ADVERTISING FEATURE San Francisco Performing & Visual Arts College Fair WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 7 9 p.m. South San Francisco Conference Center REGISTER NOW! visit www.gotomypvafair.com THE BENEFITS OF ONLINE STUDENT REGISTRATION Students register for the fair one time. It also eliminates the need for college contact cards. Entering the information one time allows the student to elaborate on special interests, extracurricular activities, and accomplishments. 2017 San Francisco National College Fair Sponsors
Tips for Attending a NACAC National College Fair BEFORE THE FAIR Answer the following questions to help determine what kind of school would be best for you: Do you want to attend a two- or four-year institution? Co-ed or single sex? What size school do you want to attend? What programs of study are you considering? How far from home do you want to go? Do you wish to participate in any specific extra-curricular activities or athletics? Do you want to attend a school in an urban, suburban or rural environment? Do you require any special services (i.e. tutoring, note takers, readers, TDD or interpreters)? 1. Register online for the fair at www.gotomypvafair.com to receive a barcode for easy onsite access to college representatives. 2. Print the barcode and bring it to the fair as your electronic ID. 3. Research colleges attending the fair to determine if they offer programs in your discipline. 4. Make a list of questions to ask college representatives. AT THE FAIR... 1. Attend a pre-fair workshop to learn more about the topics such as the arts admissions process. 2. Pick up a fair directory and bag for all of the materials you collect. 3. Visit schools that match or are the closest match to your search criteria. Be adventurous. Don t just talk to the well-known schools. 4. Ask the college representative to scan your barcode. This will allow the representative to follow up with you directly and quickly. 5. Ask the same questions to each college representative you visit. 6. Take notes. Write down what you find most interesting about each college. AFTER THE FAIR... 1. Review college websites, catalogs, and viewbooks to gather more information to help narrow your choices. 2. Send a thank you note/email to the college representatives you met. This simple gesture can show admission officials you re serious about wanting to attend their college.
Using High School Courses and Activities to Prepare for College Your post-high school years hold tremendous promise. At college you ll have the opportunity to make new friends, follow your interests and hopefully find a satisfying career. However, nearly half of all students who enter college fail to graduate with a bachelor s degree within six years. There are two reasons why kids flunk out, said Amy Thompson, a counselor at York Community High School (IL). They are either academically unprepared or they are emotionally unprepared. Increase your chances for success by making the most out of your high school years. BUCKLE DOWN IN CLASSROOM Taking rigorous classes in high school doesn t only help you get into college, the knowledge and skills you acquire work double-duty, preparing you to be successful in your pursuit of a degree. Seek out honors, Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in subjects that interest you. You want to take the most demanding courses you can while maintaining your sanity and still achieving good grades, Thompson said. Look for courses that require lots of writing and critical thinking two skills you ll be asked to use in almost every college class. Don t panic if the material seems difficult at first. Developing good study habits and time-management skills in high school can help you persevere in college, even when times get tough. Some rigorous courses actually allow you to jumpstart your postsecondary education. Students who do well on AP tests, for example, can earn college credit. Some high schools also partner with local colleges to offer dualcredit courses for high school students. GET INVOLVED From athletics to theater to volunteer work there s a whole world of extracurricular activities open to high school students. It can be overwhelming, Thompson said. But the one piece of advice I give students is don t just join something to pad your resume. Pick something you re genuinely interested in. Your goal: By senior year, be in a position that shows not only your devotion to the group, but also some level of initiative or leadership on your part, she said. Admission officers can see through the applicant who joins a million different clubs in their junior or senior year, Thompson noted. Use your activities to show colleges who you are. Universities are looking for students who will make the most of the opportunities available to them. A high school record that includes extracurricular activities helps show admission officers that you ll be a valuable part of their campus community. FINISH STRONG Your senior year of high school will be hectic. In addition to applying for colleges, you may find yourself leading a student organization or sports team. It can be tempting to sluff off in the classroom, but stay focused. Senior year grades and courses still count. You need to maintain your academic performance, and do at least as well if not better because you don t want to have your admission offer rescinded, Thompson said. When planning out your schedule, make sure that you re on-track to meet college entrance requirements, including at least two years of a foreign language and four years of math, science and English courses. Colleges want to see that you know how to work hard, and that you have taken advantage of the courses and activities your high school has to offer, Thompson said. A strong finish in your senior year helps make you a more attractive candidate.
