grad acting programs

[stella985]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 3:33pm

Hey, so I was wondering if anyone here is in a grad acting program (or going to be applying to one soon and knows a lot about them)and would answer a few questions? Like did you go directly from undergraduate? Did you have a BFA in theatre? I'm especially interested in Yale, NYU, and Julliard. Thanks!

[stewperman]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 5:17pm

I go to The Theatre School at DePaul and am about to finish our BFA program. I also work in our admissions office so I deal a lot with students interested in our grad program. What kind of education are you getting now?

http://theatreschool.depaul.edu/graduate_conservatory.php
A link to our grad acting program.

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:01pm

I cannot reccomend the DePaul Theater School enough...I don't go there but two of my very good friends are about to go into their second year (they didn't get cut!! I'm so proud) and they LOVE it and have nothing but praises. It's very very rigorous and intense but their shows are amazing. I got to go see August Wilson's Two Trains Running this past season and it was amazing. It also is in Lincoln Park which is one of the coolest areas. It's a great program!

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/19/06 at 9:26pm

I don't go to Juilliard, but I did audition last year (and will be auditioning again this year), and I have a few friends who go there. To me it's THE program for an aspiring actor (if you have questions on program specifics, I can try my best to answer; I'm pretty familiar with it for someone who never went. Yet. )

There's a mix as far as the students. There are some that come straight out of high school. The majority already had college degrees, usually BFAs in theatre. I know there are a couple of people there now who are in there 30s, so there are "late startes" as well (if 30 is really all that late).

[stella985]

Posted: 7/20/06 at 6:19pm

Do you have a BFA and if so did you audition right after undergrad?

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 7/21/06 at 9:05pm

No, I'm going for my BFA starting in fall, but I do know that there are people there now who already had their BFA and auditioned right after getting out of undergrad.

[MattSingsAlot]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 12:51am

Yale, NYU, Juilliard, American Conservatory Theater (San Francisco), University of California at Irvine

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/25/06 at 1:43am

UC San Diego has a great program

[suchclumsytime]

Posted: 7/29/06 at 9:45am

Has anyone heard anything about the grad programs at Brandeis or the New School?

[stella985]

Posted: 7/29/06 at 11:26am

I don't know about Brandeis but I know the program at the New School has changed a lot in the last year. It used to be where "Inside the Actors Studio" was taped, but they left and started their own program at Pace, so I think there was a large turn over in faculty.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/30/06 at 5:26am

Although it is possible to get into a good program directly out of undergrad, most schools want you to get a few years of professional experience under your belt first. And honestly, it is probably better for you to do that anyway. I'm about to start an MFA degree, and I am very glad I took time off after undergrad first, a) because I needed a break from teachers, and b) it's important to have some "real world" experience.

Anyway, I had a BA, not a BFA, and I personally find it fascinating that some people will have both a BFA and an MFA. That's seven years of conservatory training. Overkill? Perhaps. I don't know. If they're good schools, the more the merrier I suppose. But it certainly doesn't make for a very well-rounded education. If you have a BFA, I would encourage you even more to take some time off before getting an advanced degree.