lohiaaditya

Thank you to everyone who have answered to my post. I truly believe that the internet was a blessing to mankind. lol, anyways.

Now i have enough time to write a long post. I am getting over the fact that because of my carelessness or whatever one may call it, i was unable to apply to the UC's. Actually my last two years of high school have not been the way i would ve liked them to be.( Just btw i if you find this part of the post to be rubbish you can just miss out the few lines but i felt it was important to say everything). So i have been studying in India for the past 12 years but i am not an Indian national. My educational background is very good. For the majoriity of the people over here my English is excellent. I have a very American taste or so my family members say, thats not to say that i dont like my culture but thats the way its been all my life. My uncle who has studied in the US for 12 years tells me i could really gel very well in the US, because of the way i am. Now all that my sound like a cart load of **** but the reason i said that was because so that people would know where i would stand once i am there in the US. Now what happened during the last two years of my high school is that, i chose to go the British way by opting to do the A levels instead of continuing the Indian style of education.
Everything was fine until i chose a bad school which was believe me truly BAD, and i cannot forgive myself for choosing a school of that sort and i myself cannot believe how i happened to choose that school, anyways, now since the final examinations are held twice a year, in A levels it coincides with quite a few SAT test dates. I had planned to give my SAT in the first week of October. But since my examinations were starting a week after i opted not to and instead decided to gie them on the 1st of December. It so happens that i was so caught up with the exams that i didnt apply quickly enough to get a seat ( which believe me is pretty unpredictable) I would have had to apply a month early. But i only have myself to blame for that. After all this i have landed in this situation-

SAT scores come out around mid Feb
Toefl scores- end Jan
high school reports should be still earlier Jan.

This is the jist of the problems that i actually encountered during my high school ( i m not sure i listed them). And in the middle of all this rucus (spelling?) i kept delaying my plans to take an acting workshop. So now it means that i have to do it before i actually get to the US for college as i would prefer to have the first hand experience of acting in a major way. I have done a few roles which were very very minor during my high school although i know that theatre isnt a piece of cake. I have seen lead actors of plays preparing and devoting themselves so i basically know what it takes to live life in an actor's world. All that is not a problem because i truly want to do this otherwise i wouldnt be mad enough to go to US from here just for this and especially aiming to make a living of acting in the US being a foreiigner. LOL I think thats a pretty long and a boring post. sorry for that. The reason i dont want act in India which itself has a very flourishing industry iis for different reasons one beign that i wanted to act because of English films that i have seen so its pretty natural for me to want to act in the English medium. Whatever. So now i first have to select a unviersity so far i have decided to apply to these-

california state university fullerton
emerson college
purchase college ( i might drop the idea)
university of arizona
university of texas

the UC's are out as i told you earlier.

So now since you know me ( lil bit for sure) you could help me better.So could you please help me choose a good program which i can get into atleast with high chances. I didnt intend on taking the generalization of the forum away but i thought you could heelp me better after knowing me and my education a lil bit. Thankx. If i have missed out anything important then please let me know.

GRrRRR Thank god i copied the post the internet is giving me soo many problems i hope it works this time.

KatMT

I cannot speak from the standpoint of academic admittance to the schools on your list. However many of those schools with the exception of University of Texas and I think Call State Fullerton (BA option), and University of Arizona (BA option....an audition IS required for the BFA training program) require an audition AND are HIGHLY selective in terms of artistic admissions. Meaning -- many more qualified applicants apply for the degree programs than they can accept, and the audition is a significant part of the admissions process.

Do you have a guidance counselor at your school in India who can help you with the intricacies of the international admissions process.

Also -- since Emerson, Purchase, and Arizona (BFA option) require an audition.... have you contacted the schools directly to see if they will accept a tape or DVD audition? Do you plan to travel here to audition?

A-Polly

Hello-

This is my first post, but I have read this thread with interest because my HS Senior son is passionate about acting and wants to pursue a BFA. He has applied to the competitive program in our state (FSU) plus some other well-known programs, but, like BrianSteffy, we would like to find some other programs that are good but perhaps a bit more "under the radar."

The acting program at Saint Edward's University in Austin sounds great in their brochure (as they all do, of course!), but I haven't come across any mention of this school on CC at all, even with the search function. Do any of you well-informed parents and/or students have any first-hand information about this place, or even second- or third-hand?

