Students who aren't admitted anywhere

CAMEAN02
Sat, 08 Mar 2014 04:10:31 +0000

Yep, happened to me. The only BFA program I got into was too expensive for me to attend. I applied to 4 BFAs and 3 non-audition BAs. None of them were tippy-top schools like NYU, Michigan, Carnegie, etc., etc. (because I knew I wouldn’t get in and couldn’t afford to pay $100 app fees for 30 trillion schools) and only 2 of them were nationally-ranked at all (CCM and Evansville). I didn’t get into any of the BFAs I applied to and wound up going to my last resort school because my scholarship is literally paying me to be here and I don’t want to be out -$40,000+ trying to move to NYC someday.

The theatre program is mediocre and I would LOVE to transfer; but I do not have enough money to re-apply, travel and audition for several schools all over again. However, I’m still working towards being an actress. Luckily, my city has a big community theatre scene so right now I’m working on networking and just auditioning for and working with as many different people as possible. I’m also trying to build up a little film work so I can eventually move to LA to be a TV/Film actor. I’m (hopefully) auditioning for an indie next month and there’s little things every now and then that are shot here or nearby that are good for cutting your teeth on. My goal next summer is to audition for summerstock and see what I can do.

I honestly think a big part of my rejection is I just was not ready. I had only been at the performing arts school I graduated from for 2 years instead of 4 and that is the most intensive acting training I’ve had because my family can’t afford and is unsupportive of the extracurricular acting school in town. I did a Lady Macbeth monologue at a few auditions, flubbed the lyrics to my solo (which I had done 300 times) at Evansville, and was not as mature of an actor as I am now. Everyone else had been acting since they were 5 and yada yada. I had been dabbling in singing, instrumental music, dance, theatre, and all four at the same time until I decided to hone in on acting specifically 5 years ago.

Another big part is my look/type. If you’ll notice, most of the people who get into the BFA programs at the best schools in the country are thin and/or fit and attractive. I am the exact opposite. So, there’s minus 10 points for marketability–which is part of what these schools want. A BFA program is designed to put you straight into the workforce, so the top will not accept someone who they don’t think can be marketed as it will hurt their track record and credibility. I also don’t really have a particular type. Every role on my resume is drastically different. I’ve played a doctor, Ross in Macbeth, Maria (from WSS) in a Musical Theatre Workshop, an angel in a student production, a mammy in another workshop. Unfortunately, this is not what colleges are looking for. They are basically trying to restock their shelf. They need a few people of each type–the ingenue, the comedian, the leading lady, the naive Romeo Montague heartthrob, etc.–to replace the people of these types that they already have.

Anyways, I’m rambling. It happens. It’s excruciating. Life sucks more for some people than others. You deal with it and use it to make you stronger.