<p>Can anyone suggest a list of colleges that have strong BFA audition-based MT programs that also give a prospect consideration into a non-audition based BA MT (or Acting) program? Many schools seem to be all or nothing but I've come across at least one (Miami?) that seems to be in this category and was wondering if there were more out there.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Are you asking about schools that consider academically qualified students who audition for the school’s BFA MT for a general BA theatre program if they don’t get accepted to the BFA? Off the top of my head, Pace, Miami, Elon, Emerson… but none of them are BA MT. BFA and BA MT programs seem to be mutually exclusive (as opposed to BA and BFA acting/theatre programs). I don’t think I know of a school that juggles two groups of MTs at once!</p>
<p>Point Park offers both a BA in MT and a BFA in MT, however the BA is an audition program and then you audition in your sophomore year to enter the BFA program.
<a href=“http://www.pointpark.edu/Academics/Schools/COPA/COPADeptsMajors/Theatre/TheatreArtsConcentrations/MusicalTheatre[/url]”>http://www.pointpark.edu/Academics/Schools/COPA/COPADeptsMajors/Theatre/TheatreArtsConcentrations/MusicalTheatre</a></p>
<p>Catawba College offers both a BA in MT and a BFA in MT, but they do not seem to require an audition for admission (you audition for scholarships) [the “Big List” needs to be updated to reflect the two degrees, by the way].
[Theatre</a> Arts](<a href=“http://www.catawba.edu/academic/theatrearts/]Theatre”>http://www.catawba.edu/academic/theatrearts/)</p>
<p>Neither of these seem to meet criteria specified in the OP question(audition BFA, non-audition BA). However, Point Park accepts a farily large entering class (40 for MT, according to their website) compared to other audition-based programs. But this is still a very highly-competitive BA program for admission.</p>
<p>Thank you both for replying. Yes sberryfields I am essentially asking about schools that would consider an academically qualified student for a BA program (theatre or MT) if they don’t get accepted into the BFA program. Something in contrast to NYU for example where if you audition for a BFA at Tisch and you don’t make it, you’re out for the school across all disciplines and majors theatre or otherwise. Many others schools are like that as well.</p>
<p>It’s helpful information as my student formulates a list of where to apply. She has her heart set on studying MT or Theatre and is very academically qualified everywhere she’s considering, but as we all know, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything when it comes to audition based admittance. At the end of the process, she needs to go somewhere. A wonderful BA program in theatre or MT at a great school I know would be a welcome option and might get her slightliy closer to finding that elusive “safety” school which is the hard part of creating the list. Thank you for the suggestions.</p>
<p>Just to clarify what I’m asking though since I’ve now looked more closely at both Emerson and Pace’s websites as an example (will look at the other suggestions as well). Both of those schools are not exactly what I mean. Unless I’m mistaken, Emerson’s BA program is not performance based and Pace’s BA Theatre Arts program still requires an audition. And I can’t quite tell if at Emerson or Pace if you don’t get an offer to study for the BFA if they would automatically consider you for the BA program or if you’d have to had applied to it in the first place. </p>
<p>So what I think I’m asking (badly) is: which schools if any that have BFA theatre/MT program also have performanced based BA theatre/MT that do not require an audition which an applicant could be considered for automatically if they do not get into the BFA program. So far, I’ve only found one but I would assume there are others.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Maybe not exactly what you are looking for, but at James Madison University students auditioning for the BA Musical Theatre Program may indicate that they would like to be considered for admission to the BA Theatre Program (if not admitted for Musical Theatre). Also – even if a student is not admitted to either the Musical Theatre or Theatre programs, but is admitted to James Madison academically, (s)he may attend JMU in another major, minor in Theatre, audition for productions, and take certain classes.</p>
<p>This may be the program that you already found, but I believe that the BA program at Indiana University is non-audition and that a student who is admitted to the university but not the BFA MT program may attend the BA Theatre Program automatically. </p>
<p>At Point Park it sounds like all students audition for and start in he BA (which is pretty performance based), and audition for the BFA program at a later date if they so choose.</p>
