<p>Hello my name is Tyler and I want to become an actor. I was searching for colleges with great theater programs but a lot of them were BFA programs, but I don't want a BFA because I have little experience in acting. Also, if I miraculously get accepted into a BFA program, I will not receive the special attention that I desire for and I won't be able to land parts in play productions. I want to go to a liberal arts college or a private university with a great BA theater programs where I will receive amazing theater training. I am looking for a college focuses on training rather than theory and I am able to double major in English. So far I compiled a list with some colleges: </p>
<p>Williams
Vassar
Wesleyan
Northwestern
Kenyon
Skidmore
Muhlenberg
Middlebury
Brown
Can you add more to my list?</p>
<p>You should take a look at Brandeis. As far as whether a program has a training orientation rather than theory you will need to research each of the schools to see what the curriculum offers. I have a feeling the more training oriented acting courses are in the BFA programs. You may also want to consider taking a semester at NTI or a summer at one of the many acting studios such as Atlantic or Stella Adler. I think you may get a better response if you posted where you are at in school in terms of what grade you are in , your SATs and your current GPA.</p>
<p>Agree with mom2gals, a couple of the schools on your list are incredibly hard to get into academically, so I am assuming you have top stats. Take a look at USC in LA and Fordham in NYC, both have fantastic BA’s in theater. You could also look at UCLA and University of MInnesota, but both are state schools.</p>
<p>Tyler, not to be a wet blanket, but you aren’t any more likely to be cast in productions in a BA program than in a BFA. And a BA that focuses on training rather than “theory” might be hard to pin down. You do have a great list, and I encourage you to do some serious research into the curriculum, casting policies, and overall school culture, and I’m sure your list will expand. It definitely would help to know what grade you’re in now and what kinds of theater experience you have!</p>
<p>I mean that if I get into a BFA theater program, I won’t be cast in productions because of my lack of training compared to students who have been doing this since they were five. I found my love for theater at a late age so I want to have as much training as I can have and special attention. What I mean with special attention is a drama teacher investing their time on you if you get cast as a major role in a production or if you are in a class with 10 students per say, you will receive better attention and will benefit from it. That is why I don’t want to go to a college with a BFA program.</p>
<p>Based on what you are looking for, I suggest you look at some schools that are off the beaten theater track. The reality is that the level of training and experience of students coming into many of these known BA programs is as high as is found at BFA programs.</p>
<p>You may also be able to find a BFA program that meets your requirements!</p>
<p>Tyler, the attention you get or do not get from an individual teacher is not dependent on if you are in a BA or a BFA program. And if you are talented enough to get into an auditioned program, then you are talented enough to be cast in a show. The majority of the BFA programs are small in size, my daughter has 15 in her class at Shenandoah at any one time. My son is at The New School, he is in a group of 18. The class sizes for most BA/BFA programs are quite small and the professors tend to be very hands on. I would investigate both programs, and realize there are many programs who are looking for talent, not experience. There is a huge difference.</p>
<p>I hope you can visit some schools soon. There are some schools, BA or BFA, where there would be competition and a hierarchy based on experience - and there are other schools where that is completely irrelevant. </p>
<p>It is completely possible to begin preparing to audition into college programs as a junior or even a senior in HS. But you do need to do a lot of research, ask questions, and probably have a coach or mentor who can help you. Good luck - and keep talking to us, if you find that helpful.</p>
<p>You actually wont be accepted into an auditioned program unless they felt they can cast you. Where you seem to lack confidence in your acting and feel the other actors in a program would be superior, I think you may benefit from spending a year or so participating in an acting academy, summer program or studio classes to begin to feel where you as an individual fit in, what your type is, what your strengths are. It will be hard for you to convey confidence, ability and potential in an audition if you don’t have a sense of this in yourself. In any college program getting cast won’t have to do with how long someone else has been acting, but how much confidence ability and potential you will have to actually take on roles and carry our your responsibility to a project. If you are currently a senior, you’d probably benefit from a year of to get a handle on things. If you are a junior, I suggest you look into summer programs. At any juncture you can hire a private acting coach to guide you and give you 100% attention to help give you some foundation in training.</p>
<p>Tyler, My son is in a BFA acting program and he has had a great experience in his program thus far. He had no training before college outside of his high school musicals. He worked hard on his monologues and did lots of research on the schools and the programs. Study acting as much as you can. Study the college application and audition process as much as you can. In the auditions, most programs are looking for kids who do a great job with their monologues, can think on their feet and take direction and are willing to work very hard. In some cases, a kid’s experience will help with that. In just as many cases, it will hurt.</p>
<p>Work hard and don’t sell yourself short. Explore BA and BFA programs. If you are accepted into programs, you will not be behind anyone else who is accepted. You will be there because you earned a spot just like anyone else.</p>
<p>Also remember that there are some programs that guarantee casting. If you are a student you automatically get to be in shows.</p>
<p>At this point, your primary goal should be to get the best training you can. This may mean that you will be working together with students who have been acting longer than you have. But I don’t see how that would affect your needs and your goals.</p>
<p>I’m assuming “Tyler” is a male name. A male has a HUGE advantage competitively because there are always many fewer males competing for many more male roles. Like in a production of Shakespeare, usually they need about 20 or so men and only a handful of women, but often the audition pool is the other way round (20 women and a handful of men!)</p>
<p>Don’t get hung up about this “BFA” or “BA” distinction. Those are just labels, and are largely arbitrary. You know what you want–amazing training, individual attention, and opportunities to be in shows. Look for programs that have those characteristics, and don’t focus on labels like “BFA” or “BA”.</p>
<p>I agree with the posts above. Don’t limit yourself to BA programs, research both. My D is at Roosevelt/CCPA in Chicago. They have a BFA acting, BFA MT Voice Emphasis and BFA MT Dance Emphasis which means they accept around 3x as many students as some of the other programs. They also guarantee casting. They are not one of the “biggies” so tend to be “less competitive” to get in to than some of the other schools. The class sizes are still very small (10-15 kids) and the personal attention from everyone, department heads, voice teachers, tech professors, office staff has just blown us away!</p>
<p>My D loves Chicago, loves her classmates and loves her program. It is a great fit for her.
These schools are looking for potential, raw talent, great attitudes, good people. Their job is to train you!</p>
<p>Also Muhlenberg is a wonderful place, esp. if you’d like to do a double major. They do have many more theatre majors than a BFA program will, however which affects the personal attention aspect. Go for a visit, talk to Charlie Richter see what you think!</p>
<p>I noticed you have Kenyon on your list but not Oberlin. Oberlin is (like Kenyon) in Ohio, and also has an excellent BA in theatre along with good academics.</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence is slightly less competitive to get into than most of the schools you listed, but also has a great program.</p>
<p>If you like cities, Pace has a MT and Acting BA option. Also Temple, it’s known for its BA acting program and the theater in Philly is amazing. </p>