<p>Like a number of the parents I see here, we're quite overwhelmed with trying to figure out where to apply. I saw a number of posts requesting suggestions for students with high GPA's but what about safe schools for a student with a GPA of 3.0?
We're in the northeast and my D would like to stay reasonably close (one full day drive) and prefers being relatively close to at least a semi-urban area. Her first choice is a BFA, but realizes that this may not be the case with a safe school. Any suggestions, if any, would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>One school you may want to look at for a BA program (which therefore qualifies for consideration as a "safety") is Temple University in Philadelphia. It has a well regarded strong theater program through the School of Communications and the 2007 freshman profile for the School of Communications includes an avg GPA of 3.3 and avg SAT of 1100+ (2 part score). One nice thing about it is that you can apply as a non-audition BA and then at the end of your freshman year can audition for the MT concentration. Philly is a great theatre town.</p>
<p>As to BFA programs, there are a number of excellent programs where academic stats for admission are either relaxed or not given great weight. Because they are audition based programs, however, I wouldn't classify them as safeties.</p>
<p>How about University of the Arts? I know of several students who were admitted with GPAs of around 3.0. Needless to say, these students were all very artistically talented.</p>
<p>I didn't suggest UArts because it is an audition based BFA with about a 6.5 - 7% acceptance rate drawing from a national pool and therefore I wouldn't consider it a "safety", which is what I understood the OP to be inquiring about. As to BFA's where talent is weighted more than academics, I would agree that UArts falls into this category as I believe do schools such as CMU, BOCO,CCM, Point Park, and others. I would think that a 3.0 would meet the minimum academic requirements at any of these schools, but then you are still left with the audition requirement.</p>
<p>Marymount Manhattan is a great school in NYC which is not very academically selective. It is also audition based, but I believe they accept about a third of those who auditon, compared to a tiny percentage at some other programs. THey are generous with scholorships.
I second Temple as a great place to go to school. DeSales near Allentown PA has a wonderful theatre program and is not super selective.
What state do you live in? One of your state schools might have a good program- I know my daughter had West Chester U on her list.</p>
<p>Kent State University, in northeast Ohio might be worth looking into. They have a BA theater program, and BFA programs in dance and MT. They admitted approximately 10 students into their BFA program for MT last year. Academically, they may be less stringent, however, they also have an honors program for those that qualify. The director, Terri Kent, also directs at the Porthouse Summer Theater. The school does a Senior Showcase.</p>
<p>Plymouth state university in nh is a strong BA by audition Mt school. University of nh is a BA non-audition school. Wagner college in NY is a strong BA by audition school. Agree with the post above that Desales and West Chester are also strong options.</p>
<p>Wilkes University, in NE PA, has a BA MT program. An audition is required, but it is less demanding academically than many schools. And the audition acceptance rate is higher than most BFA schools. I have a student attending Wilkes this year -- it was her safety school, and she was originally not happy to be going there -- but now she's loving it.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. This is definitely helpful. We are in MA. And yes, as to safety we were referring to real safe - no audition. She is very talented, but as we all know, this doesn't guarentee anything. Thanks again. And anymore suggestions are very welcome.</p>
<p>university of minnesota at duluth has a great bfa program... no audition because you start as a ba and audition after your freshmen year for the bfa... Some pros and cons to that but you get a year to prove yourself</p>