Conservatory-like safeties

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>It's probably too early for me to do this-- D just started sophomore year. But she has been bent on theater and deeply immersed for years, so I'm just starting some quiet research. I'm sure she will apply to many of the great BFA programs-- NYU etc., etc. But as we think about non-audition schools for safeties....what BA programs will offer really solid theater training without too many gen-ed requirements? She's an A student in honors English and History, B in regular level Math and Science, and my guess is that's the way things will continue. She wants to study theater in all its aspects-- voice, movement, Shakespeare, dramaturgy...acting above all-- and I'd like to find her the best opportunity to do that. (For instance, she's working with a man now who just graduated from U Alabama Birmingham and raves about their theater department, is a wonderful director and getting plenty of work. I'd love to know about something like that but a bit more northerly) </p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>I do not think you will find BA programs without gened requirements. Most BA programs will require you to take about 1/2 of your required courses in general education. There are a lot of terrific BA theatre programs out there. Since academic profile will be the primary admissions gateway at the non-auditioned BA schools. If she is lookin for non-auditioned safeties it will be important for the schools to be in her academic safety range. A safety for one is not a safey for another. Muhlenburg is often mentioned as a non-auditioned safety – but it would not be a safety for all. </p>

<p>non-auditioned BFA programs (like, I believe, Columbia College in Chicago) might be a better fit if she does not want to take much in the way of general education courses.</p>

<p>Even in terms of auditioned BFA programs there is quite a bit of varience in the number of general education courses that students take. NYU being on the high end, CMU being on the low end. </p>

<p>Starting early is great! it will really giver her a chance to look at the different degree requirements at schools to get a sense of what programs may be the best fit. :)</p>

3

<p>Possibly your daughter’s safety could be a non-traditional liberal arts college that does not care so much about math and science. I believe that Hampshire College is one that fills the bill…there may be others.</p>

4

<p>Bennington, Bard, Sarah Lawrence, and Vassar are all strong in arts and humanities with standout theater programs. Each has its own slant but they are all appealing in one way or another. Sarah Lawrence and Vassar are the more selective of these.</p>

5

<p>Thanks so much everybody-- it’s not so much that she’s opposed to gen ed requirements, but that she wants to study theater in the greatest depth possible, and I’d like to be sure she’s able to do that even if the auditions don’t pan out.</p>

6

<p>Add Skidmore to my list. They have a good reputation for theater too.</p>

7

<p>She could also look at Smith College, UMASS – Amherst, and Mount Holyoke . Not sure about Mount Holyoke, but Smith and UMASS have strong theatre from what I understand, and along with Hampshire (mentioned above), and Amherst make up the 5 College Consortium
[Five</a> Colleges, Incorporated: Home](<a href=“http://www.fivecolleges.edu/]Five”>http://www.fivecolleges.edu/)
<a href=“http://www.fivecolleges.edu/theater/[/url]”>http://www.fivecolleges.edu/theater/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>Also take a look at Muhlenberg. Very good theatre department in a non-audition BA program, excellent academics, very easy to major in theatre and structure a minor or double major. but as KatMT points out, like any liberal arts college, there are gen ed requirements that must be met.</p>

9

<p>Lawrence University in Appleton, Wi. I think Princeton Review wrote up its theatre program. [Lawrence</a> University: Theatre & Drama](<a href=“http://www.lawrence.edu/dept/theatre/courses.html]Lawrence”>http://www.lawrence.edu/dept/theatre/courses.html) It was Forbes who ranked LU 10th in nation for theater.</p>

10

<p>Northwestern’s BA program is frequently discussed as being very strong. It’s part of a great university, and in a great location as well.</p>

11

<p>thanks so much everyone-- some great ones here, and for anyone else who’s thinking along these lines, others have mentioned Marywood ¶ and Plymouth (NH) as possibilities.</p>

12

<p>FYI – Plymouth State in NH is an auditioned BA program. Still a very good possibility if one is looking to have a few auditioned BAs on the list as well.</p>