Theater/Drama Colleges Part 12

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
21

<p>I went on this journey with my son a few years ago. I wish I could just start it over, since we learned so much from going through this, but made so many mistakes.</p>

<p>One thing my son found was that he really wanted to be at a university, not a conservatory. As much as he wanted that BFA, and a certain concentration of voice, dance, music, acting, he wanted a regular college environment. So the school atmosphere became important as well. He felt that Purchase was too much of a suitcase school with too little happening on campus.</p>

22

<p>hi, i've posted here before and will probably post more as i am now entering my senior year in hs. i was wondering for any current college students out there, or parents even, </p>

<p>what finally made you decide on the college you are at now, if you could tell me the university you are at that would be helpful too</p>

<p>i was at an open house and a lady asked the question to the panel of current students, i thought it was really interesting...</p>

23

<p>Chrissyblu,
Aww, thanks, but I'm not a Freshman. I'll be a junior at my current program this fall and would have been a senior had I stayed at the first BFA I attended. I was still a freshman looking to transfer from a bad choice I made (for me) when I last went through this process. Some things happened that left me feeling very uncomfortable and on display at my first school - i.e. a Freshman in a Fishbowl - and I've just kept the user name from back then. I thought about changing it to "Da_Fishgurl," but ... nah ... LOL </p>

<p>I've decided not to say where I go on the main list partly because I don't want to put myself in the position of actually representing my school. If I did that, I'd have to be a good bit more diplomatic than I am on here at times. :) You can rest assured, however, that there are many more intelligent, thoughtful people at some of these conservatory programs than the psycho divas that fit the stereotype. It's about the class/company/group/ensemble/studio first and foremost ... </p>

<p>Also, make sure your D knows that there will be a liberal arts core that has to be completed even at the most intensive conservatories. CMU is cool in that they can at least pick their own courses based on what interests them and what fits into their schedules, but most of the others do have some requirements including electives - just not as many as at a LAC or regular university BFA. Also know that many who attend both types of program who didn't realize what they were getting into schedule-wise come to curse those courses as being superfluous. I know, I know ... Not all, but ... many. ;)</p>

<p>Ronit,
I'll answer in general ... </p>

<p>Unlike the first time I went through the process, I knew what I wanted the second time. That was going to be a highly selective, high intensity classically-based conservatory program with a proven record of regularly turning out highly skilled working actors in all areas of the biz. Basically, I wanted to go somewhere to train as an actor pure and simple, come out with a degree and the rest be damned. Small, large, citified, isolated or in the heart of a major university didn't matter to me anymore. I had a strong preference for programs that worked on a studio/group/company system meaning that I would work with the same small group of classmates continuously and the production roles would be assigned depending on what the faculty felt I needed to work on. I also wanted a tough, no-nonsense faculty that would daily push me way past my comfort zones and a group of driven but supportive classmates whose work would inspire me to want to go there. A showcase and an alumni mafia were also somewhat important. It also had to be affordable ... Based on that, I narrowed down to a group of schools that generally fit my criteria, prepared with the same intensity with which one would swat at a fire atop her head, and let 'er rip at auditions. I got really lucky and came out with great choices. I finally chose the one I now attend mainly because of a very generous, unexpected financial offer that came at the last minute. I had actually pretty much decided on another before that and I can truly say that I would have been happy to attend any of them.</p>

24

<p>Please click on the following link to be taken to information about the 2009 Unified Auditions:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/527246-unified-auditions-2009-a.html?highlight=unified[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/527246-unified-auditions-2009-a.html?highlight=unified&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>All of the schools listed offer BFA degrees in Acting (or the equivalent) and many also offer BFA degrees in design, technology, stage management, etc. Please click on the links for each school for information.</p>

25

<p>Correction: Boston Conservatory offers a BFA degree in Musical Theatre but not one in Acting.</p>

26

<p>Dr. John, Thank you so much for posting the Unifieds link on this thread. I’ve been searching for this information as our summer college visits come together. You are so generous with your time and information on these boards. Thank you for everything you do.</p>

