<p>Has anyone heard if they were accepted to Shenandoah’s Musical Theatre program yet?</p>
<p>I know of one but they have not posted yet. One heard back in Dec(?) so it may have been EA or ED, unless they have rolling.</p>
<p>Yes, my son was accepted. He was notified shortly after his audition at the February Unifieds. I believe their admission is rolling. </p>
<p>It's nice to see that the favorable impression we had of Shenandoah is shared by other parents and grads here. We came away feeling, "you'd come out of this school really knowing your craft." We loved the people and the facilities. One disadvantage from my son's standpoint is that it is far out of the way with no easy transportation home (compared to some others he's looking at). </p>
<p>Are there any current students or recent grads here? Any parents of incoming freshman? Would love to hear from you.</p>
<p>Our daughter was accepted the end of January right after her audition. She's waiting to hear from the rest of her schools but Shenandoah University remains VERY high on her list.</p>
<p>MTPapa</p>
<p>My d was accepted last month...we were all thrilled. We know two people in the MT program there....extremely talented kids. If anyone has any questions, I would be glad to help...or in most cases, I will ask the parent of one of the students! She has been so supportive and helpful to us. We are a huge fan of her d! These students love it there. I am constantly impressed with the program. Another plus for us is that it is only 3 1/2 hours from home!<br>
Having this acceptance has helped so much. My d is still checking the mail, but she knows she is in to one of her top picks.
Congrats to all!</p>
<p>Wow! CC is busy tonight!</p>
<p>In terms of distances, Winchester is about 75 miles west of Washington, DC and I assume there is bus and train service. In addition, I'll bet there are students driving back and forth to Washington, DC on a regular basis for shopping, night life, etc.</p>
<p>According to MapQuest, Philadelphia is about 3 1/2 hours from Winchester and New York about 4 1/2 hours away, and one of the students we met when we visited in January said that students drive to Washington, DC and New York on a pretty regular basis, so there isn't that sense of isolation that one might feel.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, if our daughter decides to go to Shenandoah, she'll be 3,000 miles from home, so I don't think we'll be seeing her on weekends! </p>
<p>MTPapa</p>
<p>MTPapa - LOL - even if she were 30 miles from home, you most likely wouldn't be seeing much of her on weekends -- MT students usually have their weekends booked - crewing a show, performing, master classes, attending productions of their friends and classmates -- all with the occasional party, or studying thrown in!</p>
<p>My D will not make it home this entire semester, breaks included! I agree with MusThCC...the nature of these kids' schedules are such that they don't have time to get away (nor really want to).</p>
<p>I agree, and you really don't want to see them every weekend. If you did, you'd begin to wonder what was wrong. </p>
<p>MTPapa</p>
<p>Congrats to MTPapa and notfromme on your daughters' acceptances to Shenandoah! I brought up the location thing because my son keeps mentioning it as a consideration. Living near a very large city, we're probably a bit spoiled in terms of being easily able to get from point A to point B at any time of day with little trouble. And yes, they did tell us that they keep these kids pretty busy on the weekends; I'm sure once any initial homesickness wears off, old mom and dad will be a distant memory.;-)</p>
<p>FYI, there is no bus or train service from Winchester, but there is from Martinsburg, West VA (about 25 minutes away).</p>
<p>Notfromme, thanks for offering to ask some questions of your d's friends and their parents. My son is wondering about the campus atmosphere and activities on weekends; we had the impression (maybe incorrect) that a lot of kids commute to this school (although I'd bet that doesn't apply to the MT kids). Also, what have their performance opportunities been like in the freshman year? Are there study abroad opportunities as an upperclassman?</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>They put on several productions a year-and are required to audition for them unless they are in a production at the time. Both her friends are freshmen. The male landed a lead in Sweeney Todd, and the female in an opera...opera is her minor. So, freshmen do perform!! They also help with staging a production. They keep them busy. There is also a childrens show, and I know they were just auditioning for Will Rogers Follies. My guess is if they have free time...there are things to do. It is a small, historic town. There is a mall...well, a very small mall, theaters and a historic district that I enjoyed. We are from the Philly area, so I understand the concern of a small town. I do know these kids go to New York to see shows. My opinion is that they are not going to have much free time to play.<br>
As of now, there is not a study abroad program. This could all change. They are doing a showcase for the first time this year.<br>
Hope that helps. I may see one of the students tonight at a rehearsal that my d has, (it is spring break for them) so I will ask if they are ever looking for things to do!
Best wishes to all</p>
<p>I am not sure about commuters...When we were down there for a shadow day in the fall, there were plenty of students around. Yes, I do imagine the performance/conservatory students are on campus.
