<p>Thanks for the post TheaterFish and good luck with your list. </p>
<p>I agree with you that “prestige” by itself should not be the criteria. However, there is generally a reason why some schools are more selective than others. It is usually because they provide better training and opportunities. </p>
<p>Most of the top programs have guaranteed casting for all their shows. They can do that because the classes are small enough and they have the resources to put on shows to cover everyone admitted. Marymount, for example doesn’t, and threads here have discussed that that has been a problem for some.</p>