Best Program in New York City!

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>Hi Everyone,</p>

<p>So I'm new to this whole forum though I've been reading up for months now and just wanted some detailed opinions. I currently live in Ottawa, Canada and am graduating June 2012 and will spend the majority of this year auditioning for various schools. Now out of all those schools only 1 is in Canada (National Theatre School) and the rest all in the states. Now I'm just posting this thread to ask from experience, reviews, opinion and generally every relevant viewpoint, which school do you think has the most beneficial (in all senses of the word) Musical Theater Program in New York City (not state). I'm only asking for NYC because it is my plan to move there for various reasons and it would just be a lot easier if the school was there. Now another little sidenote i'd like to add was I was originally very very very intent on going to AMDA but after reading this forum I see that the school has a horrible rep among people so now I'm kinda lost regarding it, reconsidering my choice and I'm pretty much back to the starting point in looking for a school to go to.</p>

<p>Oh and a few points which would really help when talking about the schools are mainly:</p>

<p>-The program itself (how beneficiary, do you learn much etc)
-The acceptance rate
-The teachers
-The people who usually go there
-Tuition (I can look up the one for international students)
-The teachers
-The housing (weather it's amazing and worth value, expensive, ok to live in, or not worth it and i'd be better off just searching for an apartment before if I got accepted)</p>

<p>Feel free to add anything else and Thank you very much in advance!</p>

2

<p>TheatreG, I only have a couple of minutes right now but I would recommend two things - 1)spend some time reading the various discussions both here and in the theatre forum, and 2)expand your horizons beyond NYC. There are many excellent college theatre programs in the U.S. and most of them are not in NYC. :slight_smile: And I say that as a parent of a grad who attended NYU.</p>

<p>One other comment. If you’re looking for an MT major, I’m curious why you’re auditioning for the National Theatre School, which does not have MT. If you’re interested in staying in Canada, you should be looking at Sheridan.</p>

<p>Oh, and one more thing that may help others offer suggestions here. What are your academic stats, i.e., GPA and SAT scores?</p>

3

<p>alwaysamom, Thanks! To sort of answer I have considered other places than NY but it’s sort of convenience as well as a desire to live there that sort of restricts me to going there. Also I was going to audition for NTS cause I was prepared to follow the strictly acting program if all else failed (sort of the backup to many backups) but it hasn’t really ever been a strong desire for me to stay in Canada. And finally to answer the last tidbit about my academic stats, well in my school system and generally all of Canada we function with averages instead of GPA and mine is a 77% at the moment which here in Canada can get me into all basic programs in University and as for my SAT score all the schools I was gonna audition for didn’t require I take it at all or needed to equivalent of it from our country of origin and also required I take an a competence test for English since I’m enrolled in a French School.</p>

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<p>It’s always interesting to see what other Canadian students plan on doing on this forum :slight_smile: I’m a rising junior, so I’m not quite in your shoes yet, but I can try to help you out as well.</p>

<p>I have to start off by echoing all of what alwaysamom said. I understand that location can be a big factor in deciding where to spend the next four years of your life, but it’s my opinion that if you are only applying to NYC schools, it’s hard to cast a very wide net and you’ll be limiting your chances of acceptance. If you want to have access to the city (depending on the school, the city can be minutes or just a few hours away), I would suggest opening up your criteria to include the entire state of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. I don’t know what your reasoning is for wanting to live in NYC, but keep in mind that you will be very busy in an intense BFA MT program and that you may not have a lot of time to spend in the city (if that was your intention). Just to give you a jumping point, you can find a list of all the schools that offer a Musical Theatre major in post #2 of “Big List of MT Colleges”, which is stickied at the top of the forum. It is organized by state, so there you go!</p>

<p>Secondly, NTS is very, very competitive, and I would never ever consider it a “backup” or a safety (you can’t really consider any audition program a safety school). I totally know where you’re coming from on not having a big desire to stay in Canada, but it’s my personal opinion that it would be a good idea for Canadian students to apply to some schools here at home. You never really know how these things are going to work out. Dalhousie University offers a double major in Music and Theatre, and their intention is to train triple threats. I agree again with alwaysamom, look at Sheridan. Their MT program recently changed from a MT certificate to a degree program (the caveat is that this is unquestionably one of the most competitive programs in the country). Ryerson University, University of Windsor and George Brown College all have respected acting programs. </p>

