<p>Lysistrata....I really do not have scholarship info...sorry. but I was wondering why you felt after 4 yrs in a great program you would need more training..? Of course getting a masters and going for more school is always great but after a 4 yr program in a Musical theater or theater major you would be more than ready to look for work. Have you thought of the conservatory route from the get go? Some schools have the reputation of being a great school and also offer a conservatory style training...Ithaca,syracuse,Emerson...It sounds like you will not have trouble getting $$ with your scores and grades..try to pick the school based on the curriculum,area and how you feel when you visit. Best of Luck!!!</p>
<p>Soozievt's daughter got quite a nice package from NYU and you seem to have the qualifications to get a similar package. I would think BU would also be a good bet because academics are very important to that school, too.</p>
<p>Lisa G,
There was some talk about that somewhere earlier in this thread and on the musicals forum that is also what I have been told by my teacher. Basically, four years in a regular college BFA should be enough to prepare someone to be able to do musicals, tv/film and most things that a 21 or 22 year old actor could realistically be "typed" as in contemporary theatre. However, if you want to be able to play ANYTHING including the most difficult roles in classical theatre on the same level as someone with a masters in acting, you need the extra contact hours that you get at the conservatories.</p>
<p>Here are two links from doctorjohn that hint at what I am talking about
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=4273&postcount=9%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=4273&postcount=9</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=2937850&postcount=44%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=2937850&postcount=44</a></p>
<p>I don't know how many people read it because it is very long, but Miahana also posted an article that partially speaks to the reality of the situation <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=3952758&postcount=171%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=3952758&postcount=171</a></p>
<p>Babar,
Thanks. I have read all that on the musicals forum about soozie's daughter. I think she got like $20,000, but NYU is a $50,000 a year school which would still be too rich for my family's blood. I have literally read every word on this thread and most of the useful stuff over there. haha Every year there are kids with top grades and scores that get accepted to NYU and can't afford to go. I need to get narrowed down to around 6 to 8 schools where enough scholarship money and financial aid would make being able to go a realistic possibility.</p>
<p>I think that you have clearly done your research, and are looking at many of the top conservatory programs for acting. Do you plan on balancing out your list with less competitive programs, or will you take a gap year and audition again if you are not admitted to one of the top conservatories? </p>
<p>This is not a comment on your talent... obviously, never having met you, no one on a chat board can do that :)! The top conservatory programs as as copmetitive (if not more so) than many ivy league schools. If you have your heart set on attending college right after HS, you may want to diversify your list. If you only want to attend a conservatory, then only applying to those schools is the way to go.</p>
<p>I am sorry that I don't have information on scholarships. Do you happen to live in any of the states in which the schools you mentioned are located? In state tuition is certainly less expensive than out of state (or private tuition), and may not need as much financial assistance as a result.</p>
<p>Welcome to the board!</p>
<p>Does anyone know of a good public school in a big city (Boston, New York, Seattle, Chicago) with an excellent theatre arts program? I know that most schools with good theatre programs are usually private schools, but I don't have the money for a private school education. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Hi Kat,
I live in GA and plan to go ahead and apply for UGA and Bama in case I don't get in anywhere, but I seriously might decide to put off college for the time being. From what I have seen on here, there isn't that much difference in getting in at most of the conservatories and some of the "less selective" college BFAs. They are all hard to get in and what they are looking for with "types" probably bridges any gap between the stats. I think I could get training as complete as what is offered at most of the less selective college BFAs at some of the non-school studios in New York or LA for a lot less money and try to get a career underway much sooner anyway if all I am going to do is light drama, screen and musicals. The problem with those kinds of roles is that the clock is ticking and starting at 20 is better than 22. I could always go to college later if it doesn't work out. Also, my teacher thinks I have a good chance and she has had students getting accepted for years. I know some people who are going to CMU, NCSA, BU and Evansville and they aren't any better than me. It would just suck to get in somewhere really amazing and then not be able to afford it! :)</p>
<p>Jaymster,
Most of the public schools cost as much as the private schools if you are going out of state.</p>
<p>Lysistrata, true, but after a year or two, I believe you can apply for residency of the state and get in-state tuition.</p>
<p>Could anyone tell me which non-audition BAs (in general) have the best reputation?</p>
<p>jaymaster - the residency rules are different in each state. Some will let you declare residency after a year or two, others will not... unfortunately :(</p>
<p>umbrellas - there are so many non-auditioned BAs in theatre, and they are all so different that it is difficult to answer your question. Do you have a particular part of the country in which you are interested? size of school? public/ private? rural/ urban/ suburban? other qualities you are looking for?</p>
<p>jaymster,
I had not heard of that. Do you know how to go about finding out which states will let you have residency after two years? It would make some of the schools I am looking at a LOT less expensive over four years!</p>
<p>KatMT- I'm looking into what could possibly be safety schools (in case I don't get into a BFA program) on the East Coast or near the east coast.</p>
<p>In NYC
Pace has a BA theatre program
Marrymount Manhattan also has a BA theatre degree
Columbia is a wonderful university, they have graduate theatre programs, but also have a good BA in theatre, I believe... (although academically this may not be a "safety school")</p>
<p>Outside of NYC
Muhlenberg College (they have a very good non-auditioned theatre program (although it is not necessarily a safety school academically speakeing depending on your grades and scores)
