<p>Yep - have lots of friends/alumni in BA/BFA programs all over the U.S. and some international and yes, most are happy to talk about their university/conservatory or to direct me to a friend in my intended area of study. Guess I have been doing this type of “faculty” research without knowing it, LOL. I am doing most of my auditions at Unifieds, but do have a couple on site…and yes, there are friends to hang out with before/after the on campus auditions and answer my questions about the campus/program/instructors.</p>
<p>My list began (in 10th grade) by asking my theatre friends their preferences. Then I researched…and researched…and thought about what I wanted…changed some schools…and talked to more friends at the schools on my new list…and visited some schools…and then…I ran out of time and HAD to make the final list and start on APPS. </p>
<p>Glad the audition process will not take as long as choosing a college.</p>
<p>The title of this thread is Top MT BFA Programs, but I want to briefly share D’s experience in case it is of use to anyone finalizing your lists. Everyone in D’s life had assumed she wanted a top BFA (maybe I’d spent too much time on CC which may have a BFA bias), and she had some BFA acceptances in hand from summer auditions and very strong pre-audition interest from top programs, but at the last minute she decided her first choice was a BA, for which she applied ED.</p>
<p>She had 3 BAs on her final list (none of which were safety’s – Northwestern, Yale and Brown) and in retrospect we are SO glad she realized what she wanted before she was locked in to a BFA. This very same thing happened to several of D’s YoungArts and MPulse friends who all were certainly contenders for strong BFA programs.</p>
<p>For those who “finalize” your lists early, I’d urge you to keep some BAs on your radar in case you learn something about what you really want before you commit to a BFA or Conservatory. BFAs are great for some, but don’t offer others what they most want from their college years, so keep an open mind about what YOU really want.</p>
<p>MomCares, can you tell us what she likes about the BA. Why it is working so well for her? Is she double majoring? Does she have more free time to pursue other interests? etc… Does she feel there is some lack without a higher structured schedule, but that’s ok? Is there a BFA group at her school? thanks!</p>
<p>@theatremomma - Several things came together to make a specific BA her top choice. First, she did want the option of double majoring in 4 years. She has always loved a balance between a demanding theatre schedule and rigorous academics and realized she wouldn’t be happy without both. Second, she attended MPulse and realized that for her there would be downsides to spending the bulk of 4 years in the constant company of the same 20 kids and small faculty, no matter how talented. She wanted constant exposure to a larger and more diverse group of brilliant folks, including future actors, directors, writers, engineers, lawyers and doctors. She also wanted to attend a prestigious school where her degree would be of high value whether or not she stayed with a career in theatre, and where she could have the full “traditional” university experience. She did not want to be locked into a prescribed set of classes (she was never interested in conservatories), as she knew her interests might broaden during her college years.</p>
<p>Her school (Northwestern) does not offer a BFA or a Masters in performance, and the BA curriculum can be made very similar to a BFA if a student chooses.</p>
<p>I realize a BA isn’t right for every performer, but for D it seems to be perfect so I hate to see talented kids discount that option because they get seduced by the perceived status of a BFA. Without question, there are equally talented kids in top BA programs who have chosen them for great reasons.</p>
<p>That’s what my HS counselor advised, so I have a mix of BA and BFA programs on my list. My strongest skill is Acting, but I love MT, too (I can sing, dance, and act and do get leading parts, so technically, a triple threat). I have mostly been in musicals for the last 9 years, but am applying to some Acting and some MT programs (BA’s and BFA’s) to better my chances of getting accepted into a good program. I also love Directing and feel I would be able to take additional classes in that area in some BA programs. </p>
<p>There are students at my Performing Arts HS who excel in Dance and are applying to colleges for both Dance and MT. You can dance your way to Broadway, too. I think most people believe you have to get a BFA in MT to get there, but I have heard there are many paths. Several of my teachers were on Broadway (both dancers - worked with Fosse - leads in shows like A Chorus Line) and they danced their way to NYC (and then all over the country + TV). I am sure there are people who studied Acting and then ended up in Musicals, too. So if that is your goal…think of your strength and work it from that angle, too.</p>
<p>luvsthe8r, I hope you have Tisch on your BFA list, whether you audition for MT or acting. You sound like a great fit for Playwrights Horizons studio. All the actors take directing. </p>
<p>Even if you weren’t placed there for your primary training, you could transfer in for advanced training. There is also alot of original work being developed at Tisch, particularly in Playwrights and in the Experimental Theater Wing studio.</p>
<p>Momcares’ point about a student’s feeling of being with the same small group for four years is something to consider. Some schools will have this; others will not. What she describes about NU, about access to a wider range of people, is what you get at Tisch. Even within the primary studio, the groups change each year (not all; some switch), and there are a variety of different studios to explore after sophomore year. Also, there is also opportunity to be in shows with students all across the studios at Tisch. </p>
<p>Not saying this is better or worse than a small group you stay with the whole time, just different.</p>
<p>Tisch is on my list and my app has been submitted and artistic review scheduled (MT)
Was mainly looking at MT, but I will take a closer look at Playwrights Horizons studio. Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>Trying to make a definitive statement about an exclusive list of “top” schools would seem to be a futile exercise in such a subjective and speculative domain. College rankings using comprehensive, objective stats is subject to endless debate and very substantial questions of efficacy, and in the MT world there are few, if any, comprehensive, objective stats available on which to base comparative judgements (and I have looked, a lot).</p>
<p>Even the most experienced, expert professionals that I know will admit to lack of enough comprehensive knowledge to be able to name an exclusive list of top schools.</p>
<p>I would agree with EmsDad that it is futile to list the “best schools” for MT. It is such a judgement call with no set criteria- the “best” MT program for one student may not work at all for another who is just as talented. While all of the schools on your list include top-notch MT programs, RSP9404 ( my D is a senior at one of these programs and would tell you she feels she is in the perfect program for her needs), I can think of many other programs which are also great MT programs that are not on your list. I would be curious to know what your “experience” is…</p>
<p>Absolutely agree! Three of the schools on RSP9404’s list were on D’s list of 12+ schools while 4 weren’t, but NONE were even in her top 3 schools (see posts #22 and 24).</p>
<p>I’m guessing that most of us have seen students graduate from “top” BFA programs having developed bad habits, seen kids drop out of “top” programs because they were unhappy with them, some extremely talented students opt for top BAs over the top BFAs, some kids who are really well trained by “lesser” BFA programs, some really talented performers with no college MT training at all and everything in between.</p>
<p>There really is no “top” program and two equally talented people may have two completely different lists.</p>
