<p>This topic has been discussed extensively on the MT forum and if you do a search there for “cut programs” or some variation thereof, several threads will pop up. To summarize concisely:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>There are programs that cut to a predetermined number. They will accept and matriculate more students than the school intends to keep and then at the end of t he freshman and/or sophomore year, a student must go through some type of screening process (juries, re-audition etc) and is ranked against other students. Regardless of how you stand qualitatively in absolute terms, if your relative ranking is below the the number of students to be retained, you are cut. </p></li>
<li><p>Some schools require students to reaudition after freshman and/or sophomore year and compete all over for a spot against new applicants, transfer students and existing students. Regardless of how the student performed in the program to date, regardless of the student’s grades, a student can be displaced.</p></li>
<li><p>Some schools have a 1 shot set of juries that must be passed with a certain score after freshman or sophomore year in order to advance to upper level classes. Regardless of the student’s grades and past performance, if the student doesn’t pass the juries, the student is eliminated from the program.</p></li>
<li><p>Some schools have juries that must be passed to advance to upper level classes and if a student doesn’t pass the juries, the student is given opportunities for remedial training and the opportunity to again pass the juries. If the student fails again, some schools permit the student to switch out of the BFA track to a non-audition BA track.</p></li>
<li><p>some schools use juries simply as a component of testing for grades and as a tool for students to receive constructive feedback about their growth. Such schools frequently have minimum grade requirements below which a student will be put on casting restriction and if a student fails to maintain acceptable grades or demonstrates consistently poor work ethic and attendance, the student will be asked to leave.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I think the above fairly states the range of approaches that might be encountered. It’s not my intention here to get involved in a protracted discussion about the underlying purposes, educational priorities or philosophies of any approach. That’s been done in depth on the other threads. Suffice it to state that a cut system is hardly a prerequisite of maintaining a top flight program with hardworking, talented and dedicated students. It is also critically important to ask very direct questions at each school so that you have a clear understanding of a school’s policies.</p>