<p>Just saw a mention in another thread about Theater programs at Brooklyn College. Since my D is looking for B.A. Drama programs in the city with acting training, this was an interesting idea, and one we'd never considered before. </p>
<p>So, does anyone here know any thing about the quality of their drama programs? Since they offer both a B.A. and a B.F.A., would be especially interested to know the extent of the performance opportunities for the B.A. students.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I do not have direct info on the theater program but several members of the film crew for a big budget studio film my son did had gone to Brooklyn College for film school. I took note of that as well as crew members of the indie film he did this summer studying film production at Hofstra. My thought was that I never see those two schools mentioned in film school CC boards nor trade mags but the students they educate are working. It made me look more closely at both Brooklyn Colleges and Hofstra’s theater programs.</p>
<p>Is your daughter willing to look at Montclair, just outside of NY City. Friday my son and I were heading home from NY at 9pm, we were really happy to see how many trains during the week leave from the city to Montclair’s campus. The train does not run on the weekends but there are train lines right near the campus and bus lines that could get students to the city on weekends. It would be just a 20 minute car ride to the city, however freshman are not aloud to have cars.</p>
<p>I’d definitely look into Brooklyn College if he’s comfortable with the living situation. It’s a great school in some ways-- I have friends who’ve taught there, (not in drama) for years. But I don’t think there’s much in the way of dorms.</p>
<p>They do have dorms now, not sure if they are hard to get.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, shacherry. As to Montclair, New Jersey might as well be North Dakota as far as she’s concerned. (Not that I have anything against ND!) :-))</p>
<p>The dorm is actually a very new, privately managed student residence - more like an apartment building- located just a couple of blocks from campus. They are very glad to let you tour it Just call beforehand to make arrangements. The school is completing the construction of a new performing arts venue/theatre. There seem to be a lot of exciting and synergistic things happening in the NYC metro area. However, the college is basically at the end of the subway line so it’s about a 45 minute subway commute into mid-town. That being said, people do it every day. The campus does shut down at 11pm. They’re pretty serious about that. It’s a small and intimate program but very serious training and many faculty are also teaching in other NYC theatre programs and I believe they have also been expanding their faculty. I think it is considered the premiere theatre program in the CUNY system. It’s a great financial value, especially for NY residents so it has many local students.</p>
<p>OTM - I don’t remember where you are from, but I had to laugh that your D might think Montclair would be too far away from Manhattan but Brooklyn wouldn’t. Montclair is basically just across the river. My D commuted to Manhattan from the Queens side of Brooklyn this summer, and it took her over an hour. The train from Montclair is a snap - goes right to Penn Station. Actually, the trip from my D’s school on Long Island also is quite easy, probably easier than many locations in Brooklyn.</p>
<p>When my D was looking at schools in the NYC area, we looked at a map and considered a circle that included anywhere that was within a 40-45 minute trip into the city. There are a lot of schools - including NJ. After visiting Manhattan, my D did realize that she’s not the type who wants to be there 24/7, so I can imagine that might make a difference in her attitude.</p>
<p>I agree- getting to and from Montclair can conceivably take less time then getting to and from Brooklyn College. Both are worth looking into and have very different campus vibes. Montclair is actually in the midst of a suburban community with therein station right on campus, new dorms, and many (!) performance spaces. Brooklyn College has great features as well- worth looking at both. Out of state students might have a tiny advantage at Brooklyn as I think they value out of state diversity. My child decided to go elsewhere, but they could not have been more gracious and welcoming and they are very integrated I to the NYC theatre scene</p>