Colleges and Specific Performer Types

CaMom13
Wed, 01 Jan 2020 22:47:24 +0000

@simplestagemama - it’s an interesting question! When my D auditioned at BU the alum who joined our session said plainly they “knew” who was a potential BU actor just by talking to them (but they accept actors of all types so it was more a “feel” thing. I read an interview with an admissions auditor for NYU a couple of years ago and they said the program looked for students who had dynamic personal qualities - someone who changed the energy of the room when they entered it. I thought that was interesting and in keeping with their program.

I don’t know that many programs are looking for only one type exactly (I think even the Pace/edgy thing probably has exceptions) but I do think there are hidden biases at every school. I remember reading the requirements for the Michigan prescreen and thinking it seemed like they wanted young / non-“edgy” actors - but that doesn’t mean a really good sophisticated or edgy actor has no chance there.

If you look at the freshman group pictures and/or Senior Showcase sites you may get some clues as to how a certain school “skews” . That would at least be a fair way to tell which accepted students attend a certain school even if you can’t tell exactly who was accepted and did not attend.