To BFA or Not to BFA: Which Is Right For You?

There was a lot going on for me back in November of 2016. 

Election results, senior year of high school, and the cool down after submitting an insane amount of prescreens to schools across the country. 

My strategy during my college audition season was to cast my net as wide as humanly possible.  This included looking into musical theatre and acting programs, as well as BFA and BA majors.  I admit, I do sort of regret not making some bigger decisions early on.  But everything sounded so exciting!  How can one choose?? 

So as you go through the process, which path should you go down?  And how did I come to my decision to go for a BFA?  Maybe these tips will help.

1. No way is the “right” way.

If you ever visit Carnegie Mellon University, you will see outside the drama department a Hollywood Walk of Fame-inspired star walk.  Famous alumni are posted on red stars leading up to the main door.  People like Patina Miller and Christian Borle who are well-known in the Broadway world.  This might make you think “that’s a lot of stars from a BFA program, that could be a reason to go that route!”  However, there are also just as many well renowned artists who received a liberal arts, or more well-rounded, education.  Lin Manuel Miranda is a graduate of Wesleyan University, for example.  And not to mention there are many well-known actors and artists who never attended college at all, or came to it later in life.  I love the story of Adam Driver, who was a marine before he attended Juilliard.  The point is, there is no “right” way, just like there is no “right” program.

2. What kind of collegiate experience and lifestyle do you want?  Make a list.

This may seem obvious, but it’s important to remember. 

BFA programs are known to be extremely rigorous 10 am to 10 pm days or even more.  If you are a BFA Musical Theatre student, you will be taking classes solely in voice/music, dance, and acting, with the occasional technical theatre or other class.  If you are a BFA Acting student, you might have more wiggle room, but you will still probably be at your max 18 credit hours per semester. 

In my experience as a BFA Acting major, I came in with a ton of dual enrollment credits.  This allowed me to minor in Electronic Media and take elective classes I was interested in.  However, I was only able to do this because of my determination.  My schedule was still extremely busy even on the weekends.  I can definitely feel senioritis kicking in for me this year in my fourth year.  It can be really tiring.  I do not regret it for me personally, but I have friends who decided it was not the lifestyle for them and transferred or dropped.  And that is extremely valid!  This schedule is hard, plain and simple.  This isn’t to say a liberal arts education is a walk in the park.  College is not for everyone.  However, a BA is way more open to double majoring and minoring in other interests.  You will also need to take math courses.  I remember that being the biggest con on my list and how happy I was I didn’t need to take math at my school.  The silliest things may really matter to you, and that’s okay!

So make a list of what you want.  Do you want to study abroad?  Join a sorority or fraternity?  Join clubs?  BAs are generally more open to these.  But do your research, because there are exceptions!  (I got to study abroad twice.)

3. A BFA is almost always four years.  A BA could be less.

This is more specific to my case and may not apply to everyone.  But if you are coming in with dual or concurrent enrollment credits, or you have taken AP courses, some BA programs may allow you to graduate a semester or even a whole year early.  This can be a huge plus for people.  I had the option to go this route with an in-state school.  However, I ultimately decided I wanted the hands-on, rigorous lifestyle a BFA could offer me.  It was really funny that my student portal started calling me a senior during my junior year, just because of the amount of dual enrollment credits I had on hand.  

With all that said, always remember that you will end up where you are supposed to be, gap years are extremely valid, and it’s all about the process over the product.  And I am a resource if you ever want someone to talk it out with!  Truly.  I wish someone had done that for me when I looked into the void that was my collegiate future.

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Carlee Coulehan is in the CCM Acting Class of 2021. Born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, she moved out to the Queen City to pursue Acting as well as a minor in Electronic Media. She is an actor/filmmaker who interfaced with different departments during her undergraduate career. Recent CCM credits include the sociable Lawyer Kathy in Clybourne Park, ensemble and fight captain in CCM Musical Theatre’s Yeast Nation, and an H2O Victim in H2O: A Play About Water at the Cincy Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. Film credits include Tethered (Nightmares and Cindependent Film Festivals), an actor/editor on the 48 Hour Film Festivals (CCM), and Mouse in the House, which she wrote, produced, edited, and starred in (Cindependent Film Festival). Carlee also studied abroad with Hope After Hate, a multimedia project following the story of a Holocaust survivor. Because her website, carleecoulehan.com, is currently under construction, follow her on Instagram for updates! @coulcarlee

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