Thanks a lot!

lohiaaditya

Yea, i have sent emails to them regarding whether they would accept a dvd tape or something other than on the spot audition but i am yet to hear from them. Its been like a few days already i havent heard from them. So i dont know whether i should email them again or still wait for their reply. And well we do have counsellors here but they charge exorbitant prices plus in most cases they are affliated with a selected few universities, which means that without telling you they will create an impression in your mind that a certain university is good for say acting and then later you would realize that they did it just because that was the best they were affiliated with.Althoguh recently i have met a person who is very sounrceful but all he can do is provide me information because he is not in the same city. And he also does not charge me. He realy brags about getting me into any university program that i like, not undergraduate and stuff but then some programs like 1.5 years courses and stufff. i really dont know the extent of truth to that but since i dont want all that i have just asked him to help me with undergraduate for the moment lol.
anyways
have fun

briansteffy

A-Polly: My S is auditioning at FSU (acting) Jan. 25th. I would love to hear about the experience (can send as 'private message). My wife graduated from FSU many decades ago, so she is escorting him, as its been a long time since she's been in Tallahassee. I do not know of St. Edwards. Are you aware that Auburn has a BFA. I know nothing about it, other than what I've read on their web site. Of course, the state of FL. has a number of BFA programs.

briansteffy

A-Polly: Some under the radar programs; my relatively uninformed opinion. I do not know anything about the west coast.

-Penn State's(expensive for nonresidents) BA Performance program (I've received some positive feedback from current students - lots of students double-major). Audition required on campus.
-UCONN (expensive for nonresidents): some rate as best university in the northeast; must audition on campus and acceptance is provisional (audtion again Freshman year). Downside - From the web page, I get the impression that it is more dedicated to the MFA program; read the website and see if you get the same impression.
-Oklahoma(well priced for nonresidents): audition at unifieds, but I think that you eventually have to go to campus for callback. Must be accepted to U. before they assign audition time, according to their web site.
-I've already mentioned three well priced (for nonresidents) BFA programs: West Virginia, Wyoming, and Montana (recently voted best place to live by Adventure magazine) - none of these may suit city folk.
-James Madison (well priced for nonresidents) = not under the radar screen for regular CCers
-Private Universities/Colleges:
-Drake: requires on campus auditions
-Marietta College: no audition; very active theater program; looks like an interesting program for someone who wants to get a lot of theater experience and is looking for a launching pad into a MFA program. Pretty town and campus, though supposedly the theater facilities are beat. Not for you city folk.

It's an interesting question/discussion: why would I (thinking for S) get a BFA from a program that is unlikely to directly launch a theater career? Why not just get a BA degree instead? Well, we (son and parents) are still debating this one. Obviously, our preference is Guthrie, FSU, Syracuse, Evansville, Purchase, Rutgers, as these programs could serve as a decent launch pad. If left with the choice between a LAC/Penn State BA and a 'lower tier' BFA, the decision will be tough. My son loved Bennington College: its eccentric, organic-vegan, and beautiful, and it offers an open curriculum with lots of fringe theater courses.

Frenchlaw

My S is applying to Minnesota on a priority basis - application due by 12/17. He is definitely not conservatory material and fears that a BFA will cost him a normal college experience. I know that the BFA program is in collaboration with the Guthrie, but does anyone know if there is any participation with/by the Guthrie in the BA program?

briansteffy

Frenchlaw: I was asking myself the same question. The web material is vague on this point, but if you look at the BA curriculum, it looks like it is distinctly different. Whether faculty teach in both programs is an interesting question. I am very familiar with the U. (another Department). It is a huge (makes the SUNY schools look small), bureaucratic institution, and when I was there its focus was research and not teaching. Graduate students staff too many undergrad classes, as the U's reputation lies in its graduate programs. Perhaps its strategic focus has changed since I was there. I am not critical of the U. I would be pleased if my S had a BA degree from the 'U'. The Guthrie program is a small oasis within an overwhelming organization (my opinion). If you are looking at Big Ten BA Theater programs, you might also want to check out Iowa and Indiana (if college town type) Minneapolis is great.

mamamia

Frenchlaw: Has your son thought about a BA in theatre from USC? They have two programs - the BA and the BFA, not to mention one of the countries top film schools (which can give the acting students a chance to act in some student films - however, the film classes themselves are not open to students not in the film program). And you can't get much more of a "real college experience" than USC if you're talking things like football, fraternities, rah-rah spirit, etc. Some worry about its location - not the best part of LA - but I know of many kids who have gone there and not one problem for any of them, knock on wood. It's expensive, but they offered my son a terrific financial package (he didn't end up there, but it was a great offer!). It's BFA program is tough to get into, but the BA not nearly so much. Although it looks like you're from New York - LA might be too far and too much of a culture shock for him! Brian mentioned Oklahoma, and I think by that he means University of Oklahoma in Norman aka OU (Oklahoma City University has an excellent musical theatre program and Oklahoma State aka OSU in Stillwater also has a theatre program, and they all get touchy about being confused). OU does have a very strong acting program - and great traditional college experience/atmosphere, and is very affordable. University of Texas in Austin has an okay theatre program and is affordable but again a wonderful traditional college experience (and Austin's great - wonderful music scene and excellent film program with more and more films being shot in the Austin area). UT is very competitive academically, though, and can be tough to get into as Texas has a program whereas if you are in the top 10% of your graduating class you are guaranteed a spot in a state school, and lots of kids apply to UT so it's very competitive. When you mentioned your son wanting more of a traditional college experience, those schools just came to mind. My son is at Depaul, which is a BFA conservatory program, and whereas he thinks he made the right choice, he has his moments where he wishes it wasn't so limited and he had more of that "traditional" experience himself. Good luck on your search.

