My son Sam is looking at both schools, and in his research saw some similarities between the programs. He may not apply to both schools and if so, can’t decide which he prefers. I am going to take him to both for visits, but for a head start, how would you compare the two programs? What are the emphases of each, in what ways do they differ? Thank you!
I always get a mental picture of a prize fight when I see “vs” in the title of a thread.
But if this were an actual prize fight, it would be a decisive knockout in the second round by UNCSA just based on a comparison of what recent graduates have been doing in the professional world. Not that Rutgers isn’t still an excellent program, but a significant number of UNCSA grads have been signing with mid-upper tier New York legit/theatrical agencies and management companies from their showcase and going to work On and Off-Broadway, in major regional venues, and at the series regular, recurring, and guest star levels on TV within the first few years after graduation. They even have several minor “names” in their late 20s-early 30s. You just can’t say that for Rutgers. Maybe I’m missing someone who’s been doing great work out in the regionals or Off-Broadway, but the highest profile gig I’ve seen one from the past few years land is the Asian girl in the Liberty Mutual commercial who I believe is a 2014 graduate. It seemed a bit more of an even match 5-10 years ago, but not now.
As for a comparison of the actual training, both have a strong Meisner influence in acting technique. In fact, Rutgers emphasizes it above all else until second term of second year when they bring in a Chekhov teacher while UNCSA brings other approaches to bear from the beginning. For voice, UNCSA teaches Linklater and Rutgers teaches Fitzmaurice. Rutgers’ movement training is based in Williamson and Suzuki while UNCSA has a guy who does his own thing that seems to be mainly based in Lecoq/Gaullier and Grotowski plus a lot of dance training that ties into a musical theatre module that UNCSA has and Rutgers does not. Another obvious difference is that Rutgers students spend third year in London studying Shakespeare at the Globe while UNCSA grads just stay in Winston-Salem and begin workshopping the Bard’s plays second year. UNCSA also has extensive combat training that apparently goes on for three full years with a former head of the SAFD while Rutgers students get it third year in London. As for screen acting, both wait until the final year to teach it, but UNCSA’s teacher has both an MFA in film and practical experience working with some big name directors on huge movies while at Rutgers it’s taught by a casting director and a voiceover agent. UNCSA also shares a campus with a well-regarded film school with the possibility of collaboration, so there’s the possibility of being self-taught in that area via collaboration with the film students all along.
There are two wild cards in the mix of which the long term effects can’t be known at this time. The first being that both programs have had a changing of the guard at the top with David Esbjornson taking over as Chair at Rutgers after the untimely passing of Israel Hicks a few years ago and Carl Forsman taking over as Dean of Drama at UNCSA following the retirement of Gerald Freedman and his right-hand man Bob Beseda who brought the program to prominence. Rutgers is also apparently now combining their BFA and MFA classes although the first class after which the decision was made to do that has not yet graduated.
So, there’s my honest analysis which is sure to piss some people off. 
Full disclosure: my daughter is going to UNCSA this fall, so I am clearly biased. On the other hand, my husband works at Rutgers, so I am not as biased as I may seem. My vote goes to UNCSA.
UNSCA is mentioned in many articles as one of the top 3 or top 5 programs in the country. Rutgers usually is not. But, the most salient point is the point Fishbowl Freshman made above. UNCSA grads seem to get agents and to get working very quickly at pretty high level places. UNCSA grads seem to be everywhere. I don’t see that with Rutgers grads. I am sure they are working too, but you just don’t seem them all over the place like you do with UNCSA grads.
Obviously, both programs are fantastic, and anyone would be so lucky to get into either. But, if one were so lucky as to have a choice, I would think the pick would be UNCSA.
One more point: your son might wish to apply to both programs. It is very very hard to be admitted to either one. I don’t know the admissions rate for Rutgers, but the admissions rate for UNCSA is about 5% or so. If he likes both programs, he might want to audition for both of them. Good luck!
My daughter applied to 17 schools – the competition is fierce and all of these schools take anywhere from 10-30 kids max. Apply to many places and have good, solid back up schools that your son would see himself attending. The application process is like a big casting call – the schools are looking for a mix of types, and while raw talent certainly plays into their decisions, they are also looking to have a very diverse group to cast from.
Just seconding astute12’s observation. Unless your son visits both and absolutely can’t see himself at one or the other, applying to both is advisable. Worry about which program is a better fit when the acceptance letters come in. Here’s the problem with “reach” schools - It’s hard to narrow down the number of reaches because you don’t know what their needs are for their ensemble freshman class.
We didn’t actually visit any of the schools my son applied to until on-campus auditions. He made his list by researching the programs and figured he’d get a look at the campus during auditions and then scrutinize them more if he was accepted.
For the most part, few of these programs are ones where they factor in whether you’ve visited the campus and expressed interest in their school and all that other stuff that often accompanies applying to other liberal arts schools. I’m not saying some theatre arts schools aren’t like that - just the programs my son applied to. The schools are so highly competitive, they know every kid who applies is interested.
It can’t be said enough - the competition for top tier theatre schools is beyond fierce. The acceptance rates are akin to the Ivy League.
Fishbowl, I love that you continue to post here and always have keen observations that contribute! Been reading your posts for a really long time now Today, your understanding of the program at UNCSA has been great, since my son will enter his third year there in the fall, and other than stage combat classes (which he absolutely loves) I hear little else about what he studies…
FYI, Tarzana, S applied to Rutgers, NYU Tisch, BU, CMU, Juiiliard and UNCSA, after taking a gap year after a false start at another school. If he had been taking advice from me on the application process, his list would have been longer, more well-rounded and practical. I honestly don’t think he was aware of the odds – which actually, is not a bad thing (reduces the pressure!) – but it was really scary when the first rejections rolled in.
There are many schools where the training is excellent. From year to year, some schools will be perceived as “hot” because of a breakout star’s alma mater, In this particular thread, “UNCSA vs Rutgers,” there are glaring differences in the college experience to factor in as well. An arts school is a completely separate culture from a large state university where the excellent theater program is a tiny, tiny piece.
UVaHoo, I think the acceptance rates to good BFA programs is a lot tighter than Ivy League schools! Then, too, when applying to a top academic program you can compare your grades, curriculum, and test scores with their range of accepted students, and make an educated guess about what’s a “safety” and what’s a “reach.” If it’s audition-based, you haven’t a clue.
@prodesse - you bring up an excellent point, and one that we did not consider until later in the process (until accepted student visits) was program size/college size. Turned out that the tiny program within a large university (in her case Syracuse - where the theater program is housed in a professional theater about a mile from campus) was not the experience she was looking for. She preferred others (in her case Boston, NYU, Northwestern) where there were more students in arts programs, and the programs were a larger part of campus life.