<p>Hi!
I will be a rising high school sophomore this year ('13-'14) and would like to know where to get started looking for colleges. I am going to pursue a BFA Acting degree. I would like to know where to get started looking for schools. I preferably will leave the south and find a college/conservatory in the north. I so far have looked at the big ones: Carnegie Mellon, NYU, AMDA, Boston, etc. but would really like to start being familiarized with more schools in urban northern areas. I don't want to be lost as a junior!</p>
<p>What should I start doing now? What should my list of desired colleges be composed of? Please help me get started!</p>
<p>Seriously, you should start by setting aside some time to read through the archived threads in this forum (they’re pinned at the top–twelve parts, but it’s not as bad as it sounds!). The information and stories there will help you get started. Keep notes, as you’ll start seeing variables that matter to you, names of programs and people that seem interesting, lots of stuff to think about. You’ll notice that, while not everybody adheres to it, the general rule of thumb is to apply to a range of schools, including both auditioned and non-auditioned programs, and please don’t rule out BA programs–the differences between BA and BFA aren’t that cut-and-dried. Reading through the threads, youll find lists of programs, acceptances and destinations for kids each year, discussions of everything from starting your list to choosing your audition monologues to making a final decision. It’s a fun but demanding process–congrats on getting an early start, and once you’ve done some research, I expect you’ll be back here with more specific questions!</p>
<p>Also remember that for theatre students your audition can be just as important, or even more important, then grades and test scores. It’s never too early to begin working on your audition. Also be sure in the meantime to do as many shows as possible, and take as many acting classes as possible. This will also improve your audition, and also show people how much you really love theatre.</p>
<p>My D will be attending Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt (sometimes referred to as CCPA in threads) in the fall. The school is located in the theatre/museum district of Chicago right across from Grant Park. Great location and lovely people at the school. You should check them out as well as some of the other Chicago schools for theatre.</p>
<p>Times3:
Thank you so much! I’ll take this advice to heart. I’m going to begin right now! </p>
<p>And TheRealKEVP:
Thanks! I ordered two monologue books to really see what some good possibilities are. I’ve (also) been getting into reading a lot of plays so hopefully I’ll get some candidates from there too!</p>
<p>I was hoping to use the books to find good plays for monologues. I ordered three and around 20ish plays so hopefully ill find some. If the monologues in the book are from published plays, would they be fine to use?</p>
<p>All monologues that appear in monologue books tend to be overdone. It is far better to find monologues that the auditors are not likely to have heard over and over.</p>
<p>One way to find monologues is to identify a playwright you like and look up lesser-known works by him or her.</p>
<p>Some dialogues may be turned into monologues by cutting the lines of the other character. This is acceptable.</p>
<p>If you have access to an audition coach who is familiar with the college audition process, that person should be able to help you find suitable monologues.</p>
<p>Thank you! I’ll hopefully find a good Classical Greek playwright (I don’t think I’m going to use Shakespeare for a classical monologue… too obvious). I have some contemporary playwrights in mind. I love Doug Wright, Lynn Nottage, Caryl Churchill, Tony Kushner…</p>
<p>Thats a smart idea! And do you think it would be fine to ask my school director for audition help? If not, where can I find one?</p>
<p>mjantoci - Welcome, and good luck! You’re getting a nice early start, and that will help you a lot.</p>
<p>My quickest piece of advice would include this:</p>
<p>1) Do as well as you can in school, and on standardized tests. It will increase your options for both BFAs and BAs, and could get you much-needed scholarships.
2) Be involved in as many productions as you can, however you can (including tech). Try to get experience with different groups, not just your HS. Summer intensives are really great if you can afford them, but summer community theatre can be incredibly valuable, too.
3) Think about what you want in your college theatre experience. What kinds of things do you want to learn? Just Acting, or more broad subjects? How much time do you want to spend in theatre classes and productions? All schools are different, and you can look at their course listings and how their degree is structured on their website. Further questions include whether you are also interested in MT, if it is important that the school have a senior showcase for agents, if the school allows study abroad, etc.
