<p>My DD is extremely interested in the theatre program at NU but her SAT scores are slightly lower than the SAT CR 650-740 and SAT M 670-760 that we understand are the norm for NU. Can anyone shed any light here? Thanks!</p>
<p>I cannot imagine that the SAT scores would differ for theater students at NU as opposed to other majors. It is a non audition BA program and so admissions is based on a student's entire profile, of which academic stats are a part of that profile. If your D's SATs fall slightly lower than the mid 50% range of SATs of admitted students (which you quoted), she still could be admitted. Simply, the rate of admission would be lower for a candidate who falls in the lower 25% of SAT scores of admitted students. So, the school may be a Reach but students can and do get into reach schools. Also, if her curriculum is rigorous and she has a very good GPA and is in the top 10% of her HS class, and has strong extracurriculars and achievements, good essays, etc., that can balance out her SAT falling in the lower 25% of their range of accepted students. Without knowing the rest of her profile, I can't say, but based on JUST the SAT scores, and if they are truly just slightly below the mid 50% range for NU, then the school may be a viable option but simply a school to put into her "reach" part of her list.</p>
<p>soozie, thank you so much for responding! We have just begun this process and I hope you will forgive my learning curve! She has only taken practice SATs so we will know more about what she has to work with after the March 1 SAT.</p>
<p>Since NU does not have an audition for admission, how do they procure a talented class? My DD does have a strong resume so I assume that plus recommendations would carry a lot of weight?</p>
<p>NU, being a BA program, doesn't really admit students into a major as nobody is officially declaring their major before entering, even if they tell their intended major. So, NU is going to review the student as they would for most majors....the academic profile, their activities, their passions, their achievements, their essays, their personality, their recommendations. I don't think they look any more at recs for a theater applicant than an applicant to any other major. </p>
<p>If a student says she wants to go into theater, then the student should be showing some dedicated activities and achievements in that area and a passion for it. They are not truly examining their "talent." However, I can tell you that I know several students who attend NU for theater, have applied in the past, have been accepted currently ED to NU, or are current applicants and in ALL these particular cases that I know of, these students are very talented in theater and could have gotten into BFA programs (or in some cases, did get into BFAs as they applied to some) but wanted a BA at a selective university such as NU. So, these kids are quite talented and passionate about theater.</p>
<p>My D was just admitted ED to NU. She was in the Summer Cherub program last summer and 15 of her fellow Cherubs were also admitted ED! We heard that in the past, they have taken as many as 25 Cherubs out of a class of 100 theater majors. While all of these kids had to have the grades and scores to be admitted, I think that this was one way that NU was able to get a sense of the talent level of who they were admitting. One of the admissions people we had met at a reception in our area in the spring told us they all come to the Cherub performances over the summer! I also think that NU "reads between the lines" when looking at the application of a potential theater major; this admissions person strongly encouraged us to also send a theatrical resume (separate from her activities resume) and one of her recommendations was from someone who knew of her involvement, passion and leadership in theater. Most of my D's extracurricular activities involved theater so it was an easy way for them to see what she had done both on the performing, directing/choreographing and technical sides. My D just came back from a visit to NU where she attended some classes and saw some productions. She was simply amazed at the talent level of the MT kids there so they must know what they are doing!</p>
<p>I would strongly recommend the summer Cherub program. While the faculty are not all the same as the NU faculty, it gave my D a sense of the kinds of classes she would have at NU. She also loved the campus. Her roommate, on the other hand, realized from the summer experience that she really didn't want to pursue theater as a major! Other kids used this experience to solidify their desire to pursue a BFA rather than a BA so it was a great "learning experience" all around!!! </p>
<p>Also, I think that some of the kids in the NU MT program come from the School of Music where there IS an audition....</p>
<p>NU looks at its theatre applicants as it would any other applicant to any major/school in the university. We all had to have the same criteria as everyone else to get into the school (it gets a little frustrating when some people go off on the whole "oh you are a theatre major...you don't do anything.").</p>
<p>That being said, while academics and SAT scores and all that fun stuff are EXTREMELY important, they also look very closely at past involvement in theatre related activities for theatre applicants. You said your D has a strong resume so that will definitely be a plus. I threw in an extra rec from a theatre teacher just to have more theatre in addition to my 2 other recs. </p>
<p>As for how NU gets such a talented group of people...it is beyond me. To be honest, I came in thinking that there wouldn't be a lot of talent here because it is a non-audition BA program. Boy was I wrong! Most of the people here could get into BFA programs. There is so much talent in this school. It is definitely an amazing place to come for theatre.</p>
<p>A side note...while you don't technically declare your major until end of sophomore year, if you think you even MIGHT want to come for theatre, apply into theatre. It's easy to switch out but almost impossible to switch in once you are here.</p>
<p>Overall: 1421 (Fall 2007) **
Arts and Sciences: 1436
Education: 1427
Journalism: 1403
Music: 1359
**Communication: 1398
Engineering: 1427</p>
<p>So NU is non-audition? Does that affect the prestigiousness of the program? I mean like how does it compare to say, NYU or BoCo (aside from the obvious conservatory status of the latter) which are heavily audition-based and less academic-based</p>
<p>NYU is a very academic program, also, but yes, there has been a lot posted in other threads about how NU manages to have such a prestigious program and attract such talented students without auditioning until end of freshman year. The MT program isn't huge and it is very selective, but it's nice that the professors/directors know the kids somewhat before MT auditions roll around, and that it's not based on a 3-minute audition.</p>
<p>I'll try to find the link to the thread(s) that address your question.</p>
<p>from theatre professors at other schools, college counselors, directors in my area...everything I've heard about NU's program has been positive. this private arts school college counselor I know literally went, "I don't know how they do it without an audition!"</p>
<p>edmondsg, is there an audition at the end of freshman year for others who want to continue on a performance track, or just to get into the MT program?</p>
<p>The audition at the end of freshman year is just for the MT program. Everyone accepted as a theatre major can continue on the performance track if they wish to do that.</p>