<p>Marylandchick, Point Park in Pittsburgh may be an interesting program for you to major in acting but take some vocal performamce courses as well as get good merit aid. Pace offers good merit aid but does not allow for flexibility in taking courses outside the BFA track in vocal performance unless you are in the MT program which is extremely competitive to get into. However, there are numerous private vocal coaches in the area that you could study with on your own. I think it would be worth it for you to put these schools on your list, audition and continue to explore how they could fit into your picture should you get in. PPU allows you to audition at Unifieds and you can call the department to get answers to your questions, they are very forthright in getting you information .</p>
<p>Now here’s the other part of my question…there’s a school that offers a BA in theater. I visited the school and LOVED it! Only problem? It’s not a renowned theater school. To go or not to go? It’s BYU-I, in Rexburg, ID.</p>
<p>Oh, and mom2gals, thanks for the information!!!</p>
<p>Do not fall into the trap of looking only at “renowned” theater programs. There are many, many excellent but lesser known programs which provide wonderful training. There have been many discussions here about the need to attend a well-known program. Most agree that as long as the program provides good training it does not matter if it is not considered a “top program”. Successful actors have come from a huge variety of backgrounds, including non-theater majors, no college, 2-year programs, etc. If you have visited the school, were you able to sit in on any classes or talk to the Staff? Try looking at the curriculum of the program you are interested in and comparing it to other schools to get a feel for the type of classes offered at BYU vs. other programs. Try to talk to students. BYU has an excellent theater program, although I am not familiar with the theater program at the Idaho campus. I know 2 students who attend the Idaho campus for other majors and they both love the school.</p>
<p>takeitallin - I hadn’t thought about that! I attended a day of theater classes and I loved it. In addition, I have some theater major friends there who LOVE the program. They say it’s absolutely wonderful! Although the degree would be a B.A., I think the environment is more important than the degree (IMHO, anyway :)). So, maybe BYU-I?</p>
<p>My D’s back up school is not well known at all but has wonderful instructors and has an acting concentration within the BA. If she ends up there she will get wonderful training. Don’t discount BYU-I :)</p>
<p>Thanks, bisouu! I wish your daughter well at whatever school she ends up at!</p>
<p>I’ll be the second to recommend Belmont here, especially if marylandchick is interested in BYU-I. It could be a good fit and their emphasis on the arts and recorded music as well as internships might be what you are looking for.</p>
<p>Had no idea Amanda Palmer went to Wesleyan. Learn something new on CC all the time.</p>
<p>Belmont would be nice, but I don’t know how their fin. aid is. Does anyone know how they do for aid?</p>
<p>Another thing to consider, if you can swing it, is attending a summer theater program at one of the universities you are considering. You can’t get any better feel for a place than when you spend a bit of time there. I will also add my vote for Pace in NYC. They are very good at offering pretty substantial scholarships and financial aid. When I first read your list of things you needed, Pace immediately popped into my head. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>One more thing, I don’t agree with those who suggest Musical Theater to combine your love of singing contemporary music and theater. If you are a singer/songwriter, you have a different type of approach to music. Also, for MT you need very strong dancing skills for most programs. (but there are exceptions for sure) My daughter initially thought she’d like to do MT, for the same reasons you mention in your initial post, and for many of the schools, she applied as an MT. She does also have a strong dance background but has been focused on music and theater for the last few years and dance has gone to the background. Half way through the audition process, she realized that MT was not a “fit” for her and switched to straight acting. Of the three schools she auditioned for their acting program she was accepted by 2. (2 out of three isn’t bad!) One of them accepted her for both MT and Acting. They just wanted her. </p>
<p>Berklee and Belmont (right off the top of my head) both have strong contemporary music programs and offer a theater minor. I have no idea how those two schools approach scholarships/financial aid though.</p>
<p>She currrently attends Coastal Carolina University for a BFA in Acting with a music minor.</p>
<p>theatermom2013 - Thanks for the info! I am definitely considering Pace! And thanks for saying what I couldn’t figure out how to say regarding MT!</p>
<p>On a side note, does anyone have any reviews of AMDA?</p>
<p>Or any other conservatory program, for that matter?</p>
<p>marylandchick, search the forum, there are boatloads of threads about AMDA as well as others such as Stella Adler, Circle in the Square and New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts.</p>
<p>Regarding the word “conservatory,” many of the BFA programs we discuss here are conservatory-style programs, meaning that the curriculum is very focused and intensive, as opposed to a liberal arts curriculum. The schools mentioned by Photomom5, above, are two-year or three year programs that do not result in a Bachelor’s degree (except that I think one or two of them have a program where you can continue on there or elsewhere for a Bachelor’s).</p>
<p>Thanks, all! Does anyone have any pros vs. cons of going the non-degree route?</p>
<p>My parents weighed in on my attending an acting school and they (understandably) want me to major in something different. Make no mistake, I will still pursue acting as a career, but for now, they want me to pursue something that they say is my strength. So, unfortunately and fortunately, I will be majoring in Culinary Arts and Entrepreneurship. I will not leave this forum - I have learned many things that I hope will be helpful to others. Thank you to all, and who knows, maybe I can minor in theatre!</p>
<p>My sister is a chef and majored in culinary arts. Message me…unless you have a family member in the business there my be some things you are not aware of that make that profession extremely difficult. (and not profitable)</p>
<p>I think it is very sad that your parents have forced you to abandon your dreams. I’m afraid you will grow up to be old and miserable like me.</p>
<p>You are young now. Now is the time to pursue your dreams. You can always go to cooking school later. When you are older you will find it harder to pursue your dreams, I am speaking from experience.</p>
<p>I’m with you on that KEVP. Coming from a time when you did what was practical and I don’t think I knew I could dream. It was more fantasy. That is why I am doing all that I can so my daughter to pursue her dream and what I believe is her purpose and ignore everyone (including my mother) who might say that she needs to be realistic.</p>