NewbieMTMom

Well, all 290 have to be admitted to the university itself based on academics before they can do the BA in Theatre. This year, IU has had to turn down and wait list a record number of people. MT folks should go onto the CC discussion board and read some of the threads under Indiana University Bloomington (including rejections). As of mid-February, IU had received over 29,000 applications for what I believe is a class of roughly 6,000. So not all 290 (or even those hypothetical 100) may be offered general admission.

There will also be students known as "direct admits" who are granted admission into the BA in Theatre by the College of Arts and Sciences by virtue of high grades, test scores and extracurriculars in high school.

Those who are not "direct admits" in the BA in theatre will be admitted in the general University Division and have to declare their majors later in the process -- meaning after they have a semester or two under their belts.

IU is NOT like Elon where if you get rejected from MT (and also admitted to the university in general), you get an offer to do the BA in Theatre.

My understanding is that ALL IU students may audition for the productions, including BA Theatre, BFA MTs and students majoring in business, French or anthropology. If you are talented and right for the role, my understanding is Mr. Pinney and the other directors will cast you. If you are not right for the role, you will not get cast.

In terms of BAs trying to take the classes that the BFAs take, it's probably first-come, first-served at registration time -- and when the classes are full, you are out of luck. The university is enormous and if you don't register for classes early, you are out of luck whether you are a theatre major or a journalism major.

So it could indeed be challenging if BFA-rejected students storm the school en masse. But it just doesn't seem likely. Just my opinion.