<p>Paige, BFA programs usually require an audition, and admissions are very competitive. The student spends the majority of his or her time in theatre classes and rehearsals and it can be difficult or impossible to double major. Some BFA programs involve very few liberal arts or general education courses…these are the conservatory-type programs. CMU (Carnegie Mellon) and Juilliard are examples.</p>
<p>BA programs generally do not require an audition. You just have to be accepted at the school academically. BA programs vary widely and have to be carefully investigated. The best ones are very good indeed with regard to theatre training and performance opportunities. Double majoring tends not to be a problem. </p>
<p>As you probably know, there are a number of schools that offer both BFA and BA degrees in theatre. Point Park, which you already expressed an interest in, is one of them. </p>
<p>Some people worry about the cost of following a BA with an MFA, but there are MFA programs that offer tuition waivers and stipends.</p>
<p>Being admitted to an MFA program does involve very competitive auditions, so you would want to get the best undergraduate training possible to prepare yourself.</p>
<p>One school that people often mention as being a great choice for students seeking a theatre BA that will be followed by an MFA is the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana.</p>
<p>austinmtmom - thanks so much for the site! I ended up taking the test that it gave and got 16 on BOTH! Seriously, what are the chances of that?! But thanks to NJTheatreMOM, I think BA is probably best for me.</p>
<p>NJTheatreMOM - thanks!!! For University of Michigan Ann Arbor (one of my top schools I want to go to), I believe you still have to audition regardless. But I do think that BA would be much better for me because I do want to double major. But I mean, I do want a lot of theatre classes. Right now my acting class meets once a week and it KILLS me waiting for that one class. It’s my favorite day and all I do is look forward to it from the moment I step out of it… that’s how much I like it!! So I do want to have a wide range of classes in theatre and many. But I’m sure I can do that with BA. And I didn’t know Point Park had both! I emailed them a few months ago and they said that double majors are not suggested due to the demanding theatre program, but I think I may be able to do it. I am planning on visiting there this summer though, so maybe I’ll be able to ask. I’m also visiting U of M in April so I will talk with the head of theatre department if I manage to make an appointment with them the same day as my tour. Hopefully!</p>
<p>Paige, you would have to investigate whether a double major would be possible if you were accepted into the University of Michigan’s auditioned BFA program. Michigan also offers an unauditioned BA program, but the website clearly states that it is not a performance based BA.</p>
<p>What I believe you should investigate is performance based BA programs. Evansville University, Point Park University, and many other schools offer performance based BA degrees. This is almost certainly the degree your teacher received from Point Park. When you contacted the school they may have thought you were inquiring about the BFA program.</p>
<p>That’s why I said you need to investigate BA programs carefully. Look at the course listings – either via a link on the program’s website, or by accessing the university’s complete course catalog online.</p>
<p>In addition to classes in Acting, you will want to check for classes such as Voice (voice here does not refer to singing) and Movement. These are what constitute the core of a good performance based program.</p>
<p>Another important point about BA programs is that admission will be based on academics, so you should make sure you are at least in the middle of their usual accepted students’ GPA and test scores. From your first post, I’d say you’re a little low for Michigan, unless you test really high, and maybe can bring your GPA up in the next semester. I’m not being down on you - it’s just a very selective university. It could be a reach for you, but you’ll want to find some programs where you comfortably meet their regular admissions criteria.</p>
<p>Some BA programs have auditions, too. SUNY New Paltz has a well-regarded performance based BA with an audition, and you’re in their league academically. There is a thread at the beginning of this forum that talks about BA programs that will give you other suggestions.</p>
<p>Schools to consider if you are looking for a performance based BA- Temple, Drew, Muhlenberg. There are many others as well but these are in your geographic area. </p>
<p>The thread that Emmybet mentioned is good, but the many of the schools discussed are in California. Some are extremely selective academically.</p>
<p>One of the best-looking BA programs that someone recommended on that thread (in terms of your needs, Paige) is Illinois State. Check out the following webpage…it is really quite impressive:</p>
<p>OK, before you get completely swayed by midwest theater moms:) reconsider California. If you’ll have a car consider going to [California</a> State University, Long Beach](<a href=“http://www.csulb.edu/]California”>http://www.csulb.edu/)</p>
<p>way easier to get into than Michigan and probably Indiana. About the same in out of state tuition, maybe cheaper. Good theater program. And 1 hour drive time to the miracle mile (Wilshire Blvd)! 45 minutes to some of the studios in Santa Monica.</p>
<p>Always sunny and warm! Good campus and college life experience, big school! And beaches everywhere! And young people everywhere!</p>
<p>Paige, bummer that you can’t apply to CMU for the summer program but it sounds like you have a wonderful summer planned anyways.
