I’ve seen that schools looking to hire MT profs will list an MFA or “equivalent professional experience” as qualifications required for the job, @TNMTDAD. I’ve heard that it’s desirable for candidates to MFA programs to have at least a few years of professional experience. So most students wouldn’t go directly from a BFA into an MFA degree it seems. Just another way that this field is different than most others! To me it sounds like the perfect plan, if a student has any interest in teaching on the collegiate level anyway.
For those of you interested in determining what academia requirements are going to be, have a look at the schools’ websites. Faculty bios will give you an excellent idea of what is needed. Since Tisch has such a large, diverse, and experienced faculty, it’s a start.
http://tisch.nyu.edu/drama/faculty/adjunct-faculty
http://tisch.nyu.edu/drama/faculty/ft-faculty
You may find differences between full-time and adjunct faculty.
The reason I thought going to grad school after finishing the BFA. Was because I always hear from people that if you have any interest in going to a grad program or getting a masters then you should do that right away because statistically a lot of people say that they’ll go back to school 8-10 years later but almost no one really follows through with that. The other concern is that you’d be adding more debt on when you are 31ish and that’s not what you need if you then are looking to have a family or buy a home in your 30s.
Of course, the theatre world is an entirely different beast than everything else. And all the typical stats and career paths ways I hear about generally will only apply to other majors.
If you look at the bios of program heads or faculty most have a lot of experience a masters or even higher. Quick google searches of people like Joe Deer (Wrist State), Clay James (Montclair), Aubrey Berg (CCM), Mark Hansen (UWSP), Jay Berkow (Western Mich), or Amy Rodgers (Pace). They all had performing careers before they got their positions, now to know if they got their masters degree when they were older is not as known.
Good discussion. This is what we will probably do. D will probably apply and audition for grad school programs fall of senior year of undergraduate degree. She will of course audition for professional work at the same time, and if something big enough opens up, she would of course take it. However, if an opportunity doesn’t materialize to immediately begin working as a professional, she will have grad school as an immediate option for the following fall. Probably a safe bet to keep options open no matter what because you just never know. You may get a really good gig right out of the gate. Exciting to think about.
Yes. I’d imagine it would be difficult to try and juggle grad school while performing.
Most of the people I know (myself included) who have MFAs in theatre/ musical theatre (particularly in performance related areas, and directing) were out working professionally for approximately 3 - 15 years before going back for the MFA degree. There are always exceptions… I have a former student who is currently at Yale as an MFA Acting student right out of undergrad… but, waiting a bit is quite common.
KatMT, that’s what I imagined, but, at least with other majors I always hear from adults and councilors that lots of people plan or say they will go back to school when they’re in their 30s but seldom follow through. Again, theatre is a completely different monster and I’m thinking it’s pretty common and normal for waiting like you said.
@ParachuteBoy – Yes. I agree… I think a difference in theatre is that many spend their 20s/ 30s performing and traveling to perform… so, going back to school in your mid to late 20s or 30s makes sense when you are trying to make a career change or move to a different level (or focus) within the performing arts.
There are no right choices… just choices that will open certain doors and windows, and lead down paths… who knows when going through one door may lead you back around to a door that you passed by earlier. I have lived my professional life working in the performing arts, so I cannot speak to other areas… but, a career in the performing arts is not linear. Not a bad thing at all… just not linear… 
Plus plenty of folks get the opera, mt or acting bug after or while earning a BA degree and then go to a Masters before
entering the job market.I know plenty in the business who did not even decide on a performance career till part way through their BA program and then went to grad school. Some went into teaching but many went into performance careers.
Interesting article from a college theater professor for those in college programs - and those wanting to be in college programs.
http://www.onstageblog.com/columns/2016/1/31/dear-theatre-students-dont-throw-away-your-shot
I think it was a great article…especially for those kids in BA programs…giving them validity to their choice to not attend a BFA. Also, it helps to read that stage time and resume building is important. Smaller programs might help in that arena.
Yes it was a good article. My D is leaning toward BA with double-majoring in business because she just loves all about theatre, not just performing. I would think many chooses BA not because they couldn’t get in BFA but BA would allow more overall approach to the theatre and time for other majors. Depending upon which program(s) D gets accepted, she will have to make a tough choice in a few months.
