<p>A safety type school to keep in mind would be Brooklyn College:</p>
<p>[Brooklyn</a> College Department of Theater / Home](<a href=“http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/theater/]Brooklyn”>Department of Theater)</p>
<p>To be honest, I think that you might be overthinking it! I would suggest looking at the curriculum for the theater department of any school you are interested in to see if it offers the variety of courses you might want, and the production opportunities – both sponsored by the theater department and student run. The schools “known” for theater generally will offer more performance classes, in addition to the history and more academic aspects of theater. But, you may find that you don’t need that many performance classes anyway, so the horizon of schools will be wider for you. </p>
<p>Then, look at the academic programs to understand the school’s distribution requirements. Some will have none – that’s an open curriculum. Others will have stringent requirements for math, language, etc. and / or a required set of “core classes” (a core curriculum is uncommon, Columbia U and U Chicago have this). Most will just have distribution requirements – that you take a course in the humanities, sciences and social sciences – very easy to do, since there is generally something that anyone can find of interest.</p>
<p>If you can’t figure out where to find this information on the website, then go to the academic catalog. Usually the requirements are in there.</p>
<p>I think that you will be fine at just about any BA program in terms of getting a good education in theater and an opportunity to explore different interests. You sound like you would be fine at plenty of schools. Even at those schools that aren’t “known” for theater you will find plenty of talented actors. </p>
<p>One of the differences between any BA and BFA program will be that in your acting classes (and all schools will have at least a few acting classes in the curriculum) is that at most BA programs, anyone can be in the theater classes, whereas at BFA programs, the acting classes for non-majors are separate from those taken by the BFA students, which means the classes at BA programs may contain students with more of a variety of experience and talent. </p>
<p>I think that at the more academically selective BA only schools, you will find that anyone can take theater classes – but this is what a liberal arts education is all about – the freedom to explore new things. Just as you want to try out different academic areas, so too will students new to theater want to give acting a try.</p>
<p>I’ll keep that in mind, susgeek! and you’re right, sdoncc. I overthink a lot of things when I’m anxious, haha. admittedly, I made this thread during a mild freakout I had after reading a ‘big book of colleges’ and realiziing how many options I have to decide between. and I was even more anxious because I don’t know a lot about how college works yet–so all that stuff you said, about open curriculum and core curriculum and the diffferences between BA & BFA classes, is really helping!</p>
<p>Really, at this point it is time for you to stop asking questions and start using the answers you’ve been given so far. Check out the college websites over the next few weeks, it’s not that hard to figure out the general intensity of programs once you read through the websites. Research both the Theatre program requirements (for both major and minor) and elective offerings and the requirements for whatever other major you are thinking of as well as if the school has any “gen ed” requirements (although they may call them something else. This has been said before on this thread, it’s time to start your own research and then come back to ask more questions should you have them. Good luck!</p>
<p>RE Post #20 – Yes, I was saying the BA programs themselves vry in intensity as do BFA programs. :)</p>
<p>If you are having trouble finding the curricular information on the Theatre department websites, check the university catalog online as SDonCC suggested. Look at both the academic requirements (to get a sense of the required courses), and look at the course descriptions to see what required and elective courses are offered and contain. </p>
<p>Once you look at enough websites you will have a better sense of the kinds of programs out there and which programs seem to excite you.</p>
<p>Yes, Kat, thanks for clarifying. In a BA program perhaps your major will account for about 40% of your time at a minimum, and electives could make it way more than that. What my D found (and this is for anyone thinking about the choice between BA and BFA) was that she would definitely fill every elective with theatre in order to get everything she wanted, do a year abroad in theatre, and still have gaps. A BFA had better balance for her, PLUS BFA courses are often fewer credits apiece, so they can fit in more topics.</p>
