To BFA or not to BFA?

Is it worth it to leave home for a BFA?

Here's a question that every theatre student has asked themselves at least once. Whether you're a New York native who has trained in performing arts high school or someone from the other side of the world who got bitten by the acting bug a little too "late", we have all fantasized about heading to the Mecca of live theatre to train as a performer. Thus far, my blog has advocated for not pursuing a BFA (a Bachelor of Fine Arts - presumably in Acting or Musical Theatre), mainly because I have been speaking from the perspective of a financially conservative individual who has been taught to avoid debt and risk. However, given the chance, is it actually worth it to go for what so many working actors have sworn by?

I admit that I've toyed with the idea hundreds of times over the years, but the cost of education (and now, a pandemic and race concerns) deterred me from making that crucial move. For someone in America, the choice is likely to be far easier - there is a world-class BFA in every other state, and in-state tuition is far more manageable than what it would cost an international student. There are many other reasons in the mix, but short of a scholarship or a significant amount of financial aid, most international students would simply realize that they do not have the resources to fund an overseas degree without falling into debt. In this part of the world, taking on student debt is simply unthinkable - students would rather work part-time jobs every weekend and summer break to pay off their loans by the time they graduate, than allow the interest rate to even start accumulating.

How much do you actually miss out on if you aren't doing a BFA in a top ten conservatory program at the age of 18? What are all the various permutations of a liberal arts theatre degree (the "BA") - and how does it add to or take away from your training as a performer? And the 64-million dollar question: How do you compensate for what you do not have?

What do you miss out on without a BFA?

Why take the BFA?

Intensity of training

In order to understand what a BFA student actually has to do, I read some undergraduate actor thesis papers available online, where a number of them would describe their day-to-day class activities. Simply reading through the actor journals, written in layman language for us non-BFA peasants, was enough for me to pick up on some drama school lingo. Nowhere else have I learnt that actors had an entire toolbox of acting techniques from Stanislavski to Uta Hagen - and that each technique is distinct in theory and practice, and that different scenes may call for different techniques depending on the emotional connection needed. The BFA student learns all of this, and trains for hours each day just so that they can fully understand and embody each technique fully. In contrast, Theatre BA programs range from allowing students to pursue a concentration in acting, to having an open acting class or two, and in some cases - they completely omit actor training from the curriculum in favor of theatre studies and technical theatre.

Over and above the amount of time BFA students spend on their craft, they also benefited from a much deeper understanding of the craft. Back in March when I attended a basic acting workshop, I spoke with friends who attended drama school and trained with them to understand some of the things they learned. While working on a script with a fresh graduate from my local conservatory at an in-person acting workshop, it occurred to me that they were sensitive to the script at a level that my wildest A-Level H2 Literature analysis skills could not summon. They pointed out every punctuation mark and every objective change, while all I could see was text and more text.

As I listened to my friend discuss the mechanisms of layering emotions and relationship building between scene partners, I was merely grasping at straws while being awestruck by just how much I have yet to learn in this craft... and certainly, I was aware that eight to ten credits of part-theory, part-studio acting classes in my BA program will never match the rigor or intensity of a BFA.

Exposure to the industry

Another feature that sets most BFA programs apart from the masses would be the final-year industry showcase that helps student-actors to secure agent representation from the city upon graduation. In most states - particularly in larger countries such as the USA and the UK, that counts as a major head start that most early career actors would kill for. A final-year showcase in those countries usually involves a trip to New York or London where they may obtain their first taste of performing on Broadway or the West End.

BFA programs are also more likely to be taught by faculty members who are working performers, and this is particularly true for colleges based near theatre capitals. As a result, they have access to firsthand knowledge about industry trends and insider information that the interested bystander may only dream of. Furthermore, having someone connected to the industry could well be your start - I've had at least a few seniors who got their first professional audition because their professor told them that they would be good for a role. That said, I count my circumstances amongst my blessings - I live in a city which also happens to be a state and a country, which makes being connected to the theatre industry much easier (that said - the aforementioned circumstances can also be a bane, it's a double edged sword). In most other places, it's almost universally understood that you have to be in a top ten conservatory program to get industry contacts at the national level.

What if I can't take a BFA?

Nevertheless, if you're going to go with the BA for whatever reason, and I cannot stress this enough, it's important to look through the compulsory courses and electives offered by every school you consider. You really do not want a situation where you realize on the first day of school that this is totally not what you signed up for, and I took pains to make sure I was doing the right thing before I committed to my BA. Talk to upperclassmen, beg, borrow and steal information about your course, and leave no stone unturned - if you're going to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a theatre degree, it needs to be something you won't regret. BA programs come in all shapes and sizes - some have performances showcases, some skip it entirely. There are programs that include courses on mass media and popular culture, and others that teach lighting, sound and design. And rare as they are, there are some BA programs that are really conservatory classes nestled within a liberal arts college.

Regardless of which route you choose, just make sure you're in a city or at least a college that has a vibrant theatre scene. I strongly believe that the environment matters when you're an artist - it inspires you to create, and you can inspire others in return. This applies especially if you're in a BA program: A good college theatre club could be your ticket to getting your theatrical resume started, and functions as valuable actor training at the same time. If you have spare cash, it makes total sense to spend your evenings watching live theatre and learning from the professionals - bonus points if you live near a city where touring Broadway productions visit seasonally. 

And of course - never stop reaching for more! It's always good to have a small collection of monologues and songs ready in your audition book. College is a short and exciting time, so take on as many short films as you can fit into your schedule, and block out your summer break for a musical theatre intensive. I've heard of seniors who staged their own independent production with monetary and administrative support from the universities, so it's not even far fetched to create your own opportunities in college - especially if someone is willing to sponsor it for you.

Ultimately, you have the power to design your own college experience in a way that's right for you. Make your time count with a goal in sight, and every moment will be a moment that's filled with purpose.