<p>^^Yes, at schools such as Northwestern (non-auditioned BA), grades etc are the whole deal. We had our state university down as a match for our S. Even though their theatre program isn’t well known, the university itself is not a given - good grades were necessary to get in.</p>
<p>Just a quick story regarding parents opinions of application essays - My daughter (MT) was applying EA to Yale shortly after the market crashed in 2008 and my husband wasn’t around for the whole EA process. He finally gets home and she is so proud of her essay that she shows it to him and he thought it was awful, really, truly, awful, and he told her so. She went ballistic - you’ve been gone for two weeks, you weren’t here to help (not that he could, he’s a math/science person), etc. etc. Needless to say, she was admitted but turned them down because their theatre program is more theory than practical. </p>
<p>We as parents can often do more harm than good. That is important to keep in mind as you struggle through this horrific process.</p>
<p>I will chime in as the mom of a son who is a wonderful actor and a lousy student. It was a very long 4 years for us, his is so smart, can memorize his lines overnight, is able to master his blocking in a heart beat, but turning in his homework (on time or at all!), stop and study for a test…not so much. He did great on the SAT’s because he was scared by his junior year that he had absolutely blown it. And guess what, he is going to college in 2 days. We were very thoughtful with the audition process, though. Schools that were academically out of his league, he did not even audition for, and we broke the rules and he had no safety non-auditioned BA program on his list. In the end, he had wonderful choices and is going to a great program.</p>
<p>So, if you are the parent (or student!) of a mediocre student who has put his/her acting above everything, all is not lost!!! We did not have an acting coach, but he had wonderful resources locally and we did use a college resource coach, who helped him with his essays and applications.</p>
<p>In addition, there are also non-audition programs with very “open admissions” policies, i.e. with very low academic requirements for admission.</p>
<p>That would be the ultimate “safety,” I suppose, but it doesn’t sound very enticing.</p>
<p>Now that’s just snobbery.</p>
<p>Automatically assuming that a program with no audition and low academic requirements for admission must somehow be “bad”.</p>
<p>Go and have a look at the program. Maybe it is exactly what you are looking for.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>I just learned that today KEVP…Found a non audition state school with what looks like the same number of credits that a BFA has with a concentration in acting and with the help of a member on here seems to have professors with wonderful credentials and ties in the industry. My D can walk in this school with her eyes closed (academically). We found our safety school!! Will be visiting in October and they want her to sit in on several classes to get the feel of the program. I have to admit I wanted my D to only consider highly academic schools because she had worked so hard in HS. I was very much a snob and could have easily missed this little gem…</p>
<p>Now you are all going to hate me. My daughter graduated (early) from UCLA’s BA program magna cum laude this year. She also attended LAMDA for a semester abroad and BADA during the summer. All this was great and made me very proud to have her graduate from the top of her class at such a prestigious university. And we know that getting such a broad based education gives her something to “fall back on.”</p>
<p>But she wants to be a film and television actor. So, now for the reality check. She is working in LA now. And she is getting work here and there. But she feels “old” at 22 and wishes she had done a 2 year program instead of a 4 year program since she wants to be a film and television actress. She knows that her college training will allow her to do any theatre work she wants. (She has already been invited into several excellent theatres in LA.) And if you want to do theatre work, then maybe a 4 year program is great. But if any of you are considering film and television, you should think hard about the 2 year programs that are out there. It is a tough business. It takes lots of time and money. You could save the two years of tuition for the time it will take to “make it.” </p>
<p>My daughter goes to 4 to 9 auditions a week. She books 2 to 3 things a month if things are busy. But there are ups and downs, and when there is dead periods (like June) it is really slow and you rely on extra work. You only get this manager or this talent agent if you are SAG eligible or if you have a “referral.” You have to spend money on showcases or classes to be seen. Headshots by the best photographers are 700 dollars (but believe me, they make an amazing difference.) It does take about 10,000 to start this “business” where you are the product. A lot of her friends who graduated in the last year have already given up and are pursuing casting and real estate, for example.</p>
<p>Speaking as the parent of a hardworking (and she is working, although sometimes it seems auditioning is her number one job) actor in LA, do consider whether a 2 year program is the best option for you. And go into this with your eyes wide open. It is a hard, hard job and takes lots of money and dedication.</p>
<p>That’s so interesting because I know a young actress (18) working and in SAG with an agent and manager who hasn’t finished high school and hasn’t given college a thought. She is working on TV and in films but she’s tiny and very pretty and plays basically bit part teen girl roles on things not too many people see and pilots that don’t run and awful commercials and stuff like that. I’ve been wondering if that was smart because like you say it’s a full-time deal to get this stuff and she has zero training which I am hoping is going to matter at some point. So far, it doesn’t seem to be a problem and from the work I’ve seen…Well, not much was required. Geez, I hope it matters.</p>
<p>chrissy, your insight and experience has always been so helpful here. Thanks for giving the post-grad perspective.</p>
<p>Would you say this is particularly relevant for an actor who definitely wants roles that play relatively young, certainly if they can still look like a teenager but also as a young 20-something? I would wonder if the other 2 years of training wouldn’t seem wasted - and might be valuable, in the long run - if you are a character actor and maybe will be more easily cast when you are past your 20s.</p>