College Day: Info For High School Students
Overview
November 23, 2024
Greensboro College
A one-stop shop, NCTC College Day is the only event that connects North Carolina high school students with college theatre programs from across the state. Students in grades 9-12, graduates taking a gap year, and transfer students — and their parents — can visit the College Fair to meet 25+ theatre departments, all in one place, in one day. You can audition for college representatives or present your portfolio. You can also choose to attend the college fair without auditioning or presenting a portfolio. You will get to meet with the #1 school on your list and discover new schools!
The goal of NCTC College Day is to help students and parents see the full scope of options of schools across the state, from BFA programs to theatre minors, and from outstanding private schools with scholarship funds to state schools with some of the nation’s top theatre programs. Which schools offer scholarships in the arts? Which ones have relationships with professional theatres? Which have work study opportunities? Which have the most active student groups? And how can you get a job with a degree in theatre? We’ll help you find the answers to all these questions and more. Every year, students leave NCTC College Day with a list of their new favorite schools and invaluable contacts. And many students walk away with scholarship offers! Let us help connect you to your dream college theatre program.
Sponsors
This project is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
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 25-30 schools represented at the College Fair. The full list of schools will be available in fall 2024.
Non-Acting Technical 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 free workshop for both students and parents called “What Can You Do 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: Greensboro College (GPS: 815 W Market St, Greensboro, NC 27401).
- Directions & Parking: Use GPS to navigate to 815 West Market Street, Greensboro. On Market Street, go past Mendenhall Street. Turn right on College Place (at the Greensboro College sign). Park in any available spot. See campus map above.
- Check-In: Main Building (Lea Center)
- Accessibility: NCTC works to ensure that our programs are available to all of the state’s citizens, including people with disabilities. If you wish to request assistance or have questions about accessibility for any of the College Day spaces, please contact NCTC Executive Director Angie Hays at angelahays@nctc.org.
Registration, Pricing, & Scholarships
Registration is currently closed. Please keep an eye out for more information about our next event.
- Audition/Portfolio Track TBA
Students auditioning or presenting a portfolio and attending the College Fair.
- College Fair Track TBA
Students only attending the College Fair; no audition or portfolio
- Parents / Guardians FREE
No registration required
Refunds
To request a refund, email info@nctc.org by November 10, 2024. Registration fees will not be refunded after November 10.
Scholarships
NCTC is committed to helping all students find a future in theatre, without financial barriers. If the registration rate puts College Day out of reach for your family, please consider applying for financial aid. Simply complete the registration form and enter the promo code SCHOLARSHIPREQUEST. If funds are available, your request will be automatically approved. We will also award College Day scholarships at our Regional High School Play Festivals to the recipients of the Outstanding Achievement in Acting, and Outstanding Achievement in Design & Production Awards.
Schedule
Schedule subject to change.
Arrival & Check-In (Lea Center)
Please do not arrive earlier than your scheduled time; Student arrival times are staggered to allow for safety, minimize your wait time before/between activities, and ensure all students have plenty of time to meet the colleges.
- 9:00-9:15: Check in for Auditioning Students, Morning Group
- 9:30-9:45: Check in for Students presenting Design and Production Portfolios
- 10:00-10:15: Check in for Students visiting College Fair only (no audition or portfolio)
- 1:00-1:15: Check in for Auditioning Students, Afternoon Group
Auditioning Students
You’ll have orientation when you arrive, to review audition protocols and answer any questions you have. Next, you’ll go to a warm-up room and get ready for your audition. After auditions, you’ll have plenty of time to meet with the representatives from all the colleges and some schools will even post “callbacks” which indicates they definitely want to meet you. Callback or not, we recommend visiting with every school. Parents – you can also talk with all of the college representatives! Parents may join their students for orientation and College Fair visits but are not permitted in the warm-up or audition room. Learn more about College Day auditions.
If you are in the afternoon arrival/audition group – don’t worry, you will have plenty of time to meet with colleges! Your warm-up and audition will take 1 hour, so you’ll still have several hours to spend at the College Fair.
Students Presenting Design and Production Portfolios
Upon arrival, we’ll direct you to the Portfolio Review room to set up your display. Parents can tag along and help with set-up. There will be a brief orientation to answer any questions and then the college representatives will start chatting with you about your work! While students are sharing their portfolios with college faculty, parents can visit the College Fair. After lunch, everyone will have a chance to visit the College Fair. Make sure you talk with all the schools! Learn more about College Day portfolio presentations.
Students Visiting the College Fair (no audition or portfolio)
You’ll be greeted by a member of our team who will review the campus map with you and answer any questions. Then you’re off to the College Fair! Visit with all the schools, come prepared with questions, and get ready for lots of great information. After lunch, you can return to wrap up your visits or head home if you’ve already met with all the schools.
Hear what NCTC College Day alumni have to say about this special event!
Additional Questions
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.
