S is a junior in HS - looking to get together a list of schools for him to look into. I’ve been reading through the different threads and lists here on the forum - looking for specific suggestions from parents who’ve been through this. He has great stats (both grades and SAT/ACT scores, most likely will be NMSF). We won’t qualify for financial aid, but would like him to try schools where he can get merit scholarships.
His first preference is a BFA program, but is willing to go to a BA program. He would like a program that has at least an MT minor/concentration as that is his first love. But in the worst case scenario, he’s willing to go to a school where he can be involved in theater/MT. I am glad he’s open to possibilities and not fixated on one school/program, but it does make it difficult to come up with a good list. One thing he would like is an urban/suburban kind of environment - does not want to be in a rural/small town setting.
Easy suggestions are the “tough” schools: CMU, NYU, CCM, BoCo (I don’t believe any of these offer any merit scholarships).
Others: Elon, Pace, OCU (I think these have some merit scholarships - maybe, just maybe a tiny bit easier to get into?)
BA programs/non-audition programs : American, Northeastern, USC, Tulane, Muhlenberg (he doesn’t appear too keen on this one).
I’ve read about Brown/Skidmore/Brandeis on the forum - but at first glance, couldn’t find any MT programs/concentrations. Help?
Open to suggestions - thanks to everyone on the forum here, it’s a wealth of information on this “foreign” process for us!!
Northwestern would be another BA choice, and for another BFA - Boston university is starting an MT major (and already have a very well respected theater school)
CCM actually has a great scholarship program called the Cincnnatus Scholarship. You need to apply early and stay on top of it but it does provide substantial dollars. They give 10 full Presidential awards that cover full tuition, fees, room and board. And up to 60 Excellence awards awarded for national merit achievement.
At OCU National merit finalists automatically receive a 4 year full tuition scholarship. It too requires application by December 1 as do most schools’ large academic awards. Apply early!! You don’t have to accept until May 1. But you have to apply early and be accepted to even be considered. OKC is a very large city - but not an urban environment like Chicago or New York. More suburban.
We did not find a lot of merit-based money at Elon - around $4-6,000 per year depending on the scholarship. Nothing to sneeze at but not anywhere close to full tuition either. But if he doesn’t want rural/small town he probably doesn’t want to consider Elon. It is beautiful. And a fantastic program. But it is definitely a small town.
I was trying to think of what other urban schools you may consider: One thing we found interesting, CCPA in Chicago (part of Roosevelt University). Good program. But its students are not allowed to be considered for academic scholarship from Roosevelt. CCPA does give some performing arts scholarships. But no academic scholarships.
If his stats are strong, he may want to consider Northwestern, just outside of Chicago. They have an MT certificate program with a wonderful reputation.
Ball State has a very good honors college, and they have the Whitinger Scholarship which would be a free 4 year ride on tuition. Only 10 freshman get it; my D was a finalist but didn’t get that one. She got another abcademic scholarship that took 50% off her tuition. Very good program, very good school, can do either the BFT MT or BA in theater.
We also looked at Northwestern and while my D’s academics would have probably gotten her in, the tuition is 62k a year alone, and they expected us to pay at least 50% of that. My D took them off the list when she heard that.
Texas State is a great BFA program very close to the art scene of Austin and San Marcos is a great town. Plus they give all their out of state kids a scholarship to equal in state tuition so everyone pays about $9500 tuition.
Pace has very generous scholarships, I think even for Merit Scholars a possible full ride. I think its called a trustee scholarship. Their are lots of opportunities for the Merit Scholar. Check them out under the inidividula school threads, not in MT. I think Indiana (which based on what youve said would be a good fit for him) has some sort of program for merit scholars as well.
Otterbein has BFA MT, great scholarships, and though it is located in Westerville, a charming smaller city, it also abut Columbus, Ohio (15th largest city in the US).
A few years ago, one of our students was a National Merit Scholar and went to Tisch for theater (started in NSB, finished in Stonestreet)–they did give scholarship money for it, enough to make it very manageable (he wouldn’t have gone otherwise). He started there in 2010, so things can always change, and I do remember he had to petition for it in some way.
@toowonderful - BU is starting a MT program? Where can I find details? BU was on our list, but got crossed out since they didn’t do MT. @tramsmom - likely to be NMF (his counselor thinks he will be, I’d prefer to wait and see!).
He’s not thrilled at the idea of a large school - like Ball State, Texas State or University of Oklahoma. And he would prefer to be somewhere on the east coast. But I think we might have to revisit some of this criteria!! I know Elon and OCU don’t fit this criteria too. I haven’t been to either of these - but he didn’t want to apply to Ithaca - do these compare to Ithaca in terms of location?
Anyone have any input on Northeastern’s program or American? I’m trying really hard to come up with a school or two where he’d pretty much (nothing is definite!) be guaranteed admission and still be able to do theater/MT. All the audition schools are reaches, so need to find a non-audition program that fits his criteria.
It’s so easy to come up with the “reach” or “tough” schools
Ithaca, Elon fairly remote. Cannot fly into the town. Must fly and drive 1-2 hours. So he wants a small school in an Urban area, preferably on the east coast? I would hate to “waste” his NMS on a school that would not give him a full ride. How about TCU? Texas Christian? It is a brainy school, on the smaller side and has GREAT scholarships.
Ithaca and Elon are both much smaller towns that Oklahoma City. The OKC area has over 1.2 million people, so it is a big city. As I said, it’s just more suburban in nature. There is a downtown but if he is looking for an urban feel like NYC or Chicago, this is not it.
I know everyone is plugging their own kid’s school, but Montclair is right outside NYC in an urban/suburban setting. Honors college if you want the extra academic challenge, scholarships available, great BFA program.
University of Alabama might be worth looking at. They give amazing scholarships (full ride plus other perks to NMFs), have very good academics, a good theatre and MT dept, and is only 30 minutes or so from Birmingham. Tuscaloosa is not a huge town, but it has a lot to do. Also, the University does a lot of recruiting around the country, so they may be having a dinner in your area soon if you check with a recruiter. They their students and faculty all over the country on private jets just to meet with potential students.
Not on the east coast, but Wright State has BFA and offers full in-state tuition, plus room and board, books, and fees (including those that are theater/music related) to NMF - and semi-finalists I believe. They also have small talent-based scholarships. If you have questions, feel free to PM me.
East Coast… I would check out Coastal Carolina…they have BFA MT, BFA Acting and BFA Physical Theatre. If you are from Maryland or one of several southern states…they are a part of Common Market. Very integrated department. Is a medium sized campus, I believe about 9,000 or so students so its not as big as a Ball State or Texas State but not as small as some of the private schools.
