Do I have a chance at all at these schools??

EmmyBet
Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:44:54 +0000

In most cases, the BA leaves more time for the student. It depends on the curriculum, the number of credits, and the other requirements (your example of UCLA’s BA is a good one where there is not much time for other activities). You’ve done good research, and I would guess that the MM and Pace BA programs would leave you more time for other things.

However, these are still auditioned programs. You currently have only Hunter College - which is very nice, but an unconventional school in terms of residential life and other college aspects - and AMDA as non-auditioned options. Be prepared that those may be your only choices in the end. I know you have received suggestions about schools near Philadelphia, too (such as Temple).

I’m concerned that you might still want to consider one more good, solid likely admit at a regular college that has a fine BA in Theatre. Sarah Lawrence is a good suggestion that has already been made. Hofstra is another. They are very different schools, so you would have to do some research. I don’t have suggestions near LA, but I know they have come up often on these threads. If you are intent on being in Manhattan, there aren’t many conventional schools with less selectivity (Barnard and Columbia are very selective, and the New School looks very interesting, but isn’t conventional). Drew University in NJ (near the train) is also a nice college with an excellent theatre dept and a non-auditioned BA. Montclair State (also in NJ) has a BA which requires an interview but no audition.

Another consideration that some people think hard about is doing a BA where there are students in a BFA program (this would be true at Pace, MM, and Montclair State). You don’t sound like this would bother you immensely, since you appear to be very focused and confident, but some people feel like outsiders - either the BFA students seem to get more attention, or to have more privileges, or just generally to be the focus of the department. We have heard here many stories about casting policies that favor BFA over BA students (this is also true at schools where there are MFA students).

I’m not trying to worry you more, but this is an important point that needs considering.

I know you really like NY and LA, but I would urge you to do some reading about Brandeis and Goucher. They have wonderful theatre departments, do not have BFAs, do not require auditions, and are near very exciting cities with lots of theatre.