<p>Hi - I need advice from someone familiar with different BFA programs. Biggest concerns are finding a BFA MT whose acting training is paramount and that doesn't require stellar standardized test scores. Alternatively to MT, she would look at acting programs where a lot of voice and some dance can be taken as well either within or outside program - preferably where one can audition for musicals as well.</p>
<p>A little more info - my D is a current Junior. I'm confident that she can compete with her auditions (better on acting and voice than dance - although she's a great tapper and does have some ballet/jazz training) and resume and references. Her grades are good - up to this point 3.8 unweighted, 4.0 or a little higher weighted. Not a ton of APs - but a few. Anticipated ACT score of 25-27. Other negative might be having only 2 years of a foreign language (if this is a problem at many schools maybe she can take her third year as a senior or over summer at a community college - but she really doesn't want to). Other than that, should meet academic class requirements.</p>
<p>So far list is:</p>
<p>CMU (MT or Acting)
Boston University (Acting)
Emerson (MT or Acting)
U of MI (MT) - but maybe this is academically out of reach?
Syracuse (MT or Acting)
Ithaca (MT or Acting)
NYU (MT or Acting) - but maybe this is academically out of reach?
Julliard (Acting)
UCLA (MT or Acting) - but maybe this is academically out of reach?
FSU (MT or Acting)
CCM (MT or Acting)
Elon (MT or Acting)
Point Park (MT or Acting)
University of the Arts (MT or Acting)
USC (Acting) - but maybe this is academically out of reach?
NCSA (Acting)</p>
<p>Looking at starting to visit colleges - list definitely too long to visit all, and too long to apply to all as well. Would love advice narrowing down based on description above. Would like a mix of competitiveness academically and audition wise (or maybe they are all very competitive talent wise?). If some of these schools are going to reject her without audition because of academics - would rather not bother with them. And, if there's a school not yet on my radar that we should look at - let me know - this is all over whelming.</p>
<p>My first advice to you is calm down! Your daughter’s scores are absolutely fine and most schools are more lenient with gpas and test scores for theatre majors. Not all, but that is something you can read and find out on their websites - do they admit academically before you can get an audition date? UCLA said they can go as low as a 2.0 gpa if they like the audition and want the student, every school is different.</p>
<p>Do some more research before you panic; read their websites, have them send you information, etc. Decide on how much training vs academics she wants, how big a school and program she wants, whether she wants a campus or not, a city or rural or suburban location. What about a cut program - is that okay or a definite “no.” What about guaranteed roles in plays? What about costs? You have a lot of different kinds of schools listed, spend a few days researching and reading, it will help you and your daughter get a better idea of what she is looking for and what schools offer what she is looking for.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to add some non-audition schools to your list. There are never any guarantees as to acceptances regardless of your daughters talent and ability.</p>
<p>Knowledge is power, you should both do your homework and then ask questions.</p>
<p>When my D was in this position (researching schools) she realized that the “best” schools were not always the best fit for her. Just because a school is on some list as one of the best theatre schools, doesn’t mean that it is right for everyone. Let your D decide what she really wants out of her college experience, then try to find a program that fits those criteria. For example, my D (freshman in a BA MT program) wanted 1) a “college” type experience - campus, school spirit, Greek life, etc. 2) top notch academics 3) ability to perform frequently 4) ability to double major. My S (currently HS soph) wants a totally different experience. He wants 1) a conservatory-type program 2) as few gen eds as possible 3) a Bachelor of Music MT, if possible and 4) could care less about a social life. Their lists of schools are completely different. Not all of those schools on your D’s list are going to fit her criteria - even though they are all good schools.</p>
<p>Thank you both for your advice - am trying to stay calm - just overwhelmed already with just trying to plan week long college visiting in April. I think she does have a pretty good idea of what she wants - although there’s nothing like visiting to really assess that.</p>
<p>So far she knows she wants either a top top notch BFA MT program with a real focus on acting, second choice would be a good BFA Acting with options for voice or dance training, and third choice would be a BA in either MT or Acting depending on program. She could care less about school spirit, greek life, etc., although I think a nice campus would feel right. Her first choice would be to have as few gen eds as possible - although her mother feels a little differently She wouldn’t pick a school based on social life - she feels like her life and her friends will be in the theater program. She would not like the pressure of a cut program - so those are out - if there are some of those on my list, please let me know! She spent last summer at CMU and LOVED every single thing about it (except no a/c in the dorms!). The professors gave thoughtful, to the point, constructive criticism but were also very generous with their time and really saw the students for who they were. She got great feedback - but of course it is an incredibly competitive school to get into so… </p>
<p>If this at all helps narrow down my list - let me know! I start making phone calls tomorrow - find the web sites only marginally helpful.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about the schools on the list, but CCM’s MT and drama programs are very separate. They do not have cross-over auditions for productions at all. I am not sure that the drama folks can take MT dance. And the auditions are separate. So you should check this carefully as you look at CCM.</p>
