My D is in the class of 2020 application cycle and recently spent some time talking with a SUNY Purchase BFA (sophomore). She encouraged my D to apply to both the BFA Acting and BA programs. Does anyone have any experience with the Theater and Performance BA program at Purchase? In particular, do BA students get the same/similar performance opportunities as the BFA students?
When my daughter was auditioning a couple of years ago (she’s now a junior at another school) a helpful young man who was a SUNY Purchase BFA student there was talking with us and he specifically made the point that the BA and BFA programs were very different - different teachers, curriculum, opportunities, etc. Not sure if things have changed though.
I don’t know of any BFA and BA program in which the students have the same/similar training. If your D is interested in BA programs, I would strongly recommend looking at schools that DO NOT also have a BFA program. I think in circumstances where there are both, the BA program will always be the poor step child of the BFA program.
Are you familiar with Emerson? We have a friend in the BA program. She is very happy with the training she received; she did not feel the program was a step child of the BFA program. Could be an exception to the rule. My D is interested in BA programs as safeties (which is how the discussion arose).
You’re absolutely right! Emerson’s BA program is outstanding! There are several programs that have BA and BFA programs that are both excellent. Pace is another one. If I remember correctly though, both Emerson and Pace BA programs require auditions for acceptance, whereas SUNY Purchase’s BA program does not (which actually makes it a great safety!)
Btw, out of curiosity I peeked on Emerson and Paces’ websites and (unless I’m wrong) it doesn’t say anything about the BA program on either of their sites. Did they or are they getting rid of those programs and are just having their various BFA programs? Things can definitely change in a couple of years.
For the Fall of 2016, Emerson has made a number of changes–their BA Theatre is now a BFA Theatre and Performance. All students intending to be performance majors enter under the BFA T&P and study the acting core for 2 years. Toward the end of their sophomore year, they make a decision about whether to continue on that path,or to audition for BFA acting, which I believe is a studio-based program for the Junior and Senior years.
I know this post is old, but I figured I’d post for those curious about this in the future.
The Theater and Performance BA and Acting BFA are two entirely separate programs at Purchase. Different faculty, different performance opportunities, different curriculum, etc. I personally will be in the BFA program, but I have friends in the BA who are satisfied with the theater training they are receiving, while still having flexibility with their academic schedules (something BFA students don’t really have). Both programs are excellent and competitive to get into, but to my knowledge the only real crossover between the two is social (we have a Facebook group that combines the BFA and BA students so we can all geek out about theater together).
Schools such as USC have much more of a crossover with between the BA and BFA, where all students are eligible to audition for the plays, etc.