Theater/Drama Colleges Part 10 - Page 4

trover · 03-22-2007, 07:17 AM

Anxious parent questions:

What options does a BFA Acting freshman have after being unexpectedly cut in mid-March? Our understanding is that this cut was not a matter of talent, skill or growth as an actor, but instead was a matter of personal fit. Professors have said they will vouch for the student's talent and motivation.

All the BFA programs have completed their auditions for Fall 2007 and application deadlines are long gone. Do program directors have discretion or inclination to consider a candidate after the audition deadline? If so, what is the best way to approach them and plead for an opportunity to enter in the fall, either as a transfer with two quarters of strong training or as a first-year? Or is the student resigned to staying out of school for a year and applying for Fall 2008?

This student auditioned for six programs and was admitted to two. Ironically, she chose the program that did not have a "we will definitely cut half the class" policy.

Any experience or advice would be much appreciated, as time is of the essence. Thank you.

pennmom · 03-22-2007, 08:12 AM

Thanks for the comments on our CMU versus SUNY dilemma, one I realize we are very lucky to have. I think my son has decided to try and visit both schools and sit in on some classes, maybe stay overnight to talk informally to students. We do not yet know if he'll get any financial help from CMU. That could easily sway the decision. Both schools have great connections and sound very good in helping kids find jobs after school. I think he'd like the more intellectual atmosphere at CMU, but from what I understand these kids don't have much time to socialize outside the intense theater program, and the acting students at SUNY certainly seemed very bright.
Anyway, sometime in the next month we'll be making a decision. He still has several other schools to hear from. He was also accepted at Tisch. He is also interested in Boston University because of more chances to also try his hand at directing and playwriting. We'll see.

raphael · 03-22-2007, 12:27 PM

My son got accepted at NYU, which is his first choice--yay! He also got accepted at Marymount, but was turned down for Purchase. He is still awaiting BU. I'm thrilled for him, because truly NYU seemed the best fit for him. Now we'll have to await finances....

raphael · 03-22-2007, 12:29 PM

Penn Mom--

I know Purchase has a gigantic cut after your second year. Does CMU? That might be a consideration for you. I do agree with you, though, that hte kids at Purchase seemed bright, also pleasantly quirky. However, it is very isolated there. It didn't seem to bother the kids though (we talked to lower classmen). They said they worked pretty much all the time.

mamamia · 03-22-2007, 01:27 PM

TRover - geez, that's a tough one. I'm not sure she could get into another BFA program for next year at this point, unless it was a non-audition school with a rolling application date. Probably would have a better chance at a BA Theatre program, again non-audition and with a rolling deadline. Any particular part of the country she is trying to stay in? Is she straight acting or MT? I know a lot of the students who get cut from DePaul go to Columbia (also in Chicago) and they don't find out they are cut until June, but knowing the possibility a lot of kids put in applications and audition just in case they are cut, so it may be that it is too late for Columbia as well. I am puzzled to hear she was cut with apparently not much reason given - that is scary. Seems a little arbitrary to say she "just wasn't a good fit." Was she happy there and did this come as a surprise or was she miserable and agrees it wasn't a good fit? Hopefully the latter and this turns out to be a good thing for her. She could always take general requirement courses somewhere next year and reaudition and reapply to other programs for admission in 2008. Unfortunately, most BFA programs don't accept transfer credits for any acting/singing/dancing courses but will accept basic general core requirements (i.e., math, language requirements). If you are willing to share I'm sure we'd all be interesting to know what program cut someone in this manner - at least with DePaul the cut program is clear and upfront and you know the risks you're taking! Good luck to you - wish I had more info. Maybe DoctorJohn knows of something???

dancersmom · 03-22-2007, 01:32 PM

Trover,

I would contact the school that offered an acceptance to your D last year and see if they would be willing to take her. They obviously liked what they saw. If the acting faculty at her current program are willing to vouch for her, it may help her to transfer to the new school. My guess would be that the sooner you act, the better her chances of being able to transfer this year.

I do not know that any BFA acting programs have the ability to audition a transfer student this late in the spring. I hope someone will speak up if they know of some. There may be some non-audition programs that are still accepting applications. I assume that your D really has her heart set on a BFA. In that case, she may want to stay at her current school for next year, take as many general studies courses as she can that she is relatively sure will transfer, and start auditioning in the fall. A 2nd option would be to do the same thing at a state school close to home.

