<p>There’s always grad school, too, Emmybet-- lots of the best actors around started from a strong (or, even from a weak) liberal arts foundation. (Meryl Streep and many more.) Life and a wide range of understanding and experience are so important to any artist.</p>
<p>Just some additional info on the earlier posts on this page. For UMich, you can apply for the “dual option” program – so you can apply for the MT and another program – arts and sciences for example. Must be indicated on admissions form and you are considered separately for each school and you get an admit (or decline) from each school.</p>
<p>For Syracuse, you can also add a number 2 school choice on your application so that if you don’t make the BFA program, you will be considered for your next school choice, like Newhouse for example. HOWEVER, you go down to the bottom of the barrel of your #2 choice if they don’t accept you at your #1 school choice. So all the kids who applied for your #2 choice (as their #1 choice) have preference in the admissions process.</p>
<p>With the exception of Carnegie Mellon, my D applied only to schools that allowed her to get into the school even if she didn’t get into any BFA programs. That was the only way my husband and I would let her approach this. We didn’t know what her outcome would look like and we wanted her to get into a solid academic school, with or without the BFA. That way, if she couldn’t pursue the BFA, she would be able to go to a good school (without the BFA).</p>
<p>I still have to get back to EmmyBet which will take more time as I spent time in gathering things to post for her and lost it all in cyberspace the other night when CC was having some tech issues. </p>
<p>But a quick comment on NewbieMTMom’s post about applying to colleges that have a policy whereby the student could get into the school if not admitted to the BFA and the notion of applying to such schools with that policy so that the student could have the option of attending a “good school” even without the BFA…no problem with that but I just want to put out there that there is another approach, one I would favor over that…apply to some “good schools” that are non-audition…not even necessarily “safeties” (though MUST include a safety too) and so to have possible options of “good schools” even if not admitted to the BFA schools. I say this and prefer this because if one attends many of the BFA schools but is NOT In the BFA program, they either might not get to major in theater or else may be in a second “tier” theater program within the school that competes for casting or opportunities with the BFA students. I’d prefer a BA school where the student could study theater or MT and where they are IN the main program at the school. There are tons of colleges, all the way up to Ivy League ones, where the BA program is THE theater/MT program on campus, not the “second choice” one so to speak. If a kid attends a school where he/she didn’t get into the BFA, they either can’t study theater (that would be a shame and extreme opposite outcome to doing a BFA) or may be in what is a second fiddle program in the department. Now, there are exceptions to this at certain universities, particularly large ones. I’m just saying that a student could potentially attend a “good school” if not admitted to a BFA and that “good school” doesn’t have to be the same ones where he/she applied to the BFA programs. Just mentioning another approach.</p>
<p>Excellent point and well put, soozie!</p>
<p>I’m going to continue to remark on our experience, even though I know this is in the MT Forum. I think it’s relevant to all prospective theatre majors (and as I’ve said, MT is still possible for my D).</p>
<p>We have talked about this a lot at our house. My D is in love with BU, the theatre dept AND the school. Right now she says she would go to BU and major in something else if the theatre admits don’t come in. She knows there’s no non-auditioned theatre major there (even the minor needs an audition). She also is considering applying to CMU’s college and participating in theatre as a non-major. Both schools seem to have great opportunities in theatre as extracurriculars (at our CMU tour, someone asked this exact question, and we were told that BFAs direct the non-theatre major productions, so it’s a cooperative experience). </p>
<p>Will she cry her first day at BU or CMU if she’s “only” a regular undergraduate? I can’t say - it’s her decision, as long as she makes it with a lot of thought. She just felt really great at these schools and knows she could always go on to an MFA (right on, Gwen!). She wants to feel really good about her college and get a great education. Of course she’d love it especially if that great education is as a member of a great theatre program!</p>
<p>I do wonder about schools that have mixtures of BFAs, BAs, “performing” and “theatre arts” majors, all combined (not to mention MFAs). I wonder just who gets what experience, and whether there is a lot of politics. We’re trying to go into this with our eyes wide open. I guess it just depends on the school, and we’ll ask a lot of questions.</p>
<p>Right now her list probably includes Bard College for a non-auditioned BA; BU, Syracuse and CMU for auditioned BFAs; Columbia College for a non-auditioned BFA. More will be added after our NY trip, and other trips to Philly, Chicago, the Unifieds, and who knows what other sources (she got a mailing from Evansville yesterday, and when I told her it’s well-known for theatre, she changed her mind about deep-sixing it). </p>
