<p>What I've noticed is that experiments with wellness, or substance free, or 'quet zone' dorms/floors have not fared well. All parties (no pun intended) may be blamed. First, some experiments go to the opposite extreme and prohibit any substance use, which curtails demand and stigmatizes those who live there. Second, because consumers/paying parents come and go every four years (every two years when upperclass-persons move off campus their junior year), there is not a sustained demand for lifestyle based housing. Also, its expensive and hard to coordinate, and colleges rarely have slack resources to fully invest in innovative housing. We just instated the British Don system. It will be interesting to see what happens when profs. live in the dorms, or, at minimum, have their office in the dorms, with RAs reporting to them.
I agree that a BFA student may want a break from the kids in the theatre program. That's not the issue. The issue is grouping kids according campus lifestyle and providing 'cool' (perceived) options for those who like to let loose, but do not want to be in a suite with students who chronically self-medicate. Again, I am an ex-hippie (late 60s/early 70s). For those as old as me, you know what went on.
I do not want to glorify that era (I used to run 'trip tents' at rock concerts at Duke), but kids these days party in a different way than we did. While there is less hard drug use (though 'e' is still popular), drinking games are problematic. The number of kids sent to the ER with alcohol poisoning is surprising. Many times, it's the kid who is not a heavy user, but is egged-on by peers at some party, that finds her/hiself in the ER. I hear lots of shocking stories by students about what goes on at their parties. It makes 'animal house' seem shy.</p>
<p>I couldn't tell you who is on the POP 10 list today if my life depended on it. The last POP 10 list I remember had Janis Joplin, the Stones and the Animals. But as someone that lives daily with my daughter I know that if her roommate was into today's POP she might find it disturbing that my daughter likes to wake up to WICKED, PHANTOM, RENT and HAIRSPRAY blaring on the stereo and singing along. Whereas if she has a MT roommate they are likely to be doing a duet.</p>
<p>MOAP, I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you on this. :) Part of going away to college, regardless of your choice of major, is to expand your horizons, to learn to get along/live with/meet ALL kinds of people and explore different opportunities. In reality, the chances of your D having a good, or bad, roommate experience in freshman year are just as good with a non-theatre major as they are WITH a theatre major. It would be a mistake, in my opinion, to automatically assume that all theatre kids are a good match as roommates, simply because they have the same major. They are not all the same. To use your example, I know a lot of theatre kids who would definitely not enjoy being awakened by Defying Gravity, or even worse, Popular. ;)</p>
<p>Several people I know who have kids in BFA programs who room with other MTs and actors in the program are reporting that their kids are finding the whole situation provides a little too much togetherness. In some programs, the kids are together for extended hours each day in class and in the theater, and then when they live together too, well, it can be a little much, I hear.</p>
<p>Could not agree with you more NMR!! Not only are kids starting to get on each other's nerves at my D's school, but she has friends who live with other MTs at 8 or more of the schools on this list, including and especially the schools that seem to be "top-ranked" by most people-and some roomies do not even speak anymore, which is why my D chose to live as far away from theater kids as possible with the general population and the honors students- another wierd breed! She feels that 10 to 15 hours a day 6 to 7 days a week is enough togetherness!!!!;')</p>
<p>ttmom/NotMamaRose: Are these MT or acting kids? I am serious about the following question, though it may seem ignorant: do acting and MT kids differ in personality/disposition/temperment? For example, might the latter be more competitive (or whatever) than the former? I happened to tell my S about this conversation and he was surprised that the BFA students would tire of/irritate each other. But his only experience thus far is five weeks at BUs program. It was perhaps too good of an experience; I suspect he's a bit pollyannish as to what is to come, IF he gets an offer. After hanging out with football players for four years, he thouht he died and went to heaven.</p>
<p>Brian, from what I can ascertain, it seems not to matter if the kids are musical theater people or actors. It's the constant togetherness (being together from yoga in the early morning through late at night in the theater and then more of the same in the dorm room) that does them in. It's not about the personalities of actors versus MTs. It's about being with the same people constantly, day in and day out.</p>
<p>NMR's explanation is what I think some are talking about here. Due to the intensity of the programs and the long hours, sometimes kids feel that as much as they adore their fellow BFA pals and they are some of their very best buddies, that they want a break or respite from all things "theater program" when they get home late at night. They may even enjoy getting to unwind with different pals who don't eat, breathe, and do what they do all their waking hours and discuss this and that about the program and what not. Some like a reprieve even if they truly are best buddies with those in the program. It can be more to life and wanting a break from the constant BFA "chatter". I'm not saying all feel that way but it can happen. Sometimes having a roomie who is your roomie but not your program pal can be a nice thing too.</p>
<p>I'll give you an example. I have a daughter who is on a sports team at her college. She LOVES this sport and LOVES her teammates. She has chosen not to room with them as she feels she already spends so much time with them (she just spent three weeks with them at training camp and spends every weekend living together and many practices during the week) that she wanted to room with another set of pals. While the kids on a team or the kids in a BFA really bond around their shared passion, it is nice to have other friendship groups at times as well.</p>
