<p>Okay! So, I'm a rising high school senior and intend on pursuing a BFA in acting. In selecting schools to audition for, I've tried to weave a solid safety net (I'm rather paranoid.) So, in addition to auditioning for a healthy number of elite conservatories, I plan on auditioning for as many up-and-coming programs as I can find. </p>
<p>I would absolutely LOVE any suggestions!!</p>
<p>Here's my list, so far (In no particular order):</p>
<p>UNCSA
SUNY Purchase
Montclair State
UArts
VCU
Adelphi
Western Carolina
East Carolina
College of Charleston (As a liberal arts option)</p>
<p>Feel free to make any comments/ suggestions!!</p>
<p>Is this your college list, or a list of up-and-coming programs? Because some of those–like UNSCA, SUNY Purchase-- definitely fall on the “elite” side of things rather than up-and-coming.</p>
<p>You seem to lean toward Southern colleges: have you considered Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD)? They have a theater program, and I think it has a considerably higher acceptance ratio than, say, Purchase or UNCSA.</p>
<p>Stagemum- Yes, I do live in NC. I feel the closer I live to home, the less money my parents have to dish out in order to transport me to and from college. Thanks I’ll definitely check that one out!</p>
<p>Chapman is rising in a big way. It’s a BA-to-BFA, rather than a straight BFA, but the program is only getting better, and they’re breaking ground on a new and state of the art theater complex this summer. I went to Preview Day yesterday and got a chance to meet the faculty-- all of them are great, and I’m looking forward to working with them.</p>
<p>I’d strongly recommend Coastal Carolina. We visited–a truly outstanding faculty with many opportunities, warm and caring. They have a unique physical theatre track too.</p>
<p>If you’re looking in Virginia, definitely visit James Madison University. Gorgeous performing arts facility, and we saw a superb production there this past winter. It’s very different from VCU, though also an auditioned public program (JMU is a BA). I highly recommend seeing a show–you’ll be amazed!</p>
<p>Are you looking for an intense conservatory training or a program where you will get to have some time for yourself and focus on other stuff as well?</p>
<p>As a liberal arts option, for an affordable college, you might want to add Temple’s BA Theater Arts program. </p>
<p>Also: costs are not always what they seem. Unfortunately, you won’t know until after the financial aid package arrives, which can be weeks after acceptances. You may find that you receive merit aid at more expensive colleges. This can bring down the cost, or equalize it with that at the less expensive colleges. For example, the COA at Pace seems to be about $52000. Rutgers is about $38000. A $14000 scholarship will make those costs the same. My daughter got into Rutgers, and it was the lowest cost school (other than Temple, since we are in-state.) But they gave her no scholarship, so they ended up being comparable in cost to her other schools where she received scholarship.</p>
<p>Also, there is a thread listing what I think you are looking for - not so much “up and coming” (which implies they are new) but “lesser known,” and with slightly higher admissions stats:</p>
<p>“Slightly higher” means maybe 20% acceptance vs. below 10%, but it does help to have a mix of schools. </p>
<p>I am glad you have Adelphi on your list already. My D is getting a terrific, broad-based Acting BFA with lots of opportunities to do design, tech, directing, and also liberal arts. Their proximity to the city makes all kinds of wonderful things possible - both in her school experience and in seeing theatre. They have a lower COA than many privates and lots of merit scholarships. Good luck!</p>
<p>If you like UNCSA you might want to look at Hartt-- the Dept. Chair, Alan Rust, was dean at UNCSA before he went to Hartt, where he established the Actor Training program. It’s a conservatory so very intense, wide-ranging training-- a ‘toolbox’ approach, so many viewpoints are studied. A very small class-- they look for 12-15 and have a 4:1 teacher/student ratio. One thing D loved was the focus on the whole history of theatre-- actors minor in English and have classes specifically devoted to acting restoration comedy, for instance. They have professional connections with the Hartford Stage, Goodspeed Opera House, and Monomoy Theatre on Cape Cod. D felt wonderfully welcomed by everyone when she spent a day of classes there. And the fact of being in a conservatory where others are equally devoted to dance and music was very appealing. It’s a newer program and Hartford isn’t exactly a glamorous city (!) so it’s somewhat less competitive-- and still very convenient to New York and Boston by train and bus. Not so convenient to North Carolina though!</p>
<p>You might want to consider UNC-Greensboro. Their BFA program is audition in December of freshman year. They also have an option to get certification to teach theater which makes you more employable (plus you can get instate tuition!) Acting students from UNCG are often recruited by NCSA film students to star in their films.</p>
<p>EasternActress- I’m mostly looking at structured conservatory style programs although I would like to gain experience outside of my school as well (i.e. study abroad, workshops, etc.)</p>
<p>Thank you so much everyone for your thoughtful replies- they have certainly opened a number of options for me!</p>
<p>I go to western Carolina for BFA acting, it is a beautiful campus, and the faculty is very helpful. it is definitely a liberal arts school, no doubt, so if you’re looking for the university experience, and good training, WCU is a good fit. But if you’re looking for intense conservatory style, UNCSA will be your best fit. But, keep in mind conservatories are very selective and competitive, so a school like Western or Coastal Carolina, are VERY good schools for the price of tuition and quality of training.</p>
<p>Also, i don’t know how far Point park is away for you, but my best friend goes there and loves it. She is a BA actor, and then you audition for BFA at the end of sophomore year. message me and ill give you her name and you can Facebook her if you’re interested</p>
<p>Coastal Carolina has been mentioned several times. My D is a rising junior in the MT program, but one of the reasons she chose CCU was because of the acting training. One thing you may want to do is lay out the curriculum for the schools you are interested in and see what classes you will be taking each semester. My D did that later in the process, but she figured out she could have eliminated some of the schools on her list if she had done it earlier in the process. So just a thought for you. </p>