<p>Rising senior here. I hope to study Acting or Theatre Arts in college, but I need some insight. I have a 4.3-4.5 (3.6-3.8 unweighted), and a 31 ACT that will hopefully rise a few points by the time I apply anywhere. I have a pretty nice resume- a few community theatre roles, and a bunch of school leads.
I have a pretty impressive academic record that I can get into later. I want to double major in international relations (or at least minor).
I'm still spilt between BA and BFA but my schools right now are:
NYU
Boston U
Northwestern
Elon
UNC- Chapel Hill (I'm in state)
Vassar
U Chicago
Columbia
Brown
Tufts
Duke
Georgetown
Swarthmore
and considering American
Good choices? Any safeties?</p>
<p>I think there are two things you need to consider: “academic” safety, and “talent” safety.</p>
<p>In my opinion, if a school requires an audition, you can not consider it to be a “safety” - there are too many factors outside of your control that can influence the decision. Only a non-audition theatre program can be considered a “talent safety,” if you want to think of it that way.</p>
<p>My understanding is that an “academic safety” is a school where your stats put you in the top 25%, if not the top 5-10%, of admitted students. It is also a school that admits a fairly large number of the students which apply. (I personally think that any school with an admit rate lower than 35% shouldn’t be considered a “safety,” even for the most-qualified of candidates; a “match” perhaps, but not a “safety.”)</p>
<p>You can usually find information on the stats of admitted students at a school if you search for it. Sometimes the schools will list “profile of admitted students” on their websites. You can also google “common data set 2011-12” and the school’s name, and the info for freshman admission can be found in the “C” section of that document.</p>
<p>As an example, for Northwestern University, here are the ACT composite scores for admitted freshmen from the 2011-12 common data set info:
25th percentile: 31
75th percentile: 35</p>
<p>That means that the “middle 50%” of students admitted had an ACT composite score in the 31-35 range. The top 25% of students admitted had an ACT composite score of 36.</p>
<p>From a recent Northwestern news release:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m not positive on the stats for the schools you listed, but I think that Boston Univ & Elon might be the only ones you list where a ACT Composite of 32 would be in the top 25th percentile.</p>
<p>You should be able to get great merit aid at Temple. It is non audition making it a safety BA with a great program. </p>
<p>What about U of Maryland. Take a look at the BA theater program. </p>
<p>Take a look at Skidmore and Goucher for two more non audition safeties known for good acting programs.</p>
<p>A lot of schools do not encourage double majoring when you are a BFA student, there is a serious lack of time. That might need to be looked into when thinking about programs.</p>
<p>The only schools I would potentially be doubling with a BFA are NYU (I’ve heard it’s manageable there) and then BU and Elon. I have a bunch of AP credits so it wouldn’t be horrible, hopefully, but I would consider just minoring.</p>
<p>You are going to have a busy summer and fall.</p>
<p>For NYU, BU and Elon you’ll need to schedule and prepare for the auditions in addition to preparing supplemental applications.</p>
<p>Many of the BA programs on your list have extensive supplements. They’ll be looking to see on your supplements how well you understand and fit at their schools. I think Georgetown has there own application.</p>
<p>Also, I assume, with this list, you will want to improve your ACT - so you’ll need to prep for that.</p>
<p>Are you a girl? Have you considered Barnard. Columbia’s theatre department is in Barnard College. </p>
<p>You have an ambitious list with some really nice schools. good luck</p>
<p>Don’t underestimate the importance of the audition. You should start working RIGHT NOW on developing an INCREDIBLE audition. Also bear in mind that each school will have different requirements for the audition. So a monologue you can use for one school will be completely wrong for another. You will end up preparing several monologues, therefore. But this gives you “backups” in case a school says “do you have another monologue?”.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>Why are you considering a double major? How is this going to help you achieve your life goals?</p>
<p>Double majoring in IR <em>and</em> doing a theater BFA sounds quite difficult. But I notice you have some BA choices, like Swarthmore. I second looking into Temple. Also look at Muhlenberg and Bard. Perhaps Sarah Lawrence, but I don’t know about SLC and IR.</p>
<p>JMU is an auditioned program, so not a safety… but double majoring is possible with theatre.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>
