<p>Hi everyone! This is only the second time I've posted but I've definately been reading this blog for awhile, and I would just like to say thank you to everyone for communicating their knowledge about all of the acting programs.</p>
<p>Getting to my post: So I got rejected from UCLA, NYU, BU, CMU, Northwestern and accepted at Sarah Lawrence and Emerson (BFA Acting). I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO PICK! I'm visiting both in a week. Does anyone have any advise? I know that Emerson is a BFA but apparently Sarah Lawrence has a really good theatre program and has a lot of high profile alumni in the arts. I have no idea about the work Emerson grads get. Because neither were very high on my list I'm considering attending one of these schools for a year and transfering, but i guess you guys didn't need to know that (unless for some reason that you factor into the decision). Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>I know that SLC does also offer acting classes, etc. and I am sure their program is excellent. In fact, I know a freshman there who came out of an arts high school and is studying acting in addition to costume design, etc. and loves it. </p>
<p>A BFA is, by its nature, more about doing than about writing and thinking about something. </p>
<p>Both approaches are valid and useful. It’s just up to you to examine them closely, side by side, and decide which suits you better. Best wishes!</p>
<p>Congrats Travis! I have actually researched Sarah Lawrence for myself and I probably can help you. I don’t know much about Emerson at all, so sorry. So, in Sarah Lawrence there really is no major. You can just take classes from each department. You get a liberal arts education. Also, the classes are smaller and you get more one on one attention. You also be with someone called a Don frequently. This person helps you with your classes and is your advisor. You take smaller classes and classes are far in depth. In another liberal arts school, you may take 5 but at SL you would take 3. Some people don’t like this, because they want to take a variety of classes. I think it is great, you get to spend more time on a certain class. Also, you are close to the city. I’m sure you can find a community theatre and be in plays. I don’t know if SLC has plays though. Also, the campus is very beautiful and Bronxville is a nice suburb. SLC is not in the middle of the city like NYU. You get a traditional campus feel. Also, Emerson is a BFA so you will get a lot more training than SLC. You have to take other classes than theater at SLC. You have to ask yourself about cost, location, etc. I also heard Emerson has a cut system, which you may want to consider. I also would think of getting rejected from the other schools for a reason. SLC or Emerson could be meant to be for you. If you want more info on BFA’s I would suggest soozie, freshmanfish, or NotMamaRose. Good Luck and I look forward to hear where you go.</p>
<p>travis<em>j</em>c, My daughter was accepted to both Sarah Lawrence and Emerson BFA Acting, too, plus a few other schools. She is struggling with decisions just as you are. I will be following this thread along with you, if you don’t mind! </p>
<p>I did some further in-depth review of the theater program at SLC and it seems to be “design your own program” after the 1st 2 semesters of study. The Emerson BFA is far more structured. I guess it depends on what you’re looking for. My daughter really wants the liberal arts education along with her undergraduate theater training. If she chose to drop down to a BA at Emerson (or was forced down through the Sophmore cut), she would double major in communications or speech pathology. At SLC, liberal arts would be 2 thirds of her studies and theater 1 third. </p>
<p>She was also accepted at Muhlenburg and Indiana (BA Theater - her choice, she did not audition for the MT BFA). She’s waitlisted at Fordham, Minnesota Guthrie, and Rutger’s Mason Gross. Both Fordham and Guthrie have strong academics as well as strong theater programs. She was really hoping to get into NYU, but, alas, not even waitlisted. Oh well, she knew the audition did NOT go well…the auditor was extremely rushed because she was behind schedule at Chicago Unifieds. She’s really hoping that she is accepted off the Guthrie waitlist, but she also knows that she has to pick somewhere by 5/1. This is sooooo difficult!</p>
<p>My D and I just got back from a college trip and we visited Sarah Lawrence. We visited Emerson last summer. They are such obviously different choices, but to my mind, both good ones. I hope the OP does not go into either of these programs assuming they will transfer! I think Emerson speaks for itself in terms of its amazing facilities and it is easy to find out more about the details of its program. Sarah Lawrence is a bit harder to figure out just from its website, but start there. We toured their facility, I think they have 4 performance spaces, which is a lot for a small college. It seems like it has a very vibrant theatre community. Sarah Lawrence also has strong music and dance so it wouldn’t be hard to also get MT training, although I will say up front they only do one musical a year. Academically, it’s wonderfully flexible but intense. But when we talked to the theatre kids it seemed they were spending at least 50% of their time doing theatre related things, which seems like more than your average BA. They certainly do plays, lots of them, both directed by faculty and by students. Good luck!</p>
<p>Although the Emerson program is a BFA, it was emphasized to our group that it is NOT a conservatory and that they are not trying to produce actors, but rather people well-rounded in theater arts. Personally, once I hear that phrase “well-rounded” it sets off “liberal arts alerts” Nothing wrong with that IF that is what you want. I would think that since Emerson is so liberal arts-oriented you could end up with a comparable amount of acting instruction and experience (esp. if the student doesn’t make the sophomore cut) at SLC as at Emerson. They are both good schools but are polar opposites in terms of location, style of education, etc. Your gut instinct is probably your best friend in this situation…</p>
Nothing wrong with that IF that is what you want. I would think that since Emerson is so liberal arts-oriented you could end up with a comparable amount of acting instruction and experience (esp. if the student doesn’t make the sophomore cut) at SLC as at Emerson. They are both good schools but are polar opposites in terms of location, style of education, etc. Your gut instinct is probably your best friend in this situation…</p>