<p>This thread kind of straddles a few forums, but I decided that because drama is the most important factor for me in choosing a college, I'd post here.</p>
<p>So, my top choices are Brown and Northwestern, but for a few reasons I can't decide if I want to apply early to one and risk never applying to the other.</p>
<p>Northwestern, I know, has one of (if not THE) top BA theater programs in the country. Thus, I'm EXTREMELY interested in the school. On the other hand, I feel like the more liberal/for lack of a better description: "hipster intellectual" campus culture of Brown is a better fit for me. Also, Brown is warmer in the winter and is closer to where I live: both pluses. </p>
<p>So, if anyone has any information about either or both of these drama programs, or knows anything about northwestern campus culture that would replace my current idea of it - moderately political, pretty greek, pretty intellectual - that'd be great.</p>
<p>ED programs are intended for students who have a very definite preference of “first choice” school and wish to communicate that desire to the school. Since you obviously can’t decide between the two schools at this point, I think you would be better off applying RD to both schools.</p>
<p>And since both schools are extremely selective (with very low acceptance rates), applying to both might also increase your chances of being accepted to at least one of them.</p>
<p>Both would be great. I agree with worried_mom that it makes the most sense to apply RD because ED truly only makes sense if you have a clear cut first choice that you are so certain you want to commit to. By applying RD, it leaves you options, should you have a few acceptances. </p>
<p>Also, I can’t tell from your posts but I’m getting the idea that you may not have visited both schools or not have visited Northwestern yet. Have you done a thorough visit at both schools? I ask as you mention having an impression of NU as if you did not glean it directly. If you have not done a very thorough visit there or at either, i would not do ED for that reason alone. ED is a huge commitment. There is not a necessity to apply anywhere ED (my own kids did not and in fact, one of my kids went to Brown). </p>
<p>All that said…I’m inferring a little bit (not a lot) in your post that you actually favor some things about Brown over some either reservations or unknowns for you about NU. I sense it a bit. Both would be fantastic for theater. I almost feel like you are trying to hear reasons to pick NU and that YOUR reason rests more on its reputation for theater more than any other reason. </p>
<p>I don’t know your college selection criteria either, or your qualifications enough to comment any more in a helpful way. </p>
<p>If you apply ED anywhere, make sure you are 110% sure you want that school more than any other, and that you have visited not only the ED school, but any others that are faves before going that route. </p>
<p>PS…while the person in post#4 mentions how selective NU is (it is), Brown is harder to get into. The acceptance rate is lower and the stats of accepted students is higher. </p>
<p>If you TRULY like Brown more than NU, the ED “advantage” is more of an advantage for you at Brown where the odds are more difficult to get in than at NU. That said, I have no clue your credentials for admission, to really give you an accurate opinion.</p>
<p>Also, please pick the schools based on FIT for YOU and not so much on their reputation. I am advising a student in this cycle who wants theater and she is applying to Brown and other top schools (no place ED) and isn’t even applying to NU because NU did not appeal to HER (believe me, I think NU Is wonderful and one of my theater advisees in the last cycle just started there). Make sure you pick schools that fit your personal selection criteria even if there is a school that is great for theater out there that doesn’t match up with what you want otherwise. </p>
<p>My own daughter wanted a BFA in MT (not my kid who went to Brown) and while she applied to many top MT programs, I can think of one renown program she opted to not apply to as it didn’t fit what she wanted in a school. She did not just select “top schools” but really went by what she wanted in the school. I recommend that highly. That’s what will matter in the end, not simply the reputation of the school.</p>
<p>Actually, I just saw your basic profile on another thread. You have an appropriate list it seems. </p>
<p>For Emerson, are you trying for the BA by audition program? I can’t see you as being happy at the BA Theater Studies no audition program there. </p>
<p>Can’t tell if that is the school for you either as it doesn’t offer as full array of curriculum as other schools on your list. Did you look at Brandeis, Bard, Sarah Lawrence? Conn College? Wesleyan? Others on your list look good. </p>
<p>Not to discourage you from Emerson, but make sure you know that any performance oriented degree there needs an audition (my Brown applicant is applying to Emerson too for the audition BA and so I am not against it but can’t tell if you realize the distinctive options there as no other school on your list has an audition). </p>
<p>Kinda curious how Yale did not land on your list either.</p>
<p>@ Soozievt: I’ve visited the campus of Northwestern and know people who go there (who don’t do theater), but I’ve never been there while it’s in session. So, I don’t know if you would say I’m familiar with the school or not.</p>
<p>Emerson is kind of on my list, kind of not. I’m still deciding whether it would be a good fit for me regardless of the fact that there’s an audition. At this point, I’m leaning towards not applying/auditioning.</p>
<p>I’ve decided not to apply to Yale because the “Theater Studies” major seems to be way more focused on the academic study of theater, rather than the practical, and although I do want a liberal arts education, and I know I could participate in student theater, I really want to take truly practical acting classes. I’ve also heard iffy things about Yale’s undergrad theater program, although it’s grad program is obviously incredible.</p>
<p>For someone very into theater who wants a BA, I still think Yale is a consideration (if qualified and you may be). I can’t give you the ins and outs and you should talk to current theater students there, but I know several really talented theater kids who only wanted a BA or even got into top BFAs, who chose Yale for theater. For one thing, Yale has a ton of theater production opportunities. But I do think they also have some coursework in the “practice” and not just “theory” of theater. I am pretty sure of this but don’t have the time right now to look up the curriculum. But I know these kids are very involved in theater at Yale. I also know they even have private voice lessons and MT training there. </p>
<p>By coincidence, back in June, my D, who had just graduated from Tisch (she wanted a BFA), won a national award for theater given to one recent graduate of any college who was pursuing the field of theater. I attended the award dinner where she was presented with this award at the National Arts Club in NYC, and sitting next to us at the dinner was an award recipient of this same award from many years ago and we talked with her all evening. Turns out, she is an adjunct teacher of MT at Yale. In fact, she was the teacher at Yale for several of my D’s theater friends! So, even her course alone was very “training” oriented, and not theater studies. </p>
<p>In my view, Yale is very worth a look for a theater student. I have a theater student whom I am advising now, and she has Yale on her list and it is one of her favorites.</p>
<p>PS…I just did a quick perusal of this fall and spring courses and there are acting courses, dance courses, production courses and MT Performance courses (the latter taught by the woman we spent the evening with at the award dinner). It is not all study of theater/history/theory. I also know my D’s friend who is there now as a senior, had Victoria Clark herself for his private voice teacher a year or two ago at Yale!</p>
<p>Ingette, each Northwestern theatre class is limited to 100 students. mt7, you may want to revisit NU while school is in session, and definitely make it a point to meet with and talk to theatre students. The energy is palpable. My son, who was accepted into five BFA/BA audition programs, chose Northwestern and started this year. He is a hard core theater kid who can also handle the academics (as you can), and he LOVES it.</p>
<p>Son is a theater concentrator at Brown and loves it. There is alot of theory-I think more than performance. He gets his performance skills in all the Extracurriculars-there are many. He just finished a faculty staged production of Tartuffe but there are many student directed, student written forums as well. In addition, for those that like music/dance there are several acapella groups, dance groups, comedy improv groups, Shakespeare etc etc. If you have any particular questions ask and I will forward the questions onto him. Son did apply ED to Brown because after visiting several schools, it was the one that fit him the most. Yale was also on his list but he just liked Providence better than New Haven-again, a personal choice.</p>