<p>My daughter has a very similar list as the OP with a mix of BFA’s and BA’s and I’m starting to think this is a gross strategic error. Fortunately, she’s starting to gravitate to just BA schools. We’ll see.</p>
<p>The application process is so, so different for the two types of schools, I think it really dilutes one’s efforts to try and apply to both types. You’ll eventually have to choose BFA or BA. I think the earlier you do it the better.</p>
<p>I’d advice if you want to compete for a conservatory spot, go for it, but really, really go for it. Many of the kids you’re competing against will have coaches and consultants this summer helping them craft monologues that are specific to the preferences of the auditors they will be performing in front off. These same kids will be traveling the country next fall and winter auditioning for 10 to 20 schools. They will be learning and building confidence at each audition and honing their monologues accordingly for the next audition.</p>
<p>Now, if you want to attend a school like NU, Brown or Columbia, you’re going to need to make certain there are no fatal flaws in your application plus it will need a spark to set it apart from the ten or so other kids applying for your spot. You’ll need to iron out any bad spots in your test scores; revise, revise, and revise your essays. Know the schools inside and out and be able to articulate why you belong there; and spoon feed your teachers and guidance counselor to make certain they give you stellar recommendations.</p>
<p>Each hour you spend practicing a monologue is one less hour spent crafting applications that set you apart from the masses.</p>
<p>Just my opinion.</p>
<p>I’d like to echo the statement that there are no true “safeties” in auditioned programs. I know lots of kids who were accepted to top top top schools and not accepted to less prestigious (and statistically less selective) programs.</p>
<p>Theatre BFA programs and double majors don’t really work well, even at schools that claim it’s possible. May I suggest you consider postponing your most intensive theatrical training until graduate school, and going for a MFA at that point? That’s a recognized path that many successful performers have taken, in music as well as theatre.</p>
<p>If you do take the auditioning route, I’d urge you to find a theatre conference like Thespians where you can do a cattle call audition for college representatives. That will give you audition experience, help you determine whether college reps like what they saw (they do callbacks and you can get feedback), decide if you need new monologues or further coaching, and so on. </p>
<p>It’s also helpful to audition for a program that can give you an early (before January) acceptance or rejection. If it’s an acceptance, it’ll give you confidence going into the heavy audition season. If a rejection, figure out if there’s something you should be doing differently. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>If you are seriously considering NYU, then I wonder if you might want to look into Gallatin in order to create your own major since you seem to have a strong interest in this, rather than Tisch, where I do think a double major would be quite difficult- if not for the time demands, then simply the way the studio training days are scheduled and the complexity this might entail in terms of your not being available on the days/times your classes are held for your other major. While you would not be able to take all of the same theatre classes as Tisch students, you would be able to craft a unique major combining your two interests- just a thought. I agree with other posters that no audition-based program can be considered a safety and if you truly want a theatre degree then you should include non-auditioned programs on your list. However, academically, you seem to be in good shape for for American and Elon. You may be in good shape for several others on your list but it’s hard to say without knowing more about your ECs, letters, etc and you will find that no one can chance you regarding talent on these boards. From your list, it looks like you really have very strong academic interests and i agree that adding University of Maryland might be a good choice. It’s a non-auditioned theatre program and given the proximity to DC, might be good for someone interested international relations. Still not an easy school to get into academically, though you seem strong. Use Naviance if your school has it and check all of the college websites to see where your stats fit in. You will need to have a really strong audition for NYU and the bottom line is that if you are interested in Tisch, the audition can be very persuasive with admissions, but it won’t work the other way around. Acting really needs to be your passion if you are