4) Think about other aspects of college that you want. Do you care about size, location, etc.? Do you want other activities, more or less focus on academics, to be near a city? Is cost a factor? </p>
<p>Everyone is different in what they want. It’s OK to start looking at the famous - and very, very selective - programs, and to apply to a few as a reach. But there are many, many schools that have excellent training, and many of them are slightly less difficult to get into, and have more scholarships available. And they might fit your needs better, once you’ve decided what kind of experience is best for you. </p>
<p>If you can give us an idea of 4 or 5 aspects that really appeal to you, what your hopes and plans are, what kind of student you are, and what you can afford, we can make lots and lots of suggestions.</p>
<p>My only quibble is that I am not sure that monologues have to be from “published” plays. If by some strange chance you have performed in a play that has not been published (I have at least once), and there was a good monologue in that play, then by all means use it. Nobody else would have that monologue!</p>
<p>Also remember that different schools are going to have different requirements. So you may have to rehearse several monologues so that you meet all the requirement. One school may require that your classical be Shakespeare, for example. Another may require all monologues be contemporary. And different schools have different definitions of what constitutes “classical” or “contemporary”.</p>
<p>It seems like it is a good idea to have one or two “backup” monologues anyway, schools have been known to ask auditioners if they have a different monologue. Some schools now require you to prepare a backup in addition to the two you are doing.</p>
<p>Go ahead and ask the teachers at your school for help. If they can’t help themselves, they may be able to put you in touch with some other resources.</p>
<p>Three of four of my son’s monologues were from well-known plays, and of five auditions he got into 2, Wl at one more and two rooms, multiple adjustments, positive feedback (though ultimately rejected) at Cmu. Just find material that speaks to you and rehearse the hell out of it.</p>
<p>Fyi He did
Trinculo from the Tempest
Tom from Glass Menagerie
Edmund from Lear (Bastards)
Something from a play called TheHoneyMoon</p>
<p>Also check out the audition guidelines at the U Birmingham City theater program. I found it really interesting and intermittently hilarious in its judge mental-ness. [Birmingham</a> City University : Home Page](<a href=“http://Www.bcu.ac.uk%5DBirmingham”>http://Www.bcu.ac.uk)</p>
<p>So, I got the link wrong above, and also, when I located the material it had been edited to be far less snarky. (There used to be at least a page and a half of monologues to avoid, and the part about not doing accents was much stronger.)</p>
<p>I just read it, jkellyn, and it IS interesting! There are so many variations of audition guidelines out there–while it’s crucial to know the specifics for each school you’re applying to, I think it also helps to read a lot of different schools’ suggestions and get to know the range of what’s “normal.” These are pretty useful–thanks for posting the link!</p>
<p>“If you can give us an idea of 4 or 5 aspects that really appeal to you, what your hopes and plans are, what kind of student you are, and what you can afford, we can make lots and lots of suggestions.”</p>
<p>The biggest things that I’ve discovered really matter to me when choosing a school are:
After looking at the BFA vs. BA debates, I really think I’m leaning far closer to BFA. I really would like to have a schedule of full theatre that prepares me fully for the competitive industry. I don’t have an issue with having to take liberal arts electives or something like ‘Theatre History’ or a standard literature class; I realize courses like that are required and I wouldn’t mind them at all… I’d actually prefer them! I was also looking into maybe additionally getting an MFA in Theatre Education or Directing. Both have really interested me and I feel that I would have something better to fall back on IF the gruel of auditions really get to me after a while. Getting an MFA would follow a BFA, correct? And if I have a BFA Acting degree, is it required/expected for me to go into a higher level of MFA Acting? How would that work?
I have been, so far, an all A student. By the time I graduate, I will have taken 8 or so APs and really worked. I plan on maintaining this… hopefully.
At this point, my parents basically have said “To go out of state (Georgia), you need to get a scholarship,” which is very very stressful. At the least, I would need some kind of financial aid provided by the school.
I have noticed I prefer smaller learning environments. The most important thing to me is the quality of the education I receive. I really would like for it to be in smaller classes, less people, more individualist teaching.
I really want to move to the north. Boston, Pittsburgh, New York, New Jersey… these are my ideal places. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the monologue information from everyone! I think I’m gonna start digging for them! </p>
<p>Hopefully you’ll help me find some good school ideas that I should start looking at. Thanks!</p>
<p>You do not need a BFA to pursue an MFA. You do need a bachelor’s degree (BA, BFA, BM, etc…)</p>
<p>There are BA programs that very much prepare students to go out and work immediately in the industry. There are BFA programs that may not do a particularly good job if preparing students to go out and work immediately in the industry… and vice versa…</p>
<p>The type of degree itself does not really matter, the training, educational environment, and preparation for the business do.</p>