<p>My daughter is finishing her freshman year at one of our state universities in their BA theatre program, with the plan of auditioning for their BFA Acting program. She has learned a lot about the program in her first year, and has become quite disenchanted and realizes that the program (even the BFA) and the academics are just not what she wants. I am hoping some of you knowledgeable CC'ers can give some school suggestions. </p>
<p>Her ideal school would offer a BFA in Acting, but not a conservatory-type of program, so that she can take a variety of classes that interest her (I know, that probably doesn't exist). Otherwise, she would want a BA with an Acting concentration. In short, she would love a LAC type of theatre program housed in a major university. She really wants to be able to take lots of different acting classes, be challenged and stretched as an actor and have mainstage opportunities. She would also like to be able to take voice-over and film acting classes, and also find a program that offers a senior showcase or one that partners with a theatre so that the students can earn their equity card. </p>
<p>One thing she dislikes about her current school is that the casting is very political, they tend to pigeon-hole you and then give you those same types of roles over and over, and they want you to look how they want you to look (ie: she couldn't go crazy and cut or color her hair). It is also a cut program. These are things she definitely wants to avoid.</p>
<p>Here are the other things she is looking for in a school:</p>
<p>*large uni with a large student body (not a commuter school)
*vibrant college town or at least a lively area with shops, stores, restaurants within walking distance
*Friendly student body
*Lots of student activities
*A large variety of academic class offerings
*A relaxed atmosphere (not highly competitive)
*Prefers the northeastern part of the US, but is open to going almost anywhere for the right fit</p>
<p>We so appreciate any advice or recommendations!</p>
<p>I think it is very hard to recommend schools without knowing her academic qualifications or her artistic qualifications. I find many times on CC that people create lists or ask about schools that “offer Acting” or “offer MT” and there is so much more to creating an appropriate college list in relation to one’s academic qualifications and artistic competitiveness. </p>
<p>So, I don’t think my suggestions are gonna be too helpful as I would need all that and more to make suggestions. But based on some things she wants in a college (the bottom of your post)…what about:</p>
<p>Syracuse
NYU/Tisch
BU
CMU
Pace
University of Michigan (not in the Northeast though)</p>
<p>Thanks soozievt :)</p>
<p>Academically, she is strong but her SAT’s weren’t stellar. I believe they were 1070/1680. She graduated in the top 16% of her class with some AP’s and an ending GPA of 3.53. In her first semester of college, she earned a 3.65 carrying 17 credit hours (made Dean’s List). Half of those were theatre related, and the other half were very tough core classes. </p>
<p>I don’t know how to quantify her artistic qualifications? She is a straight actor, not MT. She took theatre and production design all four years in high school, participated in community theatre, has had private instruction and even earned a nomination in our state’s equivalent of a Tony. She has taken all the courses a BFA student would take, in case she were to make the BFA for sophomore year, so that she wouldn’t be behind. She did have to audition for her school’s BA program and they really wanted her. </p>
<p>Are there other things you would need to know? I really appreciate your help!</p>
<p>That kind of information is a helpful start. As I work as a college counselor, I gather more information than that about a student and spend a great deal of time evaluating it and doing college searches and honestly cannot give that kind of individualized help on a message forum on a volunteer basis and prefer to post occasionally on topics that help many at one time and not as individualized help which I have to reserve for my job. Perhaps I should not have responded at all, but was giving you a general idea that there is more to suggesting colleges for someone than finding a school with a BFA in Acting. I mentioned a few schools but I am hopeful that others will chime in with other suggestions!</p>
<p>Another idea is CCM. I realize Ohio is not exactly “northeast” :)</p>
<p>There is UConn which isn’t in a vibrant area so much (but sometimes picking a BFA can’t match every selection criteria one has)</p>
<p>I know your D wants a BFA, but there is a BA by audition program at Penn State and at Temple.</p>
<p>I know your D attends a school in the west and so I don’t know how tied she is to the Northeast? She may wish to look at Chapman which has a lot of what she is looking for and is in the LA area.</p>
<p>She would like to get out of Arizona, and she just loves the northeast (plus we may be moving there). She ultimately chose the school because of the BFA program and because she received a full academic tuition scholarship. We looked at Chapman, but she is not fond of the LA area.</p>
<p>I appreciate you taking time away from your busy day! Thanks so much for all your suggestions :)</p>
<p>realjoy - My D is a freshman MT major at Marymount Manhattan College and really loves the program and the school. There is also a BFA acting program at the school and she has many friends in this program also.</p>