<p>College search is well underway for our junior S. We visited WUSTL a couple of weeks ago, and will be going to Case Western and Miami (Ohio) next. At that point, his full summer schedule kicks in, with Boys' State, Philmont Hiking, trip to Europe and finishing his Eagle Scout project, so the remaining visits (Northwestern, CMU, Lehigh, JHU) will probably fall in August/September.</p>
<p>He has a pretty good sense of what he wants, so we hope to have ED/EA decisions made and apps in by October 1. I would really like to see him have an enjoyable Senior year, without a lot of last minute scrambling. Fortunately, he wants the same thing. ;-)</p>
<p>I'm not sure whether this is going to be harder on us or on him! </p>
<p>Anyone have any thoughts on the drama/my ba at Hfstra? Other nonaudition ba safeties on the east coast? And what about Point Park in Pittsburgh (their BFA). I haven't read much about it, will take my daughter for a quick visit when I drop her at CMU...</p>
<p>Hi, I know a little about Hofstra as I have looked into it for some clients and have two who got in and one who is going in the fall. Hofstra University has both a BA in Drama and a BFA in Theater Arts. The department actually puts on one musical per year (not counting straight drama) and there are student run musicals as well. They will allow BA students to audition for the BFA in performance as a sophomore. I do not think you can be admitted to the BFA as a freshmen. Therefore, this school can make a good safety school as no audition is required, yet there is a BFA option that may be a possibility once in the school. It isn't a MT program, however. The school has dance and so perhaps a student could compliment their program with courses in dance. If a student is not admitted to the BFA, there is still the BA degree program in Drama. They have a senior showcase. Occasionally a BA student might be able to be in the showcase, as well. </p>
<p>The school is about fifteen minutes from NYC so that is appealing for some. The university has 9300 undergraduates. The acceptance rate for the college as a whole is 62%. 22% come from the top decile of their senior class. The avg. GPA of admitted students is 3.22, so this is a good option for a B+ range student. The mid 50% range for the SATs (old version) are V 500-590 and M 510-600 or 1145 avg (not counting the WR section). They have small classes. Half commute and half live in dorms. Local restaurants are included in the meal plans! :) For those looking into acting or even a non audition safety for theater/drama (BA), it is worth a look. For those in this academic stat range, it is another option.</p>
<p>Soozievt, thanks. Sounds like a perfect safety. The other one we are looking at is New School. My d does better than the numbers above but not in the 4.0-4. 5 range. She is going to apply to Emerson ea and audition so we will see. Right now we have Drew as a safety for ba and College of Santa Fe as audition bfa (well as much as a bfa can be a safety!). Her learning issues means she may not have as many ecs as others, too much with all of her aps....</p>
<p>Just looked at Hofstra online. They do have a theater bfa but I couldn't find anything about the audition. Is it not required? WOuld seem a bit odd...</p>
<p>Right, when I looked at Hofstra's website last fall, I have in my notes that there was nothing about an audition. I surmised it might be an audition once you were there, perhaps. As it turns out, the student I advised who is enrolling there, just came back from a visit and was told that you audition to get into the BFA as a soph but there is still also the BA program option. So, I don't think there is an audition to be admitted as a frosh. </p>
<p>I know nothing about your D and so the concept of a "safety" school is quite relative. I'll just add that I notice you mentioned Drew and that was a safety for some students I worked with as well. </p>
<p>I'll throw out these ideas to you but they are not individualized to your D's needs/interests/qualifications but as you are looking for some options other than BFA....</p>
<p>Here are some you may want to look at that are BA in MT but do require auditions (thus not totally safeties but may be "easier" than the BFA options):
James Madison
Wagner
Fordham
American</p>
<p>And there are a few BA in MT programs where there is no audition or an optional audition:
Muhlenberg (more selective than the ones we were talking about)
Indiana University
University of New Hampshire
McDaniel College</p>
<p>For a safety....she could look at Towson U...their BA in Theater Major has an Acting Track with some courses in MT. I don't know her stats but a good BA option might be Skidmore. </p>
<p>While no BFA is a safety (!!)...some that are in an "easier" range might include....Pace, Roosevelt, perhaps even Point Park...and yes, Santa Fe.</p>
<p>I'm not sure how easy Point Park is to get into, as we know many who didn't get in, but they may take a little larger entering class than some of the other audition based programs. You can read about Point Park in the Point Park thread at the top of the MT page.</p>
<p>Also, Indiana U does have theatre BA which is non-audition, but people entering fall of 2007 or later need to be aware that the new MT program they are starting will require an audition. We thought IU had fabulous facilities and did a very good play when we visited. When this very good theatre program is combined with their highly ranked vocal music program and good dance, I would imagine that the new MT audition-based program will be awesome. I think you junior parents would be well-served to consider it. I'm just not sure IU should be considered as much of a safety starting in 2007.</p>
<p>Ericsmom...thank you for your post. I agree. I surely hope that nobody thought Point Park was "easy to get into" from my post as it is NOT. It is hard with BFA programs because in many ways, all are a reach because all have low rates of admissions. I think there are some BFA programs that are a tad "easier" (NOT EASY) to get into than others due to possibly less competitive applicant pools and/or if those who apply also get into more competitive programs, they may not opt to enroll, thus opening slots for other students. In that regard, I was adding Point Park. But none of the BFAs are easy to get into at all. For some students, I encourage adding schools like Point Park, Roosevelt, Santa Fe, Pace, MM, Hartt, Wagner....when their list has schools that consist only of the likes of CCM, CMU, etc. I think that is one way to balance an ALL BFA list of schools. But many need to also add BA schools to their list...such as Mulenberg, American, Skidmore, UNH, etc. Until now, Indiana was a great BA add on for a list and in fact, a good friend of both my girls who applied to all BFA in MT programs plus Indiana, got into none of the BFA programs but is at Indiana and loving it. I am glad you also brought up the very important point about the new BFA program at Indiana because that changes things there compared to in the past. If Indiana is a BFA....it surely would not serve as a "safety" for anyone. Would they still be maintaining the BA options there? If so, it might appear an option in that regard. </p>
