My son is deep in the audition process with seemingly good signs from these three institutions, “assuming” he gets into these three top picks: thoughts on comparing these programs? Rigor, campus life, artistic flexibility and industry connections?
Grateful for any input,
Thanks you!
My d is at CalArts so I can only speak to that school. CalArts is an arts school so the focus is very narrow. BU is a big university in the city and Pace is also in a big city. Calarts is in the boonies as far is LA is concerned, although it is a short drive into the city, if you have a car. The acting program is very rigorous with Acting Studio, Voice, Speech, Movement, Tai Chi and Tech the first year. Critical Studies (like Gen Ed) takes up 40% of your credits – roughly 2 classes per semester – and can be hit or miss. Campus life if fun and invigorating, but because the school is so small (900 under grads) I can see it getting very limiting after a while. The artistic flexibility is amazing. They are so open to the artist and helping each student find their voice – this has been the most exciting part of CalArts for my d. She is involved in a couple of student run projects outside of class, has auditioned for student films, and has taken advantage of all the opportunities given to her. She loves it.
Thank you astute12! Cal Arts is my son’s top pick, he auditioned and was given a card to “shadow” classes, evidently a good sign, but no guarantee. We live in a small college town east of LA, so he would be local. the artistic flexibility and ability to work across disciplines is what is what is most compelling to him. he really enjoyed his visit to BU, and Pace had the best audition experience (he has made their cut to 40 or so kids,final 26 will come from that).Holding our collective breath at the moment, the odds of acceptance are so meager in these top schools.Is my son talented? absolutely …is he talented enough to make it into schools that only accept 2-4% of applicants? who knows!!!
The card is a definite good sign! Good luck to your son and let me know if you have any questions about CalArts – we are also local!
@Fatamorgana9 - can I ask how you know your son made the final 40 at Pace? Which program is this for? I hadn’t heard they do a final 40 - so just curious. Thanks for any info.
We are aproximating the math of “40” he made the first cut after sending in his video, at the call back they made a second cut, he made it through that. We were told that they were going to take 60-70 % of those that made the last cut. BFA acting
Thanks Fatamorgana9. My daughter didn’t hear that there - so good info to know. We assumed the number that got that final callback was a lot higher as they have 19 days of auditions and on our day they had 2 different sessions. In my daughter’s session about 12 kids got the second and final callback - so we thought at least 20-25 had for the entire day (morning session and her afternoon session). From what you said I am guessing less get called back than we thought. Maybe my daughter’s group was unusually large (they had 3 different subgroups for BFA acting auditioning during the afternoon session and called back 3 to 5 from each group to total 12 for the entire afternoon session). My daughter was lucky enough to receive the movement callback during her audition (in NYC). But, from there, we really have no clue what her odds are. How many kids got the movement (final) callback when your son auditioned? Was there only one session that day or two? Thanks for any info - just trying to figure it out. And good luck to your son!
We were at the LA audition, there were 8 that made it to the movement callback, The tricky aspect of this is the multiple acting programs they offer, there are three If memory serves, so the 60-70% could be spread over a much larger group funneling into 3 programs.
So my “40” could be potentially be as high as 120 if you follow my reasoning ( all of which, mind you,is the speculation of a father who has never been through this before 
@astute12 - What I know of Pace is they are more flexible than many programs. They allow kids to do outside work if they want. They told us they get emails daily about casting calls and will often send specific students to them or email all the kids and whoever wants can apply. They said several of their students have been extras on Law and Order (it is filmed down the street - at least in part). I think they have connections in NYC - how they compare to other NY drama schools’ connections I do not know. Could be exactly the same or very different.
Another thing I like about Pace is that there is some academic flexibility. They will accept some AP and college courses taken in high school, which may allow some students to take enough other courses to actually get a minor in something else. That is unusual in most BFA programs. They also have an honors college, which also allows a different academic option - even for BFA majors. I found it very cool. And they give nice merit scholarships. Always welcome here!
I also know that both BU and Pace are city campuses and that Cal Arts is in a quiet suburb and is basically one building. As even programs on large campuses are often housed in one building, that shouldn’t really matter. However, I have heard a few kids say it was too much like high school (not enough of a campus for them). And then others absolutely love it. I think Cal Arts does a lot of experimental theatre, as well.
Thanks for the Pace insights, fascinating. It’s the only college my son has applied to that we have not visited, but will do so on spring break. We loved the audition process at Pace, creative and interactive…it certainly reinforced Pace as one of the top picks for my son
Thank you astute12, keeping our fingers crossed. Will definately let you know if we make it through the gauntlet!
@Fatamorgana9 - Have a great time visiting. My daughter had visited last year (without me) and had told me what a cute area of Manhattan it is in. It is in/near the financial district and down the street from the World Trade Center - so I pictured something completely different than what I saw. I pictured only huge buildings and a very business like area of town. It is actually an adorable and family oriented neighborhood near the Brooklyn Bridge with restaurants and campus buildings throughout. The subway is right across from the Drama building (with several entrances/exits around the Pace area — we came out of one further away and then realized there was an exit right by the building we wanted). I think I liked the school more than my daughter. I really, really liked it. Wishing your son the best!
@Fatamorgana9 if your son gets in I highly recommend he do a shadow day – it sealed the deal for my d. They let you attend a full day of classes with a current BFA1 Actor.
We love Pace’s neighborhood. If your child wants a city school, fabulous neighborhood.
@bfahopeful “However, I have heard a few kids say it was too much like high school (not enough of a campus for them)”
Is this in reference to CalArts? I am a current student and I honestly can’t imagine who would say that. Yes, CalArts is small, but I don’t see how a campus in which you can see people walking around naked daily, screaming and throwing paint at each other (Break up? Performance art? Who knows…), speaking at least 50 different languages, dancing to silence and taking their pets to class could even remotely resemble anyone’s high school experience. The “one building” thing is what makes CalArts so special: you walk down the hall and see art on the walls, hear music and listen to the most interesting conversations. The campus is a sacred space for the arts.
If your son is interested in having a “typical college experience”, CalArts is not for him. We don’t have frats or sororities. We don’t even have sports.
@astute12 is right: your son should shadow (and soon, because after Spring Break we mostly rehearse material for viewings). Funny thing is I actually met her daughter when she shadowed and now she’s one of the collaborators in a devised piece that I am in. Don’t hesitate to send me a PM with questions. I don’t really look at this board anymore, but I get emails when someone sends me a PM.
:)) @milkshakespeare my daughter told me to get off this board! LOL
@milkshakespeare - I LOVE your post. Seriously is making me smile and crack up. My daughter didn’t apply there - so it wasn’t her. She actually would love all you said - but she is looking more at conservatories out east (I wanted CA, but not my decision).
Where did I get the info about some thinking it was like their high school…my daughter goes to a PA high school and several kids and parents that visited said it reminded them of this particular high school (which is NOT a typical high school by any stretch of the imagination). Those specific people are perhaps looking for a different experience in college. That said, several kids have gone from her high school to Cal Arts and absolutely loved it. I meant no disrespect at all. I think it sounds amazing.
Enjoy your naked and colorful campus - it sounds great.
Good to know about a shadow day at Pace. We are also waiting for the final decision from them; depending the other schools’ decisions, my D may want to shadow to make a final decision. I wasn’t too crazy about the campus itself, but D reminded me I wasn’t the one who would go there. Plus you can’t beat the location.
@Guppie - I think they were talking about a shadow day at CalArts. 