<p>I am a sophomore going on to junior year and i want to be an actress for film. I have looked at many different colleges but which ones do you think has the most opportunities and the best program. I want a college in either California or New York. i have looked at NYCDA, New York Film , CalArts, UCLA, NCSA, Tish, Purchase, American Conservatory Theater, American Academy of Performing Arts, Julliard, and a few others but in your opinion which would you go to and why? And if any of you attend or have attended any of them your input would be great. Thank you!</p>
<p>I mean, I’d say what you’re really going to want to look at in a school is training over location. While being in New York or LA seems like the ideal spot you have to keep in mind that they aren’t going anywhere. In 4 years NY will be the same NY and LA the same LA. Also (being perfectly honest) it’s best to avoid any American conservatories not within a university like some of the ones you listen. The UK, for example, has great conservatory programs while America is lacking – with maybe one exceptions. Looking for conservatory style training WITHIN a university is where you’ll get the best training. </p>
<p>Contrary to what I said about not having to be in NY or LA, if you are looking into film acting USC is your best bet. No schools can touch USC in that regard. </p>
<p>In my opinion the better acting schools in the country are (In no particular order): </p>
<p>Juilliard (Gotta eat, breathe, and sleep Shakespeare, though. Otherwise don’t even bother)
Carnegie Mellon (CONNECTIONS. But rumor has it their training isn’t at it’s best, but the name will get you auditions)
Guthrie (No film training and a very small showcase not seen by many agents… but the training is very solid)
USC (FILM. A very “college” oriented school with a fantastic program)
NCSA (Very solid training and their alumni do very well)
Northern Illinois (A school VERY much on the rise with the best Meisner training in the country. Great connections to Chicago and you’ll get a semester at Moscow Art Theatre)
Syracuse (Also on the rise as far as the acting program is concerned… Ralph Zito is the new head and is taking the program in a very good direction)
Cal Arts (If you’re looking into experimental this is your best bet… But NO classical training. But if that’s what you’re looking for, they do it better than anyone)
Fordham (It is a BA so you have to like your academics. But regardless they’ve got a great faculty and solid training)
Rutgers (MEISNER, MEISNER, MEISNER. Rivals with NIU with the best place to study it and they are arguably the best.)</p>
<p>Also, there are many “hidden” schools that don’t have the name that have solid, solid training. Don’t be afraid to look at lesser known schools as well. Schools like Sarah Lawrence, BU, Cal State Fullerton (Although a cut program), Texas State all have amazing programs. Don’t let the “big names” and “big cities” tempt you. You want a school that will teach you the most – and most of those schools aren’t in the “ideal” location. </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Thank you so much i have a lot to think about! Do you know anything about UCLA theater program? I am looking for a more film oriented program. What school would train me for that?</p>
<p>Um, what I know about the UCLA theatre program is mainly in the MT program. One of my closest friends goes there getting her BA in MT. Two things about UCLA I do know are a. it’s a BA so be ready for more academics and b. it’s a larger sized program (Which is typical among BA’s). But regardless it’s a good program. Many actors leave BA programs with a smarter less narrow world view. And because UCLA is in LA, I’m sure they have film training and good connections to the film industry. </p>
<p>I wasn’t trying to defer you from going to “big cities” or “big name schools” but I just want you to know if you’re at a solid training program with a sold showcase in NY and LA your senior year you will be fine! I’m from Green Bay Wisconsin and I am in my senior year at NYU. I chose NYU over over three other schools: UNCSA, Minnesota/Guthrie and BU. I chose NYU because I was from middle of the middle of no where and NEW I had to be in New York. Those other three programs weren’t even an option. But now I am in my senior year at NYU and looking back I would have chosen one of the other three programs. NYU was a big name school, in a big name city and that’s what I wanted… Now I am in tremendous debt and feel like I was almost robbed training wise. I hoped around studio’s a bit but was never satisfied. NYU is changing for the better (some will argue) but it’s a program that needs a lot of fixing. It’s not worth the money. Just be wise and know that not all of the good solid programs are in the city and that’s okay. Because you will be better off in 4 years if you had gotten training at the right school.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, reggieam, that you didn’t enjoy your NYU experience, but lauram, I would encourage you to look around this forum (here and the MT forum) for other opinions about the Tisch experience. My D is completing her first year there, and couldn’t be happier, and has grown so incredibly much over the course of the year! You will find many more posters on this thread, students and / or parents with wonderful stories about Tisch.</p>
<p>You really need to figure out what you’re looking for and ask specific programs. The “best”? There won’t be many people who post frequently on this forum (or the MT) one who would presume to rank schools. Or even say that a student “has” to attend a BFA program to succeed in the theater world. But, if you want to see whether Tisch BFA graduates are happy with their life and their training, then I hope you will look for a variety of perspectives. </p>
<p>You might not have gotten many replies to this question, because most people want to help with specifics about schools, but not rank them. </p>
<p>So, in terms of my D’s experience at Tisch. Her work is challenging, the teachers are supportive, but demanding and they know the students well as individuals, and she is being stretched as an artist and an intellect. She has a ton of friends, loves living in New York. Her classes take advantage of the city setting by sending the kids out on assignment to places and by bringing in professionals to meet with the students (this is true not only for Tisch, but for other schools and for extracurriculars).</p>
<p>lauram, that’s the great thing about looking at colleges! Every person you talk to will have a different experience and opinion about a given school. And Tisch may very well be a right option for you! For me, I would have preferred a school that was smaller and a more tight nit BFA as a whole. At Tisch our individual studios were close but as a whole… I mean I cannot even begin to name a fourth of the people at Tisch. BUT at the same time I have NYU to thank for getting me a good start in the city. I started working professionally over the summers thanks to the connections I made there and have an internship starting in a a few months that I would not have were it not for Tisch. So it may very well be the option for you! Tisch is going through a lot of changes right now so just be cautious – many of the older studios will not be around for much longer, so don’t get yourself into a sticky situation. I started in Adler and moved into Classical in my last two years. I really just never found a home here, but for many the case is very different, like SDonCC’s daughter! (PS which studio is she in?)</p>
<p>And when I talked about the schools I thought had the best going for them right now, I was not ranking them. Those would just be the schools I would have applied to, had I done it all over again. I never intended to say those were the “best” (If I had to list every BA/BFA program that was good the list would have taken for ever). Those are just the one’s that have a lot going for them in my opinion, but who am I to say what is “best”. You may (and will probably) end up with a very different list than that, depending on what you’re looking for! Like acting techniques and styles, the college process is about listening to others advice and guidance and put it into a sort of “melting pot” and decide what’s best for you!</p>