I know that you and your child are probably stinging at the moment. But, remember, leaving her current school does not have to spell the end of her dream of being an actor. Take a look at post 531 on this thread: Rejections: Class of 2007

thegreatargos · 03-22-2007, 03:05 PM

Sadly, I am alllll too familiar with your situation. If you look at my history of posts, you will see that I have been put in a similiar situation as your child. Last year I was cut from the U Arizona as a freshman... and the reasons they gave for the cuts were absolutely absurd. But willpower will always lead to success. I investigated many many options RIGHT AWAY, because time is precious in your situation. Sadly after hours of research I found that there was really no way for me to get into another BFA Program without wasting a (sophmore) year of gen-eds.

I did consider transfering to another school just to get away from the "bad-blood atmosphere" of being cut. The only school that had a "rolling admission" type that I considered was Columbia in chicago. I had my hopes up and planned a visit, but again I hit another speed bump. Columbia dissapointed me greatly. After being in a BFA Conservatory style training program, Columbia's BA (the do not allow a BFA track until junior and senior year) seemed very disorganized and hit or miss. Also the tour was rushed and it seemed as if they didn't care about their students on the personal level. (this is just my experience of course)

So I took this year, gritted my teeth, and stayed at the U of A. Auditioning for 3 of the top schools in the nation and one "back-up" BFA program (although it is impossible to call any audition program a back up). So far I've heard back from DePaul and Carnegie Mellon, I was accepted to both and was offered a talent scholarship to DePaul. Tell your child that, the opinion of the faculty at their current school is heartbreaking, but it is SURELY not a judgement of who they are. As you can see, I am a believer that everything happens for a reason. I will be attending CMU in the fall and I think the entire experience was worth it.

I must say that the best idea I've read on here is to contact the OTHER school that you recieved an acceptance to... however, if it was a cut heavy program, i dont know if you want to take those chances again.

raphael · 03-22-2007, 06:05 PM

Trover,
I want to add my voice to others--That is a very difficult thing to have happened. It is at the very least, really discourteous of the college to have waited until March to cut her. If she wasn't a 'good fit,' surely they could have told her that in December (or not admitted her at all)! But I too feel that things often happen for a reason. She should hold her head up high and keep going. It may be that she'll have to 'tread water' until next year. But perhaps, if this is her love, she can take on community theatre or other theatre parts, and use this time to grow as a person and as an actor. Best of luck to her.

trover · 03-23-2007, 04:01 PM

Everyone: Thanks for your responses so far. I am reluctant to answer some of your specific questions about my daughter's circumstances because she wants to retain anonymity. I can tell you that we had already thought of contacting the other program that accepted her last year, and since my original post, they responded very positively, stating that even though auditions are closed, they will take her file from last year and add her to this year's wait list for entry next fall as a freshman. (This program was empathetic because it also cuts students late in the year.) Our collective fingers are crossed, this is very far from a sure thing.

Thanks for your experience, thegreatargos, and congrats on how things are turning out for you!

Continued responses from doctorjohn or anyone else are welcome.

rumom · 03-25-2007, 04:40 AM

I'm new to this forum and I was wondering if anyone had first hand information about the Rutgers year in London. I am interested in learning about the academics and creative aspects, as well as living situation during that year. Thanks.

accept · 03-25-2007, 12:52 PM

Is there anyone on this board currently in the USC BFA theatre program? Can you tell us what your opinion is and what other choices you had? Are you glad you made the choice you did? Thank you!

The poppa · 03-25-2007, 03:33 PM

Did anyone else have a child who got caught in the screw up this week. My son got an email asking to join a chat group since he had been accepted to Rutgers. Two hours later the email was recinded as an error. Talk about bringing a kid up into the clouds, then dropping him like a rock.

twentytwo · 03-25-2007, 04:17 PM

Has anyone or does anyone know of someone else who has been accepted to North Carolina School of the Arts drama?

drama*queen · 03-25-2007, 11:23 PM

Have you been accepted to NCSA? When did you hear? How did you hear? I have been trying to find out when they are contacting people.

twentytwo · 03-26-2007, 08:36 AM

no, i haven't been accepted. i was just hoping no one else had heard back from them yet, because i certainly have not... and no one on the forum has mentioned being accepted yet.

the ncsa high school students are finding out if they made the college program on march 30 or 31, so hopefully our letters will be mailed by then too.