<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>Wow - a girl who knows what she wants, and only a sophomore. Her whole idea of schools may change when she goes off to the arts high school, though, so be prepared. Also, I’m assuming since you are looking for LAC’s, your D is interested in a BA rather than a BFA? Does she want auditioned or non-auditioned programs?</p>
<p>I’d say google for a list of LACs on the west coast, then research the heck out of all of them to whittle it down going by all of the criteria your D has. If there are any left (she’s got a lot of criteria!!!), you could visit those. Then come back to CC and search those schools on the forums.</p>
<p>Why would she be looking at Wesleyan or Yale if she wants west coast? Are they near your home?</p>
<p>I am very curious why your daughter is only interested in a place that is “private”, “highly competitive” and a “liberal arts college”.</p>
<p>There may be other places where she can get “a smaller school, . . . small class sizes, close access to professors and smart, serious students who aren’t competitive with each other.”</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>She’s not looking at Wesleyan or Yale, too close to home. Brown emails her quite a bit inviting her for a visit, so we’re trying to encourage her to at least go and take a peek. Tisch, etc., are too big and she’s heard that the film department is amazing, but theater not so much. Yes, she wants a BA, not a BFA; she’s planning on a double major in theater and history/poli sci to keep the option of law school or perhaps becoming a film history professor should her hope to be a working actor not pan out. She’s definitely open to audition-only programs (seems like that’s all we do lately…), she’s pretty accustomed to auditioning at this point. And you’re right, she may change her mind once up at the Academy, and the head of the theater department will likely be a great source of information. Thanks!</p>
<p>KEVP, this child has worked her butt off and wants to be in a top-notch program. No elitism here…older sis is at Hampshire and little sis loves the educational philosophy, size and access to professors. In a perfect world, both of these kids would love to end up in the UK/Scotland. Older sis did a summer program at Oxford and LOVED it and is planning spending her third year in Edinborough and plans on attending grad school in the UK. Younger sister would consider applying overseas, but wants to be closer to the action in LA, at least for now.</p>
<p>It does sound like Brown could be wonderful for her…their theater program is so cool, esp. at the graduate level. The LAC theater programs I’ve read the most about in California are Occidental and Pepperdine. But as you say, her outlook will probably change when she starts at the arts magnet school… she’s getting such a good early start, too. Does she want access to film studies, or film production, or both?</p>
<p>MominDurham, sounds like you have a D who has thought a lot about her future academics and career and that you’ve done a lot of research already in the acting area. Personally not familiar with schools in the west coast. I’m just curious why you are saying that Tisch is not known for theatre when I’ve heard amazing things about Tisch for theatre opportunities and getting their alumn out there working on Broadway in plum roles?</p>
<p>I think what KEVP is trying to say is there are very strong, very academic programs that fit the bill for what your daughter says she wants that are not necessarily housed on the campus of a private liberal arts school. One that comes to mind immediately if film is her interest, is USC - its private, its BFA Acting program is small and very competitive to get in, and the university is academically quite strong. Being a part of a small program like the BFA Acting program makes a big school seem very small all of a sudden. If California is what she wants, and film is a strong interest, she definitely should look at USC. Another California school she might want to consider is Pepperdine. it seems to fit all of your criteria. And there is also Chapman in California. If California is not a must, Reed College in Portland is out west. However, I don’t know how strong its theater program is. But it is a top ranked private LAC on the West Coast.<br>
One thing she may want to consider – not all great programs for film and theater are located in LA or NYC. In fact, many experts advise students not to go the the big cities for college. If you all are willing to broaden your search, I would recommend many other places including:</p>
<p>Harvard - we have a friend who last year turned down Carnegie Mellon to go to Harvard for theater
Brown
Kenyon College in Ohio
Swarthmore
Skidmore
Bard
Muhlenburg
Barnard
Denison College in Ohio
Oberlin in Ohio
Vassar
SMU
University of Texas
University of Virginia</p>
<p>
I would look at Fordham Lincoln Center, which fits the bill in every way except that it’s on the East Coast. Also, she will get a full scholarship if she is a National Merit Scholar. It’s an auditioned BA program with a significant core academic requirement.</p>
<p>We heard really good things about Vassar’s theater program. (One of my S’s favorite directors went there and loved it.) It’s close to NYC, too, so the theater kids get to see a lot of shows (if they’re so inclined).</p>
<p>USC gives 1/2 tuition to NMF’s.</p>
<p>We looked at the Claremont Colleges Consortium (just on paper), and it just didn’t seem as strong in theater as East Coast schools like Brown, Williams, Vassar, Wesleyan etc… or NU in Chicago. </p>
<p>I was not aware Harvard had a theatre major or concentration.</p>
<p>I’d suggest visiting a few schools this summer - the time goes by fast. If you visit, set up advance meetings with theater faculty and try to attend a class or two.</p>
