What are the top BA in acting programs...

<p>NYU (Tisch BFA) permits a second major within the School of Arts and Sciences.</p>

<p>Jasmom- there’s some debate on these forums as to whether a Tisch double major is a smart idea. A BFA’s really demanding and it’s difficult to find time for a second major with rehearsals, I’d imagine.</p>

<p>On Northwestern, my Dad is an alum, so a few years ago we went to this tour by the Northwestern acting students and the Dean. The Dean of the School gave this little talk and she said that they were going to start this playwriting/musical writing program on the campus, so I’m not surprise by the comment above about the plays. The students were very talented and charming, and advocates of speech level singing, which my D studied, so we were excited about that too.</p>

<p>At USC, you can take the same courses as BFA students-you take them with the BFA students. There are many productions per year open only to BA and BFA students. But you can opt to choose non-acting courses as a BA (BFAs can only do the rigorous acting curriculum- BAs can if they want to but dont have to), From what I hear, in the USC School of Theater, BAs and BFAs are treated quite equally-if what I hear is true. Personally, I think it is the best option but I certanly dont know it all</p>

<p>My daughter has been admitted to USC LMU and Chapman’s school of theater the later two with scholarships. Would you pay the extra money for USC?</p>

<p>I believe that BA’s and BFA’s at USC do not take classes together…at least not the acting classes. The BFA is meant to be a company that trains together…there would not be room for BA’s to be in the same classes. However, the BA and BFA students I believe had the same faculty. There are also BA only shows that BFA’s are not allowed to be cast in.</p>

<p>What about Point Park? As far as I know, all students enter into the BA acting program and then can choose to audition for the BFA. When I was considering PPU, I was told that the difference between the BA and BFA is slight in that the BFA’s simply take a few more classes. However, You may want to check to make sure this is still the case.</p>

<p>Illinois State University has a very good BA acting program.</p>

<p>This is an amazing program. They have both a BA in Theater Arts, with acting specialty and others and have just last year added a musical theater BFA which is extremely competitive.
The facilities rival any I have seen over the years, including 20 or so college visits (I have 2 theater majors). IU has more performance opportunities than anywhere I have seen; they do 8 mainstage productions a year and about 100 other productions, not including operas, and musical theater shows, put on in conjunction with The Jacobs School of Music, arguably the #1 music school in the country. Top that off with excellent academics, ability to double major, 40% out of state (and country) students, huge social life and gorgeous campus…hard to beat it.</p>

<p>Town of Bloomington is not New York or LA, but is charming, lively, liberal and very arts oriented. Highly recommend this school!</p>

<p>Yes. Pay the extra money for USC. Chapman sucks.</p>

<p>What is bad about Chapman? My D will be applying there for theater.</p>

<p>SweetTea - I don’t know anything about Chapman as my D did not apply there when she auditioned this year. I would recommend that you find someone that attends Chapman for your D to speak with.</p>

<p>When my D was applying to schools last year she was able to connect with kids at most schools either her on CC or through Facebook. She was then able to talk to kids attending the programs and get their perspective both the good things and the bad things. This was a great help in deciding what schools she would audition for as well as helping make her final decision on where to attend.</p>

<p>Just wanted to add this about the University of Texas at Austin as they just hired a new Chair for the Department of Theatre and Dance:
[News</a> : Department of Theatre and Dance : University of Texas at Austin](<a href=“http://www.finearts.utexas.edu/news/news_items/brant_pope.cfm?calset=tad]News”>http://www.finearts.utexas.edu/news/news_items/brant_pope.cfm?calset=tad)
[Degree</a> Programs : Department of Theatre and Dance : University of Texas at Austin](<a href=“http://www.finearts.utexas.edu/tad/degree_programs/index.cfm]Degree”>http://www.finearts.utexas.edu/tad/degree_programs/index.cfm)</p>

<p>Nothing personal-but I’ve heard that it’s not wise to attend a BA program if they also offer a BFA program in Theatre. The BFA kids will generally recieve more attention.</p>

<p>atherinek - If you are referring to the fact that UT Austin offers a BFA in Theatre Studies, keep in mind that is not a performance based degree but designed for those who want to teach theatre. Just clarifying specifically for UT.</p>

<p>I wasn’t referring to UT Austin at all! But thanks for clarifying! I just meant in extremely general terms.</p>

<p>We know kids at Chapman who love it. One of my daughter’s professors at UCLA also teaches acting at Chapman. Many of the MFA’s at UCLA teach at Chapman (lighting, etc. those types of things.) The one complaint I have heard at Chapman is how hard it is to get cast. But isn’t that a complaint that we hear from lots of schools? So, I don’t really know what to say about that. Chapman is beautiful, great campus. Lots of technology. Near LA.</p>

<p>Do UCLA and USC provide the same opportunities for seniors (i.e. meeting with agents) in their BA program that they do for seniors in their BFA program?</p>

<p>UCLA only has a BA program (it is by audition).</p>

<p>Ok, but I’ve heard UCLA’s program is more like a conservatory, it’s so intense, and is not very liberal-arts oriented at all. Is this true?</p>