<p>How's is Ithaca's program? Can you double major with journalism? I just researched and found out that they offer Early Admission: Get</a> Answers - Undergraduate Admission - Ithaca College</p>
<p>Any other info on the program? I haven't heard much on it. Thanks!</p>
<p>You can find a great deal about Ithaca’s BFA program in the MT Forum’s Ithaca program forum at the top. While some discuss the BFA in MT, some discuss the acting BFA. </p>
<p>Ithaca’s BFA in MT and in Acting are top programs and well regarded. </p>
<p>I think it would be very difficult to double major with the BFA. Most programs don’t allow for this but some do and you would need to ask directly. A BFA takes up much more time and credits that a BA major. That’s the issue. </p>
<p>As far as early entrance…I see that they allow it. While not exactly the same, my D was admitted to the BFA in MT at Ithaca as an early graduate. Be aware that early graduates or early entrance candidates at any college will be ADDITIONALLY scrutinized beyond what is done with regular applicants. There would have to be strong indications on the application materials and the recommendations that the student can handle college EARLY. The criteria is more stringent for such applicants. Been there, done that. Worked out fine for my kid but she was ready for college academically, socially, emotionally, and artistically and not only did she submit statements addressing that, but her recs and GC report also supported that.</p>
<p>Thanks sooz. Is Ithaca more auditon based or academic? I also see that you have to take dancing classes for the BFA acting? Why is this?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I am not sure i understand your question. To get into a BFA program, the audition counts more than academics (though the percentage of that varies from school to school) BUT you still have to pass muster academically with Ithaca’s standards of admission to get in. Academics would never override a less than satisfactory audition at any BFA program. First, the audition would have to be at a very high level and then the academics to get into Ithaca would have to pass the admissions office standards.</p>
<p>Once you are there, a BFA program generally takes up about 65% of your credits (I’d have to check with Ithaca but this is true as a min. at most BFA programs, and sometimes it is more). Thus is it not like an academic major that takes up about 35% of your credits. Therefore, it is hard to double major and satisfy other basic academic requirements. </p>
<p>Ithaca’s BFA programs are HIGHLY competitive to get into (very low admit rates and the audition is super important). I was not aware of the dance requirements for the BFA in Acting there. But many BFA Acting programs have some movement/dance as part of actor training. Right now, my D is in an ACTING studio training program (ETW at Tisch) and that includes dance/movement).</p>
<p>I meant does Ithaca care more about the audition or academics. Like I heard NYU is 50% of the audition, 80% for CMU, etc. I know you can double major at NYU and that’s why I asked. I would be worried for the dance, lets just say I have NO rhythm what so ever. Do they accept transfer at Ithaca and would you have to start all over?</p>
<p>early College…there are NO BFA programs that care MORE about academics than the audition. Great academics will NOT override a less than stellar audition…at any BFA program. Yes, NYU weights academics and audition equally. CMU weights the audition about 80% Some schools like Elon have a bifurcated process where you must be accepted into the university separately from the acceptance to the BFA program. At schools where it is all one admissions process, such as Ithaca or Syracuse…your audition counts more than academics but your academics must pass muster with that college’s academic admissions standards (which vary greatly from school to school). </p>
<p>You will have to ask Ithaca directly about a double major with a BFA (I find it unlikely). You will have to ask Ithaca if a transfer student must start over as a freshmen in the BFA track (IF they even take BFA transfers)…because most BFA programs will make you start as a freshmen in the BFA track of your degree especially if you are not transferring in from another BFA program. Transferring in from a BA school means you have not had the freshman (and soph year if transferring as a junior) training that their BFA students have had. </p>
<p>Again, as far as dance, please be aware that MANY acting programs have dance and movement as part of the required curriculum…not as much as a MT program but they often have some. I told you my D’s acting studio does…she must take one movement/dance course per quarter…these are not all traditional MT type dance…like she has been in Contact Improv (which is like Modern dance), Caprero (Brazilian), African, and is now in Ballroom dance! Most acting programs at the very least, have MOVEMENT which is part of becoming a well trained actor.</p>
<p>I understand. If I would transfer from Simon’s Rock, I bet I would have to start over. Anyone know any more info on the program?</p>