<p>I do lament the ever-decreasing number of schools that have good theatre depts that don’t audition. But we’ll keep looking!</p>
<p>And thank you for the compliment, 62442! My D is very appreciative of my help, as was my older D. What we realize is that there is just such a mountain of basic info, and that adults have a little more savvy about what’s out there. I don’t mind making lists of stats; she has enough to do in looking at the more subjective information that only she knows if she likes or not.</p>
<p>I remember how helpful many adults were to me in my college search. I was certainly the independent type, but I still needed them. But I think I’m tolerably good at stopping before I micromanage - it never pays off, because when someone isn’t invested personally in something, they don’t follow through. Like most of us, she does best when she can take ownership without being completely overwhelmed. </p>
<p>And I get lots of help, too - here, from CC and from all of you!</p>
<p>Just a quick note … at the time, we were of the ilk that if our D did not get into a BFA program, then musical theatre wasn’t meant to be for her. Time to pick another major. We never considered the other approaches that soozie and others describe. </p>
<p>I know most people on CC would take the broader approach (BFA and BA programs) because there are lot of ways to achieve a career in MT including not going to college at all. And while my D is in fact currently in a BFA program, I still worry about encouraging this major. It’s not for the faint of heart from a parental perspective.</p>
<p>Newbie you sound like my husband! He is a very successful business man and just doesn’t understand this business at all. Having his daughter be an actor goes against everything he knows, yet, he does all he can to help her (after he spent so much time when she was in hs trying to dissuade her!). Yesterday he just said what a great dad he is doing what he’s doing for his daughter even though he hates that she’s in this field.</p>
<p>It’s tough, but a person who is an actor is usually an actor because they “need” to be more than they “want” to be.</p>
<p>I hear 'ya (and your husband) amtc. In my moments of panic, all I can think of is $200,000 education to become a waitress.</p>
<p>I read through this whole thread and although i may have overlooked something, i didnt find any clear answer to some sort of list of non-audition, true safety schools. I was wondering if anyone could possibly point me to where i find some sort of list or a way to make my own list and finding some non-audition options.</p>
<p>thisismegan - The “big list” is pinned to the top of this forum. Look at post #2. That is the updated list. Look for prorgrams marked as non audition. Good luck!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/801037-big-list-mt-colleges.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/801037-big-list-mt-colleges.html</a></p>
<p>Would it be wrong to consider Muhlenberg a safety? It’s a safety for me statistically, and I know the audition is optional, but does the fact that there’s an audition at all make it no longer a safety? Just trying to round out my list. Thanks!</p>
<p>Muhlenberg is a safety. Majors and non-majors audition because it’s for financial aid, not admittance.</p>
<p>Thanks, amtc. I will audition regardless, both for the experience and the potential money. I guess my worry was, hypothetically of course, that a terrible audition could affect my application negatively. Not that I expect to have a terrible audition :), but rather I was wondering if it could affect the admissions decision either way.</p>
<p>I don’t entirely agree with amtc or wb4. </p>
<p>Muhlenberg is a safety school ONLY for students whose profile is on the higher end of the stats of admitted students to Muhlenberg. For some of my students, Muhlenberg is a safety. For others, it is a match, and for others it is a reach. Non-audition schools are not necessarily safety schools unless they are an academic safety for your own academic profile. So, the answer to it being a safety is relative to each student. For wb4, it sounds like an academic safety (because she says it is, though I can’t say for sure). </p>
<p>The optional audition there is for a talent scholarship. If you don’t do an audition, it can’t hurt you. An audition at that school can only HELP you. If the audition isn’t so hot, it can’t hurt you because it was optional in the first place and some are not even auditioning and so they can’t take against you. It’s purpose is the talent scholarship. </p>
<p>However, for all applicants to Muhlenberg, I would encourage auditioning there. First, you have nothing to lose and it can help you get a talent scholarship and simply demonstrate your talent beyond that which is on paper. Also, Muhlenberg is a small liberal arts school that really values applicants who demonstrate interest in the school. By visiting and having a campus interview, they get a sense that you are interested and didn’t just file a common application “just because”. And so if you are bothering to go to campus for the campus interview, it makes sense to also visit the theater department, meet with the head of it, and audition for him. That is what I recommend. Those whom I know who were admitted for theater, all did that.</p>
<p>Thanks, soozievt— that’s what I plan to do.
