<p>Laurie Metcalf attended Illinois State University and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Theater in 1977. While at ISU, she met fellow theater students, among them John Malkovich, Glenne Headley, Joan Allen, and Gary Sinise - who went on to establish Chicago’s famed Steppenwolf Theatre Company.</p>
<p>Barrons, ISU may be no name to you but it, in no way, is no name to those in the theatre community. 
Not all of those others, by the way, attended ISU.</p>
<p>^^^It is common for those who don’t know a lot about college theater programs to assume that because the college itself is not well known or highly selective, that the theater program is not either. For those very familiar with college theater programs and or the industry, they know that some of the very well known and well regarded and selective theater programs are often located within school that themselves are not so well known or selective. This is very common. (I know you know that, alwaysamom, but I’m observing this issue that is common again on this thread)</p>
<p>My D did a lot of reading on ISU (they have a wonderful summer Shakespeare theatre that we were disappointed that we couldn’t get to last summer, and they have a Madrigal Singing group which intrigued her, too, since it’s been a big focus for her in HS). In the long run she decided not to apply, but it looked like a great school and a great program. Illinois Wesleyan is in the same town, and anyone looking at theatre schools in IL should definitely read up on both programs (one is an auditioned BA and the other an auditioned BFA).</p>
<p>The understanding that great theatre programs are in generally “lesser-known” schools is definitely pervasive among students both searching and making decisions. Speaking of which, I’d like to make a plug for my other thread - the “slightly less selective theatre program” thread. It would be nice of the very knowledgeable veterans (like the two posters here!) to point out some of these lesser-known programs, to help kids build balanced lists. Some lesser-known schools have very selective theatre programs, but others (I’d say IL State is one of them) have higher admissions rates.</p>
<p>EmmyBet, I saw your other thread and I am glad you brought those schools and programs to attention for others to read. Sometimes kids are too fixated only on schools or programs they have heard about and need to look more broadly, especially in situations where a student is less qualified or experienced, but also for any student who needs a RANGE of levels of selectivity on their college list. So, I think you have helped others by providing some suggested schools you researched for acting.</p>
<p>Yes - we just need some more on the list!!!</p>