<p>I just completed my freshman year at Bing and got into UNC Chapel Hill as a transfer. I'm a theater major and my acting training is my first priority. I had a FANTASTIC year at Binghamton and it will be hard to leave, but I hear that the UNC theater program is really great. </p>
<p>Could anyone tell me about some of the differences between these programs and if UNC is different/intense enough to justify my transferring? Thanks all.</p>
<p>Were you planning to pursue a B.F.A.? I’m sure both schools are good, with comparable departments. The more prestigious theatre program is at UNCSA, in Winston-Salem, rather than Chapel Hill. The weather’s much better in Chapel Hill than in Binghamton, and I think there’s a blossoming arts community in the general vicinity.</p>
<p>Or if you want to stay in the SUNY family… Purchase.</p>
<p>I’m not looking to attend a conservatory- I’m only choosing between Bing and UNC because that’s where I’m accepted for Fall 2011. Thanks stagemum, I’m going to look into the arts community in Chapel Hill, could anyone tell me anymore about the department there?</p>
<p>Just curious maybe bc my H & are are alums but why would you want to transfer if you had a fantastic year at Binghamton? What is it that you think you will find at UNC that made you apply to begin with?</p>
<p>Loloshky-- you might try this question on the UNC forum-- I think you’ll find more people there who know UNC. This forum tends to concentrate on BFAs. And, since you’ve been accepted, I’d suggest calling the theater dept at UNC and getting the straight scoop from them, too. Good luck!</p>
<p>Are you an in-state resident for either option?</p>
<p>I would echo sandkmom. You must have had a reason to apply to transfer, right? What attracted you to UNC? Did you visit, compare curriculum, speak to faculty and students, sit in on classes, see a production, research performance opportunities, determine what types of jobs grads are booking, etc. etc.? I, too, don’t understand why you’d want to transfer if you had a FANTASTIC first year. 
There’s obviously more to the story that would be helpful for us to know if you’d like advice. Having said that, neither school is particularly well-known for its theatre program, so the likelihood of many people here having the detailed information you need in order to make an informed decision is pretty slim.</p>
<p>Thanks all,
What happened is that at first glance, UNC was my top choice coming out of high school for its theater department, location, reputation, etc. I didn’t get in so I attended Binghamton with the promise to myself that I’d apply for transfer to some other, more intense theater programs. By the time the applications were sent out I had settled in to the theater department at Bing and was having a blast- but once I found out I got into UNC I remembered how much I liked the school and decided to get more info on the theater program to help me make my choice.</p>
<p>Thanks Gwen, I might try the UNC forum.
I’m from NY. Bing gives me no money but is still half the price of UNC. Despite the cost, I think my parents want me to choose UNC because it’s such a good school and whatnot.</p>
<p>Ask your parents if you can have a raincheck on the money, and use it after you graduate from Binghamton, when it is likely you will have non-steady employment.</p>
<p>Theatre students are never ‘done’ taking classes. Having access to the money saved on u/g classes will come in handy.</p>
<p>ie, stay at Binghamton</p>
<p>I can fully understand that Binghamton was not your first choice school bc it wasn’t mine either! BUT I can’t understand why you would consider transferring if you are happy there. You can get a great education for a price that can’t be beat.</p>
<p>I don’t know what you plan on doing after you graduate but I can’t see that having UNC on your resume will give you any distinct advantage over Binghamton unless perhaps you choose to live in NC. And just because it was your first choice school in HS doesn’t mean that it is the right place for you now. It honestly doesn’t sound to me like you really want to transfer to UNC, it sounds more like you just wanted the satisfaction of getting in and I congratulate you on that. But if you are looking for a more intense theatre program, you may or may not find it at UNC. I’m not saying that it isn’t worth looking into, but it isn’t exactly a school that Theatre majors are buzzing about. Good luck to you! :)</p>
<p>Thanks sandkmom, I was hoping for a more intense theater program at UNC because most of the people I’ve talked to (professors and friends, etc) say they have a really great program. And I know they work with Playmakers which was also a plus. I’ll be visiting UNC soon so I’ll hopefully find out everything I need to about the theater department there.</p>
<p>When you visit, make sure to ask how much involvement the undergraduates have with Playmakers? what kind of performance opportunities, and professional training opportunities exist for undergraduates? if undergraduates are “competing” for performance opportunities with graduate students?</p>
<p>The graduate training program an UNC - Chapel Hill is highly regarded. I am not sure how (or if) that impacts the undergraduate training and opportunities (positively or negatively).</p>