<p>Thirdly, I’m a little confused on what you said about the SAT. It’s my understanding that if your first language is English then the SAT is always required for admission. It’s only if your first language is not English AND your language of instruction is also not English that I believe you take an English proficiency test, instead. I’m a French Immersion student, and I’ve been told that I will have to take the SAT. However, you did say you live in Ottawa, so it’s entirely possible that your first language is French and that your language of instruction is French as well. I would just check that, if I were you. You may also want to take the SAT or ACT to qualify for merit scholarships in the US, which are one of the only ones we do qualify for as international students.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>I would consider looking at University of Buffalo, Syracuse and Ithaca if you are from the Ottawa area.</p>

6

<p>Every school I’ve looked at requires freshmen to live in the dorms unless they have family to live with close by so I wouldn’t worry about an apartment for a while.</p>

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<p>To Canadian MT girl. Ya I just noticed what I said was a bit of a blunder. I am well aware that a handful of students are accepted into NTS & they are intense i guess what I meant was it’s more of a backup for me to enter a strictly acting program instead of musical theater. Also after more research on the forum & online I have no put Sheridan into my list added NYU & the Boston Conservatory. I do notice now it’s good to expand my net a little more but I’m also trying to weed it out a little considering for all the schools which I audition for I’ll need to travel some distance. And I’ll have to talk to my counselor about those SAT’s</p>

<p>I’m looking up more on this but any prelimanary thoughts on the MT program at BOCO & Steinhardt at NYU?</p>

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<p>And I also forgot to add that French is listed as my 1st language on my student report AND I go to a strictly French school so the SATs have never been required indefinitely when I asked about American schools</p>

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<p>The good thing about MT auditions these days is that there are the National Unified Auditions in Chicago, New York City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles so that applicants can cut down on the travel they have to do and get a handful of auditions done in one weekend. Of course, it’s best not to put all your eggs in one basket in case you get sick Unifieds weekend, but it’s definitely something to consider.</p>

<p>[National</a> Unified Auditions](<a href=“http://www.unifiedauditions.com/]National”>http://www.unifiedauditions.com/)</p>

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<p>TheatreG, I am not positive about other schools but for NYU you will need to take the SAT. Your language of origin and the language of instruction does not affect this requirement. Your English language skills seem just fine, and Ottawa is primarily an English speaking city so it will be expected that you are reasonably proficient in both official languages. You may also need to submit a TOEFL test result. It may be the same at other schools. This is something you need to determine quickly because you will have to register to write the SAT ASAP. The Ottawa test site may already be full for Oct. 1. Again, this is something you want to do very soon.</p>

<p>Have a look at the websites of the schools on your list to get information on the costs. You can count on at least $50,000/yr at NYU and there is no scholarship or grant $ for international students. For any U.S. school, you will be required to provide documentation to show that you are capable of paying the full amount of the costs, in order to obtain your student visa. </p>

<p>I understand that you want to be in NYC but, to be honest, you are doing yourself a disservice by not exploring other options, and limiting yourself to schools in the city may result in you having no options at all. Admission to BFA programs is very competitive and acceptance rates are in the range of approximately 3% to 10%. You need an appropriate list that also includes a couple of non-audition safeties. </p>

<p>Spend some time reading the discussions here. There’s a wealth of information, and although you don’t have an abundance of time to do everything necessary, if you work at it diligently, you can be ready. Have you started preparing your audition materials? Each school will have their own requirements so be sure to research this carefully. If travelling for auditions is an issue, think about doing the Unified auditions which you can do in NYC very easily from Ottawa. </p>

<p>Keep reading and keep asking questions!</p>

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<p>Ok to answer CanadianMTgirl that could help a lot since I was planning on mostly auditioning for my schools in NY since it’s close enough & I’m always there.</p>

<p>To alwaysamom, well to be quite honest the SATs do scare me a lot because since we don’t have them here I’ve never really been prepared for them & have no actual idea what’s on them. Also submitting the TOEFL is required for all my US school not cause I have trouble in English, I’m actually better in it than French but because I go to a French school its like a formality.</p>

<p>For tuition I have looked up my US schools & they usually go around 20,000 a year which is still expensive considering here its around 2 grand but still less than 50,000 & by my research any grant or scholarship I earn would come from Canada & not the states.</p>

<p>As for the whole NYC deal that’s mostly based on the fact that the school I want to attend needs to be serious in their training & not have MT as a lesser program which is why I’m so centered in NY but have also opened the idea to BOCO which has amazing reviews.</p>

