<p>My son is a HS senior getting ready to apply to both BFA and BA programs. </p>
<p>He really wants a BFA program and is applying to 8 schools with auditions and 3 BA schools, two of which are academic safeties.</p>
<p>He is showing major love to his BA schools- interviewing, visiting, attending class etc etc.</p>
<p>His sense is that he doesn't need to do a major public relations push with the BFA schools as their acceptances are from 50% to 95% audition based.</p>
<p>That sounds right to me- he visited about 5 of the BFA schools last Spring to get an idea of the programs, but here is the question:</p>
<p>Can one blow off the endless emails about attending a local info session etc etc with the BFA schools, and spend one's time on better things-- like preparing the monologues :)</p>
<p>Or is contact with the BFA/audition schools important to the admissions process?</p>
<p>Good question – but I do think it is all about the audition. If you have to make a time trade-off, I would opt for more time preparing your monologues to knock their socks off!</p>
<p>I would guess that it does make a difference. Of course, they want different types of talented actors. But all things being equal (and some of those hundreds of applicants must be equally talented), they will want the students who want them. </p>
<p>But this is just a guess. I hope someone who knows will let us in on the secret.</p>
<p>One case study . . . so it may not be worth much. D was very interested in a particular BFA program – visited the campus, met with the head of the department (who spent more than an hour with her), met students, corresponded pre-audition, etc. Went to the audition and the head of the department remembered her and me – came out to say hello and make small talk while we were waiting for her turn to audition. D felt good about her audition. Didn’t get accepted to the program. Interestingly, the head of the department called after and said that while they couldn’t accept her into the program, he hoped that she would consider going to their school anyway (just not majoring in theatre). She got a very generous scholarship and was admitted to their honors program. He said that they really liked her as a person, but she wasn’t what they were looking for in their acting program. Now, maybe if she was on the bubble with someone else who hadn’t shown the same level of interest in their program, she would have gotten the nod – but my point is that while showing a strong interest in the school won’t hurt, it won’t necessarily influence whether you are accepted. D did get accepted to four other programs and is currently a freshman at the BFA acting program . . . so I don’t think it was because she didn’t have any talent. Its a crap shoot. Now, I am going to contradict myself and say that you’ve got to put everything you can into it – and showing an interest in the program may be part of that – but won’t overcome a mediocre audition.</p>
<p>The emails are Admissions open houses for the schools as a whole, not specifically from the Theatre Department. </p>
<p>My son’s decided to definitely do tours/info sessions for the schools within driving distance that he hasn’t yet visited-- he’d like to get a better ‘feel’ for each school before the auditions if possible. Hopefully he can tour the theatre facilities too.</p>
<p>Also, his BA/non-audition schools are ones he really likes as well-- and who knows, in 6 months he may prefer the BA to the BFA. 6 Months is a long time for a young person, and ideas can change!</p>
<p>I will say that this is a crazy intense process even in September! Thank God he is really organized by nature. My other kid could never pulll off applying to so many schools!</p>
<p>My short answer is yes, you can ignore the invitations to info session, open houses, etc - especially if it is a school you wouldn’t attend unless admitted to the BFA program. I know at the department level, we don’t even know if a student visits the University unless they have an appointment to see one of us.
If you are going to make time for a college visit, then the visit to the department is the important one because it will help determine if the school is a good fit for you. My opinion also is that more then one visit isn’t necessary unless you are admitted to the BFA program and are trying to choose between schools.</p>
<p>Other than Muhlenberg, which is not a BFA program, I don’t think any of the schools to which my D (now a sophomore at NYU Tisch in CAP21) cared whether she “showed the love” to them or not. Her admissions offers were based on the audition and academic record (for the schools, such as NYU, who care about that.) On the other hand, ALL4FSU makes an excellent point in saying that visiting campus, talking to students and teachers, etc. is of benefit TO THE STUDENT in deciding whether the school is a fit.</p>