Importance of rigorous academic classes?

soozievt
Tue, 24 May 2011 12:11:21 +0000

I’m glad smartmom brings this issue up. I often hear people say that they think it only matters (or only should matter) if they can sing, act, and dance to be admitted to a BFA in MT program. But the issue is that the student is entering COLLEGE. They are not simply entering some training, but an actual SCHOOL. If I were the admissions officer for a BFA in MT program, I would certainly examine the academic record of an applicant. Some students wonder, “but I won’t be studying math or foreign language (for example) in college and so why should it matter?” But the issue is that one’s high school academic record (this includes level of rigor of coursework, actual grades in all classes, GPA, class rank) indicates the KIND of student someone is and if they can handle COLLEGE (not simply can they handle singing, dancing, and acting). It is a college degree program and moreover, a VERY demanding one in terms of classtime, rigor, preparation, etc. Besides, there is typically some liberal arts coursework beyond acting, singing, and dancing in most BFA programs and a college will want to know you can succeed in such classes. By examining one’s high school record, they can see if a student has challenged him/herself (rigor of classes) and how they fared with grades, as well as if they were able to juggle all that and a full extracurricular load in the performing arts, etc. because they want to know that the student can handle the time management and work necessary to succeed in a very demanding BFA COLLEGE degree program. One’s high school record reveals a lot about someone as a student. They are going to be a STUDENT in college as well.

In my line of work, I often observe the work ethic of students on their application/admissions process, and typically the kids who have good grades and demanding courses in high school are the ones who seem to be able to handle the college application deadlines and have a strong work ethic. I see a direct correlation in their application process with the kind of student they are in high school. It truly is demonstrated even in that context. When they say they are too busy to work on college essays and so on because they are in shows and what not, I try to gently explain that every kid I am working with has shows and arts classes outside the school day and many of them have umpteen AP classes to boot (whereas the ones with the excuses do not take hard classes) and they are able to do the college apps, and I also explain the kind of schedule that they will be facing in a BFA program and how they will be expected to do certain things even in a very full and busy schedule. There are times, even in my own observations where even I wonder if they can handle a BFA program, even if they love to sing, act, and dance and are talented.

It is really important to know what you are getting into if you attend a BFA program. It is not for everyone. It is not like regular college where you have some free time. You have barely any free time. It is very demanding. That is why even a BFA program will want to accept students who have demonstrated that they can handle a demanding work load even in high school and do well (not so much that they are good at history, math, or Spanish specifically).