Acceptance

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

Daughter is a junior in high school currently and has always loved to perform and has always ran around the house doing scenes from musicals. Where we live, the focus is mostly on sports within schools so she hasn’t had much of a chance to develop her talents except through church choir and her high school musicals each spring, and of course by working hard on her own. Oldest son is currently enrolled at WSU and majoring in accounting, he had no problem getting into the school and I know she will have no problem with academic acceptance but how hard is WSU’s MT program to get into? Daughter has been told many times she’s got the knack for MT (very unique and dynamic voice with a strong range and impressive acting) but has never had any formal dance training. Is she out for the count?

Also, should I be weary of daughter pursuing this as a career? As a mom, I feel like I am always worrying. But with my two other children in very reliable fields (medical and accounting, which you always need because the two inevitable things in life are death and taxes, haha!), I can’t help but feel a bit weary about this. I know this is her dream and I would never stop her from following it but I also want her to be safe within her future.

Thank you very much for creating this thread, I have found it very helpful!

2

@mommaofthree - you have certainly come to the right place for some answers. You’ve opened up a lot of ground to cover. I’ll do my best (others will probably chime in), but your best source of information is to read some of the other postings on the general Musical Theatre forum. It’s great that your D is a junior. If she is truly serious about going into MT, this will be a very critical year for her - AND for the family that supports her. Here goes:

Do you live near WSU? If so, you might want to get your D involved with their MAPP program (Musical Theater/Acting Preparatory Program) for high school kids. The administrator of the program is a faculty member of WSU college MT program. You might also consider contacting him directly with some of your questions. Don’t count your D out because of lack of “formal” training or dance background. In some ways she might have a disadvantage, but if she’s got the drive and support from her family she CAN succeed in getting into an MT program. While it sounds like you have two other kids who are in, or have graduated from college, the application process for getting into MT/Theater programs is unlike ANY other admissions process. If you can get help navigating what needs to be done - and there’s LOTS of advice on this forum - I would recommend seeking it out ASAP. If you live in a sports town, it is VERY unlikely that any of your D’s teachers or school counselors know what it takes to make this happen. The MT admissions race is like that of a wanna-be college athlete - on steroids - and without much community understanding/acceptance for what your D is trying to do. Don’t let this scare you. You and your D have the time, but what happens from now through fall of her senior year is critical.

As for getting into WSU’s MT program - the odds are similar to those at any other “audition program” (a program that requires a singing, acting, dancing audition to be considered for acceptance). Here is a quote from a recent article posted on WSU’s Theater Department website regarding today’s aspiring applicants “Currently, students must audition as prospective incoming freshmen to get into the theatre program. Of the 450 aspiring students from around the nation who auditioned this year, only 8 percent were accepted.”
http://webapp2.wright.edu/web1/newsroom/2015/10/08/curtain-call/

Those odds are similar at many other BFA MT programs. Again, don’t let this scare you. Someone has to get in - why not your D? It just means she has to be prepared. Again, lots of advice on this forum. There are also many programs out there that do NOT require an audition to get in. Are you familiar with the differences between BFA programs and BA programs? WSU has both. The BFA requires audition and the curriculum is what’s called “conservatory style” - similar to going to a music or dance conservatory, where the training is centered around learning performance skills, with very little “regular” academic coursework. A BA usually does not require an audition is is more of a Liberal Arts degree that focuses on one of several aspects of theater. At WSU both BFA and BA students can audition to be cast in all shows and the BA students regularly get lead and supporting rolls.

If your D wants to be in a BFA program she will need the drive and perseverance of a highly trained athlete. It is very time consuming, hard work, but for those who live to perform it may be the “only” way. My S is a sophomore and is in rehearsals for the upcoming show Chicago. He is exhausted and occasionally bitter that he is not having the “typical” fun college experience. When asked if he made the wrong choice, or if he wants to change majors/schools he says, “No way!”

