<p>I posted this yesterday in the College Search forum, but I just found this discussion oriented to theatre and thought I might be able to get more recommendations here. </p>
<p>I'm a junior (class of 2011) and while I'm in an excellent, highly-competitive public school in metro NY area, the GCs are not very helpful giving advice re: targets and safeties. I'm trying to round out my college list. I'm in all AP and Honors classes and while my school doesn't rank, I estimate I'm in top 5%. Here are my stats to date: Wgt. GPA ~98/99 (~3.7/3.8 unwgt), AP World Hx - 5, SAT II's: World Hx - 800, Molecular Biology - 790, Math Level 2 - 760. Strong EC's in performing arts (my passion), Model UN, journalism. </p>
<p>I'm interested in schools with strong theatre programs. Selecting the reachs are easy. Mine currently are Brown, Yale, Columbia, maybe Princeton. I also have schools like Northwestern, Vassar, Barnard, and Wesleyan on the list. I really need help selecting targets and safeties. So far I have Ithaca College on my safety list. Any advice would be great. The person who posted me in other forum suggested SUNY Purchase as, I believe, a safety, among some other schools. Some I had on my list, others I did not--like Trinity, Wheaton, and Rochester (wasn't sure if they meant U of Rochester or Rochester Coll in MI.)</p>
<p>Oh yes, I'm interested in BA, not BFA programs, as I'm not certain I will pursue a career in the performing arts when I graduate, but perf. arts have been a huge part of my life since I was three so I cannot imagine going to a school without a strong program.</p>
<p>The person who responded to me used the term matches and low matches and I wasn't sure if that equated to targets and safeties, respectively. I'm new to the forums so any help is much appreciated. Thanks :)</p>
<p>SUNY Purchase, I do not believe they have a BA theatre program, and their BFA is HIGHLY selective. Among SUNYs you may want to look at New Paltz. You may also want to inquire about the opportunities available to BA theatre students at Ithaca. They have very strong BFA programs and at some programs with both BA and BFA the BA students do not get as much attention. Muhlenberg, James Madison, University of Maryland, Temple, Connecticut College, and Indiana University would be worth looking at as well. If you are wiling to have an audition be a requirement for admission to the major perhaps also look at Emerson, Penn State, and Marymount Manhattan.</p>
<p>You sound like a very good student. You haven’t posted a PSAT score, though your SAT Subject scores are excellent. </p>
<p>Ithaca and SUNY Purchase should not be on your list. They are BFA programs, and in fact, extremely selective ones by audition. </p>
<p>KatMT gave you some excellent options when she mentioned, Muhlenberg, James Madison, UMD, Temple, Conn College and Indiana. </p>
<p>Some others (these are not all safeties but some may be match/ballpark for you and some may be safer bets): Skidmore, Sarah Lawrence, Brandeis, Tufts, Boston College, Emory, UNC-Chapel Hill, Drew. </p>
<p>Not sure if you are willing to apply to BA programs that have an audition but if so: Fordham, American.</p>