<p>Looking for highly competitive liberal arts colleges with top theater programs. High school sophomore D has 4.0+ unweighted GPA, high 600s on PSATs (hasn't taken SATs yet), several top academic awards (mathematics, history, English, Latin and photography) and will be transferring to a magnet school for the arts next year. Will be taking two AP courses and all honors levels courses. Has been involved in local youth theater 5 years, now has been cast on web series and selected for competitive program at the arts high school. She'd like a smaller school, wants small class sizes, close access to professors and smart, serious students who aren't competitive with each other. She'd also like to be on the west coast. Visited Pomona and Occidental; was turned off by Pomona because they were unwilling to allow her to tour since she's just a sophomore, was far more impressed with Occidential's more welcoming feeling and emphasis on student/professor relationships. Won't look at Yale or Wesleyan (too close, Yale too big), would like to be closer to a more urban/suburban area, seeks diversity and more liberal atmosphere. Does this even exist??</p>
<p>I think Wes may be D’s best bet except for CT small town location. Macalester in St. Paul, MN is supposed to have good theatre and gets a decent percentage of international students. Lastly, Reed, which is opening a new performing arts center, would be another possibility.</p>
<p>The Theater Major forum would be the best place to start your research. Lots of information there on liberal arts colleges with strong theater programs.</p>
<p>We agree that Wesleyan would be perfect for her…only it’s 10 minutes from home and she wants to go explore the world a bit. Mac’s come up a few times, her father has made that suggestion…but she’s really hoping to be on the west coast. I’ll check out the Theater forum. Thank you!</p>
<p>Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA has an excellent theater program. Does lots of productions, and you don’t have to be a drama major to participate.</p>
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<p>This is a silly reason to be “turned-off.” You have very selective criteria so you shouldn’t eliminate choices based on these kind of criteria.</p>
<p>I’d add Carnegie-Mellon even though it’s not a LAC it’s in a city and the department is excellent with great facilities.</p>
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<p>Agree - maybe a moderator can move it to that forum?</p>
<p>My D was turned off by Pomona’s unwillingness to let her participate in a tour, not us. Neither her father nor I were with her, she was visiting her uncle. WE don’t have such selective criteria, we are trying to support our daughter and what she wants and believes will make her happy. We are just seeking support and advice, not criticism. But thanks.</p>
<p>“Like” to be on the west coast? Does that mean east coast schools like Emerson or CMU would be out of the question?</p>
<p>She’s pretty set on the west coast. She wants to get out of New England and any small town. Her dad and I are scratching our heads in terms of trying to help her, while trying to get her to be open to more options and have a little more perspective during the process.</p>
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<p>I also suggest providing guidance rather than blindly accepting decisions based on ridiculous criteria.</p>
<p>Unless her SAT is better than her PSAT, Pomona (and Wes) are probably off the table anyway. Kenyon meets her criteria EXCEPT it is in a very small town and not on the West Coast. But it is really a beautiful campus. There are a lot fewer schools to pick from on the West Coast… you really should encourage her to expand her geographic range.</p>
<p>Yeah, we know. Toured Kenyon and Oberlin with first child. Wow! You guys are tough, and both my husband and I have doctorates ourselves! Geez. Not worried she’ll break the magic 700. 680-690 doesn’t suck as a sophomore. Wow. Glad you must have been so superior in high school…wow.</p>
<p>Not exactly the West Coast but Colorado College ticks a lot of boxes. SouthernCal not an LAC but has always felt ‘smaller’ to me than it is; too urban/big?</p>
<p>Will take another look at CC, eldest looked at it, too. Aquaitance transferred from Occidental to USC, we’ll just have to see how it all falls out. Thanks!</p>
<p>“She wants to get out of New England and any small town.” She doesn’t need to go all the way to the West Coast. Just down the Merritt Parkway lies a different world: NYC and environs with Sarah Lawrence, Barnard and NYU. Truly on the West Coast, the remaining possibilities are: Oxy, Reed and USC.</p>
<p>There is a study abroad program called London Theatre Abroad, in which many LAC’s participate. Maybe Wes should be considered with study abroad.</p>
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<p>Colorado College opened a new arts center in the past several years (Cornerstone Arts Center.) They’ve also added a film studies major (spun off from the English major recently).</p>
<p>I have a friend whose daughter had a profoundly good experience in theater at Emory. Mid-sized, urban, diverse, great academics.</p>
<p>I hope she gives Pomona another chance. Has she looked at the other Claremont colleges – Pitzer, Scripps?</p>
<p>I think the combination of urban and non-eastcoast is difficult as many academically strong LACs are either on the eastcoast or urban or both.</p>
<p>Really hard to think of schools on the west coast, but if she’s interested in a city, Barnard might fit the bill. Vassar also has amazing theater opportunities. In addition, Carleton in Minnesota is a great school (although it clearly wouldn’t meet her geographic criteria), and while I don’t know if the theater department is outstanding, there are tons of opportunities for students to participate in plays.</p>
<p>Bard College in upstate New York</p>