<p>I was curious as to whether the larger universities, particularly the large state U's that accept regular students on a rolling or large-batch basis, reserve rooms for BFA students who find out whether they are attending in late March (or later), after the regular students have reserved their room. Also, given the schedule of BFA students, do the housing people typically house BFA students together? I can imagine the nightmare of a BFA student randomly assigned to some gal/guy who is up till 2AM most days partying. Thanks.</p>
<p>I have actually heard of dorms filled with BFA students who ARE the ones up late, partying. :)</p>
<p>It is our impression that many schools house the theater/performing arts/music/other arts kids together, particularly the larger universities, such as Rutgers and U Minn. I do not have specific info, however, only general notes from either websites or in-person group info sessions.</p>
<p>I recall reading that on one web page (Hartt, I think), but have not seen it discussed otherwise. At Rutgers, Penn State, MN., etc., lots of kids have already been accepted and have reserved a room.</p>
<p>At PSU there are SLO (special living options) that include a complete area of dorms reserved for the kids at the School of Arts and Architecture and Business. This includes MT whch falls under School of Theater in School of A&A. These are 2 and 4 bedroom suites. You might get a roomie from theater, theater tech, School of Music( VP) but he/she will be an "artsy " type. I know that at PSU they also have secondary housing if you send your app in too late, but the head of MT, Cary Libkin, is very helpful in getting his kids moved into better living arrangements at least by second semseter. Also, there is a really swell lady in the assignment office that you can contact. pm me if you need to if you end up having the option to choose PSU.</p>
<p>ttmom: we were at PSU this past Sat. (for BA acting, though mostly MT kids) and this is what we were told by the students there. We were impressed by the friendliness of the students, how well organized it was, etc. My S was pleasantly (very) surprised. It was the visit that led us to question whether most schools do what they do. It's a question that we will be sure to ask, if doing a campus audition. Posting over here because the Drama Thread is kind of dead.</p>
<p>Brian, I know you're not interested in how NYU does it (since it's not a state school and doesnt do rolling admissions) but in case someone else is, I'll reply. :) The Tisch kids are not grouped together in housing, neither are the Stern business kids, or the College of Arts and Science kids, or the Steinhardt education kids, well, you get the picture. </p>
<p>Also, I agree with NMR. Drama/theatre/MT kids are sometimes some of the heartiest partiers!</p>
<p>Briansteffy, I should clarify. At PSU theater kids can live in an area together if they wish, however my D happens to live on the opposite side of campus in an honors dorm. At least 4 other kids of the 14 in her class do not live in the theater dorms.</p>
<p>Again -- this may not be an issue, because neither JMU (where I teach), or Syracuse (where I went) do rolling admissions (at east I do not THINK they do at SU), but at JMU there is no special cluster of arts housing -- although most students live off campus after freshman year (some stay on campus as sophomores, but almost all have moved off campus by junior year)... JMU does not have enough housing for all students to stay on campus for four years... Freshmen must live on campus or commute from home. There are a lot of terrific off campus "dorm-like" housing options for upper classmen.</p>
<p>At Syracuse as a freshman I lived on a floor with mostly SUNY-ESF forestry majors... I had friends that lived in a dorm that had a lot of VPA students in it -- I think it was an option to request -- I believe I remember hearing that that now this is not in the same dorm it was in the early 1990s, but I think I heard there still is a living option for "arts interested" students. Anyone who goes there now have info?</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. While every school thinks itself a party school (well, not Bob Jones, etc.), after nearly 3 decades in the business at distinctly different schools - SEC, Big Ten, LAC - there are schools where students party and there are schools that PARTY. Fun is fine, but I have seen some really strung out kids over the years - stop going to classes, cheating, etc. I say this as an ex-psychiatric social worker. When the school or program is intense, the grades/status of the student will reflect sustained substance abuse. This is one of the reasons that I am pleased that my son is pursuing a degree in theatre; I doubt that a BFA kid can remain in a program smoking two ounces of pot a week or drinking a case of beer a week. I just want to make sure that my kid does not end up stuck with a roommate who does. My kid's no angel (I wasn't either), but when you drop 25-45k per year on a program, you should expect that the college proactively manages student life. Sorry, I'm preaching again ----</p>
<p>I have friends who have kids in college and am honestly shocked by some of the stories they have relayed to me about what goes on in the dorms at many schools: small LACs and big 10 state universities, both. Kids partied hard when I was in school, too (even though it was back in the days of Fred and Wilma Flintstone! :)) but it seems that they party even harder now, and more frequently. From my friends and elsewhere I have heard numerous roommate horror stories, and these kids were pursuing majors ranging from computer science and engineering to visual art and music. I am sorry to say that I think partying too hard cuts across all majors and happens at most schools, except maybe Brigham Young University (which, by the way, apparently has a really top notch drama dept.:)) Unfortunately, Brian, I don't have to tell you that colleges/universities really cannot "proactively" manage their students' lives. In fact, worse than that, they (the colleges) cannot even let us, the parents, know if a kid is going off the rails because of FERPA. (In fact, my D auditioned at a program last weekend and during the info session, FERPA was mentioned and explained. The bottom line is: unless the kid signs a waiver, we have no right to know what is going on, even to the point of having a kid taken to the ER with an injury or substance abuse issues.) I would suggest parents read up on FERPA and talk to their kids about these issues before they leave for college.</p>
