I am starting my college search and, like many, am looking to pursue a BFA in Acting at one of the top conservatories in the country. I live in Los Angeles and have worked as an actor (only small commercials and Day Players), and was told by three separate women at my agency that there are an unofficial “Top Ten” schools that make casting directors pay attention. The list includes both BFA and MFA programs. I have taken the liberty of listing them below:
-Juilliard (BFA/MFA)
-Carnegie Mellon (BFA)
-U of M/Guthrie (BFA)
-Yale School of Drama (MFA)
-San Diego Old Globe (MFA)
-Boston University (BFA)
-SUNY Purchase (BFA)
-CalArts (BFA)
-NYU Graduate Acting (MFA)
-UNCSA (BFA)
I am planning on applying to all of these, but please let me know if you agree with this list (also remember-this is just what I have been told)
You’re mixing up BFA and MFA programs, but yes, these are all top-tier acting programs.
Yale is much better for MFA than BFA. SDOG doesn’t even offer a BFA. NYU has both.
You might want to add a few that are not so tippy-top to your list. It is extremely hard to get into almost all of these programs.
Also, there are some UK schools at this level – RADA, LAMDA, places like that.
You seem to have a great deal of knowledge. I was wondering if you might be able to tell me your opinions of Guthrie and SUNY? I have heard that both programs offer excellent training but are crap shoots in terms of networking. Would you agree?
Guthrie is a great classically-slanted, legitimate theater program, affiliated with the Guthrie Theater. If you can see yourself doing Shakespeare and Chekov and Ibsen, etc. for the rest of your life in great regional theaters, it’s an awesome choice. (I’ve got to say that my one big regret about my son’s audition process is that he didn’t try for U Minn Guthrie…late start, long story, but anyway…) SUNY Purchase also has a very good reputation for training and is much cheaper than most of these programs (esp. if you live in NYS), so for that reason very difficult to get in. There are some people on the board with kids at Purchase. I’m sure they’ll weigh in.
I agree with everything JKellynh17 said- especially the part about creating a mix of programs. All the ones are you list are fantastic- and uber competitive (as in 1000+ apply, and less than 20 are accepted) You should definitely apply to some “top tier” schools, but want to create a broader range. 7 of the schools on your list are available to a HS graduate, how many schools (total) are you planning to apply to? My kid ended schools total- with a mix of “reach” (both artistic and academic- 5 schools) “fit” (schools where she seemed to meet qualifications and felt she had a reasonable chance to be admitted - 4 schools) and “safety” (non audition, and she met academic standards- 2 schools). Lots of people apply to more reach schools, some apply to fewer, but I think you will find the “mix” plan is standard advice
My intention was to apply to Juilliard, UMinn, SUNY, CMU, CalArts as my “reaches” and then Salem State University in Boston, Columbia College in Chicago and University of Hartford as well.
Now I know for some people, they find programs like Emerson in Boston and even NYU are valued more for excellent facilities than they are necessarily for their training, whereas some of the others (Juilliard, UM/Guthrie, CMU) are known to create top tier actors. Jkellynh17, you seem to value Guthrie’s training very highly, but I was hoping you could elaborate on what you said about performing the classics in regional theaters? I know they provide good contacts in that field, but as someone who wants classical training BUT also oped to pursue a career in LA or NYC, do you consider it a wise choice? Thank you to both of you!
@ProzacNat, that sounds good. Columbia College Chicago is basically open admissions, so you may not need so many safeties. Just as an aside, my S ended up at CCPA Roosevelt and feels like he is getting very similar training to the big conservatories, as well as really good connections to Chicago’s theater scene. (He’s had two opportunities to earn equity points so far, and he’s a sophomore.) We do know a boy who applied only to CC Chicago and Julliard (he’s at Columbia Chicago now), but you might want to think about a middle tier.
