araby444

Okay, so I've been preparing for this college thing for a while, and I think I've finally got my list of colleges I'm applying to narrowed down, but I still have this feeling that I'm missing something. I really don't want to apply to all these places, and then suddenly hear about a college in January and think, "Oh gee, I wish I'd applied there. That sounds perfect for me."

I've looked and I've researched and I have very specific criteria for what I want, but that's all changing as well. Initially, I wanted a BA Program(Education is important to me, and I think it's important to be a well-rounded actress in that regard) that is not overshadowed by A) a Masters Program, B) A Musical Theatre Program, or C) A BFA Acting program. As you can see, I'm not picky at all

Here's where I'm applying definitely:

Northwestern(#1)
NYU
University of Evansville
Vassar
Fordham
Indiana University(Back up)
Ball State University(Back up)

Some of those(NYU) don't meet the criteria, but the program there is so good I've heard that I wanted to try. IU and BSU are backups because I live in Indiana and my parents are making me apply there.

Here are the Schools I've been back and forth about:
Syracuse
USC
UCLA
U of Minn/Guthrie

I'm back and forth because I guess I just don't know enough about the programs, past what I've seen on the internet.

Also, I see people talking really passionately about other schools such as Ithaca and Purchase, and I wonder if maybe I should apply there. LIke I said, I don't want to regret not applying. I guess its just really hard to keep them all straight, as well as to figure out what I want in a theatre program. Everything looks so enticing and I really just want a school who can help me be the best actress I can be. There's not really a way to figure out who can do that though.

I'm definitely putting what I want in a theatre program over what I want in a school, in terms of importance. And if I get what I want in both worlds, then I'll be pretty happy. Northwestern does that for me.

Note: I know people will say go visit and see how you feel, but my family and I just can't do a lot of that right now. We've visited the surrounding area schools, but right now, I'll probably just apply and only visit the ones I'm accepted to.

If you read this far, first of all, thanks! I'd also really appreciate any advice that you might have about this.

-Alex

IMHopeful

Are you looking for a non-audition school? Or does that not matter? Some of the schools listed are audition schools, and really don't meet your criteria (e.g., Minnesota/Guthrie). UCLA is a BA, but requires an audition, and by all accounts seems to look a lot like BFA programs at other schools. USC has both BA and BFA -- mixed reports on whether the BFA overshadows the BA. Northwestern does seem to be a strong fit for what you want, but I assume you know that it is highly selective. You are right to have a broader list of options.

KatMT

Syracuse and NYU are both BFA programs as well, so may not fit your criteria.

forrest

Purchase, Ithaca and MN/Guthrie would definitely fall into the "overshadowed by a BFA program" category.

forrest

Didn't mean MN/Guthire because that is the overshadowing BFA program. Meant U Minnesota in general.

araby444

Sorry, I guess I forgot to mention that for the BFA-overshadow schools, I would go with the BFA program instead of the BA. I understand a lot of them have a liberal-arts background as well and awesome theatre training, and so I would be fine with going there. I would not be fine with a BFA straight conservatory however, as i hear NCSA and CMU are(minimal Gen Ed requirements). I'd prefer BA(audition is fine, actually preferable) but BFA + Lib Arts would be okay with me.

Thanks!

musicalstudent

I am a USC student pursuing a BA in Acting and I will say that the BFAs hardly overshadow the BAs. From what I've seen, the BFAs keep to themselves and in some cases, the BAs are more talented than the BFAs. Each BFA class also has their own separate show each year (BFA sophomore show, BFA junior show...) so the mainstage productions are wide open for BAs.

KatMT

musicalstudent -- do the MFAs audition for the mainstage shows as well as BAs, or do they have heir own productions?

Do the BFAs audition for any of the same shows as the BAs?

Each school handles the BA, BFA, MFA relationship differently... I am curious how it works at USC.

THANKS!

chrissyblu

Araby: Hi. My D is in the UCLA BA Theatre (Acting). She chose the program because, like you, she felt you needed to know something about the world to be a good actor. Yes, UCLA has more like a BFA program than most BA programs. In fact, in her first quarter, she is only taking theatre classes. She won't be allowed to take a class "outside" her major until next quarter. But as she progresses, she will take more and more classes "outside." As they put it, you are a "delicate orchid" in a greenhouse and they first lock you in, and then unlock the greenhouse, and finally open the door. Given that UCLA is a HUGE first rate, but oftentimes scary, university, this is a very nice plus for a freshman. UCLA's TFT (Theatre, Film and Television) school promises you will graduate in four years, which is amazing for UCLA. The counselors cuddle and coddle the students to make that happpen. If it doesn't, they say its the student's "fault". So, basically, you get treated like you are in a private school but you aren't.

It is an audition based program. 80% audition, 20% grades/SAT. So, you don't have to worry about the usually incredibly high UCLA GPA for admission. Acceptance into the theatre program is around 6-7%. I think it was 1200 applied, 65 admitted last year. By the time they are seniors, that 65 will be 22 through self-attrition. There are no cuts. Its just UCLA is acadmic and some don't like it. Moreover, some chose to just become "theatre" majors with no specialities and they move to that (so they don't really disappear, but aren't counted in the 22.)

UCLA has an Acting and an MT specialization. Both work intimately together. Both can try out for all shows.

UCLA received the most applications of any university in the entire U.S. last year. Here I am speaking for all majors, not just acting.

forrest

MN Guthrie and Ithaca both have farily strong liberal arts requirements even in the BFA Program. Purchase, though it is as strong or stronger than any other acting consevatory in this country, does not. And some people even place out of those with AP's.

musicalstudent

KATMT -- The MFAs are completely separate from the undergraduate program. They have their own shows that are done in repertory and never mix with the undergrads. The BFAs do audition for the same shows, but they have their own class shows so they are usually pretty busy. The freshmen BFAs do not have their own show, but next year the School of Theatre is instituting a new "no freshman performance" policy where no freshman will be cast in any show to give them a transition period.

smrtrtl25

Have you considered DePaul? It is a BFA Acting and conservatory, but the University itself has several liberal arts requirements in order to graduate and many take on minors/double majors. Additionally, there is no musical theatre program to outshadow the straight acting program, and both BFAs and MFAs audition in the same casting pools, so the productions are not segregated (with the exception of one specific MFA graduate show). Doesn't hurt to look into it.

NotMamaRose

Just remember thta DePaul has *the* famous cut, in which about half of those who complete their freshman year find out in May or June that they are not invited back.