<p>Hello! I'm a high school senior in Charlotte, North Carolina looking to pursue a BFA in theatre. I've worked on multiple musical and straight theatre productions at various local community playhouses, I go to an arts-centered magnet school, and I've been a member and leader in various thespian organizations. I have an SAT score of 1830 and a GPA of about 3.7, though I understand these factors are not absolutely imperative for my acceptance to some of these programs. A BFA program is my goal, but strong BAs at Temple and UNC Chapel Hill have attracted my attention as well. </p>
<p>I would like to know what I can do to improve my chances of being accepted to the schools on my list. Any feedback on my list would be helpful as well.</p>
<p>I’d suggest applying to Temple early, as they have a rolling admissions policy and your chances will be better if you don’t wait. Your GPA and scores will matter there, as it is a non-auditioned BA program (but a good program, nonetheless!) You may receive an automatic tuition discount based on your stats. I have known qualified applicants to be rejected from Temple because they applied later in the cycle.</p>
<p>I’m surprised that Coastal Carolina University isn’t on your list. Great BFA programs in Acting and Physical Theatre. With your stats you should get get one of the top levels of academic scholarships.</p>
<p>Are you interested in MT or Acting? You have a mix on your list (maybe by design?). Are you going to unifieds to audition? Many of the schools you listed are close to you so I’d suggest you audition early at those schools. If you are going to unifieds, you could easily fit in some other schools.</p>
<p>Consider Ball State University for a BFA! The [Ball</a> State Theatre and Dance]((<a href=“http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/CollegesandDepartments/TheatreDance.aspx)%5DBall”>http://cms.bsu.edu/Academics/CollegesandDepartments/TheatreDance.aspx)) program is always growing and is truly a family like atmosphere. I’ve discovered that one of the most important things for me to have in a school/program is a sense of a family like environment within the theatre department. It is very important to me that my classmates are not only supportive of me, but also people I will be able to be great friends with throughout the four years of college. Leaving my high school theatre family was really hard, and I wanted to make sure I was going to a place where I would have that same sense of community and I have found that here at Ball State.</p>
<p>If you want to pursue a 2 year non-college program in NYC, there are much better choices than AMDA including Circle in the Square, Stella Adler, Atlantic, Neighborhood Playhouse, William Esper Studio and others. We spent a lot of time looking at these as an option to college and my daughter has also had the chance to talk to NYC agents and casting directors about these options.</p>
<p>Agents and casting directors have no problem with these 2- or 3- year non-degree training programs offered by these major acting studions. MANY succesful actors have come out of these programs. Agents and casting directors don’t care whether you do or don’t have a degree. They hardly look at your resume at all. What they look at is your audition.</p>