Good theater programs (BFA and BA) that are not just looking for the 4.0 student

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>Before I begin, please understand I am not looking down on anyone with a 4.0 GPA. I applaude you! </p>

<p>I have never been a 4.0 student. I've always tried very hard in class, but unlike my sister who is EXTREMELY intelligent, school has never been my highest point. I've always done okay. I am only a junior, but as of currently I have around a 3.0 GPA. I have Dyslexia, but I am not falling back on that at all! School has just always been harder for me personally, and I've always felt like I've had to work harder than others.
With that being said, what are some good theater programs that aren't all about a top GPA? I know that sounds horrible, but I am not trying to make it sound bad. There are several amazing theater programs that do prefer higher GPAs, such as CMU and NYU, which are fantastic schools! But I feel like, knowing that I am trying as much as I can, that my 3.0 GPA will hold me back a bit. Now, I also know I have a year and a half left, but realistically, a 4.0 is out of range at this point obviously. I've been acting for 10 years at a private conservatory that is very prestigious. We have a annual, nationally ranked Shakespeare festival, so I have top references, but my grades might hold me back a bit. Could someone please give me some advice on schools, both BFA and BA, that fit my criteria?</p>

<p>Thank you,
Chasie</p>

2

<p>There are lots and lots of schools that don’t require a 4.0 GPA. Even schools that often expect it for academic admissions don’t really care about your grades and scores, and focus their attention on your audition. Read some of the back threads on this forum, and you can find schools that you are interested in, then see what people say about their interest in high grades/scores (you don’t mention your scores - in many cases high test scores can help a lower GPA).</p>

<p>Second, there are so many schools that would be just fine with a 3.0 GPA that you’re going to have to give us more information about what you want: location, type of program, cost, etc.</p>

3

<p>Well I scored very well on my ACT-28.
I honestly don’t know exactly what I want, except that I either want to receive a BFA in acting, or a BA with a concentration in acting. It honestly depends on the individual school and program. I am from Louisville, Ky, and though I am not set on a midwest college, it would be nice to be within 6-8 hours maximum of my hometown. Of course, there are exceptions! My family could potential be considered as “low-income,” so I am eligable for finachial aid.</p>

4

<p>I think that very few BFA programs demand stellar grades (BA programs will usually have the same admissions criteria as the college or university, and will vary accordingly). NYU, BU, Carnegie-Mellon, and some others remain academically selective, but still probably admit applicants who auditioned well, but whose GPAs and/or SATs are lower than other applicants to the university. Some programs, such as DePaul, specify a certain minimum they expect students to have (2.5 GPA at DePaul, other art schools have said 2.0). When we visited Mason Gross at Rutgers, the graduate student representative said “we don’t care about your grades.” I would suggest that you rule no school out quite yet, but cast a wide academic and financial net. Most conservatory programs care more about talent - they are likelier to accept the student with lower grades who auditioned well than a less talented applicant with a higher GPA. The competition is so intense, though, that the applicant’s academic record can be a determining factor. It will also play a role in allocating scholarship funds. Are your board scores competitive. Colleges like “juicing” their statistics, so they will be forgiving toward a lower GPA if it’s accompanied by high test scores. My son’s grades are not very good, but we hope that the 780 in Critical Reading will help him out.</p>

5

<p>Thank you for the advice. I guess I am just paranoid.
Here are my current list of colleges that I am interested in:
Otterbein (BFA)
Evansville (BFA)
DePaul (BFA)
Columbia COLLEGE (BA, with possibility of BFA)
Roosevelt (BFA)
Webster (BFA)
Berea (BA, with concentration in acting)
Georgetown COLLEGE (BA, concentration in acting)
CMU (BFA) - dream school*
NYU Steinherdt (BS)
Purchase (BFA)
NKU (BFA)
WKU (BFA)</p>

<ul>
<li>I know I should start limiting my list, but these are all the schools I have strongly considered.</li>
</ul>

<p>Stats:
GPA: 3.0 (unweighted)
-3.3 weighted
ACT: 28</p>

<p>Extracurricular:
Ensemble Theater
Drama Club
Publicity Chair for Drama Club
WT- private conservatory (10 years)
Chorus (Church and school- 6 years)</p>

<ul>
<li>The list seems very limited, but WTheatre and Ensemble Theatre take about 15-20 hours out of my week with rehearsals, so I am very active in local theater.</li>
</ul>

<p>Community Service:
Crusade for Children (12 years)
Habitat for Humanity
Dare to Care
Children’s Soup Kitchen
Sunday Daycare at Church
Church Choir
NEDA Week
Arch Disocese of Louisville
Kosair Children’s Hospital
Lights and Sound for Church Fundraisers
Saint Martha Parish Annual Picnic
Church Lip Sync
Vacation Bible School
Ballard Theatre’s Christmas 5-Day Camp
Ballard Theatre’s Day Camp
Nursing Home Assistance</p>

<p>Parent’s Income: Less than $40,000 annually</p>

<p>Education:
BHS (Magnet school for the performing arts)
W Theatre (10 years- private conservatory)</p>

