<p>My D has received two acceptances for BFA Acting programs at schools where her first choice was BFA MT and one acceptance for BFA MT. She is still waiting to hear from some other schools.<br>
Her first love is MT, but she also loves Shakespeare. We think we know how to compare BFA MT programs, but it is more difficult to compare a BFA Acting program at one school to a BFA MT at another school.<br>
What are the questions we ask about the BFA Acting program? The ones we think of are:
Can all students audition for all shows?<br>
Are there dance and voice lessons available for BFA Acting students?
Are there other classes we should be asking about?
What are the downsides of a BFA in Acting program if a student's heart is in MT?<br>
Thanks.</p>
<p>I have seen a few MT programs that have Shakespeare available to MT students, so ask if that’s possible with the MT schedule.
Some schools will allow an acting student to re-audition in the coming year for MT, so you might ask if that ever happens.
See if the acting BFA school has a dance and/or music minor.
I’ve heard a few folks say (nobody of any particular importance) that an acting degree is respected in some circles more than an MT degree, so if you can get the voice and dance lessons on the side somehow it’s not a bad path at all.<br>
Congrats on all those acceptances!</p>
<p>It really depends upon the university and how they differentiate. At CMU there really isn’t much difference between the BFA Acting and MT programs. The man difference is the actors are required 7 outside electives while the MTS take those as dance and voice lessons, though many Actors take those as well. Your sophomore year of CMU training is all dedicated to Shakespearean work, not in just your acting class, but your Voice/Speech class as well, you work on dozens of Shakespearean monologues as well as sonnets. You do 2 scenes a semester in it, and this past season one of our Mainstage productions was A Midsummer Nights Dream.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments. We need to make a close comparison of the Acting and MT programs at the schools and look at whether a minor is available if she picks the BFA in Acting route.<br>
I think one thing we have learned from this process is that there are many different paths for students and the key is to be flexible and see the opportunities as they come along. My D auditioned at a less well-known program this past weekend and loved it. She walked away saying that she could really “see” herself at the school. We haven’t heard yet back from that school, but we think there is a reasonable possibility for being admitted to the BFA MT program.
My D is still waiting to hear from her “top” choices, but we now understand a little more about finding the right “fit” that people talk about. Depending on the school, the best “fit” may be a BFA in Acting that allows her more options or a BFA in MT at a less well-known school. My D is coming from a very small high school with a limited theatre program and a key for my D may be finding the school where the professors are excited about her and see her talents as “clicking” with their program.</p>
<p>The choice is clear depending on your daughter’s current skill set. </p>
<p>She should most definitely go to a MT program if she is lacking in dance. A MT program is more well rounded but a Acting program is going to be much more intensive in all acting subjects (more opportunities to study abroad, actually MASTER shakespeare and not just touch upon it in one semester in their junior year, etc.). MT schools sometimes get a bad rap for not having more acting classes, but it is because they must fit Dance, Acting, Voice AND Music theory while still giving students options to study On Camera acting and things like that. There is only so much you can do in one day. People who are already natural actors and feel confident calling themselves that usually do well at MT programs because the acting will never be a worry and they can devote their time to dance and music.</p>
<p>If your daughter is a fantastic dancer and will only need a couple of classes a month she should go to the acting school. Acting ultimately is what will be more rewarding in her career. Regardless of if a BFA acting degree offers voice lessons to acting students, you can go to someone outside of school or even work out a deal with the school’s voice department. Doing that would actually benefit your daughter especially if she is a belter – being able to belt and sing legit WELL is a rarity. She could work in one voice lesson from the vocal department and then go find someone outside of school for “musical theatre” type lessons.</p>
<p>Dance class is harder to fit in with a BFA acting degree. Taking two voice lessons a week outside of school would be manageable, but if your daughter NEEDS dance training, there will be no way she can fit in the amount of dance she needs to build up her skills.</p>
<p>Of course, this information is based off my colleagues individual experience and by no means is it carved in stone. But I am throwing it out there so you can see what has worked for other people in the past.</p>
<p>And I totally forgot about this – possibly the most important part of her decision.</p>
<p>She should go where she can see herself being happy for four years. That factors in too haha! She is going to make out of her education what she puts in. If a program lacks something and she wants to improve, she is going to kick butt and FIND a way. An actor must be resourceful and tenacious and resilient – its a tough life and success is never handed out. :)</p>
<p>There are many schools who offer both programs and I really think that each school’s acting program needs to be researched as to where it overlaps with their MT program. My daughter is an MT @UArts and the MTs and acting students overlap many classes. The big difference in the first two years is that MTs have MT performance, private voice, and dance classes. The acting students do stage combat, movement… This school does offer a MT minor and there is a possibility of taking private voice. Dance classes can also be taken. The fit of these classes in an acting majors schedule would need further research. Once again, I’m not certain that you can make any broad range conclusion, but rather take a careful look at each individual school.</p>
<p>My son was accepted to every acting program to which he applied, but only to 3 MT programs. He looked into the differences and decided he wanted a MT program. What he gained in that was a lot of music, voice, and dance classes that the theatrer students did not get. Those were the areas where he wanted emphasis so it did make sense for him to go to an acting program where he would not get the concentration in them. I, for one, would have much preferred that he picked the acting or theater programs, but I let him make the choice.</p>
<p>I agree with most of what’s been said. It is different at various schools - and you should check that out at each school. It is also very true at many good MT programs, like CMU,the MT major is very credit-heavy and the acting major might have a bit more wiggle room. What really wanted to reiterate is go to the school that you felt was a great place for you to be for the next four years - that IS the most important thing.</p>
<p>We are digging into the details about the different programs.</p>
<p>At both the schools where she was admitted for BFA in Acting, there is a minor in musical theatre and at least on paper, she could do that. She is going to talk to the professors and see if that is something they recommend - but they are off on spring break now. A BFA in Acting with a minor in MT might end up being a better option for her than a straight MT.</p>
<p>She still has some schools she is waiting to hear from – it is just good to know that there are different options and choices.</p>
<p>S was admitted to BFA MT at Utah. Acting program is strong-does anyone know more about the MT program?</p>
<p>Natalieblue - having many option open to you after undergrad is always a good idea.</p>