<p>How do you know which programs have planned cuts in the size of the student body? We have heard about a few, but none actually spell this out in their literature or on their websites. </p>
<p>DS heard at school that some programs require you to re-audition every year, and that you are competing for space with students who want to transfer in.... is that true? And which schools do this?</p>
<p>Schools for BFA Acting that have a definite cut (as in you get in, but you’re not necessarily IN the acting program for four years officially, because they consistently cut or move people to a theater arts program) are:
-Depaul
-Boston University
-Emerson
-Ithaca? (not sure)
-University of Arizona</p>
<p>Other schools that have cuts, but they are not set numbers or required are:
-SUNY Purchase
-NCSA
I don’t know anything about what schools make you reaudition each year…I have not heard of any places that do that.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say BU has a clear cut system at all. DePaul and Emerson have definite numbers they must get down to after the freshman or sophomore year, where students are not able to take the same classes or have the same opportunities available to those who are cut. BU isn’t like that. 40 start in their performance core. Then at the end of the freshman year, people choose whether to go into BFA Acting or BFA Theatre Arts, note the BFA on top of the theatre arts, it’s still conservatory style training, just with a broader emphasis on the directing and playwrighting. It isn’t considered a downgrade or a cut to go into the Theatre Arts program, it’s just a different way approaching and informing your personal process as an actor and artist. The advantages of Theatre Arts is that you can pick and choose your schedule with Theatre Classes, so even though most of the Theatre Arts kids are performance based, that is they still want to be actors, they can take directing or playwrighting or design. It is also within this major that someone can minor in something if they like. The way casting works is that after your sophomore year, 1st quarter, you can enter the casting pool, which is comprised of both BFA actors and BFA Theatre Arts. Everyone in the casting pool gets a role, and it’s blind to major. Some people who choose Theatre Arts also like the fact that they can choose where to study abroad. My TA from this summer (I attended the Boston University Summer Theatre Institute) went to Italy and spent a semester doing physical theatre and commedia dell’arte. In Acting you have to study at LAMDA in London your junior year, although many Theatre Arts majors go with them. So it’s not that they “move” you over the the theatre arts track after a year, it’s that about half the class wants it and chooses that kind of training.</p>
<p>I agree that BU does not have a cut system from the information we received at the school.</p>
<p>I didn’t take BU’s separation between Theatre Arts/Acting as downgrade, but needless the say, the incoming freshman class is separated. I only consider it a cut because I knew an actor who told me about her experience there and gave me an impression that sometimes the process is like a “cut,” as in people don’t always get their choice. Things may have changed?</p>
<p>It also didn’t sound to me that Ithaca was a true cut program. Based on what they said at the informational session, it is certainly possible that students could be asked to leave the program – but only after being but on “probation” and then a “warning” status. Getting put into one of those groups would also come with feedback about what is missing and needs improvement. It sounded like some would have ample indication that they were at risk – and that it wasn’t based upon getting down to a number, but honestly evaluating the prospects and progress of the student.</p>
<p>Purchase is also known for cutting students, I believe…however, that is more for conduct issues.</p>
<p>Most of BFA conservatory programs will cut in one way or another. It’s just that most don’t go for a planned number and some drop the axe with less provocation than others. </p>
<p>Another one that will cut but not to a specific number is the Rutgers BFA. I was told that they cut three from last year’s freshman class and they told a fourth to come back to join a later class. The cuts were apparently not a surprise to anyone, though.</p>
<p>Ithaca and Syracuse both have juries sophomore year in which some students continue on the BFA track and others are moved to a BA track. They made that very clear at the information sessions last year. I believe both programs have systems in place where, if you fail your sophomore evals/juries the first time, you can reaudition. But there is no question that some students who came in wanting a BFA will end up in the BA track at both schools.</p>
<p>That’s different from DePaul, which cuts about half the freshmen class each June. The school is very upfront about it, so that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. However, one must take into consideration when one enrolls there that a person <em>might</em> be cut, and learning you are cut in June is not much help when you find you have nowhere to go the following Sept. Of course, I am told that those who are cut from the BFA program at DePaul can return on the BA track, but that is not acceptable to some kids.</p>
<p>NotMamaRose, the important question to me, anyway, is the REASON for the cuts. Do they automatically take more students than they can educate and use the cut process to further refine a class list that other schools manage to choose through the auditions? In other words, will they take a marginal student and then wait to see how he or she shapes up during the year?</p>
<p>Or do they assume that a certain percentage of kids will change their minds about the program and pad the enrollment to make up for attrition? Then, if there is no attrition, they cut the least talented? </p>
<p>Or do they take more than they can educate assuming that some students will turn out to be lazy, rule-breakers, etc., and get rid of the “deadwood” because they aren’t compliant with the program or rules?</p>
<p>I can’t speak officially for the schools, but at Ithaca and Syracuse, the reason stated is that by the time sophomore evals roll around, they can distinguish between the students who have “it” as far as the BFA track (professional prep) is concerned and those who will not be allowed into upper level acting and performance classes and should thus be moved to the BA (with more liberal arts classes) track. I don’t think they plan on a certain percentage of kids not making it through the BFA: ostensibly, if all of the sophomore class was, in their view, fabulously talented, they would allow them all to continue into the upper level classes. But the odds are that that won’t be true.</p>
<p>To clarify, Syracuse does not have a BA program, rather BFA and the BS degrees. The BS degree does not require upper level acting classes, and does require a greater number of general education courses, but not the same number as students in the arts and humanities BA programs take. When I was a student at Syracuse there were some students who did not pass the sophomore evaluation, and they were allowed to try again after a semester. Some of those did pass the second time around. I believe this is still the process. There were some students who chose the BS program at junior year, because they wanted a more broad based educational experience. Some of these people did pass the evaluation, and took some upper level acting classes. I am not sure if this is still possible, or the case.</p>
<p>Thanks, Kat. I should have known it’s a BS and not a BA!!</p>
<p>I only remember, because I thought it was interesting that they offered a bachelor of science degree in drama. :)</p>
<p>NCSA does NOT have a cut program. the only students who are asked to leave are ones who aren’t passing… aren’t trying… are lazy… etc.</p>