<p>To anyone with program knowledge…</p>
<p>We are interested in trying to gage programs based on thier training emphasis. For example it is known that CMU is more acting based than some other programs. Heard that Baldwin Wallace is more music based, Point Park more danced based etc…</p>
<p>Any input will be helpful as we evaluate what programs may be a good fit.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Perhaps it would be easier if you stated what you were looking for…more acting, dance or music based? It is easiest for people to help steer you in the right direction if we know your needs and interests/concerns. Some schools are very balanced between the three areas…UMich and Syracuse for example. But in the end, you need to really look at the school website, at the curriculum, the faculty, the philosophy…that will help you most.</p>
<p>My take is that a good program is a good program and that you can glean what you need from a balanced faculty. Look for the good reputation with well prepared students and a good curriculum. It is really not hard to put together a list of the top 20 programs then look geographically and academically to find matches. Throw in a few safeties, prepare until their is no question that you are ready and hope for the best. The fortunate will have great choices, the rest will be happy with the program that sees the potential in them.</p>
<p>There is a wealth of information to be found on the websites for most BFA programs. Most programs are very structured with a specific sequenced curriculum comprised of specific courses. Most schools post the BFA curriculum on their websites and many have hyperlinks, if not simply posted course catalogs, that enable you to drill down to course descriptions. From this, you can get a good handle on the balance of a program and the time that will be devoted to acting, voice and dance. Take the time to peruse the posted curriculum and read the course descriptions at all your schools of interest. When our daughter was deciding where to apply, we created a chart listing her schools of interest and mapping out the curricula by subject area and by semester, including the number of contact hours per week for each course, for later reference. It’s very time consuming but also more informative than simply hearing someone else’s opinion of how a school balances its curriculum.</p>
<p>thank you for all the input.</p>