Feedback or Info for Making a Choice?

<p>While D is of course ultimately the one to choose we welcome any insight or info beyond the packaged brochures for these schools. Due to finances we could not visit. D loves acting but has possible desire to pursue other intellectual activities including directing, writing and social change through theater. Here's the list</p>

<p>Elon (BA didn't get to audition)
BU (BFA program)
USC (BA)
Northwestern
Bennington
Hampshire
Ithaca (BA - didn't get to audition)
Marlboro</p>

<p>Vassar (waitlist)
Emory (waitlist)
Macalester (waitlist)</p>

<p>She is creative, out of the box, reasonably disciplined and self driven, social activist, her own person.
Assume all the financial are equal but we live in the Northeast. </p>

<p>Any insight or guidance would be great as we are really in the dark!</p>

<p>In general, BA students at an institution which also has a BFA program do not share classes or instructors with the BFA students. So although they may be able to audition for productions with the BFAs, they may not be getting the same quality education. So I would suggest that you take another look at those schools on your list, to see if the program is indeed what you are looking for.</p>

<p>Hmm Well I have heard that and I think it may apply to Ithaca and Elon - USC however seems to do a good job to meld their BA’s in the theater program into performance, they take classes with BFA’s, same class, same teacher.
The other schools do not have BFA’s but have different takes on theater - more self-planned (except for NW). It’s wonderful to have decisions but I feel like we really know so little.</p>

<p>I would also suggest that you decide first whether your daughter wants a BA or a BFA – once you make that decision your list will be whittled down. A BFA program is VERY intense and focused. It’s wonderful if the student really wants to focus their energy on one thing, but it’s not right for everyone. My D is about to graduate from the Syracuse BFA program; it has been wonderful for her, but she intends to pursue a career as a performer, at least for now. It sounds like your daughter may want a broader program, which might mean a BA would be a better choice.</p>

<p>The focused nature of the BFA at Boston University would not permit your daughter to take many liberal arts classes.</p>

<p>Her freshman year at BU would be essentially all theatre, all the time.</p>

<p>However, if at the end of her freshman year she were to choose the Theatre Arts instead of the Acting concentration, she would be able to pursue other intellectual activities such as those you mentioned.</p>

<p>I rarely post as I’m here to help advise kids I know but I have to say with the description of your daughter you should look very closely at Northwestern. The theatre education will be excellent as well as intellectual and from the standpoint of the industry the connections and networking that begin at Northwestern go on and on through a career. As an industry pro I can vouch for this.<br>
I would suggest taking time to read about each schools’ alumni who have succeeded in various aspects of the business, especially those who have been innovators in some way. Your daughter might be interested to hear about those who have started theatre companies, or actors who also direct and write, etc. She might even be able to get a response from pros who attended the school she’s researching. Good luck, she has wonderful choices full of opportunity.</p>

<p>wow, I"m really surprised your D got in Northwestern but waitlisted at Macalester. My D had the reverse. I would definitely stay on the Macalester waitlist. That’s a great great city for theater and the program sounds like it would really tie in with her interests!!</p>

<p>Our daughers applied to a few of the same schools. We did not visit either one but I do have a few thoughts. </p>

<p>ITHACA BA
The Ithaca BA degree is not intended for actors. BA students can take courses in acting but the BFA acting students get priority in auditions. The BA primarily offers experience in stage management, assistant directing, and dramaturgy. If acting is your daughter’s primary interest and her possible other interests are really secondary (or even if she just suspects this may be the case), this probably is not the right program.</p>

<p>BENNINGTON
This is a great opportunity for some students. We met a number of current students and alumni at an informal event and I came away thinking this is a great school for those whose interests are not well-defined. Many said they could not have known what they would do until they got there because it is so collaborative. In addition, my daughter and I noticed that all of the students had come from high schools that were either large and impersonal or small but limited in range. They had never had the kind of individual attention that students can only get in a small but open-ended college or program. For those students, Bennington is a very freeing experience.</p>