<p>No, from what I understand, you cannot go into the theatre department without auditioning. I believe you can minor in theatre, but I really don't know the details about that. To cut a student from the BFA program and leave them without a degree, so the fact that students are still able to receive a degree in theatre is a good thing. I feel like I can't make myself clear, simply because I don't have a good analogy. Just understand that entering your freshman year, you are not ensured a BFA degree unless you pass your sophomore evaluations. So, forget that I said that freshmen and sophomores are in the BS track. That seems to be what is confusing people here. It's just that students haven't received the promotion to be guaranteed a BFA until they pass.</p>
<p>That makes a lot more sense, and is pretty much the same system that was in place when I was a student there years ago. </p>
<p>Unless the policy has changed significantly.... you evaluate at the end of your sophomore in order to be passed on to upperlevel Acting and MT Performance classes. Students who are not passed on may not register for those upperlevel classes. These classes are required of the BFA students, but not of the BS students. However there is no BS in Musical Theatre. So, basically any student in the MT program who did not pass the sophomore evaluation would not be able to complete the BFA degree. It sounds as if what BrendanN is saying is that any student who does not pass the sophomore evaluation (and has exhausted the re-evaluation/ petition system) may remain in the department and complete the requirements for a BS in acting. If you go to the Drama curriculum website <a href="http://www.vpa.syr.edu/index.cfm/page/acting-curriculum%5B/url%5D">http://www.vpa.syr.edu/index.cfm/page/acting-curriculum</a> you can see the differences between the BFA - Acting and the BS - Acting curriculum, and there is a link to the BFA - Musical Theatre curriculum there.</p>
<p>NotMamaRose - Please do post what you find out when you go to campus with your D next week. Good Luck! :)</p>
<p>Just to clarify, BW does not have a cut system. Nor is there a soph evaluation where you could possibly get put on probation.</p>
<p>Just returned from SU for fall reception days and daughter's audition. In all my research, it never jumped out at me that students can (and do) choose the BS path because it allows them to take more academic classes. One former student's name came to mind when they described this choice, and they said she had many lead roles in musicals. Some may look at this piece of information and decide against Syracuse, but I think it's also important for those who are looking for more academic opportunities to not rule out Syracuse, thinking the opportunity for a minor or double major does not exist. Some students choose a BS from the beginning, but Brendan is correct, no matter which direction you wish to pursue, you must audition.</p>
<p>Just to second what terriwtt said: I asked this question quite specifically during the info session in the Dept of Drama at SU and was told that all students must audition to enter as either MTs or straight actors. At the end of sophomore year, the students undergo "juries" or an "eval" (as the people at SU seemed to refer to it!). At that point, some of them continue along the BFA track and enter upper level acting and musical theater classes, whereas the others cannot, and channel that "extra" time into more academic classes. (Of course, as terriwtt points out, some students <em>choose</em> to go that route and can even fashion a minor -- or, in rare cases and usually in the straight acting track -- a double major in something that they are interested in or that they think augments their career as an actor.) The very nice people at Syracuse did say that <em>most</em> students do pass into the upper level classes and that this is not a "cut" system. We also learned that actors and MTs (and I think I have this right!) on both tracks (BFA and BS) can study (a number of things) abroad in London and Italy, but only the BFAs can study at the Tepper Center in New York, because that involves upper level acting courses. My D and I both enjoyed our visit very much -- all except the weather, which was very raw, cold, and rainy. Remind me to bring gloves and a hat and a far more sturdy umbrella next time we go! :) I grew up outside Syracuse and had forgotten (it's been 30 years almost exactly!) just how cold it can get! :)</p>
<p>I auditioned for SU for the 2005-2006 school year and I was accepted into the acting program. They proceeded to tell me that i was only denied acceptance to the MT program because my dance audition wasn't as good as it could haave been. They said my acting and voice were great for the program and that I could take dance classes and reaudition for dance after each semester until i got in. So they told me i could transfer to the MT program at any time. I wound up going to BoCo so I don't know the school's current policys, but back then it seemed very relaxed.</p>