<p>My S is thinking about applying to some theater schools. He is on the fence between a full force BFA conservatory or just going for a BA in theater. It loos like from the BOCO website that to audition you need to act, sing and dance? Is the BOCO campus different from the BU campus? Help, I am confused</p>
<p>Boco is a BFA Musical Theatre program. BU is a BFA Theatre program. In Boston Emerson offers both BFA and BA, and. BC and Northeastern offer BA. There are likely others as well.</p>
<p>Generally speaking a BA program will require more classes outside of the major than a BFA program, but no two degree programs.s are alike, regardless of degree. Some BA programs are very close to some BFA programs in terms of training and opportunity.</p>
<p>Some BA programs require and audition, some do not. Some BFA programs require an audition, some do not. Look at the requirements and non-required course opportunities for all the schools of interest. You will get a sense of the similarities and differences. </p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>
<p>Hi 5boys–is your son interested in straight acting or musical theater? BOCO (Boston Conservatory) is a completely different school from Boston University. BOCO is a music and dance conservatory that does offer musical theater but not straight acting. BU is a large university that has an acting program within its college of fine and performing arts but does not offer musical theater as a separate degree program. Both are private, not public, but they are VERY different schools! I’m sure their websites will help you see which one would better suit your son. There are lots of threads on this forum with discussions about the BA vs. BFA question–I’d suggest searching for those, including back in the initial 12-part theater thread, as there’s a ton of helpful information there. I remember you posted earlier about your son’s interest in a summer program, and that experience might help him decide if a BFA is the path he prefers. Hope this helps a little bit!</p>
<p>Thanks all!! That is what I thought about BOCO… so that’s out as he does not want MT. He is just vacillating between doing a BA or a BFA because he also loves physics and isn’t ready to give that up yet. He has done some pretty intensive summer programs that past 2 summers so he knows what a conservatory style program is like. His interests lie with Shakespeare and comedic acting. He is VERY creative and is also a theater tech wizard. We live in CA, and he thinks that if you want to do real theater…i.e. not TV, you need to be on the east coast. NYU and BU are obvious choices… he has no test scores yet,but is a pretty good student…not tippy top with a few AP classes, as his theater commitments are HUGE. So ruling out the other obvious Northwestern and the IVY’s</p>
<p>Part of me thinks he should go to an LAC with a great theater program and major in physics, but he thinks he might just want to go for it in the theater world.</p>
<p>He takes rejection well, but he has never been turned down at anything he has auditioned for. I think the theater peeps love his open and authentic personality. I worry about all the horror stories I have heard about the auditions…URGH!!</p>
<p>I think I need to pm EB…</p>
<p>If your son is a good student, and wants a full liberal arts education along with a great theater program, consider Fordham-Lincoln Center. They require auditions for the Theater Performance major, but it’s a BA.</p>
<p>It doesn’t have to be an either - or thing at this point and I would suggest pursuing both application types: BFA auditions and BA programs. Keep the options open and let him decide April of senior year what choice seems right for him then!</p>
<p>That’s what my D did. She was a very strong student and had a variety of interests, although a BFA was her first choice. But, she had a few auditions on her list and the rest were BA programs, and in the end, if she hadn’t gotten into a BFA, her top choice was a BA program that isn’t even on the “usual suspects” of theater BAs on CC (although she got into most of them). Just pointing this out to say that it is good to have options and to look at schools that are good fits in different ways!</p>
<p>I agree completely. Build a varied list, and let him decide after he’s gone through it all and has his acceptances what fits him best. My D’s choices included BAs, BFAs, high cost, low cost, various locations - not because she was unsure, but because she wanted to evaluate all of the possibilities before committing to a final decision. They all did share a common curriculum emphasis and other key elements.</p>
<p>I think he’ll know in his gut if he really wants to go through the audition route - if he finds he doesn’t, that eliminates a whole set of options (and worries) and will set you in a certain direction as he finalizes his list. If he does want to audition, he can have a nice mixture. It sounds like he’s unlikely to be the 3rd kind of student, who wants an auditioned school only and would do a gap year or alternative option (like a 2 year training program) if not accepted. </p>
<p>So make a list where all of the schools have the criteria he’s interested in, where they all are ones he likes, where the auditioned programs (if any) are in the “reach” category, and where he has lots of match/likely/safety options if he’s determined to go straight to college. There are so many non-auditioned BAs and even BFAs that he’s sure to find lots of schools he is happy with.</p>
<p>At BU, there’s a little known program they just started called the BA/BFA Dual Degree that I got into. U
In your application, you’re considered for both the College of Arts + Sciences and the College of Fine Arts and must audition as well as be academically qualified. It’s a 5 year program in which you go through BU’s full conservatory style program in addition to a full academic course load. It sound intense, but since it’s spread over 5 years instead of 4, it might be a good option.</p>
<p>Also, a warning about NYU - it is possible to double major in Tisch, but you have to be VERY on top of it about getting classes (registration is incredibly daunting, it’s the largest private school in the country) and understand that with the double major, you will most likely not take anything out of your theatre requirements and second major. I’m going to be an incoming freshman this year and was going to consider doing a Sociol</p>
<p>At BU, there’s a little known program they just started called the BA/BFA Dual Degree that I got into. U
In your application, you’re considered for both the College of Arts + Sciences and the College of Fine Arts and must audition as well as be academically qualified. It’s a 5 year program in which you go through BU’s full conservatory style program in addition to a full academic course load. It sound intense, but since it’s spread over 5 years instead of 4, it might be a good option.</p>