<p>So, thank you for reminding everyone not to consider ANY BFA programs as "safeties". Some are less competitive than others, that is all. But all are selective and have low admit rates. One may want some less competitive BFA programs on a list with the most competitive ones, as well. Balancing one's list is important. For many applicants, BA safeties are advisable as well. </p>
<p>When I visited Indiana, I could not have been more impressed. The undergaduate adviosr for the Theatre department, Charles Railsback, gave me a whole two hours to speak with him and to tour the facilites. The program sounds amazing, the facilites are first rate, and as said above- their music and dance training can't be beat!</p>
<p>Right after that, I walked straight to the admissions office, handed them a check, and pretty much said 'See you next year.' I fell in love with the school, and frankly, I couldn't be happier.</p>
<p>And besides, if I decide the BA isnt where I want to be, I can either </p>
<p>A- transfer
or
B- audition for the new BFA with my foot already in the door!</p>
<p>I have been looking at IU's website and there is still no sign of the BFA track for next year. Are we sure that this is happening, if anyone knows? My daughter is extremely interested in that school, given its already excellent reputation in all three musical theatre disciplines.</p>
<p>babar - I think that Fordham does not offer MT - maybe has 1 MT class in the theatre program.</p>
<p>manuelo - we heard rumors from the department at IU about this a year ago Feb. when we visited. In the meantime, there were some great posts during this school year that seemed to make it official. I'll see what I can find for you.</p>
<p>Thanks, Ericsmom - My child auditioned for the BFA at Fordham and I thought I understood the program but since soozievt is a professional counselor I thought maybe she knew something I didn't based on her earlier posting. The Fordham program is very competitive, btw. They have only on-site auditions but the school itself had a tremendous increase in applications, possibly partly because of the increased interest in urban campuses (the BFA program is at Lincoln Center). Thanks for answering my question!</p>
<p>I have not had any students ever apply to Fordham or attend. They do not have a BFA in musical theater. Earlier, I was refering to their BA program which to my knowledge requires an audition to be admitted. The BA is in Theater Performance, not MT. </p>
<p>Babar, what program did your child audition for? A BFA in ____? </p>
<p>As I have no first hand information at Fordham, I only know what I have read. I have read that if in the BA in Theater Performance major, one can supplement with dance courses at Alvin Ailey and vocal training at The Singer's Forum for credit. They have a musical theater course, directing and playwriting. There is a senior showcase. The program has a liberal arts core curriculum. One must audition to get into this BA major as part of the admissions process. If any of that information is incorrect, please let me know as I'd love to learn as much as possible. </p>
<p>In my earlier post, I accidentally listed Fordham under BA in "MT" that requires an audition when I meant to list it as a BA that requires an audition, as I knew it was not a MT program and apologize. I had in my mind BA options that require auditions but had not separated out MT vs. Theater Performance when I posted. Fordham, I knew, however, was a school where one can supplement with voice and dance for credit. I believe my D's roomie at CAP21, who got in ED, had originally planned to audition at Fordham and she is a MT type through and through. Maybe it was her "relative safety", not sure...she never ended up auditioning as she got into Tisch/CAP ED.</p>
<p>You are right, it is confusing. Their BA in Theatre requires an audition. They have a BFA only for dance which is in association with Alvin Ailey. We kind of thought of the program as a safety in a way...though no audition school is a safety. However, my s. was admitted to much "tougher" places and not here - and he had what he considered one of his best auditions at Fordham. He did check on the application that he would not consider it if he did not get housing, and housing is at a premium at the Lincoln Center campus...but who knows...it's just weird. We toured in the summer and he didn't much like it (well, the location is great and the dorms are great but the "campus" is basically one building and most of the facilities were locked). I think he liked it better when he was there for the audition.</p>
<p>Babar...ok, phew, think we have it straightened out now :). I was baffled when you wrote BFA...I only knew of the BFA in dance there. </p>
<p>You are right that no audition based program is as safety by its nature. As mentioned previously, some schools are "relatively" less competitive than others. Even still, because the audition based programs are so selective, it is pretty common to see someone get into a TOP school and then not some other audition based programs that some might consider not as competitive. Every year, I see numerous students who get into X but not Y and then some other kid gets into Y, not X. That's why one can't read too much into not getting admitted to a particular audition based program but just look at the overall results. After all, you only need to get into one anyway. A choice is a nice thing to have happen, of course. But look at the results of many kids and you will find someone going to a very well regarded BFA program who didn't get into some other program, perhaps one even thought of as less "tough" to get into.</p>
<p>Okay parents of Juniors (and students too), the forum's getting a bit quiet now that final decisions have been made by the seniors. So as our CC seniors ready for the Prom and other festivities, instead of hanging out here it's probably time for us to move past this thread (Junior Moms/Dads Check In) and onto specific topical threads for discussion. So, feel free to bring up old threads to start posting new questions on, or create some new threads of our own. I think the baton is nearly ready to be passed . . . .</p>