Let the performing arts college search begin! College application and audition season is right around the corner. With many of the deadlines at the end of fall, these next couple of months are going to be some of the busiest of the year for you as you begin your performing arts college search. From filling out the actual application to creating your digital audition, there’s a lot of work that goes into applying to a performing arts program. Before that can even begin, though, you need to think about where you want to go.
“So I have a few questions…”
Asking questions is always a good idea. Reach out to colleges you’re interested in before the application and audition season begins to see if you can talk to an admissions counselor or a professor in your discipline. And ask a lot of questions. That shows them that you’re serious about their program and it can give you a better idea of what exactly you want from your college experience.
“I definitely want…”
Speaking of your college experience, what kind do you want? There are a lot of options out there, so it’s best to create a list of factors to consider. This can include basic factors like size, location, and student body, but as a performing artist, it’s also good to consider things like what kind of connections the program has, what their alumni are doing, and what kind of arts degrees they offer (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, etc).
“You know, I read online that…”
If you aren’t sure about anything other than that you want to pursue your artistic passions in college, it helps to do a little research. There are a lot of great resources out there to help compare different programs, like College Confidential, College Board, and Parchment. These are good for surface level research. Once you narrow it down, check out the universities’ websites. See what they say about themselves and compare it to what third-party sites are saying about them.
Side note: For those of you who want to study theatre, musical theatre, or stage management, Acceptd has partnered with the Educational Theatre Association to introduce a comprehensive,searchable directory of programs that offer those disciplines.
“I’m getting Acceptd!”
The whole point of the performing arts college search is to get in, so it makes sense to create a kind of safety net. It’s not a good idea to go into the college application and audition process with only one or two schools in mind. Doing research and asking questions at the beginning will help you select a group of schools and programs that offer what you want as an artist. It can help to put your schools into categories, like Dream Schools, Best Fit Schools, and Safety Schools. Try to have at least one or two schools in each category, that way you maximize your chances of getting accepted and make for a more successful performing arts college search.
Following your dreams isn’t always easy, and choosing a college or university can be a big decision, but Acceptd is here to help. We’ve helped over 25,000 performing artists, just like you, pursue their passion. Check out Acceptd to create your profile and apply to any of our 200+ partner programs. This is your moment.