going that route. I do not know about the theatre program at Chapel Hill, but especially being in state, that seems like a good fit too. Keep finances in mind as we’re all being hit with sticker shock right now. Don’t count on merit aid and be thrilled if and when you get it. Obviously, Georgetown is great forIR but do they have a theatre program? You might want to also check into George Washington Univ and Catholic Univ. Both are also in DC and have good theatre departments and might be non-audition based. Your stats would be very strong for both of those as well. If you really wants to be in NYC, you might add Fordham to your list. It is audition-based, but I think (only think) you can be accepted to the university even if you aren’t accepted to the theatre program. It does sound complicated, but you are clearly a bright and ambitious student who is getting a good jump on things and will do well!</p>
<p>I disagree that you can’t successfully apply to both BFAs and BAs. Some of the applications even to top BAs aren’t that time intensive, and HS kids - who often juggle homework, sports, ECs, etc. - can prioritize their time to make good applications if they want, along with preparing for auditions. Often these kids decide not to be in school shows or sports their senior year. That’s just part of the trade-off.</p>
<p>What I think is important for some kids is to have choices in the end that work for them. You could decide to go all-BFA, which would include a couple of non-auditioned BFAs which are academic safeties. You could go all auditioned programs and be willing to take a gap year if you don’t get in. You could go all BAs - especially training-focused ones - if you are sure that those degree programs suit your needs and academic opportunities are highly important to you.</p>
<p>My D did what some posters have advised against - she had a full span of BFAs, including a non-auditioned safety, and also a set of reach/match/safety BAs. She had an auditioned BA as well. It was work getting the applications done, and to prepare for auditions, but it wasn’t impossible. Maybe she didn’t do a perfect job at it, or wasn’t the 100% most competitive candidate for every school - she was just a kid, after all, and she was who she was. She had similar stats to the OP and was an attractive applicant. </p>
<p>The only rejections she got were from super highly selective BFAs and BAs that are reaches for anybody. I think she did quite well with a broad group of schools and degree programs. She got quite a bit of merit money, too. </p>
<p>In the end, it meant a TON to her to be able to choose from some really terrific BA programs and to have solid auditioned options, too. None of the BFA- or BA-exclusive options I listed above would have worked for her. If she didn’t get into an auditioned program she liked, she wanted to go to a college that was a good fit for her, and those were pretty selective. That meant she had to apply to a double list of schools, and do both kinds of application work.</p>
<p>To the OP - I second many of the options people are suggesting. My D had Bard, Goucher and Brandeis on her list. My older D went to Tufts, and from what she’s told me, I would check to see if it provides much in terms of actual theatre training.</p>
<p>I agree with EmmyBet. My D had alot of different schools on her list, BA and BFA, with a broad range of selectivity.</p>
<p>I would add to the list to consider: Connecticut College, Skidmore, Macalester (great theater city!), WashU in St. Louis (has a performance track in the major; I think it’s listed either under Drama or Performing Arts), Brandeis, Emory. Not all of these are safeties, clearly!! Muhlenberg is a safety that offers merit aid. </p>
<p>As to double majoring at NYU: It is possible, but the point of what classes are available on the days you are not in studio is important. There has been alot of stuff my D would have liked to take, but it is only offered on the days she is in studio… To figure out how this might specifically impact you, I’d have you consider two things:
One, is that the TIsch BFA requires a minimum of six semesters of professional training, so that leaves you with a full year to take only academic courses (eight semesters is the maximum of studio allowed) if you choose to do three years of training. There are still acting electives that you can take even if you are not enrolled in studio that semester. </p>
<p>The second is to google “NYU Registration” until you find your way to the site on Albert (the NYU computer system) where Fall 2013 courses are listed and work your way through departments that might be of interest. This will give you a feel for what types of courses are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays – you would be in studio on M, W and F (except Freshman year, but that’s irrelevant, because all your academic courses are in Tisch the first year – Writing the Essay and the Intro to Theater Studies)</p>
