<p>Applying/Auditioning for:
(Question: Do Cal State schools require an audition for theater majors?)</p>
<p>Azusa Pacific
Cal Lutheran
CSUN
Cal State Channel Islands
Chapman
Loyola Marymount
Pepperdine
UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara</p>
<p>I would also audition for out-of-state schools but I need to stay in California :)</p>
<p>DisneyGirl: UCI and UCSB both require auditions, though Irvine has a BFA in MT only (no straight acting) and neither of them audition until your third semester.</p>
<p>Chapman and LMU also require auditions.</p>
<p>Pepperdine, Cal Lutheran, and AzPac I’m not sure of…</p>
<p>And I wasn’t aware that Channel Islands even HAD a Theater Arts program. Apparently they do have a Performing Arts degree with emphases in Theater, Music, and Dance, and it doesn’t look like an audition is required.</p>
<p>To my knowledge, the only schools in the Cal State system that require an audition are Long Beach, Fullerton, and SLO, though I don’t know all of them like the back of my hand. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>OKAY, so I’m thinking this will be my last revision. I’ve been trying to look for some better bargain programs that might fly under the radar (Texas State’s high profile and selectivity notwithstanding, it’s cheaper than any of the mega-prestigious privates).</p>
<p>University of Arizona (maybe)
BU
CSU Long Beach
Chapman
Columbia College Chicago
DePaul
Emerson
NYU
Southern Utah University
Texas Christian
Texas State San Marcos
UCSB
UNC Greensboro
UNCSA</p>
<p>It just feels like I have too many, but I’m trying to hedge my bets… and I don’t know which ones I would cut if I were forced to.</p>
<p>Strangebro,</p>
<p>Univ of Arizona had a pretty brutal cut system a few years ago. There are many discussions on the MT forum about it and you should read them carefully, if that system still exists there.</p>
<p>On that same wise note, if you do care about cut systems, make sure to also read up on DePaul’s which cuts the freshmen class in half after one year. You may know this already and/or be fine with cut programs of this type.</p>
<p>StrangeBro, I think SUNY Purchase may cost less than privates too.</p>
<p>(not a program that “flies under the radar” of course)</p>
<p>I don’t know if you qualify for need based financial aid, but keep in mind that the final ticket price to these colleges and programs is after you get a financial aid award, need or merit based.</p>
<p>Soozie, there have been several recent posts from people saying that DePaul has now dropped the cuts…</p>
<p>^^Thanks for that update, NJTheatreMom. I must have missed those posts! Glad to hear it, however.</p>
<p>I’m applying for BA in Drama/Theater Arts, not BFA because I will also being double majoring with Computer Information Systems or Computer Science. Yes, Cal State Channel Islands’ major is technically called Performing Arts, not Theater Arts 
</p>
<p>Those auditioning for UCI’s BA in Drama do not need to audition, but I’m still researching and trying to figure out UCSB’s audition policies for their BA program.</p>
<p>My daughter is interested in a BFA Acting, but is not ruling out a BA program at the right school. She has a 4.1 weighted GPA and a 2050 on her SAT with lots of theater experience, volunteer work, etc. on her extracurriculars. Her dad and I certainly want to encourage her to continue with her passion for acting, but also pursue a college experience where she will have access to a challenging curriculum should she end up changing her major. Virginia is our in-state, but we are able to look at out of state or private schools as options. Here is what we have on our potential list:</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon
Emerson
American (maybe)
University of Virginia
William and Mary
James Madison
Virginia Commonwealth University
UNC Greensboro (maybe)</p>
<p>Here are my questions: Does anyone have insight on UVA or W&M’s theatre program? We know they are BA programs, but obviously great schools. Her counselor is encouraging her to apply to an Ivy League school. Do any of them have an undergrad theatre program worth considering? She really hates cold weather, so although Emerson looks great, we would love suggestions for other southern programs. Are we missing any other great programs that we should consider as we narrow our list?</p>
<p>For “Kelly” - Yale’s theater department is legendary, if you want to add one Ivy super-reach. I know UNC School of the Arts is excellent, but if you want an academic BA program, you might need to research the offerings at Emory, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest - I don’t know anything about them, but it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that they have strong theater departments. Elon might be more of a fall-back, but I’ve also heard good things about their theatre program. Goucher is supposed to be excellent, if you’re not hoping for a generous financial aid package.</p>