27

<p>Hi, all. We just got back from NYC and Boston and the first part of our college tour. My daughter has now seen a presentation by Carnegie Mellon when they visited LA, actually visited USC, Emerson, Boston University, Juilliard, and NYU. (Still to visit: UCLA and CalArts. We won’t make it to NCSA, but she will apply there. Unsure where else she will apply on blind.)</p>

<p>Based upon her perceptions on those visits, interesting things have happened. Her fav is now NYU! (Prior to our NYC visit, she told me she really didn’t want to go there… tells you the value of the visits.) Tied for second is CMU and Emerson, and then comes Juilliard (which before the visit was the “be all and end all.”) Last for now is USC (too much like her high school.) We haven’t seen UCLA or Cal Arts yet, so they aren’t “ranked” yet.</p>

<p>I think the change was partly because she has decided she wants a basic liberal arts education as well and her top three really offer that. :)</p>

<p>Interspersed throughout this was the obligatory trip to Canal Street (ehem), Katz’s Deli (Yum), Broadway (saw Curtains and Chicago), and more stores than I really could afford. </p>

<p>Thanks for all the advice so far. Now the big question… How many colleges should one apply for? We know now that she will apply for NYU, CMU, Emerson, NCSA, Juilliard, USC, UCLA, SF State or CSU Fullerton (safety school), and UCI (Dad is making her.) She is doing early decision on Emerson (nonbinding.) That is nine schools. It seems like a lot, but I know NYU, CMU, NCSA, Juilliard, USC, and UCLA are very competitive. Emerson is a little less so, but still is somewhat competitive. She will get into SF State or CSU Fullerton and her odds are good based on what happened to last year’s seniors at her school with similar grades/SAT scores of getting into UCI. She blew away her grades last term and has a 3.9 unweighted and 4.07 weighted. SAT is in the mid 1700’s, but she is retaking. </p>

<p>CMU said audition is 80% of the decision, but they are the only one that will commit to a percentage. My daughter auditions well, but she is also “ethnic” looking… and I know they are “casting.” (At various times people have thought she was Italian, Spanish, Middle Eastern, and African American.) She thinks this may be a negative. I’m not sure and have heard from directors it could be a positive.</p>

<p>Should she add to the list? What are the odds of getting into CalArts? Is that a moderate chance school? Does anyone know? Any other good, but better chances schools?</p>

28

<p>I do not have the time to answer everything in your post, nor do I have enough information about your daughter to suggest schools and so forth. </p>

<p>I will just comment on two things…</p>

<p>You are right that at CMU, about 80% of the admissions decision is the audition. I’m not sure why you didn’t get the information at Tisch but it is publicized that the admissions decision is 50% academic review and 50% artistic review (which is atypical of many BFA programs). </p>

<p>I do not know the breakdown of your D’s SAT scores by section. And I realize she is retaking them. And I don’t know her entire profile (and admissionns is holistic at most of those schools), and for instance, I don’t know her class rank if she has one. But given my guess of her CR/M combined score at present, and given the low admit rate to the university as a WHOLE (not even counting the VERY low admit rate into the BFA programs themselves), your D’s SAT scores would make NYU, USC and UCLA reaches on just the academic end (the artistic end is a reach for anyone). Again, her SATs make it a reach combined with the low admit rate (selectivity) to those universities. So, build a college list that is balanced in terms of academic odds and in terms of artistic odds. Reaches academically are fine (if in a reasonable reach) but the odds become lower and so build the rest of the list accordingly (or have less academic reaches in total).
***Look at the mid range of SATs of those accepted to those universities. Also, look at overall acceptance rate to the university.</p>

29

<p>My son applied to 11 BFA acting programs, which seems like a good number, provided there is a “range” in terms of selectivity, as soozievt has pointed out. Many posters from last year indicated that they or their kids applied to somewhere between 8 and 13 or 14 schools. I think you should also consider BU (they audition 700 and accept 100 based on an estimate from last year), as it’s considered a top acting program. Look at Guthrie, Rutgers, and Purchase, too. I’m not sure about the “liberal arts” comment, and I wouldn’t really characterize most of these programs, including CMU, as providing any type of “liberal arts” curriculum. </p>