<p>MominDurham I sent you a PM. I agree with what arwarw said.</p>
<p>My niece just finished her freshman year at Harvard. They have no theatre major, but I believe the college is working on that, and you will see one soon. It is CRAZY how much theatre goes on at Harvard, despite not having a major. They have a number of troupes, and you go at the beginning of the year and do one audition - they then put you in a variety of productions! My niece performed in three productions, plus stage-managed one. She is studying something very cerebral which she explained to me - I nodded enthusiastically with no concept . . .</p>
<p>Too bad she doesn’t want to look at Wesleyan as they have a wonderful theatre/film program.</p>
<p>Your daughter has so many requirements and some cancel the others out. For example, a highly competitive school where the students are not competitive! There are arguably, but certainly comparatively, few top theater schools on the west coast. The best-known (UCLA, USC) are not small and the others do not excel academically. I don’t know much about Occidental but Reed is a tiny school with little depth outside the humanities. And while I disagree with arwarw about the academics of the Claremont Colleges (Pomona is a top-ranked school.), none are top theater schools, and anyway your initial encounter was problematic. While you may find a school that sorta fits your criteria in the west, you’ll probably find a better fit somewhere in the east–as far from home as possible.</p>
<p>Love her more than anything, but this kid is brighter than me and super-driven. Your suggestions are excellent, thank you. Many are already on the list…big sis also into theater but more so from the literature/directorial/education perspective and ended up at Hampshire and LOVES it. Her dad went to Muhlenberg and uncle went to Tisch. We would like her to see Brown because they have contacted her and invited her to visit. Trust me, wish Wesleyan was in LA! Big sis looked at Oberlin and Kenyon, little sis says she wants out of our cow town. Thank you so much, these are great suggestions!</p>
<p>Agree with arwarw, amtc, and theater mom above. </p>
<p>I think your D’s criteria is a little too limiting and while it is good to develop selection criteria, she should stay open to some schools that meet SOME of her criteria, but not all, and see where she gets in. A highly selective LAC on the West Coast strong in theater is going to knock out so many great options, and not give her enough options. I understand wanting to be away from home and also being near a city but that still allows for places other than the West Coast. </p>
<p>But on the West Coast, I agree with the suggestion someone made of USC or even UCLA. Perhaps Stanford, though they are not as strong in theater as the first two. </p>
<p>I definitely think she should check out Brown. I have a D who attended Brown and there is a lot of strong theater there. While highly selective to be admitted, it does not have a competitive atmosphere.</p>
<p>Agree with others that she should look at Vassar and Northwestern. Take a look as well at Tufts. </p>
<p>I don’t agree that theater/acting is weak at Tisch. I understand that Tisch may not be what your D wants, but it is not lacking in terms of strong theater. I have a D who graduated from Tisch and is a working professional actor. </p>
<p>Other options to round out the level of selectivity might be Skidmore, Brandeis, and Sarah Lawrence.</p>
<p>Well, as mentioned, USC is not a small LAC at all. However, it does have both an auditioned BFA Acting and also a strong BA Theatre major, as well as an honors program with a very LAC-small class, best professors, like-minded peers feel. USC also encourages students to take a double major, or one or two minors, and has a great Study Abroad program too. And 1/2 tuition for NMF, and full tuition for a smaller select group of merit scholars. And close to Hollywood. And has a top film school. So… many of your D’s wish list items. But it is located near downtown L.A. Very pretty campus, but surrounding area is more… um… urban. The rankings and academic reputation have zoomed over the past 20 years, but the best part is how seriously this school is investing in their undergrad programs as well as their research. Next year they will open a new School of Dance. </p>
<p>My S2 is a double major at USC, film and theatre, and very happy.</p>
<p>I would add the following to the list of schools that others have suggested. She is only a rising junior, so she still has time to research different options. She may also decide she wants different things out of a school in a year and 1/2 when application time roles around.</p>
<p>Ithaca (Auditioned BFA)
Boston College (BA)
Connecticut College (BA)
UC- Santa Cruz (BA)
Wittman (BA)
Gettysburg (BA)
Pepperdine (BA)
James Madison (auditioned BA)
William and Mary (BA)
American (BA – auditioned??)
Boston University (BFA)
Barnard/ Columbia (BA)
Bennington (BA)</p>
<p>All of these schools are quite different… BUT, they all have an engaged student body, atrong academics, strong theatre.</p>
<p>Also remember that as long as you have a Bachelor’s degree in ANY subject you have kept the door open for law school. You don’t have to major or double major in “prelaw” or “poli sci” or something like that. I had no trouble getting into law school with a BA in theatre, and I met people whose undergraduate majors were all kinds of interesting things.</p>
<p>I agree that you can major in theater and go into many fields, including law. You don’t need a second major to keep doors open. </p>
<p>I’m glad KatMT added Conn College which is a great option, albeit, not urban or suburban. It is a LAC with great theater. Boston College would give the city, as would Tufts. And of course Northwestern and Vassar.</p>