<p>I also agree about the somewhat “cloistered” aspect of BFAs - butterflies, you probably would enjoy the mix of people you would get in your BA classes; in many BAs the classes are for majors (with separate classes designed for non-majors), so you can get some “intensity,” but you wouldn’t have to go into a “closed group” situation. Many BFA students really like this, but again it has to be what you really want.</p>
<p>It’s amazing these days with websites how much you can find out about schools. If you dig deeply enough, you can often find curriculum charts of how your time will play out over the 4 years, or you can construct one of your own, to get an idea of how you could experience the school.</p>
<p>Brown is a reach for anyone, but it is definitely within your sights, butterflies. After our intense study of Brandeis, I would highly recommend it for you, and it is a step down competitively from Brown. My D had a 3.6 UW GPA, a 31 ACT, was waitlisted but was offered a spot immediately in May.</p>
<p>If you like the idea of intensive intellectual exploration, take a look at Sarah Lawrence, too.</p>
<p>I just want to correct what is probably a typo in EmmyBet’s post above. I believe that in her second paragraph she meant to say “in many BFAs, the classes are for majors (with separate classes designed for non-majors).” In BAs, you usually do not have to be a major to take a class in any subject, except perhaps in a few advanced levels.</p>
<p>Thanks, yes, that sentence was unclear. My D found that it went both ways in BA programs. It just depends on the school.</p>
<p>thanks everyone! didn’t meant to bombard you with question after question. I’ve been running from activity to activity these past few days, so I haven’t been able to take your answers and research on my own, as amtc suggested I do. I’ll find time in the upcoming week. when I hit a real roadblock, I’ll be back. thanks again guys.</p>
<p>Although Brooklyn College might be a “safety” academically, it only admits 11 students into its Acting BFA program, and conducts auditions pretty late. I replied to Butterfly on another thread, but didn’t get enough information to determine whether she wants to remain in the northeast, or whether she would also consider schools in the midwest or the west coast. If you want an urban campus with a traditional curriculum, but a theater BA program, you might also consider Temple in Philadelphia. There is a very strong local performing arts community, and Temple is actually a state university (so it’s more affordable than some other options). They also have an honors program.</p>
<p>^^Yes true regarding Brooklyn’s BFA program. However, the BA program is not so selective.</p>
<p>My younger D was a Macaulay Honors student @ Brooklyn and in the BFA program for her freshman year. Her apartment roommate was in the BA program. The BA program @ Brooklyn would allow the OP to double major, while the BFA would not. My D didn’t have many credits left over after fulfilling her BFA, gen. ed., and Macaulay requirements. So I do think if Brooklyn was a school that interested the OP, it would be a good safety for her. The BFA program would not be a good choice for the OP, as it would not permit her to double major.</p>
<p>She felt she needed to go a different direction; however the theater program at Brooklyn was excellent.</p>
<p>thanks! one of my teachers went there for music ed, so I’ll be able to ask her for some more info on the school in general.</p>
<p>hello! this is my attempt to wake up this board again.</p>
<p>I’ve been doing some intense college-related reading lately (think spending hours at the bookstore). I’ve formed a tentative list of colleges I may apply to, but I’m planning on wittling it down after visiting most of them. </p>
<p>I wanted a second opinion on whether each school on the list is actually a fit for what I want and need in a college–and you can find all that jazz throughout this thread.</p>
<p>Reaches:
Yale, Brown</p>
<p>Match (academically) + No Audition:
Northwestern, Boston College, Vassar, Emory (?)</p>
<p>Match (academically) + Audition:
Fordham, NYU Tisch, University of Michigan</p>
<p>Safeties:
Muhlenberg, Drew University</p>
<p>I’m hoping–praying on hands and knees, actually–to get merit scholarships. a full ride to just one of these schools is my goal. based on this, should I start eliminating any of these schools? besides the ivies, of course.</p>
<p>Oops! I forgot to mention Wesleyan. It’s one of the most recent to land a spot on my list, so it requires more research. I don’t even know if it’s a reach, match, or safety.</p>
<p>I hope you are not planning to go to Brooklyn College. I currently attended (actually am planning to transfer) and their program has some screws.
