<p>My kid is finishing a 2 year MT program and looking to transfer for next year. I understand that most BFA MT programs require the student to finish the degree in 4 years, which is not out of the question. It seems she might be better served from a time and cost perspective if she were to transfer into a BA Theater with a Voice minor, then go into an MFA MT program.</p>
<p>I am not a Theater person, so there may be nuances of these programs that I have no understanding of. Thanks for any feedback.</p>
<p>BFA programs require a very specific sequence of classes, so even though your daughter has taken some MT, most BFA schools will require her to start again as a freshman. In addition, she would still be required to go through the audition process, which is highly competitive: most BFA schools have an acceptance rate of under 10%. And college auditions begin in the fall and conclude in the spring, so the audition season for next year’s admission is already finished.<br>
If your daughter wants to finish in a total of 4 years, it would be far easier and less expensive for her to finish up with a BA degree, then continue to an MFA if that is what she wants to do.</p>
<p>She may not be able to complete a BA program in 2 years either. She most likely did not take many general education courses at the 2 year MT program, so she will need to complete the general education requirements at a BA (and many BFA school).</p>
<p>She may also find that not all of her theatre courses will fulfill requirements at the BA school. For example, I teach in a BA program and we would likely accept the Acting I class, some music and dance classes, and possibly some theatre academic classes if the syllabus was appropriate as a pre-requisit for our upper level theatre classes. However, we would require a student to take intermediate and advanced acting classes with us, as well as musical theatre performance classes, some dance classes, and theatre academics.</p>
<p>It will be important for her to explore each school specifically to get an idea of what might transfer and how long it might take her to obtain a degree. I suspect she may be looking at 2.5 - 4 years regardless of BA or BFA degree… unless her current 2 year MT program has an agreement with a specific 4 year college or university.</p>
<p>I agree with what been posted thus far. I wonder what your D wants to do with her life. If she wants to perform - that is usually the reason folks would go for the BFA - they typically attempt a life in the theater right after the BFA. This is because MT is largely a young persons game - the advanced degrees come later. The students I know who have gone directly for the MFA would often (not always) be interested in being involved in other areas including writing, managing, teaching, directing, and so on.</p>
<p>I know quite a few actors who choose to obtain an MFA as well… some right out of undergraduate school, but many others after working for a few years. </p>
<p>I also know students who complete both BA and BFA programs who choose to obtain an MFA soon after completing their undergraduate degree, others who choose to pursue professional work right after graduation.</p>