If I read correctly that the goal is under $60k per year, then that keeps many of the public flagships on the list, as OOS tuition and living expenses could be around that range. For instance, Wisconsin lists its OOS tuition, fees and living expenses as $58k. For the public flagships where many/most students move off campus after first year, living expenses often go down.
As others noted, the challenge with academic involvement across different colleges within a university is access to the high level opportunities. Physics and theater are typically going to be in difference colleges within the university. Majoring across two colleges in order to preserve access to the upper level opportunities can be a very difficult. Perhaps a school with an active extra-curricular theater program rather than focus on participating as a theater major/minor?
OP- you might encourage your D to take the “living off campus” element out of the equation.
In a lot of the places you’re listed, living off campus raises the cost of attendance (either by a modest amount or an enormous amount) . She has the rest of her life to pay rent, find out how much utilities cost, pay for a 12 month lease for an apartment she’s only living in for 9 months, come home from a long day and discover that the internet isn’t working- etc.
It can be a good option senior year- especially if she doesn’t mind “student housing” which in many places means crowded, grubby and expensive-- but to put it on the list now is to REALLY limit herself. Suburban and rural rents are likely to be less than dorming— does she really want to be dealing with the commercial housing market springtime of her freshman year when leases need to be signed?
I was just trying to find a way for her to live off campus since that was one of the requests. Personally I think living on campus freshman year has many benefits so I don’t mind the requirement.
Your lived experience validates what came to mind when I thought about pursing both majors full steam. In my experience students in both immerse themselves because these are passions & you would need two of you to fully commit to both.
I think a lot of your schools will be tough admits and unaffordable. You also need a test score to make a reasonable list. 1500/34 is where the bigger scholarships begin.
Fordham runs shuttles between LC and Rose Hill. At least they did pre-Covid.
Penn State has a nuclear reactor. I’m pretty sure they have an active theater community.
Pitt has a solid physics program. You can cross register with CMU. CMU has world class BFA programs. Point Park is also known for theater. Pittsburgh has an active theater community.
FSU is also solid for physics. Solid theatre programs and a top notch film school. Always filming and looking for talent. Son is a junior and loves it. Get the OOS tuition waiver and it’s very inexpensive…
This is actually a very common student living pattern at many residential college campuses, particularly large public universities.
A college’s common data set section F1 shows percentage of frosh and all undergraduates living in campus housing. For many, the percentage is significantly lower for all undergraduates than frosh.
For sure. DD’19 started out as a double major- Recreation BS and Theatre BA. For her theatre scholarship she was required to audition for every show. Then having hours of theatre shop every week in addition to regular classes and rehearsals was just too much, even though her main major wasn’t that demanding. Before long she dropped to a theatre minor, then just took whatever theatre classes she wanted and auditioned for what she wanted (fortunately her school allowed for that). So start off with the intentions of meeting the major requirements, you can always decide to drop back later.
When you’re looking at schools, also check out how many credits are required for each major and minor desired, plus gen eds and see if they can all fit in 4 years. DD’s would have required a perfect schedule every semester, no electives, and only because she had 22 DE gen ed credits already.
I have a student at Vandy - she has great merit (full tuition), but Vandy would not be a good fit for a MT theater kid. Dance and MT are student run activities, so while they exist and are open to everyone, there is no quality instruction. Mine is majoring in English, theater and secondary education, with an interest in tech theater and design. She works in the shop, and loves it. She is also a dancer and is very involved with a student dance company. Vandy is meeting her needs for theater and dance, and she loves it there, but she would NOT recommend it for a MT performance kid.
Unfortunately I can’t imagine that there is any program with a robust physics program and a non audition based non bfa MT program that would have outstanding opportunities for someone who wants MT. I had suggested muhlenberg earlier but it seems their physics program is mediocre. OPs daughter is probably going to have to compromise on the MT part to do both esp with a budget issue. Northwestern would be the best option but it won’t get within budget.
The University of Rochester total COA is just under $86,000 for this current school year. Costs go up every year, but merit does not.
My feeling is that if this student receives $15,000 in merit, it will cost just over $70,000 for the first year alone.
There is nothing wrong with applying, but I would remain guarded until all of the numbers come in. By the time this student attends, total COA will be higher than it is now- probably around $90,000.
I would keep Lehigh on the list because they offer full and half tuition awards rather than set amounts (unless this changed). These awards are very competitive and I would show TONS of interest.
Is the top 50 (which after the recent US News rankings truly is more bunk than b4) - is that what matters hence Rochester?
Does the $60K matter because you didn’t want to pay full and there’s so many options, much more reputed than Rochester in Physics, that are far under - but now you’re willing to bleed over - which is ok - but if one truly has a budget, if you don’t hold the line to it, you’ll have too many choices.
Does being in a city matter - because Rochester has a city address but is not in the city.
Does living off campus matter - and many large publics today have "off campus - campus housing - i.e. high end private apartments they’ve allowed in their portfolio. But at Rochester, you have to live on campus two years.
If it’s a school on your list and you love it, it’s fine - I get it.
But every time you put up a what we want - Rochester doesn’t seem to meet any of it.
So in order to eventually (not now) finalize your list - you have to hold true to your desires or you’ll have 100 schools instead of the actual amount you’ll need.
I’m an outsider to you - we’re all outsiders to you - but from my perspective based on what you’ve shared throughout, Rochester would be an easy cut.
ok, that is super helpful, thank you! We are at the building the list stage and obviously it is too big right now, but there is almost nothing that meets all of our specific needs, so I need to be flexible on some of the criteria or we will end up with a list of only 4 schools! (There are other unstated criteria on our list that led to this still-way-too-long list). [I don’t seem to be able to edit any of my posts. Is this because I am still new to the forum or am I missing something in the settings?]
If I can suggest - set up an email for your student. something generic - like physicsfirstname25@gmail.com (or whatever year she’s graduating).
Every school of interest - get on their interest list.
This way all colleges are in one place.
Is 109 too many - heck yeah. But I managed it and as we lowered the list, I’d unsubscribe.
As schools send emails, open them…play videos even if you walk away. It’s more the privates than publics, but many count demonstrated interest in the admissions policy - so it’s to your advantage.
Many will also send app fee waivers.
And many, will reach out asking - can we help? Is there anyone you’d like to talk to - and that’s when you can maybe set up a call with a theater and other major - to see how they fit it in.
Someone mentioned DePaul upthread and I agree it’s worth looking into. They have a physics major (which I know nothing about), and lots of kids go there for all different kinds of theater. It’s very urban, in a great part of Chicago, with an L station right on campus. They don’t have enough housing for all their undergrads, so most kids are in the dorms for only one year, then into off-campus housing. My D is a sophomore there, now living in her first apartment and loving it. DePaul is generous with merit. My D’s COA is <$40K/year. We are from California. Lots of Midwestern kids there, but also plenty from all over the US and world.
I read something interesting related to this re: showing interest. In “The Price You Pay for College” the author said some schools will offer you less merit aid if you show too much interest. His thesis is that merit scholarships aren’t really scholarships, they are just discounts given to people who they want for various reasons (demographics, ethnicity, score on particular test to increase #, etc.) They get granular down to your zipcode, your demonstrated interest, etc. and offer exactly the minimum amount of merit aid as they think they need to get people to come. If they know you really desperately want to go there, they offer a lot less or nothing, because they don’t need to “sell” to you. Finding that sweet spot where you show enough interest that they are pretty sure you would attend if the offer is good enough, but not so much that they know they can throw you a little bone, seems hard!!