<p>Sending this out in hope it will help someone. I mentioned to MKSP that I had made contact with someone at Columbia College to ask questions and set up an onsite tour of the program for my daughter at Spring Break. I asked if I could help her in anyway sicne she is out of the country and she gave me a list of questions and this is what I found out:</p>
<ol>
<li>How does the BA-BFA thing work?
Columbia College no longer has a BFA program. It was discontinued due to the fact that the BA program they have is a conservatory studio type program that allowed students to take the same courses as the BFA program and therefore due to the lower cost for a BA, less classes needed to graduate, and the ability to be more flexible and also take any of the BFA courses offered, they found that most students went for the BA and the BFA sort of lost a seperate identity. </li>
</ol>
<p>HOWEVER</p>
<p>Last week the faculty sat down for a meeting to discuss reviving the BFA program in order to meet the need of students who want this type of degree, amongst a few other things, and the decision was made to again offer a BFA in acting. So for Freshman entering Columbia College in Fall 2104, they will be able to audition to enter the new BFA in International Performance which will have a semester long mandatory semester abroad. Please note that you will have to audition to get into this program and once accepted during the first year all students will take the acting foundation classes. During the first year each student will be evaluated and prior to their sophmore year it will be disussed with them and a decision will be made on whether they will continue on in the BFA International Performance program or switch over to the BA program which as of now is studio based/conservatory style.</p>
<p>Please also note that if you know someone that is already in the program that told you they are being allowed to go BA -BFA that they are correct as there are some students left in the program that will be allowed to finish out the BFA already in place.</p>
<p>PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ONLY FOR ACTING STUDENTS</p>
<p>Columbia College is still offering a BFA in Directing, Design, and MT, and still have openings in this area. </p>
<p>Columbia College in the past has open admission because they believe in giving students a chance to prove themselves and that it is very difficult to see that in a 5 minute audition. They are into developing students talent.</p>
<ol>
<li>Class Size</li>
</ol>
<p>Foundation classes; 20 students on average (Max 22)
Performance classes; 12-14 students on average
History classes; 20 students on average (Max 22)</p>
<ol>
<li>Main focus</li>
</ol>
<p>Improve and Ensemble
Different styles
Very Eclectic Approach
Second City component for students interested in comedy
(They actually have a BA in comedy writing & performance)</p>
<p>If anyone wants me to find out anything more when me and my daughter visit during Spring Break please pm me we would be happy to help out in anyway we can. We will be sitting down with faculty, touring the school and theatre program, meeting with admissions, etc. and my daughter will be attending a class. </p>
<p>I hope this was of help to someone:)</p>