<p>I agree wholeheartedly on the FERPA issue -- I sometimes will have parents contact me asking to discuss their child who is my advisee or student, and I have to make clear that in order to talk about their child I need a written waiver from the student. I also tend to want to set up a conference call time when the student can be present in my office during the conversation... that way all of us are on the same page in terms of the information discussed, and the student is a proactive part of the process. In my capacity as an academic adviser these requests usually have more to do with academics than partying... but in all cases, university faculty and officials are prohibited from discussing students with parents, guardians, ANYONE, regardless of who may by footing the bill.</p>
<p>This is kind of related to partying so I hope it's ok to post here. My D is afraid of the "Freshman 30" - the notorious weight gain during freshman year. When I read about all this partying....and how beer makes you gain weight ....I wonder how much of this weight gain is from beer. Those of you that have kids in college that you know don't drink - was weight gain a problem? Is the gain from eating institutional food and snacking on things like potato chips in their dorms or do you think the weight gain problem is from drinking?</p>
<p>Factor in the unlimited frozen yogurt and ice cream and cereals available in the dorms, and mix in, too, the bizarre hours (spent in rehearsal, crewing and so on) that BFA kids have to endure, and you have a recipe for eating poorly and weight gain, for sure.</p>
<p>My D actually lost 7-8 lbs her first semester!! And, yes, she ate, well. But, she is very careful about what she eats, and the school offerings actually include quite healthy choices if one wants to make them. Additionally, she keeps her room fridge stocked with healthy goodies, and uses the microwave on days- like 4 out of 5, when she cannot eat lunch due to her schedule ( 8-4:30 most days). In addition to her dance classes she spins 4-5 times a week, does fit ball in her room, and now also swims 3-4 times a week-including week-ends. This on top of a over-full class load and rehearsals. Because she spends so many hours keeping her body in shape she does not drink at all. Or smoke. Or eat junk food like ice cream and pizza. And yes she is having a great time and is very healthy. It can be done. With a lot of hard work.</p>
<p>I was one of those freshmen who didn't drink at all. I found that I was walking around far more than I had been doing, but I was eating a bit differently--though not necessarily bad things--than I had at home. </p>
<p>Over the last four years, I have gained and lost weight at different intervals, but the most weight I gained was probably sophomore year. There is DEFINITELY still a "risk factor" for weight gain even without the alcohol involved, but it's about training your BRAIN (not your body) to respond to choosing the right foods and portion control. </p>
<p>My college doesn't offer meal plans, but instead has kitchens and refrigerators in the dorm rooms. While I had to go out and buy my own groceries, I found that it kept me a lot healthier than I normally would have been. I would have slacked on my health if I'd had the option of not making food for myself. </p>
<p>So the "threat" is real, but it needn't scare any kids off. Be wise and you will be fine.</p>
<p>Back in the stone ages when NotMamaRose and I went to college :), it was the freshman 5. Then a few years ago I heard it was the freshman 15. I am shocked to learn that it is now up to 30! I think a lot of the weight gain has to do with drinking, but in my case, it was also my schedule which caused me to add an extra meal. We ate lunch and dinner early (about 11 and 4) to avoid the long lines at the caf, then ate pizza or other junk late at night. In my daughter's case, due to some female problems, she gained weight her senior year in high school and actually lost a lot her first semester of college, but she worked at it really hard.</p>
<p>Given the chance, I don't think I'd want to live with all the other BFAs! As a theatre major you spend most of your waking hours with the same small (generally) group. And I think there often comes a time where you need to see people who have nothing to do with theatre... Whenever I visited schools that mentioned having performing arts, theatre, or drama-themed housing I immediately thought, "As much as I love it...absolutely not!"</p>
<p>I know that it was tough dorming last year with a dancer at my daughter's school, simply because their schedules were completely opposite. The dancer had classes starting earling in the morning and she (obviously) danced about 6 or so hours a day and was exhausted by early evening. My daughter's classes started later and ran later. She has always been a late night person, so it was rather difficult to compromise in the evenings. Although, it is a learning lesson about life, isn't it?</p>
<p>I faintly remember an "arts" dorm being available at Syracuse -- but my D did not choose that option. Freshman year she was assigned a dorm and roommate. Syracuse students are required to live on-campus for 2 years, but many theater students request and receive permission to move off campus for their second year; the theater and most BFA classes are located several blocks away from the main campus, and are quite a distance from most dorms.</p>
<p>My D much prefers her off-campus apartment, which she shares with 2 other MT students. She had difficulty finding practice time and space in a regular dorm, surrounded by non-theater students.</p>