<p>NYU does offer a variety of ways to fit in courses besides during the semester – you can do a summer or January term – and if you do that, you can take just one course and not a full load of credits. There also are summer studio options both abroad and in NYC.</p>
<p>I agree with EmmyBet re: overall strategy and would also echo the suggestion to consider Gallatin if you really like NYU. Your stats seem pretty good for NYU, but I wouldn’t consider any of the other schools to be safeties unless you applied EA to Elon (it’s not really a safety unless you apply early). American is probably safe also, if you apply there; can’t remember what their theater program requirements are (is it auditioned? maybe just for MT?). I don’t know enough about in-state expectations for Chapel Hill; if you were from our school and applying in-state to UVa, I’d say you were probably an even match if your ACT goes up, but not a dead certainty (depending on your courseload, specific APs, etc.) as they pay a lot of attention to statistics and the “target” varies from year to year. Same with BU: for theater, it’s nobody’s safety, but your qualifications sound good for regular admission. I’d suggest you research a wider range of schools and consider some liberal-arts college/universities with a somewhat higher acceptance rate than Tufts, Swarthmore, Georgetown, Vassar, Chicago, etc., which are all extremely competitive–especially if you’re a girl (I can’t remember whether you’ve mentioned that?). SD’s suggestions of Connecticut Coll. and Skidmore are good starting points. We had UNH on my son’s list also, and really liked that school overall; I believe their acting program will be by audition next year, but it still could be a good target school, and they gave excellent financial aid, if that matters.</p>
<p>If you’re in NC and looking for a BFA closer to home- definitely check out Coastal Carolina in Myrtle Beach! Not a safety, but if you’re close by an audition day wouldn’t be too terrible of a drive.</p>
<p>As for a safety, I don’t know much about the undergrad program at UNC Chapel Hill, but we took a day trip there this year and saw “Clybourne Park” at Playmakers Rep. The theatre building is GORGEOUS, not to mention the campus in general, and all of the MFA students were quite wonderful in the show. I enjoyed their performances over some of the equity company members who performed. There is the concept that you wouldn’t want to do undergrad at a school with a big MFA program like that, but as a safety in-state I think it’s probably a good option if academically/financially it works. :)</p>
<p>I looked at some of your past posts, and saw that you have an interest in political science. Tisch offers minors in Public Policy and the Arts and in Applied Theatre (where political theater can be studied). Through its theatre studies, there are different opportunities to explore the intersection between policy / politics and theater, whether through the issues that affect art or through performing to express a political viewpoint. This could be supplemented by IR and PoliSci courses through CAS (Arts and Sciences). </p>
<p>You can also do Study Abroad with a political focus while a Tisch student. Not sure if all BFAs offer this opportunity. You would need to not do studio for a semester for this, though, as these programs would be through CAS.</p>
<p>Not saying pick Tisch over all your choices, but just trying to help you understand how an academic curriculum there might proceed for you.</p>
<p>Sorry: I should have put this post on your BA / BFA thread, instead of your search for more schools.</p>
<p>Tisch is my top choice as of right now.
I’m a girl and will have taken APLang, APStats. APUSH, AP World, AP Euro, AP Bio, AP Physics, AP Gov, AP Lit, AP Calc AB and BC by the time I graduate.
I’m in the 25th percentile for UNC (in state) right now.
I take online classes with North Carolina School of Science and Math, do colorguard, winterguard, dance, voice and drama for ECs.
I was considering Barnard and Bryn Mawr as options, with Elon being an academic safety as well as Appalachian State. I’m planning on applying early to Bryn Mawr, however. I would hear back early due to rolling admissions, and then would not apply to any safety schools (except UNC as a financial safety).</p>
<p>actually, I would consider substituting Williams College for one of your BA reaches. Great theater program. You don’t need more reaches, so I say substitute – but it is a fabulous place for the arts.</p>
<p>I assume when you say “25th %ile” you are saying that you are in the top quarter of applicants, not the bottom. So, you are really in the 75th %ile – or above. If you are in the bottom 25, then you would need to rethink your entire list!</p>