I’m currently and junior at a performing arts school. By the time I apply for USC if I get straight A’s I will only have a 3.6 UW. I want to go for the BA but I’m afraid I have no chance because my grades are lower and there’s no audition. Can anyone give me advice on this?
They told us during the SDA Open house that you can ask to switch from the BFA from the BA before you start the first semester and generally through the middle of your second year. Later than than likely requires more than 4 years to complete all core requirements. I think based on your circumstances I would apply to the BFA and list the BA as a second choice. Work on your audition and make the best impression you can. Maybe they offer you the BA program anyway, If you get in as a BFA switch either before you begin classes or after the first semester.
Your grades might not be as big of an issue…note the 2014/15 Admission Profile Stats:
https://dramaticarts.usc.edu/welcome-sda-class-of-2018/
Looking at the SDA acceptance rates it looks like one would have a sigficantly better chance of getting into the BA program than the BFA program (25.6% vs 6.2%). Are you applying to other audition based programs?
The question becomes, what makes a particular candidate most competitive for the program to which they apply? While the acceptance rate looks much rosier for BA candidates, they have traditionally been admitted based on traditional criteria (GPA, test scores, APs, ECs, essays, awards won, etc), and therefore favor students who have high stats, etc. OTOH, the BFA program highly considers talent, audition or portfolio review, and professional potential (however they figure that). If a student is low-ish for USC SDA on stats (for instance, a few tenths below the stated 3.9 average GPA for admitted SDAers, and much below an SAT of 2000), will they be able to stand out in a very large pool of BA applicants with higher stats? Those on the border have a tough call here, but would appear a student with an excellent audition could have a better chance trying for the BFA, and indicating BA as their second choice.
@madbean So if you get in as a BFA you can switch to BA? And do they sometimes give the opportunity to join BA if you didn’t get BFA but listed BA as 2nd choice?
If you are accepted into the BFA program, I would not change into the BA program. My son will be a senior at the BFA program. Few students switch from the BFA program into the BA. There are quite a number of students in the BA program who wish they were in the BFA.
@KayMoore15, an accepted BFA student can certainly switch to the BA program. Several do that so they can double major, which isn’t possible for BFAs. Some want time for Greek life, need to work jobs, go to professional auditions, book gigs, etc. I know a few who switched to BA (all were working actors and wanted to maintain their agents, auditions) but they made the switch before freshman orientation. I don’t think it’s large numbers, but several do it, including my own son, who was also admitted to SCA and chose to do both.
At the auditions, USC tells applicants they should seriously consider putting BA as their second choice to give them another way to enter the program (although, this isn’t ideal if the student wants a BFA). I’ve posted elsewhere that even though the BFA is the most competitive entry of the two by the numbers, it relies on a brilliant audition + strong grades. The audition may push an applicant up a bit, in fact. But if an applicant is not very very strong academically (gpa/test scores) the BA should not be considered an easier way to go–since academic rigor, essays, GPA and scores are the primary yardstick used to evaluate BA applicants (since: no audition).