<p>Our D opted for a BA in a school with a highly respected Theatre program since she thrives on academic challenge, peer diversity, and wanted to double major in addition to graduating ready to work as a performer. Most of her MT friends opted for BFAs. </p>
<p>The first thing we figured out when evaluating programs is that there is not a cut-and-dried BA versus BFA difference. Programs can be put on a continuum, with Conservatories on one tail and some BA’s far over on the other, but in the middle the can be crossover where some BA programs can actually be made more performance-focused than some BFAs. I’d say programs like Northwestern, U Mich, Penn State and maybe NYU seemed to occupy that middle ground, though others here no doubt have a clearer picture of various schools. </p>
<p>I think the biggest difference I’ve noticed in the case of D’s school versus BFAs is that her BA affords far more scheduling/curriculum flexibility than her BFA friends have. More of their curriculum is a prescribed series of courses, and more of their daytime hours are spent as a group in studios/classrooms, while kids in D’s program design vastly varied curriculum based on their evolving interests over 4 years. Some kids graduate with 80% performing classes (more than many BFAs), while others graduate with less than 20% performance courses. For example. D is a Junior and could take nothing but studio classes from here on out if she wanted to. As a result of this flexibility, kids graduate from her program with vastly differing areas of expertise, while grads of BFA programs might tend to leave with a more uniform skill set. Her Theatre program produces lots of successful performers, but also many respected writers, directors, stage managers, academics, producers… and even lawyers and doctors.</p>
<p>Another thing I’ve only recently become aware of is the extent to which the scheduling flexibility allows upper classmen to perform professionally in the nearby city (Chicago) while remaining enrolled. This may be possible in some BFA programs as well, but has opened up possibilities that we’d never considered when initially choosing schools.</p>