<p>This continues to be a very interesting discussion. I used the word “top-rated” in the broad sense (and perhaps I could have used a better phrase), but I would consider pretty much any of the schools mentioned on CC as either on a student’s list of audition schools or on the “theatre acceptance by school” list to be” top-rated” because that’s why the very serious drama student is interested in that school, possibly has applied there and possibly has agreed to go there if an offer has been made. My S and I had attended a parents’ session at an audition last year where the auditor noted the two-step audition/admission process but also noted that if the student had an exceptional audition and did not have strong academic credentials, the auditor may go to bat for the student and try to convince the admissions department to accept the student. However, the impression was that this would be the exception rather than the rule. The point I was trying to make is that the description that BFA admits’ credentials at schools that are more selective academically can be “significantly lower” than other students’ credentials may be an overbroad statement given the increasing competitiveness of BFA programs today (a post today by a CC sage on another thread notes that she has heard that applications are up by as much as 20% this year to audition-based programs) and if any such differential does exist, it may need to be viewed in context, e.g., the kinds of other programs at the more selective academically school that could be boosting up the overall stats for non-arty kids and whether the overall average grades and SAT scores of the arty kids are still pretty high but perhaps not reaching stellar heights. The other thing to consider is that the pool of arty kids most likely is much lower than the pool of the “general population” kids and so that could have an effect on the stats for the arty kids (and that stat could go either way – higher than the general population or lower than the general population). </p>
<p>Until recently, I had not looked at CC since last spring. But, I have found that I have become hooked lately as the results begin to come in. I am rooting for all the kids to get into one of their top choice programs so that they won’t have any concern about whether the program is a fit for them – whether academically or otherwise. As many posters have noted, the vast majority of kids who audition for theater programs (whether BA or BFA programs) tend to be content with the school that they elect to attend. Once May 1 is over – and commitments are made – it may be awhile before many of the class of 2011 or their parents look at CC again. Everyone will be busy making plans for the path that lies ahead!</p>
<p>(psst. In my experience, this is the most civil, well behaved, and genuinely helpful little corner of CC, over here in the two theater threads, and is significantly above average when compared to the internet over all. ~ just sayin.)</p>
<p>Also. Emmybet - <em>applause</em> so well said.</p>
<p>I think it would be a great thesis project for someone to research how all the great theatre programs wound up on their current campuses. Based on discussions D had with various folks who were wooing her at various national MT events, it sounds like there are some really interesting stories out there, and at least some folks working in the programs would be happier if they were located elsewhere while others feel their program couldn’t have happened anywhere else!</p>
<p>I had a theory at one point. I kept seeing great BFA programs in many art genres at schools that I considered mostly “pre-professionally” focused - schools not based so much on liberal arts but more on nursing, business, education, etc. The arts seemed so different to me, not the obvious combination with these fields.</p>
<p>But then I began truly to understand what BFAs are - pre-professional training programs. In many ways they belong at least as much with those other fields as they do with liberal arts. So it didn’t seem so strange.</p>
<p>Yet of course the arts also have always been blended with traditional liberal arts as well, so that puts why these programs are both kinds of schools into perspective. It doesn’t explain much about how the two different setting compare, though. And then there’s the 3rd kind of program, the stand-alone arts conservatory. Looking at all 3 and getting an idea of how and why they are where they are and do what they do would be very interesting, I agree.</p>
<p>I find this all fascinating myself. My D has always leaned toward a BFA in a full liberal arts atmosphere, and never wanted to be at a stand-alone conservatory, for a variety of reasons. It has depended on the institution how she feels about the BFAs within the less liberal arts/more pre-professional schools, and how she feels at those schools themselves. At some point we’ll know exactly where her heart lies, since she may yet choose a true liberal arts BA theatre degree. </p>
<p>Seeing this within a professional training context did help me understand. It was part of my journey in becoming a potential BFA parent, which I’ll admit was more complicated than I’d anticipated.</p>
<p>My d and I have a theory about the BFA schools: major D1 NCAA schools like Michigan, Penn State, uMinn, the UCalis, UConn, NC, UT, etc have money from their big athletic programs to support the performing arts. </p>
<p>Smaller LACs that are building up their BFA programs, particularly in urban or suburban areas, see a highly lucrative niche where there is room for competition, especially with the significant uptick in applications over the past few years. Add up all those app fees and extra audition fees we’ve all been paying, multiply by 1000 or more per school, and we’re talking big bucks. </p>
<p>Yes, excellent theatre programs are very expensive to run, but the inflows of these app and audition fees, plus tuition, plus outside ticket sales, help offset some expenses - as does the added sheen of an attractive state-of-the-art performing arts facility that is attractive to non-BFA students and can also attract well-known outside performers and lecturers (think ticket sales and prestige).</p>
<p>Somebody or another lectures the rest of us here sometimes about how acting is a business, our kids have to be thick-skinned before they’re even 18, blah blah blah…</p>
<p>Well, we all know colleges are businesses, too, no exceptions. None. So I’m thinking dollar signs are at the heart of all these BFA programs.</p>