Ithaca College houses two premier schools for creatives: the Park School of Communication with an outstanding film, tv and radio program, and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance a conservatory program housed within a university giving you also all the advantages that setting allows.

Syracuse University is an R1 research university but for creative students it is the home of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, and the School of Architecture.

You want to study theater in college, it’s a long worthwhile road, here’s how to prepare your applications. 

BFA applications start with the Common Application, but then there are many more requirements… essays, artist statement, descriptions of artwork, writing samples, creative samples. Read how you can be prepared to answer all the prompts.

Northwestern University is a premier liberal arts university where creative students interested in performing arts will have the opportunity to study their craft as it intersects with the liberal arts.

DePaul University is a great option for students who want a liberal arts university in a fun, less hectic city environment of Lincoln Park but would also like to study film, performing arts, animation and other creative areas in a downtown city environment of the Loop Campus.

Columbia College Chicago is has a full range of majors and minors at both the BFA and BA/BS level to study everything from Animation to Film to Sound Design to Writing for Television, all while you are immersed in Chicago’s artistic community.

University of Miami offers all that you’d expect at a large school, but it is a gem for creative students as it houses the Frost School of Music, majors and minors in the Department of Cinematic Arts, and BArch degree from the School of Architecture. Worth considering if you’re looking for a school in a lively, international city.

Rollins College is an exceptional small liberal arts college outside Orlando Florida. They house an on campus art museum, have D2 sports, and over 35 majors including a 3+2 BA/MBA program. It’s a hidden gem in Florida.

Northeastern University is a college where if you can imagine what you want to study, you can create that path, in fact every student I spoke with was studying a combined major.

We’re always surprised when we talk to people to hear their perspective on careers in the arts. I always start out by asking everyone to look around them. Wherever you are I can guarantee that many artists contributed to creating everything you see, hear and touch.

Creatives are multi-talented and often think outside the box. They’re highly sought after and greatly valued in the job market but often they have to make their own jobs.

I wanted to know from one of our students from 2018 to learn what makes Pace’s School of Performing Arts so special. I learned that it is the small size and individual attention, coupled with the ability to major outside of the arts that makes it one of the most competitive BFA Acting programs in the country. Maybe it’s perfect for you?