College Day: Info For High School Students

High school students in grades 9-12, homeschool students, college transfer students, as well as recent high school graduates taking a gap year, who are interested in studying theatre in college should register! Whether you are planning to pursue a theatre major* or minor, this event will help you find the right school. Colleges are not just interested in seniors, they’re excited to meet students in grades 9-11 too! Parents are also welcome to attend with their student (no additional fee), to learn more about the opportunities students can have as a theatre major, and speak to current college theatre students.

*Theatre Education Majors: The college admission requirements for Theatre Education majors vary from school to school. At NCTC College Day, you may choose to audition, or present a portfolio highlighting the theatre work you have done in high school and/or your community. If you are not comfortable auditioning or do not feel you have adequate materials for a portfolio, you may register under the “College Fair Only” option. Whichever you choose, be prepared to talk with college representatives about your passion for theatre education and why you want to become a theatre teacher!

At most college fairs, the admissions department represents their school. They may not know the specific theatre department details you have questions about. At NCTC College Day, you meet with theatre professors and current students from the schools that interest you! They can answer questions about majors offered, performance opportunities, student life, and more!

We typically have 20-25 schools represented at the College Fair. The map of participating schools is above.

Design or production portfolio presentations are only for students wishing to pursue a career in a non-performing aspect of theatre. Students who have a strong passion for technical theatre, stage management, theatre education, directing, costuming, etc. are strongly encouraged to present a portfolio. If you don’t have a portfolio, you are welcome to bring any tangible items that showcase your work. For example, a script filled with ocking and notes, photographs, research for a show, fabric swatches, costume pieces and much more!

Some colleges will send enough representatives to watch auditions and review portfolios, but due to faculty size, production schedules and other conflicts, not all colleges are able to do all College Day activities. All represented colleges will have a table at the college fair, and we encourage you to visit the tables of any schools you are interested in to learn more about their admissions process.

While students are auditioning or presenting portfolios, parents are encouraged to spend time at the College Fair, talking to college representatives and gathering information about admissions, financial aid, housing, work opportunities, study abroad programs, and campus life. We also have a workshop for both students and parents called “Theatre as a Launchpad: Careers with a Theatre Degree”. Check the schedule for workshop times.

Each student attending NCTC College Day should bring a notebook and writing utensil to take notes when talking to professors and learning about the schools at the College Fair. If you are auditioning and planning on singing, you will need to bring your sheet music for the accompanist. If you are presenting a non-acting technical portfolio, bring the materials you plan to share that day. View more helpful tips.

College Day activities are spread across multiple buildings, and attendees will be walking outside between various activities. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring appropriate outerwear for weather conditions. 

• Address: 140 College Place, Greensboro, NC 27401 (Make sure to use College Place, not College Road, for GPS).
• Parking: Park in any available spot. See campus map above.
• Check-In: Main Building 

NCTC works to ensure that our programs are physically and sensory accessible to all participants. When completing your College Day application, you’ll find a section to share any accessibility needs (such as mobility, hearing, or vision accommodations). Please provide as much detail as you’d like to help us make your experience successful. If we need additional information, our staff will follow up with you directly.

If you need further assistance or have information about accessibility for any of the College Day spaces, please contact NCTC Executive Director Angie Hays at angelahays@nctc.org.

A “callback” is an invitation to return to a school’s table at the College Fair. The schools will post your audition number on their callback sheet if they would like to speak with you again. If your number is posted on the callback sheet, you will go to that school’s table to speak with their representatives. They may call you back for scholarship information, audition notes, admission policies or just to talk!

If you don’t get a callback from your first choice college, go talk to them! Just because a school didn’t call you back, it doesn’t mean you can’t talk with them. Go to their table and ask questions about the program, your audition, what they offer, etc. All the colleges want to talk with every student!

Your headshot should be a current photo of yourself, usually cropped from the shoulders to the top of the head. You will upload this during registration and do not need to bring physical copies. This photo can be in color or black and white, and can be any size, but should not exceed 50MB (or 400 x 400 pixels on your registration). A yearbook photo or senior picture can serve as a great headshot for this audition. Remember – this is the first thing the colleges will see about you so be sure your photo represents your personality while still showing professionalism.

Every school requires a different SAT or ACT score. Some schools only look at the applicants’ GPA. The best way to make sure you meet the requirements is to review the school’s Admission Information on their website. Don’t be afraid to get in touch with the school to ensure you have the correct information!

Both a BA and a BFA are fantastic degrees. Making the right choice depends on how you, as a student, will benefit from the courses. If you love psychology as well as performing, a BA may be the better choice for you. If you love stage managing and want to strictly learn the craft, a BFA may be a better choice. If you’re not sure yet, learning more about both options at NCTC College Day can help you decide.

• Bachelor of the Arts (BA): This is an academically diverse arts degree. While it still demands many course hours in the concentration you have chosen, it allows for many hours to be taken in other courses such as science, religion, foreign language, etc. The goal of a BA is to have a strong foundation of knowledge while also concentrating on the art form that interests you.
• Bachelor of the Fine Arts (BFA): This is a concentrated arts degree. You will still have to take the required academic courses (math, english, etc.) but most of your hours will be in the arts field you choose to study. The goal of a BFA is to have rigorous training in a specified art form.

College admission processes vary. Some colleges are prepared to offer admission (and scholarships!) when they meet you at College Day. Others will request you visit campus for an additional audition or may require a video submission. College Day is a great opportunity to speak with colleges to learn more about their process, as you narrow down your choices. We recommend researching admissions processes for your top choice schools in advance of College Day, and you can also expect to find some new favorite schools at the event!