<p>Acceptance:
NYSDA (Unable to attend, because of tuition, even with generous scholarship)
Blue Lake Camp for the Performing Arts (Same situation as above)</p>

<p>Employment:
Hotel Pool- lifeguard- 3 years- 20 hours a week</p>

<p>Physical stats:
Gender: female
Eyes: Hazel
Weight: 122
Height: 5’2
Ethnic: White
Religion: Roman Catholic/Episcopal</p>

<p>Forgive me, I know this is not exactly a resume, but it is all my current information I have.
I plan on uploading my resume, but it is currently not updated.</p>

6

<p>Carnegie-Mellon is academically selective but NOT in the College of Fine Arts where admission is largely based on audition or portfolio. The stats on the College Board site are meaningless when it comes to your chances of admission to a BFA program such as Drama. Also, unlike some schools, CMU matches scholarship offers from schools that are not competitive in academics, such as DePaul, as long as they are competitive within the student’s subject area. </p>

<p>My D says the rest of the school thinks CFA students are challenged and CFA students often get Cs when they take classes outside their department. But there is a similarity between CFA students and other CMU students in that all are very good in their subjects, passionate about whatever it is that they do, and willing to work really, really hard.</p>

7

<p>theater mom- Thank you so much for the advice. Does your child go to CMU? That is my dream school, and I’d love to know more about the program. Honestly, I’ve always been frightened to pursue CMU, because of the reputation of the rigorous criteria.</p>

8

<p>My D is in Design/Production Technology and Management in the Drama department. She had a GPA in the mid-3s and says low 3s are not uncommon among her classmates. So don’t worry about the academics but do keep in mind that it is very, very competitive for actors.</p>

9

<p>theater mom
I am definitely aware of that! The acceptance rate is something like 3%. I cyurrently have 2 friends there</p>

10

<p>Sounds like you know more than I do. Break a leg!</p>

11

<p>Minnesota: <a href=“https://theatre.umn.edu/theatre[/url]”>https://theatre.umn.edu/theatre&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

12

<p>theater mom - thank you for your help :)</p>

<p>zapfino: I have heard great things about their program, but I don’t know enough to back any of it up.</p>

13

<p>You may want to take a look at Coastal Carolina University. With a 3.0 and a 28 ACT you would qualify to be awarded an out-of-state talent scholarship of $6,500 per year. The talent scholarship is obviously based on your audition but your academic stats would qualify you for one.</p>

<p>CCU offers a BFA in Acting and a BFA in Physical Theatre:
<a href=“http://www.coastal.edu/theatre/html/bfa-acting.html[/url]”>http://www.coastal.edu/theatre/html/bfa-acting.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.coastal.edu/theatre/html/bfa-physical-theatre.html[/url]”>http://www.coastal.edu/theatre/html/bfa-physical-theatre.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It is about 10 hours for Louisville, but the program is wonderful and might be a good for for you. Best of luck!</p>

14

<p>Are NKU and WKU “Northern Kentucky” and “Western Kentucky”? Are those auditioned or non-auditioned BFAs? If they are non-auditioned, people here would love it if you would add them to the thread listing those schools.</p>

<p>You have done an excellent job of balancing your list with some safeties and matches, and a nice variety. I know it’s hard not to have a first choice and to fall in love with a hot-shot school. I hope you get in! But if you don’t, take a really good look at what you like about that program - presumably you can get very much the same experience day-to-day at another school with a very similar program, even if you are not at the famous program you’ve been dreaming of. That is how my D dealt with rejection from her first choice, and she’s extremely pleased with the program she is in now.</p>

<p>For the record, she goes to Adelphi University on Long Island. They also give great merit scholarships to students with your stats. It is an auditioned BFA - they do not travel to Unifieds but they do accept video auditions.</p>

15

<p>austinmtmom: thank you :slight_smile: I have heard good things about the school.</p>

<p>EmmyBet: NKU and WKU are Northern and Western Kentucky. They are BFAs. They are non-auditioned I believe, but they’re very good programs. NKU is better known for musical theater, whereas WKU emphasizes on acting. NKU is boring, though. It’s more commuter. WKU is… too fun. Very much a party school, which can be stressful for a BFA major.</p>

16

<p>Definitely look at CCM, OU, OCU, Texas State, Pace, Marymount Manhattan, Chapman, Coastal Carolina… I mean the list can go on and on! Many drama schools don’t consider GPA as much. Any conservatory or conservatory style school will most likely care less about grades.</p>

<p>CMU definitely doesn’t care about grades in the college of fine arts- but they are super selective artistically; they accept like 6 out of over 1000 that audition.
As far as NYU goes- they are super selective. They want the talent and the stellar academics.</p>

17

<p>Chasie- May I suggest looking into Ball State University? I am currently a freshman, and am certain that the school nor the College of Fine Arts requires a 4.0 GPA to gain admittance. It is also an excellent BFA program which is rather near your hometown, if I am not mistaken. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck on your college search!</p>