As for BA programs to consider Muhlenberg, Indiana and Mich State all have very good programs and academically aren’t super hard to get in to (depending on your grades). Also James Madison is a wonderful program. My D just auditioned there. It is a BA audition program but if you get in you can minor or major in something else. The new theatre building is fabulous and the audition procress was very warm and inviting. My D loved it!</p>
<p>Oh geez, you guys are giving me so much information and schools to look into, thank you so much!</p>
<p>@NJTheatreMOM & EmmyBet: I am aware of how selective and hard U of M is. Unfortunately I have had my heart set on it hardcore for a month, and I don’t know why! I am visiting it as I think I mentioned in April for sure now, so maybe I’ll discover that I don’t like it or maybe I’ll like it even more! I am in a SAT Prep class now that is REALLY helping for when I take SATs in May, and ever since my discover of U of M in December I have REALLY tried much harder with school. We just started our third nine weeks and already there is a notable change in my work ethics and such. I’m not saying that all of a sudden I’m going to get like all 100%s in every class, but I am working hard. I know that my chances of going there are limited, but I’ll still keep it in mind for sure. I don’t know whether I am interested in the BFA or BA there, but I saw a video on the arts at University of Michigan and it was WONDERFUL and kind of is what made me want to go there. They have student-run shows every weekend that you can audition for, they have a formal performance I believe once a semester, they have an improv group you can be apart of, they have 24 Hour Theatre. I don’t know if BFA AND BA students can participate in all that, but it just sounded like the best thing ever. Again, I’m aware of how hard it is, and that’s sort of disappointing, but I still have two more nine weeks to really work at my grades and I also have my SAT and ACT scores.
As with the BA programs, I will certainly look into different schools. Point Park probably did believe I was talking about BFA. I’ll have to definitely research more. I know I can get accepted academically there, but if I have to audition for the BA (and BFA I’m sure I do) that’s what is iffy. Although I’m nervous for auditions, I am actually really looking forward to them for whatever reason. But I’ll definitely expand my exploration for colleges :)</p>
<p>@LeftofPisa: GAH! Seriously, that summer program at Minnesota sounds UNBELIEVABLE. I would do anything to do it, but unfortunately it costs $1,000, and since my parents have still been upset over the semi-expensive colleges I have been looking at, it’ll be a bad time to mention the $1,000 summer camp I want to go to for 10 days! But it literally sounds perfect. If it was half that price I’d definitely want to go. Thanks for the link though! Sounds great!</p>
<p>As for everyone else who has been giving me school names to check out - I definitely will! Thank you all so so much for all your help! Making this thread has literally been the best choice ever! I seriously appreciate it all very much!</p>
<p>By the way, NJTheatreMOM, I have taken acting classes the past two years (freshmen and sophomore year of high school) called “Acting Playground.” This is where we would work on a different task every week. I worked on a lot of movement there, such as becoming animals and just how to walk and certain aspects of performing.We also worked on The Elephant Man for a little which was really cool! I have taking a singing voice class before in 8th grade (though it wasnt very enjoyable for me!) but I don’t know if that will help me with the kind of voice you were talking about. But I know that colleges offer those classes when you get a degree in theatre which I’m looking forward to!</p>
<p>paige - I can understand why you love UMich. But keep in mind that many schools have the components that it seems like you love about UMich. So I am not telling you don’t go for it. Just suggesting that you think about what appeals to you about their program and then look for other programs that offer the same things as you create your list. </p>
<p>Hahahaha, austinmtmom, you are the queen of the CC links! But that’s alright because each one is very helpful so it’s okay! But yeah I just feel like UMich is the biggest stretch, but also the one I want to go to the most. It’s a motivator, but it’s also a far-fetched dream. So I am definitely keeping in mind that there is a low chance of me going. But I’m going to check out this forum and see other schools and experiences from current students! It’ll be super helpful :)</p>
