<p>What kind of applicants does NU look for in the Theatre Department? Like does NU like giant r</p>
<p>I’m not the most qualified to be giving advice on this, as I don’t attend NU, but I have two close friends who are both in theatre there–and while they both were passionate performers in high school, one of them had a fantastic resume entering the application process and the other did not. There is no audition held. What they did have in common was that they both did the Cherubs theatre program the summer after their junior year of high school. I know that Northwestern does feel a sort of affection towards their Cherubs and that it could only help you in applying if you decided to do it. If you (or your son, daughter, niece, etc) are a junior now, I’m not sure if the deadline to apply has already come and gone, but I don’t think it’s make or break whether or not you’ve done the program.</p>
<p>I am an applying senior, so I definitely missed my opportunity! I have done 18 shows and will have hosted two award shows by the end of the year, but I’m sure many of the applicants have done better. That is why I was asking. I don’t understand how they can accept students and no give auditions. Thanks!</p>
<p>Wow, that’s impressive! I’m not sure about the no-audition thing, that struck me as odd too. However, I have another close friend who’s a freshman in RTVF right now and he tells me that the majority of his peers have never directed a film, been close to cameras, etc and when I asked him why, he said that NU looks for creativity and passion and drive because the school believes that if you have the core essentials, they can craft a filmmaker out of you. Maybe it’s the same sort of thing with acting?</p>
<p>D is currently a Theatre major. While I don’t know the inner workings of NU’s Admissions department, I can share what I’ve heard the heard of the Communications department say. She said (2 years ago during a campus visit) that the process for choosing NU Theatre majors is first to select the 100 most academically qualified candidates (50 girls and 50 boys) and then start screening other aspects of those applications and working down the list. She said the Theatre department is the most competitive of the Communications majors. I don’t know how accurate or current this is, but it’s what she said. As a performer, D was told to submit a resume and headshot in addition to the regular application materials.</p>
<p>It’s important to keep in mind that not all 100 admitted Theatre students plan to become performers. Some will be directors, writers, designers, stage managers in addition to straight actors and MT kids. </p>
<p>Although there aren’t auditions to be admitted to the program, D found that the first 4 weeks were filled with hours and hours of auditions for those interested in performing. Prior to coming the NU, D had worked professionally and won national recognition so she knows LOTS of amazing young performers, and she has found that the subset of NU Theatre students serious about her field are on par with the many talented folks she knows in all of the top BFA programs.</p>
<p>Hope this helps a bit.</p>
<p>That does help, and it also fills me with worry that I might have been 51 or something. Thank you regardless!</p>
<p>Don’t worry, be happy! You can feel great about being a strong enough applicant to have a shot at NU and, given that academic strength, you’ll be admitted to other strong schools even if you don’t win the NU lottery. </p>
<p>My fingers are crossed for all of you!</p>
<p>perry772,
My son’s a theatre major at NU. You’ve got to make the academic cut-off first. It sounds like you have shown a passion for theatre, having already done 18 shows. Even though NU is a non-audition BA program, the talent level is amazing. I don’t know how the admissions committee figures it out, but they get an incredibly talented group in each year who are also well-prepared to handle the academic load. Good luck!</p>
<p>Just a question, but does NU only admit those in the academic top 100, or do they pick students out of the 100 if they aren’t satisfied?</p>
<p>I don’t know. </p>
<p>The impression we got from the chair of the Communications department was that they started with the 100 most academically qualified, then reviewed the rest of the application (including resumes), which implied that they moved further down the list if the rest of the application fell short. I think a lot of people in the industry wonder how NU retains a reputation that places it among the elite BFA programs without holding incoming auditions, so I guess whatever Admissions is doing is working. </p>
<p>Also remember there is plenty of auditioning once you’re in the program. :-)</p>
<p>Hello!</p>
<p>@MomCares: You have really stressed the importance of resumes. I was not aware that theater applicants could send these in. However, among the extracurricular section on my CommonApp, both my essays, and my teacher recommendations, it is clear that I have been heavily involved in theater throughout my high school career. Will Northwestern recognize this, or am I sunk?</p>
<p>^^^I was going to ask the same question. I do not remember anywhere in the application process where a resume and headshot were specifically requested. In fact, I just double checked the supplement and it isn’t there. If you are sunk LilGiblets, you’re in good company :)</p>
<p>Also, NU does not accept the arts supplement of the Common App. where a lot of that info could have been provided. Maybe things have changed from last year to this one? Anyway, too late now but I do not believe my daughter sent in a resume nor a headshot during the application process itself because there was nothing that indicated it was part of the application process. Whether after the fact one was requested by the department or by admissions, I do not know but I don’t think so.</p>
<p>I only knew to send one in because @MomCares told me a couple months ago when I asked for advice.</p>
<p>A headshot and resume are not required… remember that many applicants to NUs theatre program are not performers (there are future directors, writers, producers, designers, etc.), plus as you say the Common Ap offers no good way for NU to request them (D did the Arts supplement for some other schools and IIRC it was a clunky substitute for a resume).</p>
<p>Since D entered as a performer, she was told by admissions and folks in the theatre department that it would help to send a resume, headshot and an extra letter of recommendation from her vocal coach. We honestly have no way of knowing what role, if any, those had in the decision.</p>
<p>If you included a lot of theatre stuff on your ECs, and your essays and/or recommendations demonstrate your passion for theatre I’ll bet you are just fine! </p>
<p>My fingers are crossed for all of you - but since you’re the type of students who are in the running for NU I know you will have success wherever you land!!</p>
<p>I called admissions to ask about it. I was told that it is not required and yes, many of the applicants are not performers etc… However, they also said that you can send it as supplemental info if you want to. They cannot specifically say whether or not a specific applicant’s file has already been reviewed (if it has, it is too late for it to matter) BUT you can still email the resume to: <a href=“mailto:ug-admission@northwestern.edu”>ug-admission@northwestern.edu</a> with your name, DOB and application ID number. </p>
<p>My guess is that it is probably too late but it’s only an email so there is nothing to lose so my daughter is sending it in.</p>
<p>I want to reassure everyone who’s asked that we never heard anything like this. My son is a performer and certainly didn’t submit a headshot. He is a sophomore theatre major at NU. NU theatre is a B.A. program, not a B.F.A.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t stress about this now, if possible. Decisions have likely been made already and they will be coming out soon. Best of luck to everyone!</p>