My college counselor identified Muhlenberg as a safety for me, and I just wanted to confirm. I’m of the school of thought that no audition-based school is a safety school, so you can see why I was hesitant to consider Muhlenberg a safety— I knew that the audition was optional, but I didn’t know whether it had any admissions bearing or if it was JUST for talent scholarships. Now that’s all cleared up. Muhlenberg’s audition cannot affect the admissions decision (negatively, that is; it can affect it positively by demonstrating interest in the school), so it can be considered a safety. Thank you both!</p>
<p>wb4…your understanding now is totally correct. If your GC says it is a safety for YOU academically, then yes, Muhlenberg comes under “safety non-audition” school, even though there is an optional audition for scholarships. Remember, when it is optional, it can’t hurt you as some can get in without auditioning in the first place. Muhlenberg is a wonderful safety school option for strong academic students who are seeking BFA programs.</p>
<p>I would recommend NOT doing Ball State… I was in a show with a lady who graduated as an MT major from Ball State, and quote her " Ball State was a waste of my out of state tuition. Don’t go there." I know that’s onl one persons opinion, but I thought I’d share.</p>
<p>Do not base a decision about any college based on one person’s opinion. Explore the school in depth first hand and talk to MANY current students, not just one. Another person’s experience could be quite different than what your own would be. There are unhappy people at most schools.</p>
<p>soozievt - If a student does not need financial aid then he/she should not audition if the school does not require it for admission as he/she will be wasting everyone’s time and, potentially, taking money away from those that need it. There are many ways of showing interest in a school without participating in a non-required financial aid audition. At our small high school we have 5 kids who were admitted over the last 3 years who did not audition, 2 who did. The two who did were awarded money, one is not a theatre major at all.</p>
<p>Blanket statements are generally incorrect, responding to a particular question, as I did, is correct.</p>
<p>I don’t consider talent scholarships as the same as financial need. It is not based on need but on merit. Why would anyone not pursue a talent scholarship? So, that is my view. </p>
<p>I wasn’t saying to do the audition to express interest but to visit the school and do the admissions interview to express interest. However, while there, it makes sense to meet with the theater director and audition. I don’t see how it hurts, and can only help. </p>
<p>What I was saying that I didn’t agree with in your post was something different all together. What I didn’t agree with was calling Muhlenberg a safety school in a blanket way. Safety school is a relative term to each applicant. One kid’s safety is another kid’s reach school. For many students I know, Muhlenberg is indeed their safety but for others, it definitely is not. I pointed this out as many read this forum and it is a concern every year that some (who are new to this…not you) believe that any non-audition schools is a safety school, but a non-audition school is only a safety on an individual basis vis a vie one’s academic profile. It is a relative term. </p>
<p>I agree that you can be admitted for theater without the audition. And if you audition, you may not be admitted too. Of all the students I have advised, the ones who auditioned were admitted and the ones who did not audition, happened to not be admitted and also NEVER visited the school. Small liberal arts schools value INTEREST in the school being demonstrated and thus I do advise attending the ADMISSIONS INTERVIEW at Muhlenberg (this is different than the audition with the theater department).</p>