<p>Does anyone on this board know about the theatre/drama program at University of California at Irvine. It's one of the couple dozen acting programs featured in the book, <em>Creative Colleges</em>, by Elaina Loveland, which I have found generally helpful and reliable. And yet, I read very little about it on this board or more generally in discussions about undergraduate theatre programs. My D is a senior well-suited to and interested in programs like that at Chapman and Loyola Marount ( just for reference). </p>
<p>Relatedly: in the current budgetary environment in California, are out-of-state applicant to its state schools notably advantaged or disadvantaged in any way, or at certain schools?</p>
<p>RIVERSIDE! I meant Riverside, not Irvine (there’s plenty of discussion about Irvine). Sorry for abetting confusion. It’s Riverside I’m curious about.</p>
<p>Yeah that’s a great question!! I’m also a future university applicant and I’d love to know how an out-of-state California student would measure up in terms of chances of admissions and also in terms of financial aid. </p>
<p>Also, I’m sure you probably know this, but if you’re looking at California state schools, UCLA have a really great theatre program! :)</p>
<p>While I don’t know anything specific about Riverside’s theater program, generally it is among the least selective UC’s. Due to budgetary issues, out of state applicants have an increasingly good shot at gaining admittance, but I wouldn’t count on great financial aid. Among the outstanding drama departments, typically people say UCLA, Irvine, and San Diego.</p>
<p>Undergrad program at Santa Barbara has a good rep as well. The grad program at San Diego is very well known; undergrad not so much. </p>
<p>I agree with Flossy’s statement about out-of-state applicants. Out-of-state students are an increasingly large proportion of all students but I assume they are more desirable precisely because they pay more in tuition.</p>
<p>Thanks to each of you and, yes, we’ve learned lots about the programs with greater notoriety–viz., UCLA, UCSD, Irvine (esp for MT), and Santa Barbara. And yet, I’m awfully curious as to why the Loveland book calls it out for special attention. </p>
<p>I’m also increasingly alarmed at what I’m reading are the real impacts-on-students of the budget crisis in CA. While, on the one hand, I suppose it’s enhancing the prospects for out-of-state students to gain admission; on the other hand, I’m beginning to get the sense that it’s created a crisis atmosphere on campus. Please, someone, tell me it’s being overblown.</p>
<p>By the way, Loveland’s book also suggests that admission to the BA program at Riverside requires an audition, and I can’t find any indication of that on its website, so any of you out there who have direct knowledge to clarify that confusion would be helpful (of course, I also will call out there, but depending on who picks up the phone, my experience is that even answers to questions on the phone need to be double-checked). </p>
<p>Thanks again you Californians who can weigh in on us Easterners curiosities and misconceptions.</p>
<p>Capedad, is there some particular reason you are relying on that book to develop a list of schools? There is an abundance of information available, in general, on theatre programs across the country, but I would hesitate to include that book as a totally reliable source, or to use as your primary resource.</p>
<p>CapeDad: the problem is not overblown. Rapidly rising tuition, fewer slots, and limited classes are common now on UC and SU campuses. However, life goes on for most students and most of the time I’d hesitate to call it a crisis atmosphere. If money is not a problem, your D may find what she wants here.</p>
<p>alwaysamom, The Loveland book is just one of many resources we’re using to find the right school for my D. Indeed, I’m calling into question her endorsement of the program at Riverside precisely because it’s not reinforced by other sources we have also relied upon, including this site. Does your knowledge of the program at Riverside contradict or reinforce Loveland’s view?</p>
<p>CapeDad, I’m glad to hear that this book is just one of many that you’re using. I consider myself a fairly knowledgable person when it comes to things theatre-related, and to be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of the theatre program at Riverside, so I’m afraid I can’t comment on Loveland’s view. I would, however, agree with theater mom’s take on theatre in the Bay area as well as her comments about going to school in ‘odd places’. There are many wonderful schools across the country and they aren’t always in the large cities but the one thing that they have in common is that they have well-respected and well-known theatre programs and they will provide an excellent education. </p>
<p>If I’m understanding you correctly, you’re from the east coast so I’m not sure what particular reason you would have for looking at schools on the other side of the country that are virtually unknown in the theatre world. I don’t mean this to sound judgmental, that is not my intention, and I know it’s difficult to convey the right tone in text. It’s just that it seems strange to be looking at such a random school when there are so many excellent choices all across the country.</p>
