<p>I am a mom of a senior in H.S. who wants to major in MT. He has voiced his desire to go to a college that gives him an 'equity card' upon graduation. Can someone tell me exactly what this means and why this is a good thing or a bad thing. Also, is there a comprehensive list of all of the colleges in the USA that actually graduate their students with an 'equity card'? </p>
<p>We are located in the state of GA and under the state lottery program we have the HOPE scholarship, which pays 100% of all college expenses to a GA institute for all students who maintain a high GPA, which my son qualifies for. However, I have not found an institute in the State of GA that graduates their students with an 'equity card', so we are faced with the possibility of taking out student loans in order for our son to go out of state to a college that gives him this equity card, unless of course he is able to receive scholarships for merit and from talent auditions that can flip the bill. </p>
<p>Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, since we are not made of money, but want to do the right thing for our son and if that means taking out loans for a better chance at a MT career vs. a free ride in GA then we will do it. Thanks.</p>
<p>I've never heard of a program that graduates students with an equity card before... the closest I've heard of is programs like Syracuse where there are collaborations with professional theaters where, if you have been cast in the show, you can earn points towards your equity card. I mean I certainly don't know everything about the schools and equity and what have you, but I've never heard of such a program, personally.</p>
<p>Earning your equity card means you are a member of the actor's union. You earn it by acting in professional theaters and once you get it you can no longer work in non-equity theaters. There actually have been a couple of recent posts and threads bumped up debating the benefits and dissadvantages of earning your equity card at a young age if you look through the recent threads. Hope that helped a little.</p>
<p>Hi.....there are a couple of misconceptions in your post and I will try to help though am pressed for time. </p>
<p>I don't know of ANY college that gives a student an Equity Card upon graduation. I think that is impossible. Actors Equity is a Union for actors. The way to earn an Equity Card is not through college. One way is if you are cast in an Equity production, you may be required to join Equity (not the case of all Equity productions....some also have non Equity actors in the cast....many summer stock shows are like this). For instance, if one is cast in a Broadway show, they must join Equity. Another way to get an Equity card is to earn it through "points". Points are earned if one works in an Equity show as a non equity actor if that theater grants Equity points. I believe if you earn 50 points, you can earn an Equity card (and pay dues). So, the way to an Equity card is not through college or a diploma, but through being cast in Equity shows. You don't even have to go to college to become Equity. Many children are Equity!</p>
<p>Another misconception in your post is that your son NEEDS to become Equity. He does not. If he is Equity, he can audition for Equity only shows and go to Equity open calls. But he can't be cast in Non-equity shows, such as some National Tours are Non Equity. Actually a non-Equity actor can audition for Equity shows (sometimes open calls or through agent appointments....for example, my kid has auditioned for Broadway through Agent submissions). So, your son need not be Equity upon graduation. In fact, there are pros and cons to joining Equity as a young actor and there are threads on the MT Forum that address that issue and I won't get into all of that now. I'm just saying that the issue of Equity vs. Non-Equity is a NON issue in picking a college. A college gets him a degree, not an Equity Card. He also does not NEED an Equity card to audition for professional theater upon graduation. </p>
<p>The issue between the schools in GA and the out of state schools has NOTHING to do with getting an Equity card (he can't get one via ANY school), but rather if he opts to pursue a BA or a BFA degree program which are very different types of college degrees. He won't be able to earn a BFA at GA's public universities. He doesn't HAVE to get a BFA to become a professional actor, but that is one way and considered excellent training. So, the decision isn't about which colleges give an Equity card (none do), but rather if he wants the intensive training that a BFA program provides (which are not to be found at GA's publics) or a BA degree in theater. There are very very few BA's in Musical Theater by the way. So, I urge you to search this forum about the differences between a BFA and a BA, explore the schools/programs that are out there, and also read about what Equity is but truthfully Equity (or not) has nothing really to do with the college search. </p>
<p>Also, if he is highly talented and a very good student, most of the BFA programs do offer scholarships so do not rule them out by the price tag at first. The difference between a GA public free ride and a BFA program in MT are ENORMOUS....totally different educational paths and training. Please read about the programs/curriculums, etc. and see the difference.</p>
<p>No school graduates students with an Equity card in hand simply because they attended the school.</p>
<p>Many schools do have graduates that have their Equity card by the time they graduate because they worked in an Equity theater while they were still students. This can be achieved by doing summer stock and regional theaters when they're still students. This seems to happen often to students at the big name schools: CMU, BoCo, CCM, NYU, etc.</p>
<p>On that same note, it does not mean that he can't get a BA in theater at a school in GA, then get an MA or MFA in MT or Acting at another institution. If he went to school in GA, it doesn't mean that he can't audition for summer stock or other regional theaters and still earn his Equity card. </p>
<p>But, once again, no school will actually GIVE him an Equity card.</p>
<p>... and just to throw in two more bits. My wife has done quite a bit of (admittedly fringey, low-paying) industrial film and video work without joining any union. "Equity" is short for "Actors Equity Association."</p>
<p>All of the advice that you have been given is wonderful... There are some Graduate acting programs that grduate their students with an Equity card, but that is because the program is affiliated with a professional Equity Theatre, and graduate students perform and understudy at that theatre to gain points toward their Equity card. This is part of the training. Graduate students are much older than undergraduates and at a different stage in both their professional and personal development, so having an Equity card upon graduation can been a good thing for them.</p>
<p>As an undergraduate it is usually not in a students best interest to graduate from college with their Equity card. There are so many good non-Equity jobs for young performers and once you are a member of Equity you can no longer work non-equity. As a member of Actor's Equity I hate to say that, but it is the truth.</p>
<p>On a seperate note... are you looking at Shorter College? They have a wonderful Musical Theatre program. I have been lucky enough to direct some Shorter College grads professionally. They are very well trained performers.</p>