I made a post about Drama schools that I could go to but that didn’t get a lot of replies. To make my question more clear, I’ll explain it better. I’m looking for a good Drama school that guarantees amazing training, while also having very good industry connections so I can easily get some tiny bit of exposure to the business of acting and maybe meet potential agents and casting directors. Thanks to anyone who responds 
The tricky part is- it is a very subjective question. You can google things like “best acting programs” and you will come up with lists, but that is one person’s opinion. And so much of what makes a “great” program depends on what you are looking for. For example- I don’t think anyone could disagree with the fact that Julliard offers amazing training, and fantastic connections. But my kid, who is a freshman in a BFA program, wanted a more of a “college” experience - So she didn’t even audition there. I have read what you posted on the MT forum as well, we could answer better if we knew more about you.
Drama Schools that are generally very highly regarded with both training and connections (in no particular order, off the top of my head, and based on research done to suit MY kid’s needs/abilities) And btw- every school on this list is REALLY competitive for admission - artistically, academically or both.
Julliard
Carnegie Mellon
NYU
Boston University
Syracuse
Northwestern (a BA, not BFA)
Rutgers Mason Gross
SUNY Purchase
U Minn Guthrie program
Emerson
DePaul
Hope this helps as a start! Again, the more info we have about you- the better advice we can give.
I would add UNCSA, but otherwise, great list.
Also a bunch of British schools – RADA, LAMDA, eic.
I would add UNCSA as well. (University of N Carolina School of the Arts)
I think one school that is sometimes overlooked for theatre is Williams College, home of the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Graduates have a strong alumni network that they actually use. I mean Stephen Sondheim is a Williams grad!
And amazing facilities: http://62center.williams.edu/about/
I agree with all suggestions above (esp UNCSA) like I said- it was off the top of my head! And it seemed the OP was looking specifically at US schools as opposed to British (from her other posts I gather she is Australian)
I should have noted Williams is NOT a BFA program; but nevertheless, well connected to the industry. We also liked Fordham at Lincoln Center (NYC), but again a BA program. Also UCLA, but again a BA.
@toowonderful 's list above is an excellent list.
Also, UNCSA is one of the very top schools. For what it’s worth, Jon Jory recently wrote a piece in which he said UNCSA, CMU and Juilliard are the only undergraduate programs the profession gives a damn about.
http://editiondigital.net/publication/?i=234963#%7B%22issue_id%22:234963,%22page%22:20%7D
CalArts!
Here is another article for reference. However, I think many of us could debate the top 5 acting programs ad infinitum, so take it for what its worth, just an informed opinion:
http://onstageblog.com/2015/01/29/the-best-bfa-acting-programs-in-the-country/
Really hoping people can sustain a healthy skepticism about all of these lists and articles. We all know that successful working actors come from all kinds of schools and backgrounds. And Jon Jory’s opinion notwithstanding, several of us have kids at schools other than the three he names, and their seniors sign from well-attended showcases every year, so somebody must be paying attention.
One final note: it’s still college; still four vitally important years of your development as a person and a student, not just as an actor. I hope you can find a school where you’ll thrive in every respect, regardless of whether somebody lists it as one of the “top” programs.
I read Jory’s article awhile ago - seemed pretty darn patronizing to me- esp in the “college” edition of the magazine. He’s certainly entitled to his opinion, but I’m going to go ahead and keep mine as well. There are too many people that have taken too many paths for there to be only three schools that matter
I think that Jon Jory article can be taken with a grain (or shaker) of salt. So what if professionals only care about three undergraduate programs? I don’t think your only goal should be “I want professional auditors raise their eyebrows at the ‘Education’ section of my resume.” I feel like your goal should be to get the training that’s right for you in a place that’s right for you. Where you go to school should matter to YOU, not to people you don’t know.
Since you will be moving very far to attend college here in the states, I think location would also be important to you. Would a move to a big city feel right to you, or would that put more stress on you? You may be better off going to a smaller campus, that is close to a bigger theatre city (say, SUNY Purchase, which is a short train ride to NYC). Do you want a huge university in a city that might require you to find an apartment and have you cook for yourself? Or would you feel less stress paying for a dorm and meal ticket on a self-contained campus. East coast? West coast? Sometimes making these type of decisions first help to open up the college choices. Then you can do a search on the internet for, say, “colleges in Chicago” and research the theatre departments yourself. Leave the empty term “best” out of your searches!
I feel as if Pace in NYC is on the heels of some of these programs as well