<p>Paige, it is great to have a dream! It’s also great that you have found a school that “clicks” for you, because that will give you a very good set of criteria for finding other options. Someone on CC once said that if you figure out your 4-5 most important criteria for “fit” (whether it’s academics or something else) your search will be easier and make much more sense in the long run. My D figured that out and feels really comfortable with her list - and her criteria are the things that are most important to her, just as your criteria will be for you. And dream schools - by their definition of being where you REALLY want to go, not being the school “everyone thinks is the coolest,” which is sadly why many schools become dream schools for kids - help you know what you are shooting for, and as you say are great motivators. I have faith that you can and will find schools that have many of the same characteristics so you can have lots of wonderful choices in a year and a half.</p>
<p>It is great that you are working to increase your academic stats. That will help you a lot and it will definitely give you more options. The only other pieces of advice I’d give you are:</p>
<p>1) Make sure you have at least one academic safety that is also a financial safety, that you REALLY LIKE. Try to find two, so you know you can have a choice.</p>
<p>2) Apply as early as you can manage, at least to a few of your schools. It has made life so much easier for my D that she got an acceptance in November to a safety she really likes.</p>
<p>3) Be who you are in all of your applications and auditions. You need to be comfortable wherever you go to school, and forcing yourself into a mold to be accepted isn’t going to help you in the long run.</p>
<p>4) Remember that life is long, and there are many opportunities to switch gears and become trained along many paths. Pick a good plan for now and let life happen to you.</p>
<p>You are a thoughtful and very nice girl, and it’s been delightful to be a part of your journey. Please let us know how you are doing, and what you find out!</p>
<p>Hi, paige! I’m currently a sophomore BFA acting major at U of M and I love it here. Definitely email our head of department to try and talk with her when you come for your tour, she is great and will be very helpful! You could try and sit in on some classes too, I did that right before my audition, but I don’t know if you have to be currently registered to audition to do that. I’ll be honest, I don’t know too much about the requirements for the BA program, because, and this could be wrong, but I feel like more people opt for the BTA, which is a Bachelor of Theatre Arts, is and I have several friends in that who love it. It has several tracks you can choose from, I don’t know if you’d be interested [UM</a> School of Music, Theatre & Dance - Department of Theatre & Drama - Degree Programs](<a href=“http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/theatre/programs/bach_theatre_arts.htm]UM”>http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/theatre/programs/bach_theatre_arts.htm) - here’s the link.
24 Hour Theater is great- and anyone can participate! There are so many performance opportunities here, the professors are wonderful, and I love it so much!
if you have any questions about the program or about the school in general, let me know!</p>
<p>monologue - How kind of you to join in. Does your “Location” mean that you transferred from NYU? Would you be willing to tell your story a little bit, not so much for gory details, but what it meant to make a change and learn what you wanted from a program?</p>
<p>EmmyBet, thank you very much for all the help you have given me and everything! I wish your D all the best… I’m assuming she is a senior now and it sounds like she has gotten accepted into a good school that she wants to go to! I will continue my search and start planning more college visits. And I plan on filling out those applications as soon as I can get my hands on them! I do NOT want to wait til the last minute and end up being stressed out! And I will schedule auditions as soon as possible to and at a good time. I am excited for the whole process and also a bit scared. But I know that whatever happens, it happens for a reason. :)</p>
<p>monologue, finally someone who goes/gone to U-M (nothing against anyone else who replied on this forum – you all are so very helpful at giving me other school options and I basically love you all for it!!!) Should I email the head of the theatre department and schedule some sort of meeting with them and my parents? And I am going April 22nd, which I BELIEVE is Good Friday, so I’m not sure if you guys still have classes and everything for me to sit in on. Maybe when I audition I’ll go and sit in like you did, that sounds pretty awesome! What’s the different between BTA and BA…? Sorry if that’s a stupid question, I am not too educated on all the different options I could have for a theatre major! U-M is my dream school as I’ve said multiple times before, and from what you said it sounds great. But I am keeping my options open and ready for any other school I find that sounds great… which I have been finding more and more almost everyday! :)</p>
<p>Wow, third time replying in a row. Third times the charm!</p>
<p>I am checking out your link now about BTA!! It sounds awesome! I’m not sure if I would rather do BA or BTA or BFA… gah, so many options. Do I still have to audition for BTA? Somehow, I think I’d rather if I did, so I could get a chance to sit in on a class like you did and a chance to talk to some of the students and such!!</p>