<p>early college…I will go back to the original advice I gave you a while back…if you are contemplating any BFA programs, or even any double major college programs, I think your plan to first get into Simon’s Rock and then transfer is not the best route. That doesn’t work well for BFA programs and you may have to start over and it much harder to be accepted into a BFA program as a transfer (let alone some programs won’t take a transfer at all). And to do a double major like you talk about at NU, would also be difficult if you come in soph year or junior year in order to fit in all the requirements of TWO majors. In my view, you would be MUCH better off to stay in high school and apply either as a senior in HS like most students do, or else find a way to graduate HS a year early by whatever method works where you live…community college classes, summer school, acceleration, etc. Again, my child was an early HS graduate and went off to college at age 16. But she applied directly into BFA programs from HS.</p>
<p>And to be realistic, you may not get into Simon’s Rock. And you said you could only attend there if you got a scholarship and I’m not sure your GPA will qualify to be at the top of their applicant pile. It will also cost more for your parents to send you away for more than a total of four years (if you are trying to save money).</p>
<p>My high school does not let you graduate early. I have said that a lot, lol. My school isn’t the same as your daughter’s. Simon’s Rock accepts most of the applicants. My GPA will be higher after this semester and hopefully around a 3.4-3.6. And I really don’t see any acting BFA’s that fit that well and don’t seem the BA that much. But at NU I could do the Accelerated Master’s Program. I do that in four years if I get it, and I’m sure I could a BA in Drama in four years. I don’t know if Ithaca is the program I like. And I’m ready for college already and I don’t want to waist another three years in high school. I also don’t feel GA has many opportunities for my film career. Also, everyone I know seems like this is the best route for me. I haven’t really seen people tell me a program which would be a fit. Even though I’m a freshman, it will be different if I go to the Rock. It wouldn’t be more than 4 years. If I get a masters it will be, but I don’t think my parents would pay for it. I could get it with some money I get from work (acting).</p>
<p>I know you can get a college degree in four years. But you plan to attend Simon’s Rock beforehand, right? So, that comes to a total number of years of schooling that costs money that is more than four years, no? </p>
<p>Yes, you said your school does not allow for early graduation. I would find out if you can earn all the credits to graduate early…summer credits or community college credits, etc. I have a client who is a student down your way and she is graduating early this year as a junior and is taking English for June term at a local college in order to do it. I would explore all avenues. </p>
<p>You also talk about earning money acting while you are in college. I don’t know if you are realistic about that because if you have an agent, you have to be available to go out on the frequent auditions that they send you to which you cannot be as a college student and then IF you get cast, you have to be available to shoot the TV show or the film, etc. and you can’t do that and be in school full time. You have to choose to either attend college or else work as an actor. </p>
<p>I know you said that Simon’s Rock will accept you but my point is that YOU said you could not attend unless you earned certain named scholarships there (I forget the name but I looked them up after reading your posts) and usually to get the merit scholarships at a college, your application must STAND OUT as ABOVE the majority of applicants to that college. Will yours be above the norm of their applicant pool?</p>
<p>No it isn’t more than four years. Simon’s Rock is a college and not a high school. You skip your last two years of high school and start the Rock. It is not a prep school or boarding school. It is the only accredited college that is designed for younger students. Most kids stay their 2 years and get an AA and then transfer on and some kids move on to the upper level school. The kids who transfer will be a junior at the new school. They will graduate at 20 instead of 22. You skip two years of high school. Some kids get a diploma, some get a GED, some never get a high school diploma. It depends on your high school and what their willing to do. I would also like to mention kids usually transfer to top schools such as Yale, University of Chicago, NYU, etc. They gave you a whole list in the brochure.</p>
<p>Also, they don’t let you take community college until your a junior. It’s called dual enrollment and usually they only let the gifted students do it. This doesn’t let you graduate earlier, but take a college class instead of one or two high school classes. You replace your high school class. There is something which you can take classes at a cc, but after you graduated. You would be a sophomore in college, because you took so many classes that summer. But this wouldn’t work for a BFA acting. Also, you may know someone here but all counties are different. They have their own rules and it’s not the same. It’s just like comparing me to someone in NY who’s graduating early.</p>
<p>I have discussed acting with other Simon Rock students. They said I could always have Friday open for an audition day and you are aloud to miss some classes. You could get special permission if I got a job. Great Barrington is only about 2 and a half hours from the city. </p>
<p>The scholarship is called AEP. I wouldn’t have to get all of it. At Simon’s Rock it is different when they give out scholarships. They need to make sure your ready for college and it goes beyond grades. They need to see you as a person. You get to know admissions really well. My application will stand out and I’m actually going to send out some stuff I did for journalism.</p>
