<p>So this is my FIRST post on CC and the beginning of my first really MASSIVE college search apart from glancing at those unhelpful and pointless brochures my guidance counselors give me that have NOTHING to do with MT majoring or MT colleges. Since I'm relatively new to the site and the prospect of college auditions and applications, bear with me as we go...</p>
<p>I figure it might help if I mention a bit about myself before I start asking questions about anything. To start, I'm a Junior and a High Honors student at the most intensive HS in my city (it's private-parochial with a student head count of approximately 440). For the past 4 years, my school has graduated 100% of its senior classes and earned an average of over $9 million in total scholarships each year. Get the gist of my academic training? It's a great college prep school.
Now, as far as where it really counts (theatrical experience and training) I've got a lot under my belt. I am constantly doing Youth productions at the "Broadway of NH" theatre, better known as the Palace Theatre. I'm a proud member of the Palace Teen Company, which is designed for students who wish to pursue theatre performance beyond high school. Basically, members receive extensive musical theatre training through acting, singing, and dance classes and workshops, as well as audition training and performance experience. We participate in a rigorous audition process twice a year to be considered for membership. This past December, I was given the chance to perform as Martha Cratchit in the professional production of "A Christmas Carol." Obviously it was one of the greatest experiences of my life (being able to work on my first professional shows), but it got me thinking about colleges and being able to do this for real on even more prestigious stages!</p>
<p>So, now that I have some time in between "Christmas Carol" and the next semster of Palace Teen Company, I figured that I should really dig down and figure out where I want to go and what I have to do to get there. Out of my entire family (we're big, and we're French. 'Nuff said), I am the only one intrested and avid in theatre perfromance and the only one talented in this area as well as similar areas (singing, design, and general artisticness). I bet its not hard to guess that I'm kind of going it alone as far as college searching and general knowhow goes. MT is not a common major, especially not at what I like to classify as a "sport's school" like mine. The guidance counselors don't seem to know what to tell me as far as prep for auditions and applications goes, only what courses they recommend I take (Chorus and English --- that's the best my school can offer me). I just don't know how to start! Obviously I have a few colleges in mind (the Hartt School, Pace, Tisch, Marrymount Manhattan, and Emerson --- to name a few off the top of my head), but I haven't a clue what the prerequisites might be and what I need to do to get into one of these schools (if I even could). </p>
<p>The biggest question right now for me is...Where on earth do I start and what should I ask myself in preparing for applying to these places?!</p>
<p>Thank you to whomever responds if you can even make through the first paragraph! I am beyond grateful for any comments and/or advice anyone has to offer me!</p>
<p>Well, judging by your interests, I’d say you are looking at the right major! </p>
<p>I was in the same boat, just me figuring all this out. Unfortunately, I didn’t figure out as much as I know now (but judging myself, I did pretty well all things considered). Judging you by your post, I’m going to say you know how to use the internet. Good, the internet was my best friend in this process, and will be yours.</p>
<p>The best place to find out about schools is to go directly to the school website. Look up the theatre department for each school: what major do they offer, what classes does each major take, etc. Check out the list of faculty, who can you email to ask questions? The website should tell you about their audition process/requirements, and if it doesn’t, you can use that email address to find out. </p>
<p>Your school may not be much help theatrically (although how it sounds, you should no trouble getting in academically!), but your Palace Teen Company seems ideal. Use those “auditions” as practice. Is there anyone there who could coach you, give suggestions as far as songs and monologues that suit you, or at the very least, write you a recommendation letter? </p>
<p>What schools should you look at? I actually have a list of almost every school in the United States that offers theatre, it’s not perfect, but I could pm you the link, if you’d like. From there, it’s a matter of finding a school that suits you and has the right program. </p>
<p>I wish you best of luck! Let me know if you’d like the list, or if you have any other questions.</p>
<p>There is so much good information in the individual college sub forums at the top of this forum. But keep in mind that not every school has its own sub forum. As you begin to hone in on what you want from the college expereince, then you can also begin to look more closely at what the schools want in terms of GPA, test scores, class rigor, etc. That is going to vary greatly. It seems like you are more that up to the task of doing the research. And as pretty much everyone on here will tell you, make sure your list includes at least 1 non-audition academic and financial safety that you would love to attend. </p>
<p>You can get so much great feedback here. So don’t hesitate to ask questions! Those of us parents who either already have kids in these programs or the students themselves who come back and post want you to succeed. Best of luck!</p>
<p>“Palace Teen Company”… are you in NH? Palace is likely a common theatre name I am MUCH older than you… Coordinate a Musical Theatre program at a university now… graduated from a MT program almost 20 years ago… YIKES!!! Am from NH and attended a high academic level, college prep, “sports school” as well. </p>
<p>I still spend quite a bit of time in NH with my family, and am the artistic director of a NH summer theatre, so feel free to PM or email me… even if you are not in NH it looks like you may be North East based upon your current schools ;).</p>
<p>The very best thing you can do is put aside a number of hours to read as much as you can in this MT forum, keeping notes as you go. Then, if possible, plan to visit a few schools you are interested in starting this year, as that would give you a better frame of reference from which to start making choices and asking questions. When you visit, plan enough time to have a general tour, contact the department well in advance and arrange to have a theater department tour and attend some classes or shadow a student. If you can’t officially arrange to do this, find a student in the department, through this forum or Facebook and arrange a tour through them, or at least meet for coffee. We started doing this my daughter’s sophomore spring, and it really helped the learning process.
Also, in addition to looking at the schools above that have individual threads, go carefully over the large schools list by state posted at the top of the general discussion list, by looking at post #2, and then skip to the last couple of pages to see any current additions. Make sure you do lots of reading before asking a lot of questions, as so much information is available through this website.
If you private message me with your email, I would be happy to send you a list of schools that were at last year’s Chicago Unifieds, which is a large, general audition where numerous schools, some ‘official’ and many not, audition students for schools each February. This can be a good starting point for looking at schools as auditioning here, over a course of three February days, can cut campus visit audition costs. I can also send you some other forms we used in the college search.
There are also various coaching groups you can use starting your junior year to help you with the process. They can coach you in selecting monologues and songs and in discussing a school list. They can do this over SKYPE as well as in person. Since we live in Oregon, we successfully used Skype. We used MTCA, or as known on this blog, Coach C, and were extremely happy with them. The amount you use them is determined by you, and cost is similar to private vocal or instrument instruction. I can give you details if you pm or email me. They were invaluable in the process. We started using them junior year.
This site will really help you figure it out! Good luck!</p>
<p>Definitely reply to KatMT with a private message. She will be able to help steer you in the right direction and provide valuable info. (especially if you are from NH) :)</p>
I am MUCH older than you… Coordinate a Musical Theatre program at a university now… graduated from a MT program almost 20 years ago… YIKES!!! Am from NH and attended a high academic level, college prep, “sports school” as well. </p>