<p>Also, a warning about NYU - it is possible to double major in Tisch, but you have to be VERY on top of it about getting classes (registration is incredibly daunting, it’s the largest private school in the country) and understand that with the double major, you will most likely not take anything out of your theatre requirements and second major. I’m going to be an incoming freshman this year and was going to consider doing a Sociology double major but realized that I would sacrifice taking classes that interested me simply for the sake of a credential. </p>
<p>If you have any other questions PM me, this past year I was in a similar situation where I applied to BA and BFA programs since I didnt know exactly what I wanted to do.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone so much for your opinions… EB… you are awesome and I really value your comments as you seem to have a done a great job navigating this process. I really like the idea of having him apply to a wide range of schools and then making his decision after all acceptances are in hand. He loves auditioning so that process won’t be stressful for him…just me… as I will have to coordinate the whole thing and it is daunting… especially since we live on the west coast. I am taking him to visit USC and Oxy in Sept so he can see the difference between an LAC and a BFA/BA program. I have heard great things about Oxy’s theater program, and he could double major there easily. </p>
<p>If he decides on NYU. he would not try to double major. He would be a full theater major. I am almost afraid to take him there because I know he will LOVE it and I don’t know if it is the right place for him. He loves tons of people and a lot going on at all times… he is always the center of attention… so I am not worried about him socially, just making sure he has all of his options covered. I think that the audition process is kind of a good way to find out if you actually have talent or not. If he doesn’t get in,maybe he should move in another direction…nothing wrong with that. I know that just being being a male his chances are better, but it really is a way to find out what you are made of.</p>
<p>Kyle… I will have him look into that program at BU… sounds great… THANKS!</p>
<p>Thanks, 5boys. I’m glad I can help.</p>
<p>Don’t be afraid of where your S might love or not love - with both of my kids (and I presume several of yours? I’m remembering this isn’t your first college search) it was impossible to predict how they’d actually feel about a school. My D, for example, just couldn’t bring herself to look at schools in Manhattan, on three trips to the area. She loves the city, but every time realized she just didn’t want to be there 24/7 while dealing with college. Maybe after she graduates she’ll give it a try. Being on the outskirts is perfect for her.</p>
<p>About the auditions - lots of kids here have a great time with their college auditions, and lots of theatre kids love auditions in general. My D always loved them, and pretty much still does. She was a music kid as well as theatre, and from a young age used to find auditions fun and a great learning experience. I will say that college auditions nearly did her in, though. I think the sheer magnitude of the experience really hit her: the thousands of anxious people in one giant hotel, and the feeling that her whole life - rather than just the chance of being in a play for a few weeks - was riding on a 5-minute opportunity. It surprised the heck out of both of us. It didn’t surprise us one bit that the two programs that accepted her where the ones where she visited campus and auditioned in a more controlled atmosphere. That was just a quirk of her particular experience, and where she was in her maturing process.</p>
<p>I think whether or not you get into auditioned schools has a lot to do with countless uncontrollable factors, with only one small portion having to do with your own talent. A big piece is researching schools and applying to ones where you can fit THEM, as well as their fitting YOU. But the most important thing to remember, in my opinion, is that acceptance or rejection from auditioned programs (or anywhere else) is NOT a pronouncement on your ability, your future prospects, the validity of your dream, or your right to pursue this field. These kids are so fortunate that so many roads lead to a life in theatre; that’s not something you can say to someone who is facing a yes/no response from medical schools, for example.</p>
<p>We were dealing with geographical challenges in visiting schools, too. I definitely recommend using local schools as “types” and narrowing down his criteria based on schools he can easily visit. My D got good at reading websites and eventually could decide for or against a school very quickly, based on research, some key factors, and a quick look at campus. Once she knew what was most important to her - which was available at BFAs and some BAs, too - making the list wasn’t all that hard.</p>
<p>I’m assuming that with 5 boys finances are a concern for you - I hope you and your S have discussed cost. BU and NYU (and USC and lots of others) are not only some of the most selective theatre schools in the country, but also some of the most expensive (especially if you take a 5-year plan!). There are many great theatre programs at schools where a student can graduate with little or no debt, or with their college fund available for other things after they graduate, both of which are a huge boon to people starting out in the arts.</p>
<p>While NYU is one of the most expensive, for some students they provide phenomenal aid and they make it very worth their while to attend… So, if your child happens to be someone the school really wants, the aid can be very good. I know someone personally who picked Tisch BECAUSE of the financial package…</p>
<p>Yes, I realized after I posted that I had implied that those schools are always expensive - I should have said that many students here have had terrific aid offers from them, and others, too. I just get nervous when someone’s list only includes schools that have high starting costs and wanted to point that out.</p>
<p>5Boys - consider Pace University in NYC, also. They have an Honors College (Pforzheimer?) that offers very generous scholarship grants. Their auditioned BFA program is very selective, with some of the most rigorous audition requirements I’ve seen (my son decided not to apply there), but they have a non-auditioned BA option. Pace has a very good record for placing students in internships, and for professional networking. They are not highly selective overall, but strong students with decent (not necessarily spectacular) test scores have a shot at the Honors College.