<p>Your DD’s stats were similar to mine. One school not on your list is Otterbein, which does allow drama students to participate in MT productions (and I think take voice/dance but I don’t specifically remember.) I mention Otterbein because with similar stats DD was offered a very nice academic scholarship.</p>
<p>NCSA won’t care much about academics, and neither will Juilliard. The auditor at BU when my D auditioned (a few years ago) said that you only need a 2.0 and above to be a serious contender there, because the audition is paramount.</p>
<p>The only school I encountered in my travels that describe closest to what you are looking for is CMU. Then other one to consider is NYU. I think you need to be smart for a BFA or BA in Acting degree. Lots of reading and comprehension.</p>
<p>Your problem is not unique. A lot of MT kids are high academic achievers. And having a higher GPA will sometimes get you the nod over someone with equal talent. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I’m adding Muhlenberg as a (hopefully) safety school! She spent last summer at CMU and LOVED it and got excellent feedback - NCSA and Julliard are also high on her list - but as we all know these are extremely competitive schools.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any feedback on BOCO quality of actor training. She’s reluctant to go to a conservatory that doesn’t have a straight acting track.</p>
<p>I am confident when I say Boco has an excellent program for MT acting. But nothing remotely close to an acting or drama degree. If a BFA MT is something you want there is no better place to go. I think you would be very disappointed if being an actor is your goal. They are two very different worlds.</p>
<p>From what I remember, Boston University does not allow for BFA Acting majors to take voice or dance. Their Voice program is excellent, but completely separate and focused on opera training. I don’t believe there are many musicals produced.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. She definitely wants to graduate from a program where she could be subsequently cast in both musicals and straight plays. I am finding that some of the MT BFAs do have you audition for straight plays and musicals, so I think we’ll focus on those the most - or BFA Acting schools where you have some singing and dance options and where they produce some musicals - thanks everyone - it’s been tremendously useful.</p>
<p>lkornfield- My D is MT BFA freshman at Ithaca—I see it is already on your D’s list (as are 6 other schools my D auditioned for last year!). IC’s program is definitely “acting first” and my D shares many of her classes (thus far) with BFA Acting majors as well—she loves this—they are a tight-knit group for sure. And BFA MTs and Acting folks audition for IC’s slate of shows at the beginning of each semester so you can be cast in both musicals and straight shows which was of big appeal to D. She was cast in student-directed (dept sponsored) straight show last fall and was recently cast in upcoming spring musical. There are also lots of “outside dept” opportunities as well. Good luck to your D and feel free to PM me if you have specific questions about IC.</p>
<p>Just to add…Elon has a very challenging academic program. They are NOT a conservatory. In our research they had the most % of gen. ed. classes vs. MT classes of any we looked at (that was what we were looking for, though.) If your daughter doesn’t want this, it might not be a good fit, no matter that they are a good program. Definitely true of UMich as well…</p>
<p>My D graduated from the BFA MT program at Syracuse last year. Acting training is very strongly emphasized in this program; MT students audition for all productions, and in fact my D was cast in lead roles in 2 plays as well as leads in several musicals; Acting students can also be cast in the musicals. For the first 2 years MT and Acting students take the same required acting classes. Since her graduation my D has been cast in both musicals and straight plays – so in my experience the training has been excellent!</p>
<p>UMich is also a school where students are cast in both musicals and straight plays. My daughter has been cast and performed in both, wonderful opportunities. Academics are important at Michigan, I feel one of the reasons the program is so outstanding. The students also have many opportunities to perform in student directed plays and musicals as well. The acting training is very strong, along with all other aspects of a well rounded performer. This school truly prepares these students to work in the business. My daughter is very happy with the choice she made and she was fortunate to have some wonderful options to choose from.</p>
<p>There truly is no such thing as a “BFA backup” or safety or likely school. All BFA programs have very low acceptance rates. Some are less artistically selective than others (not so much their acceptance rate but the pool of talent they draw from) but none can be counted on as a sure bet. It is wise to balance the BFA portion of the college list from most selective to less selective artistically, (and academically), but at least one BA school that is also an academic safety should be added as the “back up.”</p>
<p>When my daughter and I visited Texas State, Kaitlin Hopkins, the head of the MT program, told us that they offer a BFA in Performance and Production that does not require an audition. That is what we are planning as a back up. There is more information about it on their website.<br>
I also hear that Stephens College has a non audition BFA in MT.</p>
She wouldn’t pick a school based on social life - she feels like her life and her friends will be in the theater program. She would not like the pressure of a cut program - so those are out - if there are some of those on my list, please let me know! She spent last summer at CMU and LOVED every single thing about it (except no a/c in the dorms!). The professors gave thoughtful, to the point, constructive criticism but were also very generous with their time and really saw the students for who they were. She got great feedback - but of course it is an incredibly competitive school to get into so… </p>