<p>This is also different than a summer program in this way.</p>
<p>Soozievt you are so right- it is just "too much togetherness" and no break from the program, not MT vs theater kids. NMR is correct too- I agree!!! Actually my D finds that after the long days and nights she does not need to unwind with any roommate! She was lucky enough to transfer to a single this semester as one became available after she inquired with housing, and now is guaranteed the single for next year- so she thinks she has died and gone to heaven as well- and still sees her dorm buddies, but no longer has to comply with or adjust to another's wake/sleep/visitor schedule. My son plays water polo at his college and his teammates are his best buds, so he lives near them in the dorm, but also has a single!!! Works for them. Another option to consider, especially after first year or semester.</p>
<p>In her second year at Syracuse, my D is having a somewhat different experience from some of the above posters. She is rooming with 2 close friends from the MT department. Luckily, they each have their own bedroom, so they DO have some privacy. And certainly, you can have conflicts with any roommate, whether or not they are in the same department. </p>
<p>However, she really appreciates the fact that her roommates understand her routine -- for example, she can do her weird vocal warm-ups without annoying anyone. She can rehearse emotional monologues -- perhaps bursting into tears or screaming angrily --without scaring anyone. And her roommates are available and willing to help her with scenes or dance routines. None of that was possible last year when she lived in a dorm!</p>
<p>It is true that it's great to make friends who are not in the theater department. My D would really like to do that -- but between classes, homework and rehearsals, she's found that she doesn't have much time to do so. The Syracuse schedule allows for more electives in junior and senior year, so she's hoping to broaden her horizons in the future.</p>
<p>Onstage,
I definitely think it CAN work out to have roomies from the same program, don't get me wrong! I was just acknowledging that in some cases, some find it a reprieve to have some time with others not connected to their program.</p>
<p>My BFA daughter is now a junior. Freshman year, she lived in a dorm that was an apartment style dorm with two bedrooms of two girls each and a living room, kitchen and bathroom. Since she had a long time theater friend from our region also going to the same program, and they had even roomed together at a summer program years ago about middle school age, they chose to room together freshman year as they knew they were compatable rather than get a random roommate. They have become very close friends in college. The other two girls in the other bedroom were not in MT and they were not truly friends with them. As far as practicing, my D chose to sign up regularly to use practice rooms in the dorm, and not practice in her room. </p>
<p>For sophomore year, again she roomed with her same MT pal from our state in an apartment style dorm and a third girl (in the other bedroom) was also a MT friend they met in the program and the fourth girl was randomly assigned. It was fun and the three have a group of mutual friends through the program and so did a lot together. However, sometimes my D said it was like never getting away from the program even during the (few) down times as everything was wrapped up in the program from the moment you arise until you go to sleep. However, she does love her program pals and is quite close with them.</p>
<p>This year, my daughter has an apartment off campus that is a two bedroom where there are only two girls and each has her own bedroom. She is not living with someone in the MT program (her roomie is in music composition and so they do share an interest in music, however). She said there are some nice aspects to going home at night and being separated from program chit chat. She still has her pals from the program with whom she spends a great deal of time with both at the program but also socially outside the program. That has never changed. She is bonded with them but doesn't feel that she also has to live with them, though enjoyed it when she did. </p>
<p>All that said, my D has several DIFFERENT social groups at college and NOT just the ones in the MT program. She likes that. For instance, she is very tight with her a capella group. She is also in Scholars. She also has cast mates not in her MT program. She also works on other theater projects that don't necessarily involve those from her studio. Actually, today my D starts a different studio and so will also have that group of friends. She has different sets of friends, but is definitely very bonded with the MT kids. She doesn't feel she HAS to live with them, though doing so has been fine too. For her, she has enjoyed having different social networks at college.</p>
<p>Susan, what studio is she moving to? Did she choose to leave CAP21 to study a different area of theater? Inquiring minds want to know .... :)</p>
<p>NMR,
First, let me say that my D absolutely LOVES CAP21!!!! She couldn't be happier with the training she has received in that studio in every single respect. </p>
<p>Second, you may or may not know, that CAP21 is a 3 1/2 year studio. There are three years of training. Then, you can choose for one of your senior semesters to do the CAP21 showcase semester where they bring in casting directors and agents and so forth to work with the students and then they prepare for a CAP21 showcase (btw, the CAP21 showcase is in addition to the Tisch showcases which a student can also try out to be in.....you don't try out for the CAP21 showcase....but Tisch as two industry nights....one for straight drama and one for MT by audition). The senior semester is not a true "training" semester at CAP21.</p>
<p>Also, for those that don't know, at Tisch, it is very very common to do your primary studio for two years and then study in different studio or advanced studio for two years. Many of my D's CAP friends, for example, have gone onto studios such as Playwrights Horizons, Classical Studio or Stonestreet (and others). My D did not do that after soph year like some others. So, she has done CAP21 training for 2 1/2 years. There is basically one semester (this one) left of that training and then the Showcase semester option in senior year in regard to CAP21 studio. </p>
