To give you some background, I didn’t plan my testing well. I have taken one ACT in December and got not a great score for my top choice which is USC. I already sent the score, and I really regret not planning out my testing better, but can’t change the past now. I’m switching gears to the SAT and so far have done better on at least the math section, and with continued studying I feel it is a better fit for me. The problem, however, is I’m not sure if USC accepts the January SAT (I’ll be sure to do my research). So I want some backup schools that have late deadlines.
I prefer to be in NYC/LA, or anywhere near. I am open to other suggestions as well. I already applied to Columbia College Chicago, but I am worried that the academics won’t be as challenging and in depth because it is almost only an art school with open admissions.
My stats if you’re wondering are:
3.75 UW 3.9W (Mostly As, few Bs)
ACT 24C 25E 24M 26R 19S (the science is especially bad lol)
So as stated, I have already sent my USC application and with this dismal ACT score it’s not looking bright. If they do accept the Jan SAT, will they disregard the lower ACT?
Virginia Tech
George Mason
James Madison
Christopher Newport
I applied undeclared to all these.
The only two schools I actually applied to for theater are CCC and USC.
I guess what I am asking (and it’s a lot and I am going crazy searching up this criteria) is a good (for lack of a better word) school with an acting major that accepts January SAT.
I am not opposed to auditions, but at this point I think I really need safeties and it might be too late to be auditioning.
I am thinking I need more options. I know VCU is good for the arts (I think you have to audition), but if I were to stay in VA I was looking more into George Mason because of the proximity to DC. As you can tell I want to be in a city or near one. I am so confused and with all these deadlines approaching I am not sure where I will end up in the fall!
Why not look at test optional schools and cross reference their Theatre programs? There are quite a few of them - here’s the website that lists them: www.fairtest.org/university/optional. (If CC deletes this just google test optional colleges.)
Sarah Lawrence has a great theatre program and allows you to basically build your own major and they do not look at SAT/ACT. Just a train ride to NYC. Also Skidmore is test optional.
Also Muhlenburg, maybe. I cannot remember if they are test optional. They do take demonstrated interest into account, and students can audition for scholarships.
Thank you all for the responses. In addition to looking into the schools mentioned, and although not a safety by any means, I will be be auditioning for Pace. Academically I hopefully have no problem, and I really appreciate all the help. More advice is welcome, thanks.
University of Richmond, or the city of Richmond? I do not know a lot about the university, other than the campus is beautiful, and they seem to be generous with aid.
The city of Richmond is what I was referring to in my post above. There is quite a bit of Theatre in Richmond. I have students from the area, and many work at theatres in Richmond during the summer, and I believe that a lot if their friends who go to VCU work in Theatre in the community during the year.
Also not near a city, but Southern Oregon University (great ties to Oregon Shakespeare Festival) is a BA to BFA program with a videotape you send in. You can stay as BA or audition for BFA after sophomore year. D and I visited. Ashland is BEAUTIFUL, but it’s a snoozy kind of town.
I’ll be sure to look at those schools. Are those rolling admissions? Because RD decision is right around the corner/ or has passed and I probably wouldn’t make it for those.
I actually just finished my Pace prescreen and I asked this somewhere else already, but does anyone have experience with the callbacks after submitting prescreen and audition experience? I haven’t found any recent info.
Also my dad, who is very old fashioned and thinks we should all go to college only to get into the medical or engineering field. So as you can tell it’s very odd for his daughter to be pursuing this acting thing, but he is also worried that attending schools like Pace and Columbia College where admissions are almost open to anyone that the academic environment won’t be as challenging, but when pursuing a acting major being in the heart of Chicago or NYC is more important per say?
I was just accepted into George Mason academically, and decided that I will also audition for their BFA program on April 23rd. With wanting to be in NYC/LA/CHI so badly I forgot I have great options right here as well. Looked into the GMU school of theater and I am really intrigued. Hope it goes well.
Good luck @40yearoldvirgin . Sounds interesting. I also wanted to note that Pace isn’t “open to anyone” (their academic acceptance rate it high, but the arts acceptance rate is low as it is a highly competitive school for acting/MT). I may have misunderstood what you meant…if so, apologies.
