<p>I attend a very reputable BFA program, however I don't think it's a great fit. I'm a freshman and I've been at the school for about 3 weeks, and while everyone is LOVING it I feel the exact opposite. I love the classes/teachers (well...most) but I'm not gelling well with 75% of my classmate. I also now realize that I want a conservatory training. Right now, I'm looking to transfer which really bums me out since I thought I'd love this school.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how I should go about this? The schools I want to apply to are "just as good or better" than my current school. The current list is:</p>
<p>LAMDA
CalArts (TOP CHOICE!)
Central School of Speech and Drama
Juilliard
Guildhall
DePaul
Purchase
UNCSA
Rutgers</p>
<p>Last year I applied to Purchase, Rutgers, and Guildhall. I think a main reason why I didn't get into these schools was because I wasn't mature enough artistically/personally. </p>
<p>These schools are extremely competitive and I know my chances of getting into at least one of these is very slim. How do I go about asking my teachers for references, etc.? My school doesn't technically cut BUT they do "let go" of students every year, and I'm worried that I'll be one of the students (since they'll think I'm not serious about the school) if I get rejected from all of these schools.</p>
<p>For obvious reasons, please do not ask me what school I attend.</p>
<p>hopenest-- every year LOTS of students transfer between BFAs. I think that if you really give your all in class at your current BFA you will find teachers who are happy to give you a reference. But I wouldn’t ask yet. Get your applications together, write your essays, make your audition appts., and let your teachers get to know you. And keep getting to know your school! You might change your mind. </p>
<p>I’m sure someone whose S or D has transferred will have some more specific advice. In fact there are probably some at your school (even in your class) who’ve transferred in. But it really does happen often-- think about the reasons why it doesn’t seem a fit. You’re not insulting the school by leaving, you’re just looking for something that fits you better.</p>
<p>Excellent advice ^^ . I’d search this forum for the word “transfer” because there definitely have been threads like this before, particularly regarding references from your current program.</p>
<p>I second that you shouldn’t feel ashamed - either with yourself or about your current program. I know it’s sad feeling you might have made the wrong choice, but you were doing your best at the time. Lots and lots of students transfer.</p>
<p>Be aware that you are likely to be asked to start at the beginning of a 4 year program at many of those schools. That may be an issue for cost, etc. If you really don’t like your current school, you and your parents might decide it’s a good idea to withdraw next semester to save money. But the downside of that is that many students really come to like their current school in the spring, even while doing transfer applications. Only you will be able to make this choice.</p>
<p>It is probably likely that with more maturity you have a better chance at those schools now. But it’s also just as likely that you may have no acceptances, so it is good that you are preparing yourself for that option. I’m wondering if there’s a conservatory-style school that can be a bit more of a “likely” for you? Or perhaps this is a chance you are completely comfortable with (or perhaps you would like to complete the year at your current school so that you can keep going there if no other acceptances come in).</p>
<p>Everyone feels stress at having to adjust to a new school, and the whole new lifestyle of college/university. Living in a dorm instead of with parents, etc.</p>
<p>If you don’t get along with 75% of your classmates, that means there are 25% who you DO get along with. You can make friends and hang with those folks, you don’t need to get along with everyone. Nobody gets along with everyone, that is an unrealistic goal.</p>
<p>Especially since you say you love the classes and teachers. Now that you are in college you can also work more closely with the teachers you enjoy. If you find a teacher you don’t like, just make sure you never take another section from that teacher. Find ways to do more with all the teachers that you do like, maybe even special projects (like plays they are directing).</p>
<p>Why did you go to college? Is it to get ready for a career after college? I hope so. What does 75% of your classmates have to do with your career after college? Just ignore them, they have nothing to do with you and your life, career, and art.</p>
<p>Is there counseling on campus that you can take advantage of to help you with the adjustment to college life?</p>
<p>I’m with KEVP on this one; three weeks is too soon to judge. And, if your reason for transferring is your connection with the kids, what makes you think that you’ll have better relationships somewhere else? Loving your classes and teachers is great, keep an open mind and forge friendships with the people you like best.</p>
<p>I suppose you can start planning for auditions for other programs, but really, the odds remain slim (as they are for anyone), so it is in your best interest to make the most of what you have where you are.</p>
<p>I am not going to attempt to dissuade you from your plans to transfer despite the fact that the above posts make a lot of sense, that is for you to decide. There is nothing wrong with getting your ducks in order, setting up those appointments for auditions and getting the material ready for a new set of applications. I urge that you wait as long as you can for your final essay and that you schedule your auditions later than earlier. During these next few months regardless of what disappoints you, you will be learning so much about acting that will help you with your auditions and with your application. Throw yourself into your present classes 100% give it your all and get the best grades you can get both for your personal education sake, to learn for the new application process and to impress the teachers from whom you will be asking a reference from. Many kids in BFA programs or in all Freshman college programs are not liking 75% of their classmates in these first few weeks. If this is more about you recognizing that you are not like the makeup of this program and you know you are in the wrong program then all the power to you for your own introspection.</p>