<p>You guys are helping a lot with that college searching headache I’ve been getting Thanks again!</p>

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<p>Being located in NYC does not guarantee a program’s quality. In fact, most of the programs that some people would consider to be the “top” (although, really, designations like that should be irrelevant - fit is what’s important) programs in the country for MT are not located in New York City. Keep in mind that with ANY MT program, what you get out of it depends on what YOU put into it. </p>

<p>About the SAT - College Confidential is not limited to only the Musical Theatre Major subforum. You’ll find that on other parts on this board, there are plenty of threads that will be a huge help to you with learning about/preparing for the SAT.</p>

<p>Don’t get your hopes up for many scholarships from this side of the border. You’ll find, if you look at websites like ScholarshipsCanada, that the majority of scholarships offered to Canadians only apply to Canadians pursuing a post-secondary education in Canada. I would definitely try to get working with whoever it is at your school that functions as the scholarships liaison (normally it’s a guidance counsellor) as soon as possible, because often they get information on scholarships that we don’t see.</p>

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<p>Well said CanadianMTgirl. If you are looking for schools with easy access to NYC, in addition to the schools in NYC, you might also consider schools on the east coast where it is a pretty quick, easy train ride to Manhattan. Schools in places like Boston or Philadelphia.
Having said that, I will echo what others have said - you do yourself a disservice to limit your search by location. Also, I would keep SUNY schools off my list, yes, they are in NYS - but they are suffering huge losses due to three years running (no end in sight) budget losses - possible exception, Fredonia. In any case, bon chance!</p>

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<p>You seem to me to have a agenda when it comes to the Suny’s. I’m a resident of NYC and know full well about Cuomo’s budget cuts and that the Suny’s will take a hit. I know also that a tuition hike is inevitable. My son will be going to Cortland MT this year and is very happy with his choice. We went to orientation last month, and I asked the head of the MT department about funding, he assured me they would not be losing any. As a matter of fact starting in 2012 their facilities will be getting a major face lift, that would include a complete renovation of the main theater, and studios. I’m sorry I hijacked the thread, but I feel that the Sunys offer fine programs, and for NY residents a great value for the money.</p>

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<p>TheatreG, I understand your apprehension about the SATs but, in reality, all students feel that way! Thousands of Canadian students who are interested in attending college in the U.S. take them every year. It’s why every large and mid-sized city in the country offers them. High schools don’t prepare students for the SAT. It’s up to the student to look into it, and if you’re lucky, you’ll have a guidance counsellor who has some knowledge in that regard. As I mentioned before, time is of the essence on this issue so I would look into it ASAP or you may preclude yourself from being able to apply to U.S. colleges this year.</p>

<p>I don’t want this to come across harshly but your view that only schools in NYC will offer serious training in MT is just plain wrong. There are many excellent programs in the U.S., all highly selective, and as I mentioned earlier, most are not in NYC. You should have a look at the websites for these, just to get an idea - Carnegie Mellon, Univ. of Michigan, Syracuse University, University of the Arts, Emerson College, BOCO, Penn State University, Ithaca College - none are in NYC. These are just a few of the options out there and is a list of schools that would be within an easy day’s drive of Ottawa.</p>

<p>Have a look at the list at the top of this MT forum, and as I already mentioned, read as many discussions here as possible. One other thing I’ll say is that students applying in the past few cycles seem to apply to and audition for many more schools than in the years prior to that. Ten to fifteen schools seems to be more the norm these days. It’s important to compile a list of appropriate schools that reflect not only your academic stats but your financial situation as well. The Unified auditions are a good venue for those who do not have the financial means to travel and visit every school, although if you can visit, that is preferable for a couple of reasons. You can actually get to tour the school, meet students and faculty, maybe sit in on a couple of classes, see a production, get a feel for the campus. Additionally, having all of your auditions within a two to three day period can be a worry if you happen to get sick, which, in February isn’t that uncommon. Weather issues can also affect travel at that time of year. In any case, since it’s August and you’re applying this year, it’s unlikely that you have time to visit many, if any, schools prior to applying so the Unifieds may be your best bet. </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/477658-preparing-apply-information-h-s-juniors-seniors.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/477658-preparing-apply-information-h-s-juniors-seniors.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>That thread has a good overview of what you need to think about. Lots of research to do, lots of decisions to make, but you’ve found CC and as I said, there’s a wealth of information here, and people who are happy to help you. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Re #11</p>

