<p>Other LAC with strong BA programs (in no particular order)…</p>
<p>Connecticut College
Trinity College
Rollins College
Goucher College
Williams College
Hampshire College
Bard College</p>
<p>I am sure there are many others as well. :)</p>
<p>Hi! </p>
<p>I’m not sure if this is the right forum for this topic, but here it is. I am currently majoring in Dance at The University of the Arts, which offers a fantastic program. However, I have decided I want to major in Acting instead and attend a more traditional liberal arts school. During my original college search I auditioned for both acting and dance, but didn’t get into my top theater choices, Ithaca and University of Michigan and was wait listed at Emerson. But I now know that as much as I love to dance I think I’d be happier as a theater major as well as possibly a minor in English or Creative Writing; I have a lot of interests. Does anyone know the quality of the BA Theater and Drama major at Indiana University? There is no audition required. After having spent a lot of time and money on preparing and traveling to my original acting and dance college auditions, I have to limit my transfer choices if they do require an audition, simply because I can’t afford the travel. Any thoughts on Indiana University or other programs that would allow a transfer student?</p>
<p>You might want to look into Oklahoma City University. Our S has known peers who have transferred there with success. It has a reputable theatre department, as well as dance. You might want to consider it…I’m not sure what area of the country would interest you.</p>
<p>My son will audition well but isn’t all that engaged in school (which I can understand) and his scores and grades are mediocre. He is interested in West Coast, NY or possibly other. Need a couple of safety school so we know we are going SOMEWHERE - already REACH schools-UCLA, CAL ARTS, U T-Austin. He is not a singer/dancer-acting and comedy are his thing. Did a fantastic workshop at UCLA this summer and was encouraged to apply but my hopes are not high for that. Others?</p>
<p>He doesn’t necessarily have to go to a BA as a safety. Here is a thread that might be helpful to you:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/1177128-non-audiiton-bfas.html?highlight=non+audition+bfa[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/1177128-non-audiiton-bfas.html?highlight=non+audition+bfa</a></p>
<p>There are very nice BA programs all over the place. One way to decide for a kid like your son is to look directly at what courses are offered, by searching the course catalogue. For example, my D decided against several BAs because they have limited design options, or they might not offer Acting, Voice and Movement all 4 years, etc. Many BA programs, by definition, can’t offer everything, and each school has its unique gaps. Your S might like a school that has some great comedy classes or internships, and be willing to give something else up for that. </p>
<p>Make sure you look in media/film/communications as well as theatre - at D’s school she’s already found out that there are great electives there in slightly different topics like comedy, comedy writing, writing and production for film/TV, etc.</p>
<p>Don’t dismiss UCLA so quickly. We were told they will admit kids they want with as low as a 2.0 average.</p>
<p>thanks! Definately trying for UCLA, he blossomed there this summer, even the kids were different, very different, talented, funny, fun, accepting. My son is not happy around musical theatre types (flamboyant,etc) so UCLA for sure as a reach…</p>
<p>Earlier UCLA’s BA program was described as very vigorous. Is it still possible to double major with this intense of a BA program?</p>
<p>cbush9 – UCLA in its pre-audition program and tours makes it fairly clear that its is nearly impossible to double major or even minor in something else if you are in the BA program.</p>
<p>logicaldog. Hopefully your son will have a leg up at auditions given that he spent the summer there. Other parents with kids at UCLA may be able to chime in about that. Couple of things with UCLA that I’m sure you already know - that they audition close to 2000 people and take a class of what, 18-20 each year. If you are out of state, it may help in this economic climate; make sure your son has met the California A-G requirements before applying.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>UCLA’s BA requires incoming freshmen to take some classes together and the sequence is fixed for the order of reqs. When my S2 was at the admitted student event this past spring, the department did “guarantee” that all those starting would be able to graduate in 4 years, however the students on the panels often spoke of getting GEs out of the way by attending summer session. In fact, starting this year, Theatre BAs were required to attend a new intensive conservatory-style theatre workshop during the summer session between Soph and Junior years.</p>
<p>D is BA at USC Sophmore , really loves it can major/minor if she wants and can audition for school plays etc very happy</p>