<p>CapeDad, we live in Southern California and have never heard UC Riverside mentioned as a good choice for theatre major kids. As an example, S2’s GC never mentioned it as one he should consider and we live instate. That is not to say the program isn’t good–just that it does not have that reputation here. </p>
<p>It can be frustrating to find excellent theatre training programs within good colleges that are accessible to B-students in Southern California. Honestly, I’m not sure the UC system is the way to go for this. The budget crisis is real, and even the top theatre programs at the UCs have seen drastic cutbacks. UCLA, just to name the one I know most about, has already cut back the grad program (for awhile their MFA program was in question), cut the number of admitted UG in half , and has cut back significantly the number of productions, now telling admits the program focuses more on in-class training rather than production opportunities. I mention this specifically because we expect to hear similar stories across all the UCs as they fight to meet a cut of $1/2 billion for this year’s budget alone. More cuts are coming, we assume, and that makes many instate uneasy about the future at UCs. The tough news is: the top UC programs in theatre–like UCLA and Irvine (especially for MT) and the BFA at Santa Barbara will protect these programs as much as they can. But the other UCs may actually make more drastic cuts. UC San Diego has a stellar reputation for MFA, but their UG may not offer many opportunities if those parts go to the grad students–so check that out, too.</p>
<p>Without the instate price break, OOS students pay top dollar and could do better, perhaps, to focus on private colleges in California. Check out some of the smaller private schools that offer theatre BAs, like Occidental, U Redlands, and Chapman, in addition to Loyola Marymount. These schools might allow your D to move to L.A., look into getting an agent and even auditioning for television, film, commercials while she’s in school, if that’s her wish. However, finding conservatory training in a less selective admissions school in SoCal is scarce.</p>
<p>madbean, alwaysamon: thanks to you both. Indeed, both your responses to my question about Riverside in particular are just what I was looking for: I’d never heard anything about the program there either. The peculiarity of Loveland’s endorsement is exactly what I’d posted the question. </p>
<p>The reason we’re focused on schools in California is because: <em>that’s where my D wants to go to college</em>. I understand this approach. When I was in high school, I was interested in public policy, and hardly looked at any schools outside of Washington, DC. Trust me, I’m sure there are actors in SoCal who couldn’t bear applying to UCLA and USC for just the same reason. Too close to home, if nothing else. </p>
<p>But still the other reason I keep posting questions about these “random” California public universities is that I’m trying to find a “safety” school that still has a credible BA theatre program. Given the static I’m reading about the budget situation, both here and from other sources, however, I think we’re going to begin confining that search to the private universities, like Redlands. Problem solved if anyone on this board can tell me that Whittier is a place that an ambitious young actress would be happy at.</p>
<p>catlover2 and I are big fans of USC School of Theatre! However, I believe the question here is what schools would make great safeties for a B student and not count on an audition to get in. That, as we all know, is the big question!</p>
<p>I wish I knew more schools to suggest, CapeDad, but I think Loyola Marymount (great location), Redlands, and Chapman hold a lot of potential–I just do not have personal experience with their Theatre departments so you may get more answers elsewhere, I hope. I do know quite a bit about Occidental’s theatre major and their professors are excellent as are their productions and they have a simply beautiful new(ish?) black box theatre. Many stellar instructors are available to acting students in L.A. due to the proximity to Hollywood, so some of the small gems are really fabulous. I’ll also plug Oxy’s gorgeous campus and the fact that it was our President’s first undergrad school. </p>
<p>For instate kids, there are always the Cal States (Fullerton is one often mentioned for having a good theatre program), but then the budget crisis is affecting all these schools, too, and many are commuter schools where there is less of a campus culture, so think of that. But do look into them. I believe Stephen Spielberg, for example, went to Cal State Long Beach. He didn’t wind up doing too badly. ;)</p>
<p>I have a son at Loyola Marymount, if I can help. He was aditted as a film production major, and would like to work in “the industry”, and is working toward that on “the side”, but is currently enrolled in the school of engineering. He seems to LOVE it.</p>
<p>BTW, he was wait listed for engineering at Riverside, then admitted.</p>
<p>I am new to this site and just found this thread. UCR was going to be our backup school if my daughter did not get into Chapman or UCI…anyone have a new info on their program?</p>
<p>I have never heard UC Riverside mentioned as a favorite for theater (or anything else, honestly.) You may want to look at UC Santa Barbara or UC Santa Cruz if your interested in other UC’s with good theater programs. And UCLA.</p>