<p>My son is going to the CCM-Dramatic Performance Program. One advantage there is rolling admissions, so if you apply early, you hear early, and if it’s positive, you can feel good! Yet, you are not “locked in,” and are free to continue to audition. We have been very impressed by the program, and, once my son was accepted, he received regular e-mail contacts from the program director. These e-mails have been informative, instructive, helpful, detailed, and welcoming.</p>

30

<p>Hi Chrrisyblu</p>

<p>You may want to consider having your daughter take the ACT this fall (September and October) and see how she does. Try a sample test for comparison. Benefit is she only submits the scores she likes and colleges do not see the range of SAT attempts and she does not have to take the SAT subject tests. Many arts kids seem to fare better on the ACT as it is more aligned with what they have learned in high school.</p>

31

<p>Thanks, all. I understand the comments about the SAT, but the schools we spoke to don’t seem to think SAT scores are as important as we are all lead to believe. For UCLA, her UC GPA is a 4.22. From what I was told, the higher the UC GPA, the less the UC schools consider the SAT, and the acceptance rates at her h.s. bear that out. (I love scattergrams…) My husband is a UCLA grad. I’m a Berkeley grad. We both recognize how hard these schools are to get into. But we are hoping a good audition and her great GPA will be most important to them.</p>

<p>We talked to NYU and they told us the single biggest factor is the h.s. GPA, but they are very much into “the whole picture.” Looking at the stats for my daughter’s school, I believe that. They rejected a kid with a 4.2 GPA and a 2200 SAT score, but accepted a kid with a 3.91 GPA and a 1850 SAT, so clearly, they are looking at all sorts of things. The NYU counselor told us to never let SAT scores stop my daughter from applying with a GPA like hers. (We actually heard this from more than one school.)</p>

<p>Her unweighted GPA is a 3.91. She is an AP Scholar with Honors. Her subject tests were aced. The problem with her SAT’s is strictly math. Math is not her bag and it has pulled down her entire SAT score. Of course she is taking it again, and studying math all this summer. I signed her up with a course that guarantees a 150 point jump, which would get her to 1880. I’m not holding my breath. Maybe she can get it up. </p>

<p>I think I will try to convince her to add Cal Arts, Ithaca, Rutgers and UArts. I believe at least two of those are on the Common Application and won’t take more work to do the application and it just means frequent flier miles for me… ha ha… That will make 12 apps, with 10 requiring audition.</p>

32

<p>As to the question regarding selectiveness of CalArts, admission is strictly on portfolio/audition, artist statement, recommendations - standardized tests and grades carry little to no weight. HS/GED completion are the only academic requirements. Beyond that it is chemistry, I believe. They craft classes that they think will gel together. I know that in one discipline they get about 400 applications for about 40 slots.</p>

33

<p>I was a BFA acting major at New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL. I became very ill and transferred back home to finish my undergraduate as an Art History major at Florida State. I am lost without acting in my life and have started researching again my options as far as either earning a BFA in acting or an MFA in acting. I will be graduating with my first bachelors in the summer of 2009. I cannot wait to get back to theatre, but have a lot of questions as well. Should I pursue a second bachelors and finish the first acting degree I started? (although I am well aware that the acting classes I took at New World will not necessarily transfer over) Or at the age of 21, should I begin my MFA in acting? Is a BFA in acting required to audition/apply for an MFA? What are the benefits of starting over with my BFA or moving on to an MFA? I will be applying to both this year, but am anxious in the application process, where to apply for each, and what to expect should I choose the MFA route. I have finished my first play, “Blue Light Special”, and am working on a second now. My heart has never left the theatre and as many of you can probably relate, once you are bitten by the theatre bug, it’s impossible to forget it! Any and all advice is golden!!! Thank you!</p>

