<p>Thanks KatMT. I told my S this AM that this is the weekend we get ‘real’ and outline HIS list of reach, shot, and safety programs. As parents, we have imposed a cost ceiling limiting him to tuition exchange schools (Syracuse, Evansville, Hartt, DePaul, Bennigton(BA), Otterbein, Marietta, Drake, Webster) and most state supported BFA programs.
One of the greatest benefits of his attending BU’s theater program this past summer were the conversations he had with his peers about the realities of getting into this and that program. He now understands how complex and difficult the admissions process is. Its easy to identify the reach (far reach) programs, but it is much more difficult to figure out which shot and safety programs to apply to. The complexity of making these SAFER-TO-SHOT decisions inspired me to initiate a thread a couple of weeks back; BFA Theater: Hidden Gems. Not much of a response. I wanted to get some discussion going on programs rarely/never discussed on CC that are also too far away from many to visit.
Some of the SAFER programs on our list include Marietta, Drake (now requires audition), West Virginia, Wyoming, Montana. My S can also go to the LAC that I teach at, which actually has a very good theater program and, from an academic (college as a whole) point of view has by far the best reputation compared to all the programs on our list. But my S is not the type that wants to be forced through so many general and distribution requirements common to LACs these days.
The SHOT-TO-REACH programs that we are considering include FSU (acting), Connecticut, Oklahoma, Hartt, Evansville, Utah, Rhode Island, and Illinois. We plan to audition at FSU in early Dec. and hope to visit Hartt and Connecticut, while catching Evansville, Utah, Illinois, and Oklahoma at the Chicago Unifieds
The REACH-TO-FAR REACH programs that we are definately applying to include Syracuse, Guthrie and Rutgers, and we are also considering Purchase, and CCM (acting). He has accepted the fact that we will not pay for BU, NYU, CMU, Miami, and Michigan because we want money left for graduate school. What’s the saying? Hope for Plan A (theater related career) but prepare for plan B.
Though he could potentially go to DePaul tuition-free (tuition exchange), we are not fans of their cut system - though he understands why they might do this; he goes to a Catholic HS (humor intended). We also are considering Arizona, but are skeptical, given CCer comments on their cutting practices.
Obviously we need to narrow this list.</p>