Great article. I found it very reassuring in a couple of ways. My D is looking for a BA for many of these reasons, she wants to study all life areas to bring to her theater career. But more than that it comforted me because of course I worry about her gong into this career but she already does everything he mentions. She always takes any role so she can learn and just be a part of a show, she works stage crew, spotlight, does mailings for the theater, cleans the theater, volunteers as camp theater counselor etc… And I should say gives her all to her schoolwork maintaining right now a 100% average senior year and thats in Honors and college courses! So this reassures me that yes mom she does have the drive, recognize it and find comfort in it. She will do fine in whichever program she chooses! Breathing…
I have my MFA in writing. I realize mine is in writing, but I think the arts all have similar issues/concerns. I completely agree with @KatMT. In all MFA programs I know of - acting, directing, art, writing - you have a much higher chance of getting into them if you have solid experience under your belt. Yes, there are always exceptions. However, your chances are much higher with experience. So it is very normal and typical for people to not go straight from undergrad to MFA. The majority have experience in between.
Also I just have to put it out there that having an MFA definitely doesn’t automatically land you a full-time or even part-time job teaching in a college. There are so many talented MFAs who can’t find salaried jobs with benefits. To clarify, there are many different types of jobs. As you may have heard, many jobs are adjunct. The pay can be lousy, with no benefits. By lousy I mean working out to minimum wage when you count the hours. I’m not knocking it per se at all–it’s just something you should be aware of. Tenure track jobs are increasingly getting very hard to land. You almost always have to have significant experience and/or awards under your belt to get a tenure track job. Even then the pay isn’t great; you’re doing this out of love of the craft and love of teaching, and being able to use what you love to help others.
Finally, since many MFAs cost a lot of money (only a few are full ride), and it’s 3 years with no guarantee of a salaried teaching job upon graduation, you would only pursue an MFA if you had compelling reasons to do so. In many cases, you can’t know what you’d want until you have at the least a few years of undergrad training under you belt.
Thank you for the information @connections
I imagine the trouble with pay and job consistency with those positions are not much of a struggle as the BFA musical theatre graduate
Hi everyone! I am a prospective MT student for class of 2020 who has auditioned on campus for Point Park and CCM so far. I have a 2.9 GPA and a 23 on the ACT, because I’ve done horribly in a couple of math classes. So far I’ve been accepted academically into 10 schools, I was extremely realistic applying for places such as Webster, Point Park, Viterbo, etc. instead of NYU or CMU. I applied to Michigan because I live in Ann Arbor and the audition is 5 minutes away from my home, and Umich is absolutely amazing. They emailed me and said my grades are under scrutiny and now I have to send in my first semester senior year grades before I get a callback. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with how this whole process has been going, but I was wondering if grades are really a huge factor in applying to MT. It seems as long as you have around a 3.0, and you are realistic with where to apply grades aren’t a giant setback. I just wanted to hear thoughts on academics for going into MT. :)>-
There are a few schools where grades matter a lot (NU, NYU, UM) and lots of others where they matter for scholarships, but there are plenty where yours won’t be a problem.
@allthatjazz12345 - your stats would be fine for admission at Wright State.
@allthatjazz12345 academically my D was in a similar position when going through this process last year. She really didn’t have much issue being academically accepted to the schools on her list. She had a realistic list though. She was asked to retake the SAT by FSU because she was 20 pts too low (math=her nemesis) before being offered an audition. That was the only school she had an issue with. (But…she didn’t throw her hat in the ring for Michigan or CMU for that reason…it would have been a stretch). What I WILL say on the subject is that you should do what you can to get that GPA/standardized test scores up as high as possible. When applying to so many schools that are OOS, merit aide can be a huge help and the difference in making a decision in the end. She just barely missed the cutoff for many schools. She was extremely lucky to be offered a generous talent scholarship where she accepted her BFA spot. This major is not for the faint of heart! She doesn’t have much of a music background, so she has had to work extremely hard in her music theory, sight singing and piano courses this year. I’m proud to say she is killin’ it and was on the dean’s list, but it has been A LOT of late nights, extra meetings and maturity in time management that has gotten her there. I would say that for anyone who struggles a bit academically, so many schools have excellent resources available! Take advantage of them early on!
Guess what? I just received my Wright State acceptance in the mail and I’m auditioning on campus this month! That was the school I most recently added to my list actually. Super excited.