Should You Get a BFA in College?

Dash Kaur

As college grows nearer, juniors and underclassmen start to consider what they want to do in life. The debate of “Is a college degree in the arts actually worth it?” arises for many, especially those interested in pursuing their art as a career. There are many misconceptions about art degrees, so before you undertake one in college, these are things you should consider. 

Undergraduate art degrees are typically obtained through a Bachelor in Fine Arts (BFA). They provide a formal education in your selected art and teach students essential skills to pursue these careers. If you believe you lack the practice or experience necessary to obtain a successful career in your art, a BFA may be a great option for you.

That being said, applying for a BFA is not an easy feat. BFA applications usually have their own requirements for the art portion where seniors must prepare different individual auditions/portfolios for each school. 

Rachel Yi (ACT ‘23) applied to Theatre, Acting and Screen Acting BFAs. She remarked that most BFA applications had a deadline similar to early academic applications for Bachelor Of Arts (BA) and Bachelor Of Science (BS) degrees. This meant that those applying to BFAs needed to complete their regular applications 1-3 months before BA/BS regular applications. In addition, many BFA programs had supplemental essays that needed to be completed. Yi would record and submit her pre-screens (video recordings of her audition pieces) for her schools, along with the written portion. 

“It’s hard to record all those videos, especially with me applying to 23 different BFA programs,” Yi said. 

After this, the applicants received callbacks that were done in-person or online. Decisions for these programs are then released late February to early April. 

Similarly, Matthew Manning (MT ‘23) applied to Acting, Theatre Performance, and Musical Theatre BFA programs. Manning says that on top of the $50-70 application fee, students must pay an additional fee for their pre-screen auditions. “For Pace University, it was a $50 school application and an $80 pre-screen fee,” Manning said.  Additional fees that may go into the audition process are lighting and other equipment for quality pre-screen videos and optional coaching from private voice, dance, or acting lessons. 

Another drawback for Yi and Manning was the painstaking amount of effort the auditions required. Recording for weeks proved to be a mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausting task. This was on top of completing the rest of the written applications, keeping up with grades, performing in shows, and other extracurriculars. 

However, Manning finds the positives and claims that this process helped them mature as a performer as it was “the most performing I have ever had to do within a short amount of time.”

Tabitha Finamore (IA ‘23) applied to Design BFAs and had to prepare many art pieces as each school requested different pieces. Traditional art programs commonly request art made withphysical materials  such as charcoal, oil, etc. Digital art programs request art made with  technology such as an iPad or Wacom pad. However, some schools had niche requests, such as UCLA requiring a book cover to be redesigned. To apply to each school, Finamore says she “had to create around 20 pieces of art. Then I tried to curate what pieces would go to each school.” Schools ask for an average of 15 pieces but may take more or less (such as NYU taking up to 40). She also had to pay additional fees for her portfolios, ranging from $5-50 each. 

Despite the hardships of applying to a BFA, there are benefits that an artist gains from the program itself. The individual creates a stronger foundation from what they already know through new expertises, techniques and industries. This allows people to explore their art to see if it seems like a sustainable long-term career for them. Getting a BFA shows that you have a reputable education in your field, as well as a commitment . This can provide more career opportunities in the long run. Overall, it seems that salaries for artistic jobs stay about the same amount for those who obtain a BFA and those who do not. Also, if you want to learn more about an academic field too, you may always minor in it while simultaneously pursuing your BFA. 

BFAs have their stigmas and faults, but they also have their positives. It is up to you to decide if this is a path that will truly benefit you and your future.