Theater Major Colleges?

Aspiring actress here! I want to pursue a theater major in college and I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations for the best colleges or programs for theater? I'd love to hear your experiences or insight!

Hello, aspiring actress! It's fantastic that you're passionate about theater and want to pursue it in college. Here are some recommendations for excellent colleges with strong theater programs:

1. Juilliard School: Juilliard is one of the most prestigious performing arts conservatories in the world. Their drama division focuses on classical training, emphasizing acting, voice, and movement. You'll also have access to the nearly unparalleled resources of New York City, one of the theater capitals of the world.

2. New York University (NYU): NYU's Tisch School of the Arts offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Drama. They provide a range of studio-based training programs and partnerships with reputed organizations like the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Like at Juilliard, NYU students benefit greatly from being in the heart of New York City.

3. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU): CMU is widely recognized for its rigorous conservatory-style BFA acting program within its School of Drama. With strong emphasis on both classical and contemporary techniques, CMU prepares students for a variety of acting careers.

4. University of Southern California (USC): USC's School of Dramatic Arts offers BFA degrees in Acting as well as Theatre. The curriculum balances both theory and practice, to provide students with an interdisciplinary education and formative opportunities like study abroad programs in London, Florence, and Cape Town.

5. Yale University: Yale's renowned theater program not only offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Theater Studies but also houses the esteemed Yale School of Drama for graduate studies. The undergraduate program is very diverse, accommodating many interests in the field of theater, and if you take initiative you may be able to take advantage of some of the graduate-level resources even as an undergraduate.

6. Northwestern University: The School of Communication at Northwestern offers a performance-focused program for theater majors. Students can tailor their education by choosing their electives, concentrations, and minors to develop their artistic voice.

7. University of Michigan (UMich): UMich's BFA in Acting program through the School of Music, Theatre & Dance covers various acting techniques and styles. They also offer a BFA in Theatre Design and Production, which is perfect for those more interested in behind-the-scenes work.

8. Boston University (BU): BU's College of Fine Arts has a BFA program specializing in Theatre Arts where students can explore acting, directing, and other aspects of theater-making.

These are just a few of the top theater programs in the United States. Each of them has its unique approach and opportunities, so it's essential to research further and find the program that aligns best with your goals and aspirations, personally as well as artistically.

Finally, if you're looking for ways to pursue your passion for theater while still in high school, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which lists a range of arts-related summer programs for high schoolers: https://blog.collegevine.com/high-school-art-summer-programs/. Many of them will allow you to focus on theater specifically, and participating in one could even give you a boost during the college process, as admissions officers love to see that you're taking initiative and exploring your interests outside of the classroom!

Good luck with your college search!