<p>Well- if only SFA had had MT, it would have probably been our pick. It doesn’t and I don’t think we can make it into MT for her so our D isn’t going there - but if she were going to do straight acting we’d be strongly considering SFA.</p>
<p>They do LOTS of shows a year - twenty to twenty five, many of them student led. You can be working on a show from day one and in fact they audition for ALL the shows of the year at the first of the year so you will know exactly what you’ll be doing when, right at the start of the year, which makes it SO easy to plan. They have guests and events and lectures going on all the time - they have a facebook page you might want to check. Always something going on. </p>
<p>I LOVE the lady who runs costumes there, she is just fantastic - very much a mentor type - I SO wish they had MT there because as far as the money goes, we wouldn’t have to find any at all, we have enough saved, BUT alas. </p>
<p>But the best thing about them by far is their study abroad program. I am a little sad that D won’t be doing it because not one other school we have looked at, not even the OOOH OOOH OOOH schools, can really touch it. They go, as part of the program, not individually (meaning you pay the same tuition and carry your scholarships with you and don’t have to worry about the credits not transferring) to Rose Bruford in England for an ENTIRE SEMESTER and then in the spring to either Spain or a couple other choices, I think one was Estonia. It’s sort of an internship program - I mean to tell you it almost tempted her to change to straight acting.</p>
<p>I mean - a whole year in Europe. WOW. You do that either your junior or senior year. Plus they spend two weeks in Ireland in the summer.</p>
<p>If you don’t want to go abroad that year you can instead choose from several great regional theaters they have agreements with including Minnesota Guthrie.</p>
<p>As far as the town - Nacogdoches is in the middle of noplace, yeah, but it’s a really nice little college town - fairly liberal for east Texas, and the town actually LIKES the school. Super nice people and it’s really pretty, pretty countryside and a pretty campus.</p>
<p>I was not crazy about the food. It was okay, not the best we’ve had.</p>
<p>I also did not like the way they do their honors program. They barely mention it and no wonder. SHSU sent my D about 15 mailings about their honors program which makes me think it might be pretty decent, or at least they think it is, so if honors is a big deal to you, I’d compare them. But it wouldn’t outweigh the program itself, for us.</p>
<p>The kids seem to be fairly happy there and every one we talked to in the theater program enthusiastically said they loved their professors and were happy in the program.</p>
<p>They only do the big musical every other year and that was just too much for D to take so it’s off the list. But the professor who leads “the Original Cast” which is their musical troupe is retiring and they are currently searching for the replacement so who knows - it might go on as before or they might get someone in there who says “enough of this, we are getting an MT emphasis and having two a year.” I haven’t heard any rumors to this effect, mind you, but given the current climate about MT (even UT is getting a program and they SWORE they wouldn’t ever) it would not surprise me if they started putting more emphasis on musicals.</p>
<p>We did not visit SHSU so I can’t compare the two.</p>
<p>We visited a lot with the head of the program and I think for the BFA, that if you go in there and work hard, are clearly motivated and show improvement, it’s not a big concern that you won’t get into the BFA.</p>
<p>Between the two, though I don’t know much about SHSU’s straight acting - myself I’d go to SFA if you want to actually get a lot of experience, because they seem to try to make sure everyone has an opportunity to work on as many shows as they want to.</p>
<p>I think for the price, for a relatively unknown program, it’s a fantastic opportunity for a really good BFA or BA in acting. Only the BFA’s go on the abroad/internship program, by the way, so I can’t imagine why anyone would want a BA at that school; perhaps not everyone advances, but as I said, I think if you clearly have the passion and drive it’s not a big nail biter to get into the BFA. Maybe we’d have had a big nasty shock but had she gone there I truly wasn’t worried about her getting into the BFA because I know she’s going to improve and work hard and that is what they told me they looked for.</p>
<p>My daughter auditioned and was admitted - I don’t think it’s especially competitive or capped very tightly, just yet. It might be at some point but as of now, I think if you have talent and drive they are taking you. It’s still not huge so they can.</p>
<p>Here’s their facebook link: <a href=“Redirecting...”>Redirecting...;