After attending U/RTA in Chicago this last February, I was faced with the realization that my GPA had prevented me from being considered for nearly every school that was in attendance. The thing is though, that a lot of these programs, as well as testimonies from alumni and other graduate applicants claim that it is the audition that matters most, and that grades are a moot point.
Obviously this isn’t exactly the case, because a lot of the programs in attendance have to adhere to the University requirements when it comes to choosing potential applicants, and the average minimum GPA requirement is a 3.0, while, by the time I graduate, I calculate that my cumulative GPA will be around a 2.9.
My major GPA is well above a 3.5, but if it weren’t for two F-grades in my university designated curriculum courses, I would have a higher cumulative. This in mind, my options revolve around either taking a summer course or two to alleviate one or both of those F-grades, which might not exactly be possible if the course isn’t even offered over the summer, or to work even harder than I am already trying to to raise my average and pray to God that my cumulative gets graced with at least one measly tenth of a point. I am trying to be realistic here though, and even though technically I can still graduate this May regardless of what my GPA teeters on, I don’t even know if I can take one more online summer course (which would be a saving grace).
I am fussing about this is because I want to be able to go to graduate school and get into an MFA-Acting program, and if I don’t get my grades up to an acceptable level, I fear that I will inadvertently be unable to legitimately apply and be considered for programs for the rest of my life.
I have also heard through the grapevine that after one has been out of college for a number of years and gained professional experience, that undergraduate grades begin to matter very little, if at all. I have resolved to not attempt auditioning for MFA-Acting programs again for at least two or three years, which, in theory, should be enough time to at least have gained a handful of professional credits. Will it matter though what I have on my resume if my grades won’t let me be considered? For that matter, since I have to report all institutional grades in my transcripts for applications hither and thither, (for the sake of argument) if I were to get a second bachelors degree, and I got stellar grades, will my first degree with my less than average grades still prevent me from being considered anywhere?
I am ambitious, and I want desperately to be accepted into a reputable MFA-Acting program- maybe not Yale exactly, I am actually looking into other schools like University of San Diego (the Old Globe one, not the La Jolla one), University of Washington, Florida State University, Temple University, California State University- Fullerton, and University of Houston.
I guess I just want to know what I can actually hold as a universal truth; do grades matter after three years when applying for graduate drama programs, or don’t they? I’ve heard one thing but believe another due to past circumstances… it’s hard to know what to believe anymore. I also don’t particularly want to take more university courses simply due to the semantics of cost, but I mean… if it will raise my grades, then I guess it’s worth it.
For the record, I want an MFA for a practical reason- to be able to teach college/conservatory drama one day.