As for a guarantee that your D will be employed and happy as an actor - there are no guarantees. For ANY major. People in the theater business often say that if you can imagine yourself as ANYTHING other than an actor/singer/dancer - do that. But when asked if they would do things differently if they had to do it all over again, they say, “Absolutely not”. Girls do have it tougher than boys, here’s a thread discussing the “gender gap” http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1818396-mt-acting-gender-gaps-p1.html

Regardless of what major your D pursues, she may change her mind, or her path may take a bit of a curve along the way. My thoughts on this ( I have three college-aged sons who all are artists of one kind or another) is that we can’t let our adult fears choose a “right” path for our kids. They need to seek out what they love. And if it happens to be a “mistake”, they need to learn that on their own as well. I certainly would not put the family farm in hock to pay for an Arts career for my kids, but I can support them to the best of my ability as they find their way. I also believe that no Arts training is wasted. I have met many adults who say their theater experience made them a better lawyer, doctor, manager, engineer, etc.

Got a little windy there. Hope this answered SOME of your questions. Feel free to ask more. Hopefully the rest of the College Confidential WSU MT contingent will chime in.

3

Thank you, I found this very helpful! I know my D is very interested in a BFA as opposed to the BA and has told me many times she can only truly see herself happy within a musical theatre career field, but she also has a talent within creative writing and English (alas, another career field in which she’ll have to fight for a job), should I tell her to keep her options open and think about pursuing English if the programs or other things within her dream field end up not being what she imagined or let her find her way?

As for the MAPP program, D is very busy within school as of now, she is involved in school politics and a swim team member all while helping direct their spring musical and does some vocal work on the side. Does this program take a lot of time that would conflict with formal commitments? Husband has doubts on her choice of pursuing MT and wants her to stay within her current commitments and not set herself onto solely MT as he is very weary about her future if she does so (she’s tried very hard to change his mind, poor thing).

I know D is very, very willing to go the extra miles to achieve greatness in this field, and if she’s willing to work hard for it, I will sit back and watch gladly as she reaches for the sky. But I’m fearful of what may happen if the ground falls from under her and she’s left feeling bitter about something that once made her so immensely happy and blissful.

Another thing, (I’m very new to this program and field over all, so I have many questions and I really appreciate your help) D is auditioning for District Honors Choir as requested by her director, would this be impressive on an application for the MT program or will they be looking strictly at her musical theatre experience? Which is another thing that makes me slightly nervous, due to the lesser amounts of opportunities D has had within her performing, she has most definitely not had the same amount of experience as others hoping to get into this program. She has performed in two plays, a musical, and will have three more musicals under her belt before her high school career is over.

I have tried many times to ask her guidance counselor about these things but she has said that she’s never had a student in our school district interested in going after MT and therefore knows nothing or very little about programs and what D should be doing to level the playing field (something that was a bit disheartening for D to hear).

4

@mommaofthree - I hope you have taken the time to go through some of the threads that are “pinned” at the top of the MT forum. This one may be especially helpful as the parent of a junior; http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/477658-preparing-to-apply-information-for-h-s-juniors-and-seniors-p1.html
Yes, it has A LOT of posts, but if you are new to this crazy process, there is much wisdom to be found from parents and students who have gone before you. It was originally posted in 2008, but is continually added to.

If nothing else, I would recommend you read Mary Anna Dennard’s book, I Got In. I haven’t read it (found out about it too late), but many other posters on this forum found it to be a big help in understanding what all goes into getting into an MT program.

I totally understand about not wanting to add ONE MORE THING to your D’s busy schedule - every parent of a passionate theater/music/academic/athletic student has been there. I do not know much about the MAPP program - just what some happy ex-participants have shared. You can get some information of the WSU Theater, Dance and Motion Pictures website.

Even if you do not want to commit to MAPP, I would highly recommend finding someone who can help you and your D navigate this process.At minimum she would have a voice teacher/coach who is familiar with the MT college world to help her find and develop appropriate song material. An enthusiastic choral teacher MAY be able to help, but they are usually VERY busy and often are not truly familiar with the current MT landscape. Someone to help with monologue choice and development would also be beneficial - a theater teacher at minimum.

If you want to find out if your D has a chance at this, and to help her find an appropriate list of programs to apply to, you may want to consider getting a “coach” specifically experienced in getting kids ready for their college auditions. It sounds like you may not have someone locally who can help you with this. Mary Anna Dennard, mentioned above, is one such coach, but there are many others. One named Dave Clemmons just did a workshop at WSU a few weeks ago. For a few - several hundred dollars, these coaches will skype with the prospective student, and/or the student can go to workshops in various cities. Search for threads pertaining to “coaches” on this forum to find out what others have to say about the experience. My S did not have one - he used local Cincinnati resources - but many people have found the expertise and concentrated focus of these national coaches to be the deal breaker for their kid being ready to audition and in helping them find the “right fit” schools.