<p>Yale’s theatre department is legendary but that is mostly attributed to its graduate program. Kelly, is there a particular reason that your D’s counsellor is encouraging an Ivy app? The schools are actually very different and although I’d understand if the counsellor had identified one particular Ivy that he/she thought would be good for what your D wants in a college experience, a generic ‘apply to an Ivy’ suggestion is pretty bad advice. Having said that, if I were recommending an Ivy for an applicant who is a strong academic student but who still wants an excellent opportunity for theatre in college, I’d go with Brown. However, if you don’t want cold weather, then that’s out, as would be Emerson or CMU, or many other excellent programs! I can’t say that I’d allow weather preferences to be a determining factor in where to get the best training for a theatre kid, but your view may vary. ;)</p>
<p>There is a CC dad who has had wonderful things to say about Emory’s theatre BA. </p>
<p>My D with considerably lower stats got a pretty decent scholarship from Goucher, so your D might do even better.</p>
<p>One very important thing about Emerson is that it is NOT a regular liberal arts college. If your D wants to have a college experience and have the full spectrum of academic courses available, she should think very hard about Emerson.</p>
<p>I agree “alwaysamom” that the generic suggestion to apply to an Ivy league school seemed kind of random to me. Since I was not actually present for the conversation, I suspect there was a lot more to the suggestion than what I have heard. Frankly, I think she just likes the idea that someone thinks she could be a viable candidate for one of those schools. After a further conversation and some more research, we also came to the conclusion that Brown would be a better match IF we decide to pursue an Ivy league application. And yes, we can’t make the decision based on weather, but I would love to find a southern option for her to throw in the mix! I will have her check out Emory, EmmyBet. Thanks to all for the input…this is a very helpful website! Anyone know any people who have done theatre at either William and Mary or UVA?</p>
<p>From what I have read here on this forum, plus knowing of a theatre professional (distant relative) who was a student there, I would venture to say that William and Mary is excellent for theatre.</p>
<p>Perhaps someone else could respond regarding UVA…?</p>
<p>Might I suggest she look into USC in Los Angeles? Not Southern, I know, but great weather and lots of acting opportunities in and out of school. They offer both a BFA and BA in Theatre, with the BFA program requiring an audition. Their academics are challenging and they also have an honors college for those who want even more rigor. Plus they do encourage kids who want to double major or try more than one minor.</p>
<p>UVA… there are graduate students there as well, so competition with graduate students for roles might bean issue. I have seen shows at UVA, they are good. I notice from the bios of the cast members that many are double majors or not theatre majors at all. Wonderful school… a great option for double majoring. William and Mary is similar in the sense that I believe many students double major. Both schools have summer theatres on campus. </p>
<p>I teach at James Madison, so feel free to PM me with any specific questions.</p>
<p>If your D is looking at Ivy level schools, but wants more focused training I would suggest she look at Northwestern. </p>
<p>For BFA programs with strong academics she might want to add University of Michigan and NYU Tisch to her list of schools to look at. </p>
<p>I agree with another poster that Elon is a great school to look at for BFA acting in the south. If she wants BFA conservatory experience UNC School of the Arts… but all arts programs, so no changing majors there. Florida State, University of Central Florida, and University of Miami also have strong programs I have heard… no cold weather there at all! Florida State and Miami are also academically strong. Not sure about UCF. </p>
<p>Emerson is known for communications and the arts, so she may want to see if there were other majors she might be interested in pursuing if she were to switch. I am not sure how easy it is to change your major at Carnegie Mellon from drama… there are parents of kids there on this forum, they might be able to share that info.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, you guys are great! Madbean, California is full of great options, but she says that is too far (which is fine with me Thanks to StageMum, my D has been reading about Wake Forest for the last couple of days as a possible addition to our application list. Looks like they have lots of scholarship opportunities for kids who are interested in Fine Arts. Frankly, I think our VA schools are probably her most likely destination, but it is exciting to explore some other possibilities. Anyone have any insight on American University’s theatre program? Since we are so close, we might go take a look around.</p>
<p>American University has what appears to be a pretty good Acting program. Students have to be accepted to the College of Arts & Sciences by regular admissions process, with no audition involved until after they are accepted into the university. Accepted high school seniors may audition in the spring, or they may wait until they matriculate, but an audition is required for prospective majors. In other words, admissions to AU are based entirely on academic merit, but acceptance into the department as acting major is audition-based.</p>
<p>how is Cal State Long beach drama? why considering?</p>