<p>When I decided to leave my first BFA, I found it was going to be impractical to stay at that school and reaudition for other schools given the location, class schedule and uncertainty of casting and/or crew responsibilities the next semester. Plus I really just needed to get out of that place and start over. </p>
<p>What I did was transfer home to my State University for second semester to take regular academic classes and scheduled all my auditions at the New York Unifieds because they took place on a weekend and I would only need to miss my Friday classes. For me in my situation, taking the chance on not getting in anywhere was much preferable to what I was looking at. </p>
<p>My situation was a lot more dire than just not getting along with 75% of my classmates, though, and the faculty understood the main part of why I was leaving, so getting recommendations wasn’t a problem at all. The freshman acting teacher even wrote nice personalized letters to the heads of acting at all the schools for which I was planning to audition although I had also already gotten new ones from the faculty at my old high school.</p>
<p>Dang … I made that decision right around eight years ago …</p>
<p>Give it at least until mid-October since you can’t leave until next semester anyways. If you really love the school, consider trying to warm up to the people for the sake of your education. Sacrificing college friendships seems like a small price to pay for a good education. You can make friends later once you’ve got your career started. If you do decide you still want to leave, it’s not biggie! People do it ALL the time. Just RESEARCH CAREFULLY because some programs do not allow direct transfers and you would have to start college all over again as a freshman BFA student.</p>
<p>You don’t have to be BFFs with 75% of your classmates, just have a solid collegial relationship. Everybody needs a few real friends, though, and you can take your time finding those. The first three weeks of college, not everybody acts like their real selves. Some are putting on a bit of an act, or trying on different personas. Others are going a bit wild from being away from parental supervision for the first time, and may be making mistakes from which they will learn. Don’t write anyone off from what you see of them this month, I speak from experience.</p>
<p>Learn as much as you can, where you are right now!</p>
<p>I’m with KevP and SDon. Three weeks is the blink of an eye, and kids in MT and acting programs are cut from the same cloth no matter where you go, so who is to say it will be different from that perspective elsewhere? If you like the classes and teachers, then have faith that the program pulls most of the students into place once things get rolling. I’ve observed that this is what happens in most programs. The “vibe” of the program takes over and kids fall into line.</p>
<p>prodesse is spot on too. These programs are filled with kids who were the big cheese in high school, community theatre, sometimes on an even bigger stage. Put them all together and there is a ton of one-upsmanship going on in the first part of freshman year. Inside, everyone is nervous, trying to be accepted, trying to be noticed. Sometimes it takes a while for the real human being to emerge from their hibernation. This is not just true with theatre kids, but all college kids. I grew up smack dab in the middle of a very large urban university and every single year September was brutal because there were so many kids running around acting the fool. It subsides.</p>
<p>I’m in the give it a couple of months camp.</p>
<p>Amen to the “Give it a couple of months camp”.
However, get your ducks in order too.
Do as well as you can in your classes so you will look attractive as a transfer.
Start thinking about who you would want to write your references.
Contact your high school and either reuse prior HS references or ask now so you will have them by the deadlines.
You can always stay where you are if you realize things fell into place.
If you wind up staying let that be your choice not do to being unprepared.
We’d like to hear back from you as to how you are doing <3 .</p>
<p>Keep in mind the grass is always greener. It might seem sexy to go to a school like Juilliard or LAMDA, but I’m almost positive that where ever you are now, the training is probably just as good (if not better.) Remember, its not about where you go but what you do there. Also, you certainly would have to start over as a freshman, which means you would be paying for an extra year of college. Sorry if this post is bumming you out, these are all just thinks to consider.</p>
<p>Hello everyone! I’m am still planning on transferring. I have found a group of students that I’m close with and I still love the faculty and opportunities they provide. However, I want a more intense/conservatory-style training with a smaller class size. Has anyone heard of anyone transferring from reputable program to another reputable program? Will the auditors look at me differently (good or bad) than other applicants? Since I go to a great school already I am only planning on applying to a few schools, and if I get rejected I plan on staying. </p>
<p>I don’t think it will be a blemish in any way because it really is all about “fit”. I would anticipate a question about why you want to leave and you should be prepared with an explanation as to why their program will be a better fit for you so it’s important to do your homework on what the vibe and training approach is at each of your programs under consideration.</p>
<p>I have heard of a few people to transferring from reputable program to reputable program. One guy on FB mentioned transferring from UMich (Voice) to Northwestern (Theatre)–even though Northwestern doesn’t allow transfers, but his situation was purely circumstantial, so they allowed him.</p>
<p>Anyways, the reason why you don’t hear about a lot of people switching from big name school to big name school is because a lot of top programs don’t allow transfers and almost all of the rest of the reputable programs make you start college all over with freshman year if you transfer. While most people don’t mind the 5th year of school, money then becomes an issue because none of the top schools are cheap.</p>
<p>I see only half of my list was transferred but I am applying to all the universities in my original post. I do believe all of them accept transfers because they are conservatories. I go to a school abroad so basically any school is cheaper in the states than my current one. Now that I’m going on holiday and exams are over, I will be looking more extensively at the universities and narrowing down my choices. Thanks for all of your help everyone!</p>