<p>My daughter is a Junior, and hopes to major in drama in a BFA program. We are trying to figure out the best way for her to spend her last summer before applying starts. She has already done a number of interesting programs: Rutgers pre-college, Broadway Dreams, acting lessons in NY with Diane Hardin, International Thespian festival. So she has had some great experiences already.</p>
<p>Here are some possible ideas we have for next summer: Carnegie-Mellon pre-college, French Woods camp, classes in NYC and trying to sign an agent.</p>
<p>Does anyone have advice on the best way to help her position herself for the best BFA programs, given the experience she already has?</p>
<p>Write college essays.
Read lots and lots of plays.
Find college audition monologues. (Takes way longer than you think)
Review the programs of the schools you are applying to so you can speak intelligently about them in interviews.
Rehearse all the monologues with acting teacher.
Start filling out applications in August when they open.</p>
<p>Senior year gets busy in itself without all the extra stuff you need to do for auditions. If your D has several AP classes or has many extra curriculars she will need to get a lot of the prep for auditions done before school starts, especially if she plans to do a fall show.</p>
<p>I’d do the CMU pre-college or, if that’s too long/expensive, acting classes in NYC. Summer before senior year is an ideal time to do an intensive pre-college program that helps you prepare for auditions and gives you that immersion experience (for more than a couple of weeks) so that you know what you’re getting into at college. She’d also get to know a lot of kids that she’ll encounter on the audition circuit in the winter, and that can add a lot to her sense of connectedness. I think we ran into somebody from my son’s pre-college programs at almost every audition, and it was a huge morale-booster. Anyway, that’s my vote! :)</p>