DramActress

Hi,

I am currently in my freshman year at Rutgers University. Never in a million years did I even consider attending Rutgers, until I heard about the BFA Acting program at Mason Gross. I loved the fact that they studied Meisner and that they selected between 16-20 students who would work together as an ensemble for all four years. Also, I loved that they got to go to London their junior year to study Shakespeare at the Globe Theater. I started early junior year looking up colleges that I wanted to audition for, which included MGSA, NCSA, UArts, NYU, SUNY Purchase, and Julliard. However, by my senior year I had lost focus and only applied to 3 colleges, Rutgers-Mason Gross, NCSA, and Montclair State University. I was accepted to the BFA Acting program at Monclair (Duh), Denied by NCSA (Sucks...definitely LOVED the campus), and Waitlisted by Rutgers-Mason Gross (TOP choice). I did not get off the waiting listed for MGSA, but based on the financial aid packages and the fact that I think Rutgers is a better school regardless what major, I decided to come to Rutgers...So to make a long story short (i'm tired of typing and i'm sure you're tired of reading) I auditioned for Mason Gross again...and was WAITLISTED AGAIN...now...I'm upset because in my audition, the head of the Acting program basically said that I was in..."We're so glad that you came back to audition. We were so excited when we saw your name on the roster. We never forgot about you. So, how about you do this...after the BFA senior showcase give me a call...and then I want you to start working with the speech teacher because you have a problem with your 'S'...that way you can be ahead of the game for next year"...now...that sounds like a yes....so i cancelled all of my other auditions because why spend hundreds of dollars going on auditions when my DREAM school said YES!? and of course...they screwed me over and I dont know what I am going to do with my life...Rutgers is a great school...losts of opportunities...but i'm not sure if it is for me...I know what I want...a BFA in Acting...so these general ed. classes are a waste of time for me...I just basically wasted a year banking on ONE school and now I'm in a hole...do I go to Montclair State University, where the head of Acting LOVES LOVES LOVES me?, that's closer to home? whose acting program is NOTHING like Mason Gross? or do I stay at Rutgers...find a new major (Journalism and Media Studies) and double major in a BA in Theater...or...idk...what other options do I have?

KatMT

Have you contacted the head of the program at Montclair to make certain that you could transfer into the BFA acting program at Montclair next fall? It sounds as if the program director there likes you.... but you should confirm, just the same.

Also -- I believe that Montclair is a BFA acting program that requires students to take a fair number of general education classes (which it sounds like is one of the things you do not like about Rutgers in the BA).

It sounds as if you are pretty passionate about pursuing a career as an actor, and would prefer a BFA program, so I am curious why you think that you would enjoy double majoring in another subject? Is the double major idea because you are frustrated by the lack of opportunities in theatre for non-BFA/ MFA mason gross students?

If you choose to stay in the BA in Theatre at Rutgers, have you thought about studying abroad... some abroad programs include performance courses (particularly programs that study in London)... what about applying for the National Theatre Institute in CT or Moscow? These are semester programs that are designed for students in BA schools who would like a semester of highly focused, conservatory style training. NYU and I believe Syracuse offer students the opportunity to audition to spend a semester studying through those programs. NYU at Tisch and Syracuse through the Tepper Center in NY.

Finally, if you plowed through with you BA requirements would it be possible for you to graduate early by a year or a semester? If so you could take the money you saved and possibly look into doing a one or two year conservatory training program in NY there are many programs that offer this type of training that are very prestigious... some offering Meisner training

I think that there are many options available to you.

Good Luck!

DramActress

I have not talked to the head of acting at montclair state...but i will see her this weekend at a talent search in my city and i will talk to her then. But after sitting down and thinking about my options I have decided that I want to audition for Mason Gross again. I really want a BFA in Acting from a top Acting program and I dont want to just settle. So, I've decided that the best thing for me to do would be to take a year off from school, take some acting classes, audition in the city, and work. I really need a break from school to focus on my craft for a little and really get some experience in the biz while also getting some life experience. The only thing is that I have a very prestigous performing arts scholarship for $20, 000 that says that I need to be in school for 4 years. So, I could possibly risk losing my scholarship in taking a year off. But I think by taking a year off I will save myself money and time instead of being at a school I hate and a program that I am unsatisfied with. Hopefully they will understand and allow me to take a year and still keep my scholarship. I really want to be an actress and I need to give it my full attention.

NotMamaRose

DramActress, what don't you like about the BA program at Rutgers? I am asking because a young acquaintance of mine has been accepted there and would love to know more about it.

DramActress

I don't know much about the BA program here at Rutgers. What I can tell you is that is a more broad overview of Theater. So not only will they take an acting class or two, they will also take some courses in playwriting, scenic art,theater history, among other gen ed. classes. They can also study abroad if they want to as well.

stlouismom

Suggestion for evaluating wait list school?

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Thank goodness this process and waiting is over. I think it was the most bizarre ( and for my daughter, heartbreaking) experience ever. She was rejected from all BFA (acting) programs that she applied to and wait listed on one. The bizarre thing is that several judges gave her reason to believe she had done very well - and then the reject letters started arriving. One woman from a top school actually sought me out in the hallway to tell me she had a great audition - this of course was totally unnecessary and in retrospect, rather cruel when the standard reject letter finally arrived in the mail. What was that all about?

The one (a top program) she is wait listed for has a small wait list so it is possible she will be asked to join, she just doesn't know if she wants to. This program is the only one she really has no feel for. She was looking for a specific type of acting training and this one does not have that. After her audition as she was asking questions, the judges actually laughed at some of them. This was the one audition where she felt no rapport with the judges at all!!! The school has great facilities and smart students and lots of performing opportunities - all pluses.

She would like to talk directly to some of the students in the program. Would this be seen as an improper thing to do? If not, how would she go about it?

Is a BFA program with opportunities to interact with other good actors better than a large school BA program (that is her only option at this point) even if the training is not the type she was originally looking for?

It is too early for her to think ahead to possibly auditioning again next year - although I know in the back of my mind this seems to be what lots of kids do.

Any suggestions/comments would be helpful.

FishbowlFreshman what do you say?
Career Counselors?

DramActress

It sounds like your daughter and I have a lot in common. I have been rejected and waitlisted by top bfa acting programs. So, I totally understand what she'd going through. My advice for her is that if she really wants a BFA in Acting, audition for the schools again. I did that, and although I was wait-listed again by the same school, I showed them that I was not going to give up. But what messed me up was the fact that I did not take any acting classes all year...so my technique was very rusty...So, I would tell your daughter to try the BA program out. See what it has to offer, but also audition again. And yes, talk to the students who go to those schools. Also, if you know any grads, talk to them as well because they've been through it and then some. I am not really excited about the BA Theater program, but I have no choice. But what I will say is that there are many opportunities that you will get as opposed to the BFA...but all in all...try the BA, and enroll in an acting class, audition for the BFA program again...and show them that your serious about acting...OH...and just because she didnt get in...it doesn't mean she's a bad actress...some people are just good auditioners...others not so well, so they come off as not having had any training at all...and those who are accepted into these BFA Acting programs due to of a great audition...despite the fact that they are not he best actors they rise to the occassion...and if ur wait-listed by a top program...that means that they saw something in you...and that if they could take 25, instead of 16-20....they would be more than happy to have you. I wish you and your daughter the best and hopefully I was of some help despite the lateness.