<p>There’s a lot to consider about “cut” programs-- and I have a feeling you can’t tell much about them individually until you’ve lived through one. I’ve known young actors who really suffered from the kind of competition induced at a strict “cut” program-- it makes friendships difficult and deeds an immense amount of power to professors who may be less interested in the risktaking of art and more interested in their own egos. </p>
<p>On the other hand-- there are students who enter BFA programs with no idea of what they’re getting into, and there are students who, talented as they may be, don’t work hard, don’t make a positive contribution to a group, etc. A program that cares to weed these people out may really be doing it for the good of the other students. </p>
<p>I’m not sure how much any student can know before he/she starts in a program. But a really thorough accepted student visit is maybe the most important aspect of this process. Once you see where you’ve been accepted-- go to the school, talk to the students, the faculty, go to a class if you possibly can. Ask them about their policies in detail-- and listen to the tone of the answer. Of course you want to be held to high standards and surrounded by committed, inspiring people. You don’t want to be subjected to destructive criticism by teachers whose egos feed on such stuff.</p>