Northwestern questions

connections
Thu, 25 Oct 2012 21:46:02 +0000

arwarw, I’d strongly encourage your D to choose a school that fits best with her own undergraduate needs. Brown and NU are different on many levels. Both are excellent each in their own way, and they have overlap too. What exactly are your D’s goals immediately upon graduation? What are her goals while in school? MFAs are far enough into the future that it would not be a good idea, in my opinion, to plan on an undergrad degree with the consolation that you’ll get better more focused theatre education in an MFA later on. I realize you were doing this in the spirit of fun, but just to stress: An MFA is a serious, very competitive, often expensive degree that one embarks on for many reasons, and most often after several years of work between graduation and grad school. It is unusual to go straight from a BA to an MFA although it can be done (but it is not preferred). I would not advise someone to plan their undergrad based even in part on where they might go for an MFA, if they decide to go. That decision is many years down the road and by then they may find they have different interests, needs, desires. It really is going to boil down to your D’s needs. I have to agree that if she doesn’t know for sure, she should simply apply to both Brown & NU and others RD. I don’t see any compelling reason here that would justify her applying ED to Brown–I mean, if she doesn’t know in her heart that that’s where she ought to go, that’s an answer right there. It’s a huge decision and will impact her for the next 4 years and possibly for life. I don’t see the point in rushing it when she’s not certain, particularly when it’s not certain her odds will be improved at all.