<p>Is it possible to double major as a BFA at USC? Or only for a BA?</p>
<p>My S2 also goes to USC (hi catlover2) and you cannot double major with a BFA. The number of required units makes it impossible, as does the sequencing of courses. However, it is doable with the BA–which is what my S2 ended up doing, so he switched from the BFA to the BA Theatre so he could take a double major. So far (he’s a freshman) he is really loving it. He’s already been involved in one production and was asked to design another show–first semester! Very hands on and they really have great opportunities for tech theatre, for those looking for that too.</p>
<p>madbean… I have a 10th grader who LOVES theatre but also wants to major in something else. USC seems to be right up his alley. Do you know hard it is to double major with the BA in theater? Aren’t you overwhelmed with the productions if you get in them. It sounds like it might be hard. What is your sons other major?</p>
<p>Hi 5boys. Yes, I think it is a busy schedule, but so far S2 is really really happy. The production rehearsal schedules are intense! On the other hand, most of these kids love to be in the theatre, right? He’s working on 2 productions this semester and I think that might be a little too much, but he isn’t complaining so…</p>
<p>It’s not hard to double major with theatre, per se, since there is no requirement to be active in the productions (as I said, most time consuming) every semester if student doesn’t care to do so. The website for USC lists the number of units required for the BA in Theatre (I think it’s something like 56 units). A student’s second major will also list the required units. Some need more than others, so perhaps business (Marshall) or Engineering (Viterbi) are extra heavy on units? You’d need to check it out. Then you have to add the GE reqs, language reqs. Many students come in with some AP credits, but USC only allows 2 GE classes to be waived if student takes particular APs (Bio, Chem for the lab science; AP Art History or European Hist for the History req–must have 4 or 5), and students can test out of the language req, too. To graduate, student needs a total of 128 units, so when you start adding it all up it’s tight–but doable.</p>
<p>My S1 is taking a single major and has a lot of space in his schedule to minor if he wanted (he didn’t), or take electives. He chose to do a study abroad semester in a subject completely unrelated to his major and loved it. My S2 is doing a double major with Theatre and he was also admitted to USC’s film school. </p>
<p>If you have any other questions, just ask!</p>
<p>An audition is not required for the BA at USC correct?</p>
<p>yes it is still require to audition for both BFA and BA</p>
<p>Actually, stargurl93, there is no audition for the USC BA Theatre major.</p>
<p>Oh yea. Sorry my mistake. You could audition as a BA but you don’t have too. You could either just apply as a Theater major and hopefully have a back up major like English or you can apply and audition. Usually people who audition want to go for the BFA and have a BA as a back up. </p>
<p>So you do not have to audition, but I would suggest to do it so you can increase your chances and have your face shown. If you just apply, you have stats and a essay. If you audition and have a wonderful personality and great interview skills (which usually most theater people have), the Theater department would had least an idea who you are.</p>
<p>That may be a little misleading, so here’s the set up. To apply for a Theatre BFA at USC (acting, design, stage management), you will need an audition or portfolio review/interview. If you are a contender, the School of Theatre will let the general admissions office at USC know who they want most and then the reg admissions will have to decide if the student has the academic background to succeed in the university–a decision is somehow weighed and many will be admitted who are chosen from the audition process, but not all. </p>
<p>However, to apply for a BA in Theatre at USC, the application is decided upon by the regular admissions committee, so no audition will be weighed. The decision will put emphasis on grades, scores, and pay a lot of attention to the ECs (acting/awards, etc), essays, and LoRs. There is no way to get an audition scheduled unless the student is applying for the BFA as far as the recent past is concerned, so that’s only a situation like stargurl mentioned, for students who are applying for BFA first (with audition) and will also be considered for the BA as a second choice.</p>
<p>Hope this is clear. I guess I want to let those who are most interested in a BA Theatre program to know they do not have to audition and it really may not give any advantage to be seen, since the process is pretty separate. For the BA, grades, ECs, scores will be given more weight. It’s also a great choice for anyone who wants to do a 2nd major or other minors, and wants a little more flexibility in their time commitment over the 4 years.</p>