<p>Many people suggest having a safety school at a program where BA students will not be competing with BFA and MFA students for placement in classes and casting. If she is academically competitive, and they are schools which could also be a financial safety for you (check on merit awards, financial aid, etc…) Muhlenberg, Rollins, Goucher, and Skidmore would all be worth looking into.</p>
<p>Thank you for the suggestions KatMT. JMU is an interesting option I hadn’t thought about. Although the BA program (either MT or Theatre) is limited to a small competitive number of admits, at least you’re not OUT if you’re in academically so that is certainly a school to take a good look at. Good tip.</p>
<p>Muhlenberg also is an interesting idea and a possible way to get at the same thing that I was asking about. It’s not (necessarily) an audition based MT admission and it does look like there could be opportunities for merit awards for academically and/or artistically talented applicants which makes bells go off in my ears. Biggest hurdle is the other criteria she has in her head. (Big, not in the middle of nowhere, easy to get to via public transportation etc…) I’m patiently waiting for her to realize that she’s unlikely to “have it all” so she can figure out what her real priorities are and what she’s willing to compromise on. As I said, she will ultimately need “somewhere” to go that she’d be happy with. She’s a heck of a student and a fantastic performer. Love for her to have it all but I know her list can’t assume that outcome. Which is why I’m continuing to look for other options for her to take a closer look at now that the crunch is on in earnest. Adding JMU and Mulhenberg to her “you should investigate these schools” list.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>halflokum, I agree with KatMT’s advice and feel that rather than look for BFA schools that also have a BA Theater/MT (non-audition) program as the back up is not the way I would go about it. Rather, I would look for BA non-audition schools that offer a BA in Theater (performance based) or MT that do not already have a BFA. In other words, the “back up” schools would not be the same as the BFA audition schools, but would be strong BA programs in their own right that do not have any BFA program…so, separate schools than your list of BFA schools. Rollins, Muhlenberg, Skidmore were three good suggestions of this sort that KatMT brought up.</p>
<p>However, Skidmore told us on our tour last year that they don’t do a musical. That turned by D off. Not sure if that is accurate or not.</p>
<p>I think that at Skidmore the musicals are done by the student group, not the mainstage department. I have friends who graduated from there and this is what they said. I believe one may have been a double major with Theatre and Dance.</p>
<p>I think USC has both a BFA and a BA program. The plus to USC is that their BFA is only straight theatre so if you want to do MT you need to take the BA program with a minor in MT from the (very respected) school of music.</p>
<p>that is true! In the BFA at USC, you pretty much can’t take any classes beyond the ones required for the BFA, but there is plenty of room in the BA for the musical theatre minor–I even have a second minor!</p>
<p>Agree with KatMT yet again. I’m pretty familiar with Skidmore. In fact, my in-laws, who are in their '80s have been auditing courses there every semester for years and years and have seen many shows there as well. While the theater department doesn’t stage musicals, there is a student run musical theater organization that does. Also, you can double major with Theater and Music or Theater and Dance. Skidmore is particularly strong in both theater and in dance. </p>
<p>USC’s BA is a great option (as it has the MT Minor), though is typically not a sure bet safety school fall back for most students.</p>
<p>Hofstra has no audition to be admitted for a BA in Theater that has a MT Minor and there is an audition after two years to get into a BFA track and so that option still exists down the line. While it is not a safety school for every student, it typically would be a safety school for a student with a very strong academic profile.</p>
<p>I’ve seen the light! It makes a heck of a lot more sense to think of the BA programs out there - many of them quite wonderful with plenty of performance opportunities and at GREAT schools that check many of our (her) boxes - as its own goal and not as an afterthought to a BFA non-admission. That sure does open up the world of possibilities for a talented and academically strong applicant. It also allows her to have a wider variety of experiences while at college… all of which she can drawn upon to make her a better actor. I’m liking this idea a lot. Thanks again for the advice.</p>