A visit to Pace can easily be combined with a visit to NYU.</p>
<p>Thanks again EB and stagemom… my S and I had a brief preliminary talk about what his plans are and he REALLY liked the idea of casting a wide net and see where the cookie crumbles… we do need FA, so this will also be a determining factor. It seemed to work well with DS12 to let him apply where he wanted but dealing upfront with the knowlwedge that if the $ wasn’t there he could not go… DS14 seems to be ok with that too… and as SDon said, you never know what the offers are going to be… DS12’s were all over the place. Don’t worry EB… he will have plenty of affordable schools on the list… and I totally get it ont he talent thing… but I am trying not to have him so focused on g etting into one of the BFA programs… if it works great, if not, then great too. I can see him doing a lot of different things… he is insanely creative and just yesterday said he might want to go into architecture…LOL!! </p>
<p>So, about the SUNY’s… Pace and Purchase? I have heard they are both good for theater? What is the difference between the two? I know nothing about NY state schools, although DS12 will be right next to one in Canton at SLU. I feel a little hesitation about it for some reason. I know they both have great reputations if you want to go into theater, and they are VERY selective, but I just don’t know…I feel like the geographic diversity wouldn’t be there.</p>
<p>5boys, Pace is not a SUNY school. It is a private university in Manhattan that offers BFAs in both Acting and Musical Theatre.</p>
<p>SUNY Purchase is home to a conservatory-type Acting BFA program that is one of the most intense and selective programs in the country. </p>
<p>I don’t know about the geographical diversity at Pace, but Purchase’s reputation attracts applicants from all over the country. When my son was there for his audition, we spoke with members of the freshman class who came from California, Florida, and other states.</p>
<p>Thanks NJ! I never knew that Pace was a private University… that is good to know. Is Purchase the school with the Actors Studio? I’m assuming Pace is similar to Emerson with a huge arts emphasis. I will do some more research… Good to know about Purchase too… a girl from my kids HS is going there this year… I am assuming for theater…</p>
<p>The Actors Studio runs a 3-year MFA program at Pace.</p>
<p>[ACTORS</a> STUDIO DRAMA SCHOOL at *THE OFFICIAL WEB SITE OF THE ACTORS STUDIO](<a href=“http://www.theactorsstudio.org/actors-studio-drama-school/]ACTORS”>http://www.theactorsstudio.org/actors-studio-drama-school/)</p>
<p>Pace and Emerson are pretty different. Pace is not an arts school per se. Emerson and Pace do both have Musical Theatre programs, though. Some Acting students prefer to attend MT-free schools. :)</p>
<p>I am no expert on either Pace or Emerson, but I’m sure you can find info on both of them in this forum if you do a search.</p>
<p>It might be interesting for you to talk with the girl in your local area who is going to Purchase. If she was accepted into the BFA program there, hats off to her.</p>
<p>Pace is a full university, located in lower Manhattan (near City Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge). It also has a suburban campus, but the performing arts departments are all based in NYC. It has a very practical, professional focus in all departments, with strong business and technology programs. It does offer an affiliation with the Actors’ Studio, if a student is accepted into the BFA program. It certainly is not the school for someone who wants a traditional “campus” experience (they describe themselves as a “vertical campus”), and - like other colleges in NYC - it’s prohibitively expensive without financial aid. SUNY Purchase is located within an hour of NYC. It was built in the 1970s, as an arts college. It is famously charmless as a campus, but the Theater department is on any short list of the best in the country. I can’t remember whether Pace participates in the Unified Auditions (that can be checked).</p>
<p>Everyone says the Purchase campus is ugly, but it’s not THAT bad, really, and it’s in an attractive suburban area.</p>
<p>The building that houses the theatre program is beautiful, and Purchase has some fabulous performance spaces.</p>