<p>My daughter received her audition appointment paperwork today. It says “The audition for acting and musical theatre is for acceptance into the Bachelor of Arts program. Students may audition for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree during the sophomore year.” Does this mean that all MT students enter a BA in (?) program…then they can audition to enter the BFA in MT in their sophomore year (sort of like a cut program)? Do they have both a BA and BFA in MT? Or is the BA in something else?</p>
<p>Point Park admits all students for BA, then they may audition into the BFA as stated. Some people may think of this as a “reverse cut”. The things you may wish to consider in this sort of program are:
- How many (or what percentage) of students move into the BFA? Is it a criterion-based, or number-based? (In other words - could an entire class move into the BFA if they met the standards, or is it limited to a certain number?)
- Does the training prior to BFA audition appear to prepare them well for those auditions?
- Would your D be content with the BA track in subsequent years if she is not admitted to the BFA?</p>
<p>My understanding from information we were given last year was that aprox. 50 kids start in the BA MT and then around 25 continue on for a BFA. They also said that the curriculum was very similar with only a small difference in requirements for their major. In addition keep in mind that only around 10 we were told get to do the NY showcase and that they audition both the BA’s and the BFA’s.</p>
<p>I’d like to know more about this too-- way back on some thread a student said she’d auditioned for the BFA but didn’t get in because she had the wrong kind of song and would try again next semester–no biggie for her. But that would only be because there was very little difference between BA and BFA? Very different from anyplace else I’ve heard of and I’d want to understand better-- usually a BA has far less real training available.</p>
<p>This is not a response specific to Pont Park, but to “usually a BA has far less real trining available”</p>
<p>A BA may or may not have far less training available depending on the school. Generally less training is required and more work outside of your major is required for a BA than a BFA, but there are exceptions to this depending on the school.</p>
<p>In terms of Point Park it might be best to look at the requirements of the BA and the BFA tracks side-y-side, and then ask them directly at Point Park if there are specific classes or opportunities that are ONLY available to the BFA students.</p>
<p>In terms of auditions everyone can audition, in fact if you have any type of scholarship you are required to audition.
On another note, my daughter attended a mater class with a PP alumni who is currently in “Cats” She spoke about just that BA vs BFA and told the students “No difference” in the end.</p>
<p>The Point Park website turns out to be very clear about BA vs BFA curriculum… BA requires fewer advanced acting classes, allows more electives. I’m wondering whether those electives can be acting/music/dance classes, and whether the advanced are available to BAs.</p>