<p>My daughter is spending this semester (her last semester of high school) at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, and it's really turned her head about conservatory training, and she's now wishing she'd applied for admissions to a BFA program. Instead, although she's been accepted to three colleges as a BA in Drama, none of the three even offers a BFA, but now wishes she had decided to work toward acceptance into a BFA program. </p>
<p>Will she simply have to content herself with the idea of trying to transfer to such a program in her sophomore year, or take a gap year beginning this fall. Or, do any of you know of BFA programs with a rolling-type admissions policy that may yet entertain an applicant and audition-DVD (since she can't come back from London until May) at this oh-so-late stage in the game? I'm not hopeful, but thought that if anyone has a clue to solve the conundrum she's now it, it would be someone who follows this board. </p>
<p>I know University of the Arts in Philadelphia is still accepting applications. Their final on campus audition date is march 17, but I believe she can submit a video audition considering she is more than 500 miles away.</p>
<p>Also, I think Point Park might still be taking apps, but they are B.A. the first two years and the student must apply for BFA at the end of their sophomore year. If you apply academically online it is free. I’m not completely sure about the video thing though. You might want to call admissions, and tell them about your situation. They are located in Pittsburgh. </p>
<p>Coastal Carolina University will accept DVD auditions under some circumstances. My guess is this would qualify as a circumstance where they would accept such an audition. their last on campus audition date is March 3 so she would need to get something to them by that date I believe.<br>
[CCU</a> Department of Theatre](<a href=“http://www.coastal.edu/theatre/html/auditions.html]CCU”>http://www.coastal.edu/theatre/html/auditions.html)</p>
<p>If it looks like a program she would be interested in I would suggest you email Ken Martin and inquire about an audition DVD. His email is <a href=“mailto:kmartin@coastal.edu”>kmartin@coastal.edu</a></p>
<p>Columbia College Chicago has rolling admissions. They do not require auditions for admission, but require them for students interested in pursuing a BFA at the end of freshman year. I think Cornish might also have rolling admissions, and would allow a video audition.</p>
<p>CapeDad - if you share the three BA schools perhaps we can allay your daughter’s concerns or perhaps we can agree and give further thoughts. Not all BA programs are alike and some offer as much or more than some BFA programs.</p>
<p>I’ve heard Hofstra University has rolling admissions. What I understand from their program is that their actual BFA program doesn’t begin until you’re a Sophomore but I could be wrong about that.</p>
<p>CapeDad, also check out Montclair State University. They have 2 more audition dates - March 10 and I believe April 17. I have heard they have a wonderful program (Bruce Willis went there) and the college is in NJ but only 20 minutes away from NY. Best to you and your daughter.</p>
<p>If she really wants a BFA now, I would personally recommend deferring her best BA offer - one of the schools she’s been accepted to already - and then taking a gap year. I think that is a better decision than ‘settling’ for a BA (the three colleges are not particularly well known for theatre), OR rushing now to apply to BFA schools that will still take her. She can use the gap year to take more classes or enroll in more programs, and research what exactly she wants now that she knows herself more. If she decides after a year she still wants to enroll for a BFA, then she will have that much of a stronger application and will know exactly what schools suit her best. Or she could decide no, she really wants the BA after all, and she’ll have at least one college she’s already been accepted to. One year is not long at all, and I don’t believe you should rush into any college if you realize you’re not happy with it. Four years is a long time and you’d be paying an awful lot of money for something she ‘settled’ for.</p>
<p>I’ll second that. If she does research now about some BFAs that really suit her, she could find out if going to one of those BA schools could get some Gen Eds done and be productive. That might suit all of you. A gap year or a liberal arts year with intent to transfer.</p>
<p>I would certainly not want anyone to rush into choosing a program! But she could do some research on schools that will accept a video audition and submit if there are any she feels might be a good fit for her. She can always defer an acceptance to one of her BA programs and take a gap year, even if she does get an acceptance at a BFA that she decides isn’t right for her.</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you who responded. Thoughtful and practical advice, which is much appreciated. Indeed, the trajectory she’s now on is to apply for application to a conservatory program–as at LAMDA or AADA, for instance–and see where that takes her thinking. A gap year, of sorts. </p>
<p>In that regard, are there any of these private “studios” that are especially well regarded (and others to avoid)? LAMDA is really terrific, and she is going to audition to enter its two-year Foundation Course. At the same time, she’s ambivalent about staying so far from home, and would like to find an equally professional school in LA.</p>