34

<p>Is there a list somewhere where I can find out what some of the best schools are for BA degrees? I’m applying for 2009 transfer this year and want to apply to both BFA and BA degrees to be safe(already have my BFA list). Thanks!</p>

35

<p>EstudianteDeVida:</p>

<p>If you were my advisee, I’d be telling you to look at MFA programs. There’s little point in going back and doing a BFA when you could complete an MFA in the same three years, and end up with a “terminal degree” which would allow colleges and universities to hire you on a tenure-track contract, should you ever desire to teach. Also, MFA programs are focussed entirely on professional training. Finally, almost all MFA programs are looking at talent, not your undergraduate degree, and many prefer not to take students with BFA degrees in theatre. </p>

<p>A good place to start your research is The Directory of Theatre Training Programs, now in its 11th edition: [Theatre</a> Directories - Summer Theatres - Regional Theatres - Theatre Training Programs](<a href=“http://theatredirectories.com/training.html]Theatre”>http://theatredirectories.com/training.html). It profiles the vast majority of both undergraduate and graduate programs in the US and Canada, and includes some in the UK.</p>

<p>Also check out the University/Resident Theatre Association: [University/Resident</a> Theatre Association - Home](<a href=“http://urta.com/index.php]University/Resident”>http://urta.com/index.php). U/RTA conducts the other set of national unified auditions. I have taught at two of the U/RTA schools, and I can vouch for the quality of the U/RTA programs.</p>

<p>Other top graduate programs, not members of U/RTA, worth examining, include Yale, Harvard, NYU, UC San Diego, and ACT in San Francisco.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

36

<p>musicmind11:</p>

<p>Take a look at the Directory of Theatre Training Programs which I mentioned in my last post. It’s a good place to start.</p>

37

<p>Doctorjohn,</p>

<p>My daughter is finishing up her BFA and is seriously considering MFA programs. Is she at a major disadvantage having a BFA? Also, these programs seem to be extremely competitive. Are there any programs that you know of where her previous training would help rather than hurt her chances of admission.</p>

<p>My daughter has always enjoyed the academic side of her program and her ultimate goal is to teach on a college level.</p>

<p>Any input would be greatly appreciated. I am at a total loss as to where to go from here.</p>

38

<p>klri,
I’m not Doctorjohn, but I know of some people with BFAs who are now pursuing MFAs in Acting at ACT, UCSD, SMU, NYU, Rutgers and U Texas. Assuming I don’t get rich and famous from acting and decide to try to get a college teaching gig at mid life, my own career plan includes getting an MFA in Directing which is another option. If you’ll look over the faculty bios at a lot of schools, you’ll find that many of the acting teachers have taken that path. Then there’s always the PhD path in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Lit. Actually, the lead in the play I’m in this summer has an MFA from Yale and he teaches at the college level although he doesn’t teach acting. He tried training MFAs and found he didn’t have the patience for it, so he got his PhD in Dramatic Lit and is now on the English faculty at my State U.</p>

39

<p>Hi, I’m wondering about how the degrees work; it’s possible to e.g. do a BA in drama and a MFA in directing, right? Because I’m looking for a more holistic undergrad education, so to speak. Am not sure whether it will be worth it in terms of employment chances and wage offers though; I’m interested in going after a whole range of theatre jobs, well while I’m still in my twenties etc anyway, so that’s my main motivation for pursuing the BA and not the BFA. But then in the first place will it be difficult to get a place in a uni to do an MFA after a BA? Someone shed some light on my understanding please? Thankyou!</p>

40

<p>klri:</p>

<p>Fishbowl has it right. Many MFA programs are happy to take students who’ve done BFA degrees, and the ones she listed are good examples. I don’t think it would hurt for your d. to identify MFA programs that interest her and then to write polite e-mails asking if they are interested in recruiting students who are just completing a BFA. The tone of the responses, as well as the content, will tell her a lot.</p>

<p>One warning: she must do it. You can’t. Undergraduate programs are happy to correspond with parents, for obvious reasons. Graduate programs will take it as a sign of immaturity. </p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>