<p>My D and I just toured some schools of various sizes. On one tour, a student mentioned that because of the Graduate program (and its 'promises to students...like one role a semester) undergrads get much less performance time. I was wondering if some of you knowledgeable souls could comment.</p>
<p>If this is the case, it is more info to think about...</p>
<p>Sometimes when there is a Masters Degree program at the school, the Masters-level students actually teach the Bachelors-level students. You should ask about this, and ask your question about casting, too, when you visit the programs.</p>
<p>The policy will differ depending on the school. At some programs the MFA students have priority in casting, at some they do not. Some programs will have separate productions for BA and BFA students, some will not. Some schools may not give graduate students preferential treatment in casting, but ultimately the major roles may go to graduate students because they are older and/ or have more training. When I was in a BFA MT program years ago there was a graduate acting program (I do not know if they still have one or not) ... those MFA students were not given preferential treatment in casting, and were no more or less likely to be cast in productions than students in the undergraduate BFA MT and acting programs. </p>
<p>Soooo..... This is a long winded way of saying if you are applying to a school with an MFA or MA program (or as a BA student at a school that also has a BFA program) it is a good idea to ask about the casting policy. Often this information can also be found in the Theatre department students handbook -- some of these handbooks are available online.</p>
<p>The simple reality is this. MFA students (or the vast majority of them) give their MFA actors tuition remission and some stipend. They have been recruited to the institution and have more experience. I am unaware of any MFA program that does not give priority casting to the MFA students. That is not to say undergrads do not get cast, or that they do not get cast in strong roles. It does mean (no matter what) that it is less likely they will be cast in large roles.</p>
<p>And finally, for the stipend the school pays, many MFA students teach classes. Sometimes these are Acting I classes, sometimes they are non-majors classes. Those that don't teach classes work in the box office, or costume shop, etc. </p>
<p>I caution any undergrad about attending a program with a large, strong grad performance program. Simply put, the odds are stacked against them in most of these situations. Some do have undergrad only productions, but even in these cases there will be fewer productions.</p>
<p>The advantage to attending a school like this, though is (normally) the quality of the faculty. When you do get these faculty in the classroom it tends to be wonderful.</p>
<p>This is something to find out at each school as it differs. At Tisch, the graduate students do not teach the undergrads in the drama program. The programs are entirely separate and the productions/casting are entirely separate. There are about 200 productions per year that an undergrad could be in at Tisch and none of these are open to graduate students. The graduate students have their own productions and undergrads are not in those.</p>
<p>NYU is the exception. I can think of a few other programs where the Grads and undergrads are separated completely. But these handful of programs are the exception, not the rule. FSU also has two completely different programs (not even in the same city.) If you look to programs that are closely affiliated with a regional theatre and have a grad program, many times those programs have seperate dealings with grads and undergrads.</p>
<p>kjgc, I think it is really good to point out that prospective students should examine closely if the college program has a grad program and if so, what impact it has on the undergrads. I am glad you brought it up. As usual, each school is different and so it is important to examine these things closely with each school. As I said, it has no impact at NYU/Tisch but I very much agree that it could elsewhere.</p>