deenierah

I've been waffling back and forth between BFA/BA. I like my academic classes, so it's kind of been "go for BFA and try to fit in plenty of other academics, maybe a minor" or "go for a BA and maybe try to supplement it with other theatre opportunities." My toppies right now are Northwestern, NYU, and BU. can anyone recommend programs that are:
-urban or very near good-size city (willing to bend a little on this one, i guess)
-offers theatre arts/drama, not just acting or directing
-potential to take classes outside of theatre

briansteffy

deenierah: Fordham (BA that requires audition)

briansteffy

correction on my post re: Univ. of Oklahoma, or they changed the instructions on their web page. You do not have to be accepted by the Univ. to schedule an audition, though you must first submit a Drama application before an audition can be scheduled.

Frenchlaw

Briansteffy: Thanks for the inside dope on the U. The schools we have been checking out for our S are out of our universe, and some of his decisions are arbitrary (e.g. no NYU). He wants an urban school with strong science available since he is in an engineering HS and would like to continue certain courses. All I know about theater is from sitting in the audience.

Mamamia: Thanks for suggesting USC - but it's so far!!! and we New Yorkers often have a problem understanding southern California

The probable list of schools to which S will apply:
Reaches - Northwestern, Vanderbilt
Kinda reaches - U of Texas, U of Wisconsin
Better chance - U of Minnesota, U of Miami, U of Toronto
Has to apply - SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Albany, CCNY

S is a smart, funny, sweet kid who has decided that HS was not terribly important (his grades show it), but his ACT is quite good. Theatre experience is quite limited as a student in a HS specialized in math, science, engineering and architecture, but he's decided this is what he wants to try. Doesn't picture himself on the cover of People, would be thrilled to voice-over animated film characters and cartoons. Has taken some courses in theater-related acting programs (you can find these things in NYC).

Minnesota becomes more interesting if there is some Guthrie involvement in the BA program.

BrownEyesMom

Frenchlaw: The Guthrie has no involvement with the BA program at the University of Minnesota, and there is little or no faculty overlap. My D is currently a freshman in the BA theater program at the U. It’s a reasonably strong program, with a somewhat avant-garde orientation, generally excellent faculty, and plenty of performance opportunities, starting with the “Xperimental Theatre Co” shows (mostly student-directed). BA theater majors also have the opportunity to take more courses in other disciplines or even double major (not an option in the BFA program) and are likely to have a more rounded college experience. While it’s true, as briansteffy says, that the U of M is very large, the faculty and administration make a real effort to communicate with students and to create smaller communities within the larger University, so it doesn’t feel all that large, and is certainly much less bureaucratic than it used to be; also the quality of undergraduate instruction has significantly improved in recent years. Plus the Twin Cities is a wonderful area for performing arts – many excellent community theaters, in addition to the Guthrie and other professional theaters. If your son hasn’t been on campus, I’d definitely recommend a visit – just be aware that the recent snow is likely to be on the ground until about the first of April!

My D loves the U, although the BA program has not been a good fit for her; she’s auditioning for BFA programs for next year, which is why I’ve been lurking on this forum for the past few weeks. For serious actors, the U’s BA program feels kinda like the neglected stepsister of the BFA – BFA students are definitely considered (and consider themselves) more “elite,” and BA students tend to resent the attention and resources focused on the BFA. Not that the BA is not a good program, but just be aware that it does not have the same prestige as the Guthrie-BFA -- and that it's a more generalized "theatre arts" program, not a performance training program like the BFA.

briansteffy

Frenchlaw: On the other hand, U of MN has a very good reputation for Engineering. I am not sure whether the public universities that you list have different standards for nonresidents. You might want to be careful not to apply to institutions that require nonresidents have to have, say, a 3.85GPA and 30ACT (I am making these numbers up).
SUNY Buffalo has a good BFA program, I do not know whether they have a BA degree (major/minor).

BrownEyesMom: I was with the 'U' in the mid-eighties (the notorious Keller era - goal was to be a top five research school; many profs, including me, walked into the classroom with little preparation ), quite a while ago, so my observations are dated. Minneapolis is, by far, the nicest place that I have lived. I fear visiting, as I will get choked-up, as I did the day my wife and I drove out of the city. Guthrie is one of the top on our list, but given the selection ratio, we assume rejection; to do otherwise would be impractical.