<p>I know what Simon’s Rock College is. So, your plan when you transfer into another college is to be a junior at the second college, right? If that is the case, the chance of your doing a BFA and having junior standing at the second college is next to nil. So, you WILL be spending more years paying tuition than someone who graduates from regular HS and goes to college for four years under that plan. Then, even if you do not do a BFA, you say you want to double major. That will be hard to accomplish entering a new college starting as a junior and satisfying all the requirements for BOTH majors in two years. </p>
<p>As far as auditioning while at Simon’s Rock, that is not realistic. Even if you have Fridays off. My D is signing with an agent as she is about to graduate from her BFA program. I can tell you that she will be expected to be available on short notice to attend auditions and they won’t all be on Fridays. For someone who is a college student, plus the fact that it is not right in the city, it will be nearly impossible to be on call for auditions unless you were to miss a significant number of classes. In my D’s program, you may not miss class more than twice in a semester or your grades go down. I have been a college teacher myself and grading can be tied to attendence. Then, if you get a job…many jobs like film/TV are full time during the course of the shoot. You may have to take a leave at school in order to take such a job. </p>
<p>Yes, I know about the scholarship at Simon’s Rock. Merit scholarships are beyond just your grades, of course. But merit scholarships such as that one I read at Simon’s Rock, will go to kids at the top of the heap overall and so cannot be counted on unless you believe you will be over and beyond the typical applicant there (you may be, I don’t know). </p>
<p>There are ways to accelerate in HS without ever taking a college class or even summer school. My kid did it. You have to satisfy all the graduation requirements. You may wish to look into this or alternatives in case Simon’s Rock doesn’t work out (you said you needed a significant scholarship to attend).</p>
<p>I really wasn’t planning on doing a BFA. I don’t think I would need to. I may just wait to get a MFA, but money will be tight and I wouldn’t expect my parents to pay anything. I really like Northwestern and its program in journalism and acting. I will indeed try to have summer courses, so I don’t get behind. Other schools I would like to transfer to would be: NYU (journalism, dramatic writing), USC (journalism, BA acting), IU- Bloomington (journalism), Flagler College (journalism/liberal arts), Sarah Lawrence College (liberal arts), Boston College (journalism), Ithaca College (journalism/ba drama), Yale (huge long shot), UNC- Chapel Hill (journalism), UGA (journalism), Chapman (could I do there film acting in two years?), Syracuse (journalism) and NU. That’s just an idea what I could do.</p>
<p>I have an agent four hours away and they only call you if the job is worth it, meaning more money than gas. My agent usually tells me the night before and sometimes I get to pick my time for the audition. My classes could be at a later time or earlier time. I know agents like to work with you. If I would get a tv show or movie it would be different. I could enroll in a school part time and transfer. This would change everything.</p>
<p>I also do not know if I’m at the top of the pack. I have no idea what my GPA will be at the end of this semester. I also do have back up plans of course, :). I could always do the Ithaca BFA Acting a year ahead or just do it the normal time. My counselor said there may be other options, but I need to take one step at a time. I have focus on Simon’s Rock first off.</p>
<p>I graduated this past June and decided to go to a community college so I could stay close to home and save some money. I’m from WA state and my plans were to get my AA and then try to transfer in to the University of Washington. I very recently became interested in Ithaca’s BFA musical theatre program and decided to give up on my plans to transfer to the UW because it doesn’t have a strong theatre program. Now I want to try to get into Ithaca as soon as next fall if possible. The problem is that I don’t know how workable this plan is. Should I apply as a transfer or as freshman? And can I even do this because I’m going to a community college? If you have any information that could be useful, please let me know or suggest another option.</p>
<p>Uh…this is no longer a thread about Itaca BFA Acting…</p>
<p>EmyB91 – If you have a semester or two of community college your only option is to apply as a transfer. Some BFA programs will still make you start in the begining level performance classes, and it may take four more years to graduate, BUT the university will still consider you as a transfer applicant.</p>
<p>You will need to check with the MT Program at Ithaca to find out if their freshman and transfer audition dates are the same.</p>
<p>Also – MT program admissions is VERY competitive… usually 2% to 20% admit rate. Transfer admissions can be even more competitive. I sugges that you spend some time reading the Musical Theatre Forum. if you put “Transfer” in the search function you should find many threads discussing transfer admissions for MT. Most (freshman or transfer) will audition for 6 - 12 MT schools, and make sure to include at least one academic, non-auditioned safety school to their list.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>