We live 3 hours away...if all of our d and s end up there...our door will be open to anyone who wants to get away for a weekend! This is the closest school that my d auditoned for, so I know the concerns!</p>
<p>As notfromme mentioned, I don't think Shenandoah offers a junior semester abroad, but Margie in conservatory admissions mentioned that many musical theater students travel abroad when their choirs and ensembles tour. I suppose a student could spend a summer in Europe taking classes and sightseeing, although it seems to me that many of them spend their summers doing Summer Stock at the Shenendoah Summer Musical Theater in Winchester and elsewhere. </p>
<p>MTPapa</p>
<p>P.S. Notfromme: Thanks for the very nice offer of being "a home away from home". There's nothing more enjoyable than a houseful of musical theater kids singing, dancing, etc.! They bring a joy and energy to any environment.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info on the performance opportunities, notfromme, and your offer to pump your friends for campus activity info.;-). Not to mention your kindness in offering to open your doors to our kids! You are a gem.</p>
<p>You mentioned the historic distrct in Winchester; we thought it was absolutely charming. Some funky shops and interesting restaurants there, and it looks like they're continuing to expand. </p>
<p>MTPapa, I was just going over my notes from Shenandoah and what I have on study abroad coincides with your note, so thanks for that. </p>
<p>Some schools either have a branch of their MT program abroad (London typically) or their kids attend theater classes there for the semester. They sounded much more focused than the typical study abroad/backpack/sightsee college program. My son is very interested in doing that (yes, this from the kid who wants to come home on weekends.;-)</p>
<p>My d would love to study abroad also. I really would not be surprized if this became part of Shenandoah's program in the future...while our kids are there. When we first looked there, they did not have a showcase to offer and now they do. The other schools my d is interested in offer some type of "semester away" program...be it London, LA or New York. Hopefully time will tell!
My offer to open our home is somewhat selfish...I must confess! I cannot even tell you in words how much I will miss my d and all of her friends being around. My girls are not only my daughters, but they are my best friends. I do not want the next 5 months to go by too quickly, as I know they will. So, having a house full of kids will be my treat! (and a treat for our other d, and my husband-oh, and cannot forget the beagle, too!)
Best wishes to all!</p>
<p>I was able to talk with the current Shenandoah student last night. I asked questions, and she was more than happy to answer. As far as things to do around the town she said that basically they are never "bored". I think the appeciate any down time that they have!! It sounds like the town is really there for the students. They offer 1/2 price nights at places for students, and are adding more businesses that are popular with college age kids. Newest additions are Starbucks and Coldstone Creamery!! (good news for us since they are two establishments we highly support!!) and a bookstore...I believe she said Barnes and Nobles! While it is not a large metropolitan city, it does sound as if there are plenty for them to do. Her schedule keeps her busy, but there are a few hours in the afternoon that are normally free. She is doing a work co-op, so those hours are usually when she is working. I did ask about a study abroad program. There is not one now, but she does feel it will. (Unfortunately our train of thought was interupted and I did not get to ask why she felt this way!)
But, the most important thing I did see...when she spoke of her school, the excitement and the enthusiasm she had was touching. She truly loves it there. I will be seeing her off and on over the next few days...it is their spring break and she is helping with our HS musical. If there is anything I can ask her, (and I have asked many questions!) let me know!!</p>
<p>Notfromme,</p>
<p>Please know that there are many opportunites for students to study performing arts abroad even if a program is not offered by their "home" school. Students can apply for programs sponsored by other schools and have equal access. So the fact that Shenendoah does not currently have a sponsored study abroad opportunity should not influence your opinion about their program. The only issue might be is whether ot not they SUPPORT/encourage students to study abroad and allow for it in their curriculum.</p>
<p>Thanks Theatermom! We will definately look into that and see if it will be possible with the schedule...in the future! While the study abroad would be a plus, I feel it would not weigh much on my d's decision. She loves the school and the program!<br>
Thanks again for the information!</p>
<p>Thanks, notfromme--you done good! And you said the three magic words: "Starbucks" and "Coldstone Creamery." My s will be in his glory, LOL! Seriously, it sounds as though the kids are ok with the level of activities in the town. </p>
<p>Other questions I'd have would be about the level of activities on campus--movie nights, sporting events, concerts, etc.? Also, does she think that most (or all) MT students live on campus? Do most of them stick around on weekends (vs. commuting home if they live close enough)? </p>
<p>I loved reading about her enthusiasm. That speaks volumes about the school. Our impression of Shenandoah was a very warm, friendly, nurturing environment. Would your d's friend agree? What was your own impression, notfromme? Oh, one more question: the approximate split between girls and boys in MT? Ooops, here's another: what does she see as the biggest negative of the school? (My s realizes that they <em>all</em> have some negatives, so this won't put him off, but would be good to get her perspective.)</p>
<p>Theatermom, thanks for the info on other study abroad programs. It would not have occurred to me that schools would make this available to non-students, let alone on an equal basis. That is great info to know, although, as notfromme said of her d, it probably would not be a deal-breaker for my s. Will be sure to check if Shenandoah would encourage this, or at least make room for it. (Hey, notfromme, maybe if enough of us ask about it ... ;-) </p>
<p>Once again, thanks for the great info!</p>
<p>Liz...many colleges allow students from other colleges to do their abroad programs. You have to look at the policy of your own college to find out if certain abroad programs are on their approved list, as well as how the credits are handled, etc. </p>
<p>For example, I have a child who is a sophomore at Brown University. She wants to study abroad in fall of junior year. Brown does have many of its own aboard programs. However, they also have a huge list of "approved" study abroad programs through other colleges and this is what students commonly do. In fact, we pay the tuition to our own college to do so. My daughter wanted an abroad program focusing on architecture and so there were none through Brown or not at that semester and she applied to and was accepted to the architecture abroad program in Florence for next fall through Syracuse University. Check with each college your child is considering and find out these possibilities. They may not have their own programs but may approve of study abroad through other colleges' abroad programs. These programs are usually open to students from many different colleges. When my D goes abroad with Syracuse's program in the fall, some students will be from Syracuse but not all will be. She even knows older Brown students who went on this same program through Syracuse in the past. </p>
<p>Susan</p>