EXHIBITOR LIST UNIVERSITY Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA Academy of Interactive Entertainment Seattle, WA AMDA College & Conservatory of the Performing Arts New York, NY American Academy of Dramatic Arts New York, NY The Art Institute of San Francisco San Francisco, CA ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts Tempe, AZ Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA Bath Spa University Bath, United Kingdom Berklee College of Music Boston, MA Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Boston Conservatory at Berklee Boston, MA California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA California Institute of the Arts Valencia, CA Chapman University Orange, CA Cogswell College San Jose, CA Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL Columbia College Hollywood Los Angeles, CA Columbus College of Art and Design Columbus, OH Cornish College of the Arts Seattle, WA DePaul University Chicago, IL Dominican University of California San Rafael, CA Emerson College Boston, MA Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NY FIDM/The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Los Angeles, CA The Glasgow School of Art Glasgow, United Kingdom Hampshire College Amherst, MA The Hartt School West Hartford, CT Hobart and William Smith Colleges Geneva, NY Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Bloomington, IN Interlochen Center for the Arts Interlochen, MI Ithaca College School of Music Ithaca, NY Laguna College of Art and Design Laguna Beach, CA Lawrence University Appleton, WI Leeds College of Music Leeds, United Kingdom Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Liverpool, United Kingdom Long Island University: Brooklyn & Post New York, NY Los Angeles College of Music Pasadena, CA DISCIPLINES (F,G,M,T,V,O) (F,V,O) (D,M,MT) (F,T) (G,P,O) (F,T,V) (M,T,V) (D,M,MT) (F,G,P,V) (D,F,G,M,P,T,V,O) (F,G,P,T) (M,MT,T) (D,G,M) (F,MT,T,V) (F,G,V,O) (D,F,M,P,T,V) (D,M,MT,T,O) (D,F,M,MT,P,T,V) (D,M,O) (D,F,M,MT,T,V) (G,V) (F,M,MT,P,T,V) (D,G,M,T)
UNIVERSITY Manhattan School of Music New York, NY Marymount Manhattan College New York, NY Middlesex University London, United Kingdom Mills College Oakland, CA Molloy College Rockville Centre, NY Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA Neighborhood Playhouse School New York, NY The New School New York, NY New York Film Academy New York, NY New York University Steinhardt Music & Performing Arts New York, NY Northeastern University Boston, MA Notre Dame de Namur University Belmont, CA NYU Tandon School of Engineering Brooklyn, NY Oberlin Conservatory of Music Oberlin, OH Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles, CA The Oxbow School Napa, CA Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA Pacific Northwest College of Art Portland, OR PCPA Pacific Conservatory Theatre Santa Maria, CA Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Ravensbourne London, United Kingdom Regent s University London London, United Kingdom Relativity School Los Angeles, CA Ringling College of Art and Design Sarasota, FL Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY Roger Williams University Bristol, RI Roosevelt University Chicago, IL Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Piscataway, NJ Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT San Francisco Art Institute San Francisco, CA San Francisco Conservatory of Music San Francisco, CA San Jose State University San Jose, CA Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah, GA School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL SMU Meadows School of the Arts Dallas, TX Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA Southern Oregon University Ashland, OR EXHIBITOR LIST DISCIPLINES (M,MT) (D,F,G,MT,P,T,V) (D,F,G,M,P,T,V) (D,M,O) (G,M,MT,P,V,O) (D,F,M,MT,P,T,V) (F,T) (F,G,M,P) (F,G,MT,P,T,O) (D,M,MT,T) (D,G,M,MT,T,V) (D,F,G,M,P,V) (G,P,V) (G,P,V) (D,G,M,T,O) (D,MT,T,O) (D,M) (D,F,MT,T,V,O) (M,MT) (D,F,G,M,P,T,V) (F,G,M,T,V) (F,G,P,V) (F,G,P,T,V,O) (F,P,V) (D,M,T) (F,G,M,MT,P,T,V,O)
EXHIBITOR LIST UNIVERSITY Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance London, United Kingdom UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music Los Angeles, CA UCLA School of Arts & Architecture Los Angeles, CA UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television Los Angeles, CA University of Arts Helsinki Helsinki, Finland The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ The University of British Columbia Vancouver, Canada University of California Irvine, Claire Trevor School of the Arts Irvine, CA University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO University of Colorado Denver Denver, CO University of Idaho Moscow, ID University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL University of Maryland School of Music College Park, MD University of Miami Frost School of Music Coral Gables, FL DISCIPLINES (D,M) (M,O) (D,G,P,V,O) (F,MT,T) (D,M,MT,P,T,V,O) (D,F,M,T) (D,M,T,V) (F,G,M,P,V,O) (F,G,M,P,T,V,O) WORKSHOP SCHEDULE Navigating the Performing and Fine Arts Admissions Wednesday, November 1 6 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Disciplines: D: Dance F: Film G: Graphic Design M: Music MT: Musical Theater P: Photography T: Theater V: Fine/Visual Art O: Other
