Need Guidance On Volunteer Work For Theatre Resume USC?

I’m currently a junior attending a performing arts high school. I want to get into the BFA program at USC. I’m trying to figure out which volunteer projects I should do. With theatre it’s talent based but I still want my volunteer hours to stand out. I know they should show my passions for service which are working with kids, theatre, and the environment. Can anyone tell me if my list of projects is good for a theatre major and if you think USC will care that I have these on my resume.

  1. Relay for life freshman year 8 hours
  2. Children's memorial hospital freshman year 8 hours

Future Projects

  1. Theatre kids camp at my school. Junior and Senior
  2. Environmental Club Junior and Senior
  3. Youth leader for kids camp at church Junior and Senior
  4. Local Theatre Festival Junior and Senior
  5. School service where I clean up school not sure if this counts junior and senior
  6. Beta Club Project junior and senior
  7. Red Cross or AmeriCorps Junior and Senior

For the BFA the audition is pretty much what they look at, but USC also has a really good theatre BA and for that they look at the whole student, so do something that you are engaged with, but maybe something other than a theatre thing to show that you have other interests. My d worked for an animal rescue during the school year and she also babysat. Both topics came up in interviews she had.

@astute12 I plan to audition for BFA and if I get in switch to BA. Do you recommend that I engage myself in just few volunteer activities since it’s BFA?

Why do you want to switch to the BA? The BFA is much harder to get into. In fact at the audition that my d went to they really pushed the BA as a good alternative to the BFA. As far as more or fewer activities, whatever you do, do what you LOVE to do – if that is working with kids, do that. Do it consistently – not just a few hours, but weekly, if possible. If it is volunteering at a theatre, do that. Do something that you really love and would do regardless of whether or not you are applying to college. Colleges can tell the difference between a padded resume (a list of lots of individual things) and one where the the kid is really doing something they love – i.e. “I worked for a year with my local theatre where I helped with their education outreach”. Good luck!

@astute12 I want to switch to BA because my grades aren’t high enough to go directly for the BA. I heard if you audition for BFA and don’t get in sometimes they give you a spot in BA.

Wouldn’t you still have to qualify academically for them to do that? Some schools have some “wiggle” for BFA applicants, you don’t have to meet the “standard” criteria. CMU is one of those. Others you have to pass an academic “threshold” 1st, NYU and Boston are two examples of that policy. I don’t know what USC’s policy is regarding academics and BFA majors, but if your ultimate goal is the BA (esp if you want to start there) maybe you should spend more time on raising grades/scores so you qualify for the program you really want

You should call admissions and ask – I do know of one kid who switched from BFA to BA, but they may not let you. The BFA track is completely different than the BA. I agree with @toowonderful, you have time to get those grades up! Focus on that!

They told us during the SDA Open house that you can ask to switch from the BFA from the BA before you start the first semester and generally through the middle of your second year. Later than than likely requires more than 4 years to complete all core requirements. I think based on your circumstances I would apply to the BFA and list the BA as a second choice. Work on your audition and make the best impression you can. Maybe they offer you the BA program anyway, If you get in as a BFA switch either before you begin classes or after the first semester.

The BFA program cares about your audition. I doubt they will look at your volunteering hours. The audition is key. If you are lucky to get into the BFA program, I certainly would not switch into the BA.