Hi! I’ve been spending a lot of time researching colleges lately as I am an upcoming high school senior. I plan on pursuing acting and majoring in theater, so I’ve been looking into several schools in New York. I discovered Barnard College and the school seems like a perfect fit for me as far as location, community, etc., but I’ve found it difficult to find info on the theater major itself from alumni or anyone familiar with the program. I was wondering if anyone could give me insight into what the program is like. Is it a good program as a whole? Is what you learn helpful for starting a career/making connections? What are the classes like, etc… Anything helps!
Thanks! 
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Can you be more specific with your question?
There is extensive information about the theater major on the Barnard website. Note also the following:
“The Barnard theater major, which offers the Columbia College major in Drama and Theater Arts . . .”
So, Barnard theater students can access the Columbia program as well as what’s offered within their own college. In fact, due to the affiliation between the 2 colleges all facilities and extracurriculars at Columbia are available to Barnard students.
Given its location in Morningside Heights, only a few subway stops uptown from the Theater District and not all that much further from “Off Broadway” productions, Barnard seems ideally suited to pursue a career in theater.
It can be summed up in one word: Columbia.
I think that what CircuitRider is saying that Columbia is considered to be one of the best colleges in the world for acting as well as being one of the best film schools.
Just to clarify a few points. Columbia’s reputation is based heavily on their MFA programs at the Columbia University School of the Arts. Columbia College does not have an undergraduate Theater & Drama major. BUT, given the affiliation of Barnard with Columbia and the fact that Barnard comes under the university’s umbrella, Barnard IS the de facto undergraduate Theater & Drama program for Columbia University students who attend ANY of their 4 undergraduate programs. AND increasingly in recent years, the Barnard undergrad Theater & Drama program has been collaborating with the graduate department at Columbia. Keep in mind as well that given the affiliation between the two institutions, any undergraduate theater productions can be available to both Columbia and Barnard students as a joint production and can use facilities on either campus.
I am linking the Q&A page from the Barnard website which may answer any other of your questions:
The theater complex is located at Barnard. The men come from Columbia and the CSGS.
This has to be the source of some awkwardness when you have twice as many women as men competing for roles. Similar to the situation in Western Massachusetts where Holyoke and Smith have to compete not only with each other but also with the women at the University of Massachusetts for major productions.
The new Lenfest Center for the Arts, part of Columbia’s Manhattanville expansion project, isn’t on either of the traditional campuses. It’s on West 129 Street.
In addition there are a number of Columbia student organizations for the performing arts which use Columbia facilities like Schapiro Theater. That’s what I was referring to. You’re certainly correct about facilities, programs, and dynamic at Barnard.
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