<p>My S audition for Millikin BFA music theatre in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. He got a letter along with scholarship money to the BA theatre program which is a non audition program. Is this their nice way of saying he didn’t get in? Did anyone else that auditioned for Millikin get a similar letter. He stopped reading at congratulations you have been accepted. After re-reading the letter a couple of times it occurred to me that he was not accepted to the BFA. It was really a disappointment especially after we told people he was accepted. We will read future letters more carefully.</p>
<p>Sorry for the disappointment you received with that! I auditioned on campus the weekend after Unifieds, and was accepted into the BFA MT program that day. What I heard before we had our “exit meetings” (where we found out if we were accepted or not) is that no kid is rejected completely from the performing arts college. They ‘accept’ everyone, but may or may not accept them as a BFA right away. They assured us that if I was accepted as a BA instead of BFA, I would initially be taking the same classes my first year and then I could reaudition for my sophomore year. At Millikin, the program that you’re put into is very much a personal thing; the faculty doesn’t split up students based on if they’re a BFA Acting, BFA MT, or BA Theatre, that doesn’t matter to them. It matters to each individual because of classes, curriculum and requirements but nobody looks down upon the BA students in any way whatsoever because all the theatre/MT students stay together.</p>
<p>I hope that was helpful, sorry if I rambled a little bit. I know there are a couple of current students lurking around on the boards so maybe they can provide more insight than I did 
Good luck with your son’s final decision!</p>
<p>Congratulations to you! Thank you for your reply. That does explain it a little bit. However, I do wish the letter would have been worded differently. Our fault for not reading more carefully, Hopefully, there will be other congratulation letters over the next few weeks.</p>
<p>Hey! I know I stumbled upon this kind of late, but I’m new here! Hi! As a former Millikin student who transferred out of the BFA program, I would say there is not much of a difference in the way the professors treat the BFA’s or the BA’s, but they often encourage the BA’s to try and gain solid skills outside of a career as a performer. Also you do take the same classes as the BFA’s the first year, but after that there is only one more acting class you’re eligible for, which you have to audition for at the end of your freshman year. After that there may be one more but that’s only on a special case by case basis. I do not know if it works the same way for voice classes, (Aside from taking voice for the stage 1 and 2 with the sophomore BFAs) and dance classes can be taken by just about anyone who gets into them. </p>
<p>But I feel like I have to say this: Even though the professors don’t seem to treat BA’s too differently, (A BA freshman got the lead in Machinal the mainstage play just this spring) there is a HUGE social importance placed on the “F” by the other students. The BFA’s (especially the current senior and sophomore classes) act like they’re the high and mighty ones and the only ones with talent. I would say that was probably the most misleading things tour guides say on your campus visit, because of the harsh cut program, the amount of student directed shows, and the small environment create such a negative and competitive atmosphere which is a lot of the reason why I left. All in all I have both good and bad things to say about the program, which is the case with most schools. Feel free to ask me any questions. :D</p>
<p>How do the cuts work? When and based on what?</p>
<p>I’m sure that Oswin would be able to speak much more fluently on the subject, but my understanding is that Millikin doesn’t have an official cut system, but they will drop people out of the BFA beginning at the end of freshman year. I’m not sure of the criteria in place to make those decisions.</p>
<p>Right, so this is a long one. The “hurdles” are the official name of the cut system. Though a lot of current students will tell you “they’re not that bad” (especially the ones who give campus/audition tours) they still are a slightly flawed system. In fact, during the past two senior/teacher meetings that happens at the end of every year, the graduating class has begged the faculty to get rid of the hurdle system, but a few of the professors are very adamant. </p>
<p>You hurdle at the end of your freshman year, and your Acting hurdle is at the end of your Acting 2 class, and you have separate dance and voice hurdles. You can either pass, be put on probation for one or all three categories, or be redirected out of your major. If you’re on Acting probation you hurdle again at the end of your first semester sophomore year, and if you’re on dance or voice it’s the end of your sophomore year. These sophomore year cuts are usually the hardest on people since they’ve dedicated two years of their life to this program already. </p>
<p>As far as criteria for the hurdles it is really impossible to tell, especially with Acting. Current students will say “do your work, come to class, and you’ll be fine.” I know a student who was called “the hardest working student we’ve seen in a long time” by two of the acting professors and had straight A’s, and was redirected. Also I know a current sophomore MT major who would fake sick to get out of some showings he was unprepared for in Acting class, and he’s not even on Acting probation. Obviously, do your work, it’s hard work, but you do learn a lot at Millikin provided the professors want to keep training you. </p>
<p>Aside from work ethic, it really boils down to your actual hurdle. Despite outside classes and shows, a professor can make up their mind about you in a five minute scene or minute long song and that’s that. I was put on probation for a lot of things that the professor had never gone over with me in class, even though I was told that I did a great job on all of the notes I had been given previously. I personally don’t think that’s fair, but some people feel it is. It’s all about your prospective.</p>
<p>A lot of people take redirection differently. It really doesn’t phase some people at all, others will try their hardest to get into as many BFA classes as possible by continuing to work hard, but a lot of people either change majors or transfer schools. They constantly tell the students not to be nervous about the hurdles, and you shouldn’t because it just affects your performance, but it’s very hard not to be when it seems like your entire future is riding on a 5 minute performance. (Which also isn’t true, but it sure seems that way when you’re a freshman!)</p>
<p>Sorry if I rambled, I hope I helped! :D</p>
<p>steamedartichoke I got your pm, and spent like 20 minutes typing something out, only to find that I didn’t have 15 posts. This is 11, and I promise I’ll get back to you in a day or two! <3</p>
<p>Oswin, no worries! Take your time Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Can a current or recent student speak to the level of difficulty in managing the BFA MT workload along with the Honors Program?</p>