Which QuestBridge schools have excellent theatre departments.

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>I'm a finalist for Northwestern, but in the event that I don't get matched (which is likely) I'd kinda like to look at applying to some of the other QuestBridge schools since they're free to apply since I'm a finalist. I haven't looked into any of them much, but which ones do you know to have really good theatre programs, specifically in acting and tech that are NOT BFAs? Here's a list of all the schools:</p>

<p>Amherst College<br>
Scripps College
Bowdoin College<br>
Stanford University
Brown University<br>
Swarthmore College
Caltech<br>
Trinity College
Carleton College<br>
Tufts University
Colorado College<br>
University of Chicago
Columbia University<br>
University of Notre Dame
Dartmouth College<br>
University of Pennsylvania
Davidson College<br>
University of Southern California
Emory University<br>
University of Virginia
Grinnell College<br>
Vanderbilt University
Haverford College<br>
Vassar College
MIT<br>
Washington and Lee University
Northwestern University<br>
Wellesley College
Oberlin College<br>
Wesleyan University
Pomona College<br>
Williams College
Princeton University<br>
Yale University
Rice University</p>

<p>If anyone could just lead me to which ones either don't have theatre or to the ones that are really good in theatre, it'd be great. I'm going to do a lot more research later, but I figured this was a good place to start. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Amherst College
Scripps College
Stanford University
Brown University
Swarthmore College
Trinity College
Tufts University
University of Chicago
Columbia University
University of Notre Dame
University of Virginia
Vassar College
MIT
Washington and Lee University
Northwestern University
Wellesley College
Oberlin College
Wesleyan University
Princeton University
Yale University</p>

<p>I narrowed it down based on location and the ones that I meet the admission requirements </p>

3

<p>In no particular order, I would at least further explore:</p>

<p>Brown
Tufts
Columbia - the undergrad theatre department is actually within Barnard College, but as a Columbia student you can take most any class offered at Barnard
Vassar
Northwestern - arguably the best of the group.
Oberlin College
Wesleyan University
Princeton University - I think it’s a theater focus or something like that thru the English depart, but quality student theatre and vast resources for an undergrad
Yale University </p>

<p>Note: these are all BA programs.</p>

4

<p>Also would look at:
Trinity</p>

<p>If you hadn’t knocked it off, also would have suggested Williams.</p>

5

<p>I actually really wanted to apply for Williams, but you need two SAT subject tests, and I couldn’t do those </p>

6

<p>Oberlin!!</p>

7

<p>Is it too late to take two subject tests? I do not know the time line for those.</p>

<p>Also, look at Amherst. They are part of the 5 college consortium, so you could take classes and be involved with theatre on any of the campuses… Mount Holyoke, Smith, UMass, Hampshire, Amherst. </p>

<p>University of VA also has an active theatre program, including an on campus summer theatre. </p>

8

<p>OP, I wouldn’t let the fact that you haven’t taken SAT IIs impede you from a school. (Btw, Williams theatre department is pretty experimental–make sure you know what sort of training you’re getting at each school. Types of training can be quite different for each school) </p>

<p>Anyway, it’s not too late at all to take SAT II’s. They are available most dates when SAT’s are available. <a href=“What were SAT Subject Tests? - College Board Blog”>The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board;

<p>If you speak a foreign language, one of your SAT IIs can be in that language. <strong>Language with listening are offered this Saturday. You can sign up rush if were interested.</strong> Then you can take another one in, say, Literature.</p>

9

<p>KatMT just some questions/thoughts/observations:</p>

<p>Trinity seems like a very small program with many Trinity grads who teach there - would there be concern about not enough new ideas?. What sets it apart from the many other theatre programs out there?</p>

<p>UVA doesn’t seem to have a strong undergraduate culture of supporting student theatre relative to many of the others on the list. They have a great facility, but also an MFA program that uses it.</p>

<p>Amherst department seems so very small and it’s not so easy to travel to the other campuses for daily rehearsals.</p>

<p>I just raise these questions because the OP asked for ‘really good’ theater programs, and in my very limited research these didn’t seem up to par with departments like NU, Brown, Wes, Vassar etc… and JMU who you represent @KatMT‌ </p>

10

<p>The OP’s question was asking about specific Questbridge Schools to look at that have strong Theatre programs. </p>

<p>Some will have stronger programs than others, but the schools I mentioned that (s)he may want to also look at have active theatre programs, and could end up being a strong fit for the OP.</p>

<p>Trinity is close to NYC, Hartford Stage, and New Haven with both Long Wharf and Yale Rep. They also have the Trinity/La MaMa Performing Arts Program in New York City which is a great program. Worth looking at for the OP.</p>

<p>I have attended quite a few productions at UVA, and they were relatively strong. Many of the students are double majors, but regardless the group that is involved with theatre is dedicated. The productions I have seen have been undergraduate focused, even though there is also an MFA program. Maybe not as comprehensive a program as others. But, certainly a place where an interested and engaged student can grow as an artist.</p>

<p>Amherst is small… While it may be more difficult to travel to different campuses for production opportunities and classes. it is an option, and one the OP might like to look into. The North Hampton/ Amherst area is lovely, with a creative arts community. </p>

<p>All of the schools listed by the OP are competitive… NU, Brown, Yale, Princeton are sort of like “lottery tickets”. Vassar, Wesleyan are a little less competitive for admission… Amherst is probably on par with those, but Trinity and UVA may be slightly easier academic admits worth looking at.</p>

<p>If the OP was not specifically asking about those particular Questbridge schools, I may not have suggested them, and may have suggested others instead (Kenyon, Skidmore, Muhlenburg, Connecticut College, American, JMU, etc…) but with the limited list posted by the OP I figured some of the other schools are worth a look to see if (s)he may like to apply.</p>

<p>:) </p>

11

<p>They do have bus service that runs between all five of the five colleges (Smith, Holyoke, Amherst, Hampshire and U Mass Amherst). they don’t run all night, but they do go until about midnight, so you could probably manage getting to rehearsals and home, though it might be time-consuming.</p>

12

<p>I would agree with you @KatMT if we’re expanding the criteria to colleges with active theatre departments that may be a great fit; where an interested and engaged student can grow as an artist. In that case, I would be hard pressed to exclude any of these great colleges - maybe CalTech, but even those kids produce theatre.</p>