UNIVERSITY University of New Haven West Haven, CT University of North Carolina School of the Arts Winston-Salem, NC University of Oregon Eugene, OR University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA University of Redlands Redlands, CA University of Roehampton, London London, United Kingdom University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA University of the Pacific Stockton, CA The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX University of Toronto Toronto, Canada Westminster College Salt Lake City, UT William Jessup University Rocklin, CA EXHIBITOR LIST DISCIPLINES (F,G,M,MT,T,V) (D,F,M,T,O) (D,M) (M,T,O) (M,T,V) (D,F,P,T) (D,G,M,T) (D,M,MT,T) (F,G,M,P,V) (D,G,M,T,V) (D,F,M,P,T,V,O) (D,G,M,MT,T,V) We would like to give special thanks to Shiraz Chavan from the California College of the Arts.
CHARTING YOUR PATH TO AN ARTS DEGREE A degree in the arts offers endless possibilities. Not only will it help you take your skills to the next level, you ll also have the opportunity to surround yourself with other artists and learn how to make a living doing what you love. Follow these four steps as you navigate the application process: Get feedback. Whether you re a concert pianist or an aspiring filmmaker, your talents and accomplishments will help determine your admission chances. Figure out where you stand by seeking out an objective assessment of your abilities. Start by asking a trusted teacher or mentor to describe your strengths and weaknesses. You may also consider getting an outside opinion from professionals with a local symphony, dance troupe or theater company. An honest appraisal will help you select the type of school and degree path best suited to your abilities and career goals. Scope out your options. Conservatories, stand-alone arts schools and traditional universities all offer programs for performing and visual arts students. Take time to learn about each option, as well the different degree pathways they provide. Conservatories and art schools offer students the chance to immerse themselves in the arts. At these highly competitive institutions, all students are artists, and degrees offered typically include a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) for artists/performers or a Bachelor of Music (BM) for musicians. Both degrees, also routinely available at larger universities, require rigorous study and practice. Looking for a more traditional college experience? At many universities, students can major in disciplines such as dance, music or the theatre arts to meet the requirements of a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. In addition to arts courses, students take liberal arts classes and have the opportunity to double-major or minor in another area of interest, such as history or Spanish. Showcase your talents. A student s portfolio or audition lies at the heart of their application. Do yourself a favor: Carefully research what each institution requires, and leave yourself plenty of time to prepare. Visual artists who have gone through the process of building a portfolio stress that only their best work the pieces they believe illustrate their technical skills and vision as an artist are included. Give yourself time to create, and choose a range of recent work. Getting ready for a musical, theater or dance audition is equally intense. Focus on perfecting your performance. If you re going to audition in front of a panel, enlist a friend or teacher to help you prepare for surprise elements. Musicians or vocalists are often asked to sight-read a piece of music as part of their audition. Dancers sometimes attend an open class prior to their solo. Theater students should be prepared to improvise on stage. Polish your resume. Although your creative talent is a critical part of the admission process, grades and test scores still matter. Make sure your academic record is as strong as possible going into your senior year, and be sure to note arts-related achievements on your resume. You should also be prepared to answer questions about your artistic process. Many schools require applicants to write essays or sit for interviews. Discussing what your art means to you in an open, honest manner can help show school officials what makes you unique.