Penn State (has a BA theatre program that is taught by the same faculty that teach acting in the BFA musical theatre and the MFA acting programs)</p>
<p>A lot of schools have good non-auditioned BA programs. I think if you do a search for colleges or universities of the size of which you are looking (most high school guidance have access to this sort of program) you will have a list of schools to work off of. </p>
<p>Every school is different and will offer you a different experience. "Safety schools" are also a tricky thing these days. Schools that may have been considered safeties in the past (particularly state schools which are less expensive) have become more difficult to get into. Do your research, and talk with your HS guidance counselor about the schools in which you are interested.</p>
<p>Thank you SO SO much!</p>
<p>Lysistrata, I don't know which schools in particular, but you should definitely ask. Anyways... back on topic. :) Does anyone know of public schools (even if they're out of state_ with good programs and that are in a big city? I know of FSU and Penn State (of course, Penn State isn't really in a major city).</p>
<p>SUNY Purchase is a state school. It isn't IN NYC, but it is close and has a BFA conservatory and a BA. It is also the cheapest of the top conservatories. Rutgers is the same way but it is more expensive. A friend of mine said U Connecticut was at the Chicago unifieds last winter and has gotten serious about growing their BFA program. Montclair State is right outside of NYC. U Arizona is a state school in Tucson with a BFA, but they seem scarier and more random than Depaul with their cuts (see the top of the mt forum). U Utah is in Salt Lake City. I think Cal State Fullerton is a state school in the LA area and Prof Himmelheber said they were starting an Acting BFA.</p>
<p>Safeties:I have not posted in a couple of months, but like many rising HS seniors my S is starting to figure out a list of schools to apply to. We plan to apply to a few LACs with strong theater programs. Likewise, we are applying to Syracuse, Rutgers,and Guthrie, each likely a reach to far-reach. Deep safeties may include Drake or Marietta. Can anyone suggest which of the following programs may be good shots/semi-safe, recognizing that there is really no such thing as a 'sure thing' when it comes to getting into BFA acting programs. Here is a list (which of these might he have a better shot - on this list, WVU is the only one that does not require an audition:
Univ. of Illinois
University of Utah
University of Conneticut
West Virginia Univ.
Penn State (BA)
Florida State
Univ. of Florida
We are not willing to pay the tuition for BU, NYU, CMU, Miami. We can afford Syracuse and a number of LACs because we are in a tuition exchange program with these schools. By the way, does anyone know anything about the program at Tulane (also a tuition exchange college). When I posted over on their thread, Tulane students were not even aware that there was a BFA/BA Theater program.
Of course, we have to assume that he has a decent audition. As I have noted before, he has been acting for only a year. He was heavily involved in sports. He is attending BU's summer theater program and he has an acting coach (Meisner, though we do not care what approach the program deploys). Our concern is getting into a decent program. His drama teacher suggests that he is easy to direct and, from what I have seen, he is a decent performer. He just needs more experience. He is a talented fencer and loves stage combat. He is a good looking kid (looks like and built like Matt Damon). He can even sing, though he is interested in straight acting. He is a B plus/A minus student, bt does not test all that well.</p>
<p>Just saw a post about Tulane's BFA MT program on the MT thread. They also indicate that they know little about the program.</p>
<p>My guess is that if his academics meet the requirements (which it sounds as if they do), West Virginia Univ., would be the truest safety, because there is no audition.... I think they have a new arts center and an MFA program. I have been to Morgantown, and it is a cute little city/ town. </p>
<p>I am most familiar with UConn., and Penn State (BA)... If he has the academics to get into Penn State University Park (from what I understand University Park is pretty difficult to get into academically... a B+/ A- student certainly has him in range, though), then I would say that Penn State would be a relatively safe bet in terms of the BA theatre program. I believe that the BFA at UConn. is pretty competitive... not as competitive as the top schools on your list, but competitive, so it may be more of a longer range safety.</p>
<p>Thanks KatMT - Penn State is a low cost option for us, as we are in-state and my college provides an automatic 6k scholarship for any non tuition exchange college -- in total, it would cost us about 12k/year.My S, however, used to fence there and the university (huge, ugly dorms, rah-rah sports) turned him off - that may change once he auditions there. Rutgers, Guthrie (I used to teach at UMINN), Illinois, Utah, etc. are also huge and not as classy (cruise-ship like, though petite') as the small LACs (have a strong 'return on investment' mentality) that he is familiar with.
RE:LACs with Theater programs: I am very familiar with a number of LACs, and have familiarized myself with a number of theater programs. My S can get into the place that I teach at because of me; he probably would not otherwise. What attracts him most are those small LACs that do not have so many general requirements - open/unique curriculums that are performance oriented. Therefore, we are looking at Bennington, Cornell College and Beloit (tuition exchange schools). He is not as attracted to Muhlenberg, Lawrence, Centre, etc., because they, like my college, have so many general requirements. At my college, the theater majors get real burned-out, given that the school is highly competitive (no grade inflation) and they get little credit for all the work they put into productions. Those looking at LACs should also look closely at whether the theater major includes loads of literature courses in lieu of performance courses, and whether the college provides the same kind of resources to the theater deartment that they do to other deartments. There have been numerous threads that list the top theater/LAC programs. There is no way that my S can get into the top 40 LACs, except for my institution. He was being recruited by them for football, but he has given it up - and getting a lot of crap from his peers because of his decision - so that he can devote all of his attention to acting - hard/impossible to do both at his HS, which competes for the state title most years. He actually dislikes football and - bless him -confessed that he played only because he thought that I expected him to.
RE: UCONN - Above, someone mentioned that it is expanding their BFA Theater program and that they now audition at unifieds. Does anyone else know whether this is the case?</p>
<p>What is an "LAC"?</p>