BA program because my only focus is acting. I have a lot of experience. overall sophomore-junior year GPA 3.83, but my SAT score is 1450. I am not a good test taker. The list I have are highly selective colleges. I really need help knowing which BFA programs are good, not too hard to get into, and info about them. Please help!!</p>

<p>here are some I am looking at..
Marymount Manhattan
NYU
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
University of the Arts
Cal Arts
Carnegie Mellon
Point Park
Webster</p>

<p>I would consider adding Syracuse and Wright State to your list. I am sure others will have additional helpful options. </p>

<p>Point Park students enter in the BA program and then audition for the BFA sophomore year, I believe.</p>

<p>All of the schools you list are highly competitive for admission… as are Syracuse and Wright State. </p>

<p>No auditioned program can be considered a “safety.” There are a few non-auditioned BFA programs that you may want to look at. You may also want to look for other ways to diversify your list… what part of the country are you from? Are finances for college an issue at all? How far from home are you willing to go?</p>

<p>NYU/Tisch has a “50/50” admissions policy, and claim to place as high a premium on academic factors as on auditions. Your GPA is competitive, but your test scores are very low for NYU. UArts doesn’t even publish their students’ test scores. With a strong audition, your disappointing scores shouldn’t disqualify you at most of the schools on your list. They are all selective, though, especially for girls. When it comes to paring their lists down for admissions, they are bound to favor the applicant with a combined score of over 2000 instead of the one with a score of less than 5000. I suggest that you find a few additional options. I don’t know what state you live in, but at least one of your state colleges is likely to have a strong performing arts division. If you really want an arts college, then consider Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) or Cornish College. Columbia College Chicago has a very high acceptance rate. Given your strong GPA, I would also recommend looking into some liberal arts colleges that are test-optional. Many have excellent BA programs in theater. The top BFA programs might not all have rigid academic standards, but acceptance rates at schools like UNCSA and Cal Arts are lower than Ivy League colleges.</p>

<p>What are the non-audition BFA’s. Which are the BFA’s with a higher acceptance rate. I live in CA and plan on going to school in the US. Which are the optional test score programs?</p>

<p>I think if you browse this site some more you can find lists of test-optional schools. It includes some fairly prestigious liberal arts colleges. Usually, they will require additional essays and ask that you apply by an earlier deadline, so that they can review your application more carefully. Look through this section for an older thread about non-audition BFA programs. There are quite a few, but I can’t enumerate them. Some programs change their requirements from year to year. Some schools (I can mention Montclair State and Pace, among those I visited with my son) have non-audition BA programs, along with more selective auditioned BFAs. You have to be accepted into the college in order to audition, and you can pursue a BA if you are not admitted into the BFA program. Poke around this site - it’s a great resource, and there’s a lot of information on it.</p>

<p>Thanks for all your help! :)</p>