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skipsmom · 04-02-2009, 08:26 AM

When we visited a few days ago it was repeatedly stressed that the "number" of BFA students going forward from sophomore year to junior year is 16---no more, no less. I assume the person who told us about this knows what she was talking about, because she was asked about several scenarios---for example, when there are 18 extraordinarily talented and capable sophomores. She said they "have to cut" to 16 because if they had more they would have to hire more staff.

Someone asked what would happen if they had only 14 students at the end of sophomore year, and one or two were not as strong as the others and who would in overage years be cut. She said that under those circumstances no one would be cut, because the target number is 16.

This said to us that their concern is for a target number, and that they really are not committed to the students in the program, but rather the program itself. Both my son and I felt very strongly that the school was selling the program and the school, where at other schools the teachers and students are the focus. We didn't hear a single thing about the teachers, but a good deal about their castle in the Netherlands. On the tour (with non-theater students, it was a general tour and look at the school) the quality and recent renovation of the buildings and equipment were emphasized repeatedly. Not much, if anything, was said about the quality of teaching, which I personally thought was odd.

We were also told that there is "essentially no difference" between the BFA and the BA theater arts "except in how you choose to spend your time." The BFA has only fifteen required hours of "studio," i.e. required for the BFA, each week. This seemed very sparse in comparison with other programs, but our group leader said several times that Emerson is not a true conservatory program.

She also said that there is NO difference drawn in the casting pool between the BFA and the BA students, and that both were viewed as completely equal in terms of ability, status, opportunities to be in shows, etc. Our leader was a BA Theater arts student.

Interestingly, we were told the exact same thing at BU by our group leader there, who was also a BA Theater arts who was interested in criminal justice and taking classes in it.

04-02-2009, 08:26 AM	#5
skipsmom Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: central Georgia Posts: 175	When we visited a few days ago it was repeatedly stressed that the "number" of BFA students going forward from sophomore year to junior year is 16---no more, no less. I assume the person who told us about this knows what she was talking about, because she was asked about several scenarios---for example, when there are 18 extraordinarily talented and capable sophomores. She said they "have to cut" to 16 because if they had more they would have to hire more staff. Someone asked what would happen if they had only 14 students at the end of sophomore year, and one or two were not as strong as the others and who would in overage years be cut. She said that under those circumstances no one would be cut, because the target number is 16. This said to us that their concern is for a target number, and that they really are not committed to the students in the program, but rather the program itself. Both my son and I felt very strongly that the school was selling the program and the school, where at other schools the teachers and students are the focus. We didn't hear a single thing about the teachers, but a good deal about their castle in the Netherlands. On the tour (with non-theater students, it was a general tour and look at the school) the quality and recent renovation of the buildings and equipment were emphasized repeatedly. Not much, if anything, was said about the quality of teaching, which I personally thought was odd. We were also told that there is "essentially no difference" between the BFA and the BA theater arts "except in how you choose to spend your time." The BFA has only fifteen required hours of "studio," i.e. required for the BFA, each week. This seemed very sparse in comparison with other programs, but our group leader said several times that Emerson is not a true conservatory program. She also said that there is NO difference drawn in the casting pool between the BFA and the BA students, and that both were viewed as completely equal in terms of ability, status, opportunities to be in shows, etc. Our leader was a BA Theater arts student. Interestingly, we were told the exact same thing at BU by our group leader there, who was also a BA Theater arts who was interested in criminal justice and taking classes in it.
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