Doing a district honors choir would certainly show your D’s level of skill and commitment - yes, would be helpful on a college application resume. The MT admissions folks will be looking at your D’s overall past music/theater/performance experience - as well as other activities that would round out a student’s life experience/out look. It’s nice to have at least a few musical theater and straight theater experiences listed, but even things like working on costuming or set design is helpful. Again, they are looking for a student’s overall commitment to things related to MT.

My S’s HS guidance counselor and even his HS theater/music teachers were of VERY little help in going through this process. Fortunately we had some other local resources, but the MAJORITY of research/prodding/scheduling fell to me - just as it has for most of the parents on this forum. There are some students who are capable of figuring all of this out on their own, but the sharing of information and experience on this forum can be critical for success. If you have not yet taken the time, please read through some of the other threads. You may also find the posts about “Final Decisions, Background” to be helpful. Here’s the one from this year’s freshman class; http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1724734-final-decisions-background-class-of-2019-p1.html
I think these threads exist for the last three or four years.

Don’t let the “extensive” past experience of others scare you off. Your D may be just what some program is looking for.

5

Perfect response, @mom4bwayboy … we didn’t use a coach either, BUT, (1) I have a boy, and (2) he brings a lot of other talents to the table (unique look, plays multiple instruments, etc). But, if I had a girl, I’d get a coach… at least minimally for song selection and monologue help. Friends have had great success with MTCA… and you can do as little or as much as you want.

6

I have a Junior D at WSU. A good resume is important, but the audition is what really counts. Ditto on reading as much of CC as you can - time consuming, but TONS of great information. Look into summer MT programs or audition workshops. There is a great list of summer programs & a week (or a few weeks) doing MT all day every day could help her decide if she can’t live without it. My D never did one, but she grew up performing in a local theatre program and knew this was what she wanted to do. We used Dave Clemmons as her college coach - picked him because she did an audition workshop with him her Junior year & he periodically travels to our city, so she could meet with him in person. The book “I Got In” was a great starting point for us. Coaches are experts in helping students prepare for auditions, and can help her make a list of schools, pick songs and monologues, and get them ready for auditions. Our high school counselor was no help at all!

7

Thank you all very much! D and I spent some time together last night reading through these threads and discussing some of the best options for her. My brother (D’s uncle) was over as well and he has worked in the MT community for a bit throughout different states, started to scare D a bit when discussing “type casting” and “type roles” with her. She is very aware that some people do play certain roles very well but worries a bit about what that means for her, from what I understand younger girls (D is a soprano, with a good belt and legit voice) are specifically tied to ingenue roles professionally, but D feels she does not have the same look. She has always been mistaken as much older than her age, she has a more mature face and body. Uncle told her that could be problematic as people wish to “brand” performers and D may not look the part for roles within her age type. Would this hinder her in a college audition? D is hoping that this will only be an issue if she chooses to pursue ingenue type roles, but I can tell she is worried about auditions into colleges as well. If you don’t have answer for me, that’s okay too!

On another note, we’ve taken the vocal coaching in to consideration and are looking into it as soon as I return home tomorrow! D is very excited to work more with her voice, and she’s started to work a lot more on her dancing as well with a friend who has been dancing for about twelve years. It’s definitely exciting, seeing D working for this as much as she is, I cannot wait to see where this will be getting her.

Again, thank you all so much for all your help! I’ve definitely become more well versed in the land of MT than I was in the beginning of this journey and I cannot wait to learn more!

8

Since I have a son, I don’t feel qualified to talk about female type casting or voice types. I know my S had a friend who sounds a bit like your D - described herself as the Mary Poppins (or Anna in the making an I) type - who graduated from WSU last year andI believe is currently working in children’s theater somewhere. Yes, there is “type” casting in the theater world, but there are also ways to work around it. You may want to post your questions in that area on the general Musical Theatre Major forum. I’m sure many others with daughters would be happy to share their experiences and insights. Glad to hear your D is encouraged to work on her dancing and that vocal coaching may also be on the horizon.