<p>So from what I understand, Otterbein's BFA program for acting is limited to eight students every year (four men and four women), focusing on not only acting but movement and dance also. My question is this: is Otterbein's program worth applying to realistically, as in will it properly prepare me and help me make enough connections in the industry to the point where I have a legitimate chance of getting a job after graduation? According to their website, "The senior year is highlighted by a nine-week internship with a professional casting director in New York City or Los Angeles. Students function as readers for professional auditions, meet agents, directors and producers, and begin the process of networking with people in the profession. Acting majors may also audition to participate in the Senior Showcase, produced in New York City and Los Angeles for agents and casting directors in April." Otterbein is literally in my backyard, so the advantage to that is the whole room and board thing, but, in comparing this to a school like tisch/NYU or Purchase in NY, would I have a better chance in the acting industry if I went to school where I'll likely be auditioning at some point in the future? I'm not assuming that I will or won't get into any of these programs...I'm just wondering if it's worth the extra distance (and money) to go to a school where the jobs are. Or would the internship and senior showcase mentioned in Otterbein's description of their program be enough to get me where I want to be?</p>
<p>Thank you so much for any advice you can give! I love Otterbein and would absolutely love to go there, but I know that the acting industry is extremely difficult to get into, and I don't really want to set myself up for failure. Thanks again</p>
<p>Otterbein has plenty of alumni who are acting professionally. Several are listed on the program website, but in last spring’s alumni magazine there were at least 6 relatively recent alumn (NOT the ones featured on the website) working in professional theater who were listed in the class notes. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in that program and not live on campus, but that’s a different question that only you can answer! There is absolutely noplace that can guarantee you’ll be working after graduation, by the way, but you certainly wouldn’t be setting yourself up for failure by going to school here! My son’s a freshman in the BFA Acting program at O’bein, so let me know if you have specific questions and I’ll try to pass them along.</p>
<p>Blue, if your saving money by going to Otterbein you could always spend your summers in NY or LA interning or taking classes at a studio to get your feet wet in that market. From your post you are really excited about Otterbein.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, shacherry! That’s a very good point…I haven’t given hardly any thought to summer opportunities, so that’s something I definitely need to look in to. And I really do like the atmosphere at Otterbein. I haven’t been on official “college visit” per se (another thing I should do at some point), but I’ve been to tons of their shows, talked to a couple students I know who go there and been in some of their facilities.</p>
<p>Times3, thank you so much! Congrats to your son for making it into the program And I’ve gone back and forth on what I’m going to do about the whole living on campus thing. I really want to experience living away from home at some point during college (not like two blocks is really away from home), but at the same time I don’t want to spend money where I don’t have to. I was thinking maybe living on campus for my freshman and sophomore years, then living at home after that? Anyhow, thanks for the info…you have know idea how much it helps!</p>
<p>While my daughter is a Design and Technology BFA freshman at Otterbein, I can say that I think your opportunities at Otterbein would be wonderful. I totally agree with shacherry about interning or taking classes outside of Ohio during summers. I won’t try to sell the program to you because I’m sure since you live so close you know how wonderful it is. I can say that, for my daughter, there is no better place. Like Times3, if you have specific questions, let us know.</p>
<p>And thank you, ugadog. I think I’m lucky to have a college like that so close to home, so I feel like not taking advantage of it would be a shame</p>
And I’ve gone back and forth on what I’m going to do about the whole living on campus thing. I really want to experience living away from home at some point during college (not like two blocks is really away from home), but at the same time I don’t want to spend money where I don’t have to. I was thinking maybe living on campus for my freshman and sophomore years, then living at home after that? Anyhow, thanks for the info…you have know idea how much it helps!</p>