FAQs

High school students in grades 9-12, homeschool students, students taking a gap year, college transfer students, as well as recent high school graduates can register to attend NCTC College Day. Students do not have to be enrolled at a school that is an NCTC member, and students do not have to be individual members in order to register. 

Parents may attend with their students for FREE! No registration is required for parents. 

High School teachers can also attend for FREE! You can watch auditions, meet college representatives at the College Fair, support your students and make great connections! We just ask that you RSVP by filling out this form.  Get more info here.

Yes! 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, we encourage you to register for College Day under the “College Fair Only” option. Whatever you choose to do at College Day, be prepared to talk with college representatives about your passion for theatre education and why you want to become a theatre teacher!

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.

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.

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!

Yes! 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. The process is simple – complete the registration form and enter the promo code SCHOLARSHIPREQUEST. If funds are available, your request will be automatically approved. 2023 UPDATE: A limited number of scholarships to cover the cost of registration were issued. We’re currently unable to accept additional registration scholarship requests at this time.  

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. 

Refunds for any registration canceled by November 10 may be requested by emailing info@nctc.org. Registration fees will not be refunded after November 10.

The campus is wheelchair accessible and we are happy to provide assistance in navigating these routes. If you have any accessibility needs for this event, please contact angelahays@nctc.org so that we can make arrangements to support your College Day experience.

Event location: Greensboro College (GPS: 815 W Market St, Greensboro, NC 27401). 

Directions and 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.

Where to check in: Main Building. See campus map.

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 (click here for helpful tips).

*Please Note: The events throughout the day will be held in multiple buildings on campus. Please bring weather appropriate attire. (i.e. jackets, sweaters, umbrellas, etc.)

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.

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.

You are welcome to bring any tangible items that showcase your work. Items could be: a script filled with blocking and notes, photographs, research for a show, fabric swatches, costume pieces and much more! For helpful portfolio tips click here.

You can find the list of colleges & universities that will be represented at this year’s College Day here. You can also find links to each school’s website to learn more about their program. 

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. We encourage you to visit the tables of any schools you are interested in, to learn more about their admissions process.

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!

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!

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.

NCTC College Day Sponsors