The BFA majority professor is the head of the BFA program. She happen to direct a show this semester which was one of the most boring shows I seen. The acting is not great for either BFA or MFA. What sucks is if you are a BA, you can audition but there is a ranking of MFA, BFA, BA and minors. Now, they are building a performing arts center that would not be completed in 2014. The chairperson for the BA is fighting for more rights for the BAs. So far, we have a stage reading started last fall and they are planning to keep it every semester. It is so hard for Ba to get roles that not even most of the BFAs got cast. It was mostly MFAs. I know in the theater world it is about who fits the part but what is the point of auditioning if not only there are not much opportunities to audition and to cast the same people.</p>
<p>If you want to go to a CUNY school that you can double major in Theater and another subject, I suggest City College. It is technically in Harlem even though their campus says Manhattan. (121st starts Harlem. City is located 131st) They had 4 acting classes than Brooklyn has three. The difference is City has intro, scene study, classical and audition tech and Brooklyn has intro, improv and scene study. Honestly, if you look into both programs, you can do something called e permit where you can take classes on different cuny schools.</p>
<p>But good luck on your search.</p>
<p>Thanks for the insight! I’m sorry about the situation you found yourself in. Right now, though, I’m considering just the schools on the list I just posted. good luck on your transfer!</p>
<p>Just so you know - Northwestern does not have merit scholarships, just need based. </p>
<p>Also, I’m not sure your “matches” are very different from your “reaches.” I’ve said numerous times that my daughter was admitted into Yale and Dartmouth but waitlisted at Northwestern - where she eventually was admitted and currently attends. I would put Vassar in that same crapshoot category, don’t know about BC or Emory at all.</p>
<p>I forgot to write that disclaimer on my posts! thanks for reminding me. yeah, I see a lot of the schools I listed as matches are actually slight reaches, when I think about it. I have friends at Vassar and BC, and I feel like as long as I ‘package’ myself the right away, they’re a match. </p>
<p>thanks for the update on northwestern. I knew one of those schools didn’t have merit…</p>
<p>If i were you, i’d add one or two more non-audition match schools that a little less selective.</p>
<p>Vassar and Northwestern went down into the teens this year in acceptance rates. BC is a little bit less selective. But in order to be a likely/safety, a school has to have more than 30% acceptance rates AND you have to be in their top 25% stats-wise. You can’t count on a “package” bringing you any higher than a match - which by definition is a school that you COULD get into based on your stats and previous students’ acceptance experiences, but could JUST AS EASILY get rejected from.</p>
<p>A safety is a school where you have virtually no chance of being rejected. That is very different from being in the mid-50th percentile of their stats. Honestly I was afraid to call any of my kids’ safeties “safeties” until they actually got in. You hear so many stories of things going wrong.</p>
<p>Then there’s the question of money. I’m going to be really pessimistic and say that the only schools you have a chance of getting any significant merit money from - let alone a free ride - are Muhlenberg and Drew. Most of the others are not known for much merit money at all. I don’t want to insult you, but unless you have some amazingly outstanding financial need, you need to go in a completely different direction if money is that important in your search.</p>
<p>You have a beautiful college list - money aside - and wonderful schools where you can get the well-rounded education you want and great theatre at the same time. I agree that you could use some low-match/safeties unless you are absolutely thrilled with Muhlenberg and Drew, which are lovely schools, but the only ones on your list that anyone could remotely count on getting into.</p>
<p>If you have real plans to get a huge scholarship somewhere, you need to find a couple more schools where you are WAY above their standard stats, where there is well-known merit money available, and where there is great theatre. This is tricky because you start having to dip into a somewhat lower tier academically than the rest of your list. For example: my D got a massive merit scholarship at Adelphi (auditioned BFA, honors college, can’t double major but probably can minor), and also very nice merit money at URI (non-auditioned BFA). A back-up school to Fordham could be SUNY New Paltz - auditioned BA, less selective in general and at a significantly lower cost. Not in the city, but not too far out (around the corner from Vassar). She also got a nice scholarship from Goucher. This was all before filling out FAFSA or making any other financial aid requests.</p>
<p>Another way to get more scholarships is to open up your geographical radius - there are lots of schools in the south and midwest that can give you the academics and theatre that you want with much better financial options.</p>