<p>My daughter and I live near to NYC and she is a recent graduate of Boco and could not say enough great things about their program. Prior to going away to school, she was already in SAG/AFTRA/AEA and she, along with her representation, felt strongly about where she needed to go to school for a BFA/MT.</p>

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<p>Rdalenorth - you are correct, I do have an agenda when it comes to SUNY and CUNY – my agenda is students - I am a fierce advocate for the students of public higher education in NYS. During most months of the year I spend about four days a month speaking with members of the NYS Senate and Assembly trying to convince them that the students of NY have, and need to have, access to a quality college education at an affordable price, across many majors. Would that it was only Governor Cuomo’s budget – these cuts have gone on for three years now. Perhaps you have read what I wrote in the Cortland thread about a month ago. If you have not, here is some hard core truth: NYS has cut the operating budget of the SUNY system by about 34% in the last three years – that is around $800,000,000 fewer SUNY dollars in September 2011 than September 2007 in the annual operating budget – this is the budget that allows teaching to occur, it is the money that pays teachers’ salaries, maintenance, utilities, and such. You mention renovations going on at Cornell – it is very important to realize that funding for capital (buildings, facilities, sidewalks, etc) projects is “different” money – it is funded through a university construction fund that is planned and paid (monies set aside) for five to ten years in advance of the project. Any buildings or renovations you see going up today or in the next year or two were planned and paid for prior to the recession – new buildings going up on a campus do not reflect financial health in the current fiscal year’s operating budget. The teaching hospital in Brooklyn has cut three entire departments, SUNY/Albany has cut whole departments (no long accepting students) including their entire performing arts department. This past season Stonybrook did not produce a show – no production money. Buffalo has more than 240 fewer teachers today than it did three years ago – including reductions in their performing arts department. Schools have had to alter their requirements for degrees because they do not have the money to be able to offer the courses they previously offered. SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam are making plans to merge their operations. This list could go on. At Cortland the whole department is majorly made up of adjunct and non-tenured faculty – these are among the most vulnerable when cuts come to a department. I think the administration IS supportive of the MT program at Cortland and that is a plus. I also know that David Neal has made his BA program competitive and is devoted to making his program even better. However, growth, even maintenance, in these economic times is difficult. I wish you and your son well. I do suggest that you make an appointment with your state senator and assembly person to encourage them to more fully fund SUNY and specifically the Arts. You will hear, “times are tough, we have to make choices” – tell them yes, priorities need to be set - and educating the youth of NYS is a huge priority.</p>

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<p>So after reading through all your posts I’ve decided I will take the SATs (December 3rd 2011), and have compiled what I hope will be my final list of schools. I have 14 lined up with 13 auditions, I know that is very unsafe considering auditions are even less certain than a normal application but after searching through these schools all seemed top notch.</p>

<p>Any opinions on the schools themselves would be once again appreciated and I’ve put the country just to help out with those who might be unfamiliar with certain schools.</p>

<ol>
<li> NYU (New York, USA)</li>
<li> BOCO (Boston, USA)</li>
<li> AADA (New York,USA)</li>
<li> AMDA (New York, USA) </li>
<li> Julliard (New York, USA)</li>
<li> Tisch (New York, USA)</li>
<li> NTS (Montreal, Canada)</li>
<li> Sheridan (Oakville, Canada)</li>
<li> Ottawa u (Ottawa, Canada) [No audition required]</li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon (Pittsburgh, USA)</li>
<li>Ithaca (South Hill, USA)</li>
<li>Randolph Academy (Toronto, Canada)</li>
<li>Canadian college of performing arts (Victoria, Canada)</li>
<li>Circle in the square (New York, USA)</li>
</ol>

<p>I hope the list looks a little more diverse now despite the constant repetition of NY and also for the one who brought it up yes I have had my audition material completely lined up for about 2 months now it’s not entirely ready but will be very soon. So once again thoughts appreciated.</p>

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<p>A number of your schools cost a great deal more than $20,000/year you quoted earlier - Ithaca, NYU, BOCO, AMDA and CMU are all close to or over $50,000/year with tuition, room and board. I know that US university prices can cause some sticker shock for Canadians who pay a fraction of the cost for higher education (I know - I am one…). Good-luck as you sort through your options and work out the college app process - it can be a daunting task.</p>

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<p>Some of your choices do not grant a degree - if that is important to you, you need to double check.</p>