<p>First, thank you all for your very thoughtful responses! One day, I hope to have the opportunity to help as well.</p>
<p>My D attends a public high school ranked in the top 100 in the country (I’m trying not to sound obnoxious when I say that, but can’t find a way). Because the school is so highly ranked, college admissions are usually a little more forgiving with GPA because they know how rigorous the classes are (except for the most academically competitive schools). She is not a great test-taker and we will be immensely satisfied if she gets a 25 on the ACT.</p>
<p>I appreciate the advice about looking at schools a little above our price-range as long as they are schools who sometimes offer talent-based scholarships. We are not eligible for need-based aid. </p>
<p>If D goes the BA route, I would hesitate to have her attend a school where she will be in competition with BFAs.</p>
<p>I think one of the reasons I am having trouble with our list is that we are conflicted. Our D has been consistent in loving Acting and MT, but we are hesitant to have her graduate solely with training for that career considering what a tough industry it is. Therefore, we are willing to allow her to follow her heart, but want her to come out of college with an overall understanding of basics (Gen Ed), and hopefully other skills that would help her survive (arts admin, production, promotions/music business). I think she would be happiest skipping the Gen Ed reqs and go just for a BFA, but she knows our feelings and is grateful we are providing her with the funds for a college degree in Theater at all, which was after years of waffling on it. </p>
<p>You will see from my current list, we are a bit all over the place, but I have reasons for them all. Remember D is still a Junior so this will evolve as her grades and skills develop. In no particular order:</p>
<p>JMU - audition - BA-MT - love the program, but auditions mean it’s a reach. Music Industry Minor. Big school. </p>
<p>Northern Colorado - BA-MT – love the program, audition. Mid-sized. Cold.</p>
<p>Indiana U @ Bloomington – I don’t think we would allow her to do the BFA-MT program there because it is too specialized (almost no Gen Ed), but there is no BFA-Acting, just non-audition BA, and it’s a big department, so I am thinking it would still allow her performance opportunities and the ability to do the Arts Admin certificate. I need to call them to understand if I am right.</p>
<p>College of Charleston – BA Theater, performance concentration. Non-audition, bit of reach academically, mid-sized school in great location. Not much MT but allowed to audition for local community theater and there are lots of such opportunities. Able to take dance and private voice electives. Minor in Arts Management. </p>
<p>SUNY Oswego – non-audition BA Theater, MT track, Arts Mgmt Minor, great communications school just in case. 8000 students, safety school academically. Cold.</p>
<p>UNH – non-audition BA Theater, MT emphasis. Mid-sized. No great Minor</p>
<p>U of Alabama – BA Theater, MT track has audition, and cannot minor. BA-Acting not auditioned, possible minors in music or communications. If she switches from theater, they have a great Communications school. Big school.</p>
<p>Elon – Small, need to visit. If she likes it, so many smallish schools (5000 undergrads) could work for her, but she is pretty sure this would be too small. BFA-MT requires full liberal arts requirements. Audition – very difficult.</p>
<p>Indiana U of Pennsylvania – mid-sized, audition for BA-Interdisciplinary Fine Arts, MT; Minor in Entrepeneurship for Fine Arts. Does anyone know about the quality of the program?</p>
<p>A few schools on my list to research: Towson, Radford, UMD, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Marhsall, URI, VCU, Adelphi (Muhlenberg is definitely too small, Skidmore too expensive)</p>