<p>My son is working on all applications for those schools that require auditions.</p>
<p>How is the best way to locate non-audition/safety schools? While we know websites are one way, we were thinking that there may be a list out there on this website?</p>
<p>Many thanks</p>
<p>Here is one thread on the subject. I am sure there are others but this should get you started. Try searching this forum for safety or non-audition and I am sure more will come up.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/1202516-need-safety-school-list.html?highlight=safety[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/1202516-need-safety-school-list.html?highlight=safety</a></p>
<p>Thank you for the information.</p>
<p>I have found today on this site:
UNC Greensboro
Ohio University
Cal State Long Beach
Collumbia College Chicago
Connecticut College
American University
Sarah Lawrence
University of Rhode Island
PACE
Temple
Cal State Long Beach</p>
<p>This is based on reading through and if some are incoreect please advise.</p>
<p>Just FYI - American University in DC requires an audition.</p>
<p>Many other schools offer strong theatre programs and do not require an audition. Most will be BA programs, though there are a few non-auditioned BFA programs (like University of Rhode Island) or programs that don’t make you audition until your second year (like University of Maryland Baltimore County). I’m sure people can give you more specific suggestions once we know what you’re looking for. Many schools that are not known for theatre have lots of opportunities, so look at colleges that interest you and fit your academics and then look at their course catalog. Just because they’re not prestigious doesn’t mean you can’t get great training there. Also, if you’re open to the idea, some more nontraditional colleges offer great training such as Women’s Colleges (like Smith) or Christian Colleges (like Gordon or Belhaven).</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>My son is a senior, 3.5 GPA (unweighted) SAT a little over 1800 (awaiting new results) Has taken numerousus AP classes this year and in the past. He has had major/leading roles in all plays & musicals at HS level. Has succesfully competed in theatre compettitions at state level and has had alot of training in MT & acting (has attended National conference in Nebraska twice) His deisre is for a strong acting program in a larger city setting (BFA preferred but not only option).</p>
<p>Being from the state of Oregon we have limited options in the region. He is planning on attending Unifieds in Chicago in February. </p>
<p>As a parent it is easy to look at academic requirements but the audition process seems to add gray in the system. If my research is correct, talent can potentially alleviate some academic requirements.</p>
<p>Having an older son playing college athletics it was easier to see where he fit on the talent scale. Colleges came to him with offers for scholarships. How does a parent gauge talent level and assist their S/D in selecting the appropriate schools to audition for?</p>
<p>Here’s a program that does not get much attention here, because the Purchase BFA is usually the focus: Theater and Performance BA at Purchase. It seems not to have very much formal acting training but does have components of directing and play-writing. And there could be performance opportunities (with those BFA classes being so small). It is a part of the Conservatory of Theater Arts:</p>
<p><a href=“Search results for • Purchase College”>Search results for • Purchase College;
<p>Drew University</p>
<p>My daughter spent the last 3 weeks in a project involving the drama department at Temple (a play she wrote won a competition, and it was performed there on the main stage.) We were very impressed with the actors, stage crew, and drama faculty. She has already applied to Temple as her in-state non-auditioned safety, but it is looking good as a contender among her auditioned programs. If not for this program, we would have based our impression of Temple on hearsay (and it’s not mentioned much on CC.) But I think it merits a close look, especially if your son is looking to be in a city environment.</p>
<p>Sniffles55, it is just about impossible for a parent to gauge a student’s talent level. </p>
<p>Most theatre programs that require auditions are extremely selective. If you have questions about any particular one(s), you could ask here.</p>
<p>When your son is choosing non-auditioned programs to apply to, he should look at the program descriptions very, very closely to determine what is taught. Some BA theatre programs don’t offer too many performance classes (like acting, movement, voice & speech, etc). Some programs list a lot of interesting classes but when you look closely you see that not all of the classes are taught very year, or you may see that it would be hard to fit in enough theatre classes because of other requirements. </p>
<p>In studying the offerings of non-audition/safety schools, you really have to look at the college as a whole with regard to size, location, academic selectivity, type of drama program, etc, etc, to see if it would be a program your son might realistically be accepted at and be happy to attend.</p>
<p>Thank you for the input.</p>
<p>And, don’t let local coaches or whoever tell you what schools your S should or shouldn’t apply to based on their perception of his talent. I know some local superstars who didn’t have anywhere to go in April because they only applied to a small, select group of schools and didn’t have a non-auditioned safety. The auditors at the schools have their own ways of judging. </p>
<p>I agree with the advice to go with the schools that offer the best fit all around and cast a very wide net! Dramaqueen4jesus offers some very good advice about looking at the course catalogues – there are quite a few BA programs that offer an acting track within the major.</p>
<p>I have heard good things about Whitman in Walla Walla, but I do not think that Walla Walla is a city atmosphere. </p>
<p>Vassar and Skidmore are also worth a look, although neither is in a city either. </p>
<p>Goucher is a small school in MD. Towson is not too small a town and is not too far from DC. Towson University requires an audition for the Acting Track, but you do not audition until you have been admitted to the university, and they have an April 2 audition date. You might also want to look at University of MD College Park.</p>
<p>Muhlenberg does not require an audition, but they do have talent scholarship auditions.</p>
<p>KatMT mentioned Whitman. And no, Walla Walla is not a big city, but it’s a great small town and Whitman has a TERRIFIC theater program. Your son’s stats are on the low side for them, but they love energized students with a particular passion, and Whitman is pretty holistic in their evaluation of applications. They offer big theater scholarships and to apply for those an interview and audition is required, but not for entry into the program. Here’s a link: [Department</a> of Theatre](<a href=“http://www.whitman.edu/content/theatre-department]Department”>http://www.whitman.edu/content/theatre-department)</p>