My D is at NYU- facilities are nice- the Tisch building is really pretty. but I am told there are variations between studios (and I not been to a mainstage show yet) My D is in Adler- and they have an old building- but I like it a lot - feels like the ghosts of old theater legends roam the halls- but the bathrooms are scary. Emerson had the prettiest theater we saw on college tours- grand old movie palace style. I agree (again) with jkellynh17 that you might want to find a middle ground. What about Syracuse, Rutgers Mason Gross, or NYU in the BFA (all still very competitve but not quite as UBER as say Julliard, CMU, CalArts etc) I would say the only school you have like that now is BU (very competitive, but a larger program, so the odds get slightly better).
My D loved Minn Guthrie- and she has two friends there (one a junior, one a freshman) who are getting fabulous training. Julliard she decided to wait, b/c there is a general theory (often discussed on this forum, and you will find varying opinions) that they are less likely to take someone straight our of HS. Yes, it happens, but a lot of the people they accept have more experience- as opposed to a traditional college where 90%+ will be straight out of HS
Salem State University is right up the street from me. We have been to some wonderful shows there, and I believe the networking is good as well. I did want you to know that they have closed the main stage theatre, as they are building a brand-new theatre on campus! Not sure when it will be completed, but you may want to ask that of the program - lots of construction at present, but the campus is really looking beautiful - new dorms, etc.
I like this better than Jon Jory’s Top Three And Nothing Else Really Matters-esque article that I saw earlier…I’ll try to find that link. I feel like it should still be thrown out there that just because a program isn’t on every top list doesn’t mean it’s not a “good” program. Maybe casting directors don’t ooh and aah, but you still hear great things about DePaul, Texas State, Emerson, Pace, Syracuse, Michigan, etc. But this seems like a pretty good list all the same.
@Decomfortable I agree 100%, especially about the Jory article. I heard that Jory wrote that article to promote a personal bias ($$$)toward Rutgers. My older brother has a friend who studied at Guildhall in England and now works at the Globe who said that of the American schools that study in London, U of M/Guthrie students are the ones that are respected by the English theatre scene and have an impressive reputation across the pond. She said that Rutgers students are not taken very seriously by the Globe staff and teachers.
My mistake: the Jory article did not include Rutgers, but UNCSA (which is an excellent school, though only two of their alumni have indicated such). However, I have heard many people say that while they consider UNCSA and even CMU excellent schools for contemporary work, that Juilliard and UMinn/Guthrie are the only places in the country where actors can gain classical training that is equal to that of the British drama schools (Like Guildhall, LAMDA and RADA)
I think it was propbably unintended, but please be careful about posting (in a public forum) negative comments about schools which are hearsay and opinion. Some of the above comments are pure hearsay from anonymous unknown sources, and are also slanderous and untrue. I wouldn’t want students to rely on misinformation in making all important decisions that affect their lives and careers!
I really don’t like these “Best of” or “Top X” lists. There are so many who go to the “top” schools that don’t become “stars”. There are so many who go to small schools, or even no school, who do make it big. Success in the acting world has so many variables. Sometimes its a matter of who you know, or if you’re the right height, or pure luck that gets you noticed. A better way to determine a “good” school is if it’s a fit for YOU. School size, class size, number of productions, faculty, senior showcase, location, and tuition are all factors in deciding what school is best. You are the best determination of success. I wish you luck with your research. There are lots of schools to choose from!
Exactly @MoondancingMom. A lot of it is how hard you are willing to work, how you react to failure, how you get along with people…These are all great schools but no guarantee.
I think the OP’s point- that those schools can open doors- is certainly valid. But what happens once you get through the door is entirely up to you
Can someone link that article? I’m googling and can’t find it!
@MTVT2015 I was having the same trouble. I can’t seem to find it, but Jory basically says that there are only three schools that he takes seriously. All three are top tier schools, but to say that they are the only good ones was 100% opinion-based and from what I have heard, and a very biased-opinion at that. He names Juilliard, CMU and UNCSA as the best (he may also briefly discuss Minnesota and CalArts but I can’t remember)