<p>I don’t know why UArts would be considered less competitive. They only take 30-35 kids per year into the MT program. They have a pre-screen and they do Unifieds so they audition tons of kids. I think those kids that were rejected or wait-listed from UArts might not agree with you on the “less competitive” comment. I think a “balanced list” is an individual thing. This is where a coach would be an asset I think. Non-auditioned programs or some of the BA programs might be better placed in that category.</p>
<p>NYU and Pace were both in Chicago at the same time as Unifieds, but they were at different locations in the city. Close by enough to walk to, but not at the Palmer House or officially part of Unifieds.</p>
<p>More or less competitive is very random.</p>
<p>theatermom2013…I think I called UArts somewhat less competitive and it was in relation to the rest of my son’s list. His coach actually recommended UArts as a somewhat less competitive option since every other school on his original list was considered highly competitive. Also, UArts pre-screen is optional but gets you automatically to the on-campus call-back. We saw plenty of kids there who decided not to submit videos and did not make the call back list so I would still consider it to be very competitive, especially for girls.</p>
<p>PelkyAgain: So, UARTS is only considered less competitive on your S’s highly competitive list of schools, according to his Coach. Good to know it is your opinion that UARTS is, however, still highly competitive in the realm of anything other than the most competitive schools on your S’s list. Thanks for clarifying your arrogance. Sorry but have to call you on that one…</p>
<p>frantiki… my only intention was to offer some info to the OP. If I came across as being arrogant, I apologize.</p>
<p>Pelky - no apology needed. thank you for your thoughtful consideration of my point.</p>
<p>A balanced list is a very individualized thing, as illustrated by PelkyAgain. A number of factors come into play in that list and won’t be the same thing for every person. The boy/girl thing makes a huge difference for sure. I met several people throughout the audition process that would agree with you about Rider though. Great program, location and a bit less competitive in general.</p>
<p>Em’s dad, thank you once again for doing all the time taking footwork for everyone!!!</p>
<p>One of the great things about Rider is their rolling admissions. That relatively early admission gave a huge boost to our D’s confidence and took some of the weight off of our shoulders. They also offered a nice FA package.</p>
<p>The reality is that all BFA/BM MT programs are competitive. I think people should refrain from calling certain programs “less competitive”. I know of several kids that were rejected by Rider and U of Arts that were accepted in other so-called “more competitive” programs. Its about what the individuals running the programs are looking for and/or need in their program in addition to talent. There are so many factors that come into play on any given day. Rider had hundreds of kids audition at Chicago Unifieds and the freshman MT class has about 25 students. Like I said, they are all competitive.</p>
<p>Absolutely agree with spugala! The audition programs are all competitive, and so much is subjective and depends upon what that school is looking for and whether they have another prospect of a similar “type” that the school prefers. Maybe there are a few people who get accepted everywhere, but from my son’s acceptances, it is difficult to count on anything. He got 2 acceptances from schools many would rank in the top tier (and 3 rejections) and 2 acceptances and 2 rejections from schools some might regard in the next tier, and a rejection from a school that he considered somewhat of a safety. It is important to have a balanced list, and probably a pretty long list. My son was very impressed by both Rider and U Arts.</p>
<p>I agree about all audition based programs being competitive. I think the people who I spoke with talking about Rider as less competitive were referring to the rolling admission process. I think there is some confusion with a program being less competitive and being a good program. I don’t think anyone is implying that a program that has less applicants for more spots (therefore slightly less competitive) is not a good program. I’ve only heard good things about both Rider and UArts. There are plenty of “lesser known” programs in this country that are offering excellent training and producing working alumni. I recently saw a touring production of The Addams Family near here and the girl who played Wednesday (Jennifer Fogarty) was incredible. She graduated from Curry College.</p>
<p>^^agreed theatremom2013- I think half the battle is getting the kids to realize they can get great training from so many different places. Especially when they realize even if they get into one of the “top tier” schools and have to turn it down because financially they were not offered enough to go there. </p>
<p>I recently saw Book of Morman and there were a couple schools that I hadn’t heard of for theatre. One of the bios said that he received his BFA from the University of South Dakota and yes it does exist! That made me chuckle!</p>
<p>Not to mention all the people who skip conservatory altogether. Though a series of weird events, I have Michael Cerveris as a linkedin contact, and he apparently went to Yale undergrad and majored in something non-theater related.</p>
<p>theatermom2013~ I saw the same tour and had the same thought when I was looking at the schools the cast attended.</p>
<p>Rider, Pace and Webster were very generous with their academic merit scholarships fyi. If grade point averages and ACT scores are solid, these schools should be given consideration for those needing some financial assistance. It certainly made them interesting to our family.</p>
<p>I agree with the quality of education comments above. I’ve also considered less competitive to be from a numbers aauditioning v. accepted perspective. But that is changing too. A couple months ago we were on a spring break trip visiting schools. At Bowling Green (OH) they told us they used to get 50-60 people trying for about 20-22 spots. But last year that doubled and this year had already passed that number (and the auditions weren’t quite done when we visited) . So as schools that were previously lesser known and less competitive get more known, coupled with the increase in kids auditioning, the phrase less competitive is losing its meaning.</p>
<p>Wagner College on Staten Island is another school that offers excellent academic merit money. Their program is a BA so more gen ed classes than a BFA but great location and good contacts in NYC. They also have a unique Theatre Arts/teaching degree program.
Muhlenberg is a wonderful audition-for-scholarship-only program that has great theatre facilities and faculty.</p>
<p>I agree with theatermom2013 that “there is some confusion with a program being less competitive and being a good program.” I was truly asking about those schools that have less applicants. For example, program “A” has 750 applicants for 15 spots and program “B” has 1000 applicants for 15 spots. I would want a mixture of program A and B in my D’s list not just all program B. Obviously, this is just one thing to look at when picking schools, but it does come into consideration for a balanced list I would think.</p>