<p>What she decided to do was to give up ONE semester basically of CAP21 studio (this semester) for a few reasons. She really wanted to do Experimental Theater Wing's transfer track. It is hard to get into. I think a huge number try out for what is called the ETW transfer track and she didn't know if she could get in but wanted to try (I think they take 15). She was accepted by audition. </p>
<p>She has several reasons she wants to do ETW. She knows that CAP has given her the technical skills in voice, acting and dance. She doesn't feel she needs another semester of dance training so much. They also work on song repertoire and she is very good at being well versed on the MT canon and finding songs for herself. They are also working this semester at CAP on Shakespeare. But ETW has a lot of physical acting and since she came to college with the least training in acting (had voice and dance training for years but not acting), she'd like to focus for a bit on strengthening her acting and particularly in the way that ETW does it. It's more physical and people rave about the acting training there and she thinks one should build upon their weaker areas, rather than do more of what they are already good at. </p>
<p>Also, at ETW, there is still singing. While my D is a MT singer, she also sings other genres. At ETW, in the singing class, the teacher is a jazz singer and the student can work on any type of songs, not just MT. She craves going beyond the wonderful MT singing she has gotten at CAP21 and having opportunities to work on other song material in class. She will continue to take private voice lessons with her CAP21 voice teacher. ETW also still does dance but it is not the same formal ballet, jazz, and tap (all of which she has done her entire life and thinks she'll benefit from something new now rather than one more semester of that). </p>
<p>The other big reason is that my daughter is also a composer and writer. At ETW, she will be able to create both her own music and own theater, rather than only sing or be in shows that already exist. At ETW, a senior project can be to stage one's own theater piece. (one year my D musically directed one of the ETW senior projects... a song cycle show) My D is in the planning stages of writing and composing a musical and has already spoken to a recent Tisch directing graduate to direct it and she really really wants to write, compose and produce and perform in her own musical which is what can be done at ETW but not really as much at CAP. She feels she has received an excellent technical foundation in CAP to allow her to move into creating her own music and theater. </p>
<p>So, what she hopes to do, I think, is ETW transfer track this semester (started it today) and then be in ETW one semester senior year and hopefully do the "Independent Project" (her own musical) and then return to CAP for their senior showcase semester. She also will try out for the Tisch showcase. With this plan, she will have only missed ONE semester at CAP21 but have gained two semesters in ETW and an opportunity to do this sort of acting training (learn new things) and this type of singing work (she is very involved in jazz/pop/rock music as a singer), and be able to compose her own works, and write her own shows and do "experimental theater" and not just already existing works. She has heard so much raves about ETW and has seen the talent from that studio and wants to have a chance to explore it as she is a very creative type person. She would enjoy mixing with students coming from many different studios (that is who her group of 15 will be in the ETW transfer track) and learning from a new group which would be invigorating. </p>
<p>I know my D has been extremely happy in the skills she has attained in singing, acting and dance at CAP21 and now is wanting to take advantage of an opportunity to collaborate in a new way in theater at ETW. She wants to learn new things and have these new opportunities to augment what she has already gained at Tisch. She is definitely IN musical theater. This is a chance to do a different sort of training and she thinks it is a chance to take advantage of all that Tisch offers by building her remaining semesters in this way. </p>
<p>Also, again, she is not only a MT performer, but she is very involved in musically directing, composing and writing and so is into the creative process as well as performing. She will continue to sing and dance at ETW, as well as experience a new kind of acting training. She hopefully will get to put on her own musical. (she wrote and staged a mini musical last year with Tisch Scholars) Meanwhile, she is currently heavily involved in rehearsing the Mainstage Musical at Tisch and so has that still (plus is involved in musically directing and performing in her award winning a capella group which will be competing in collegiate a capella again this year and a film company is following her group for a documentary). So, she hasn't LEFT musical theater! She is trying to get additional training of a different sort while at NYU to take advantage of all that is offered there, and is in essence, only giving up one semester of CAP to do this. She would have loved to do the summer in Amsterdam (that is related to ETW I think) but that is very costly and we cannot send her to that and so this is a way for her to do ETW training in addition to CAP. Tisch is very different than most other BFA programs in that it is common and encouraged to do more than one studio during your four years and so opportunities like this abound to build your own four years of training.</p>
<p>Susan, that's great! It sounds as if this is a very good -- and smart -- move for her and one that will only add to her skill set. And yes, the opportunity for kids to move to another studio for at least part of their time at Tisch is one of the reasons that the program is so attractive to my daughter, too! Please tell her congrats from all of us here at CC! Please keep us posted on what she is doing and how she likes it. I would imagine that ETW would be quite, quite different from CAP21 in many ways ... many exciting ways.</p>
<p>Soozie, (and may be these last few posts should be moved to the Tisch/CAP21 thread), I was under the impression that you "switch" studios after 2 years? You mention that your D switched after 2 1/2 yrs, can you explain/elaborate? Also, does switching mean that you then graduate with whatever studio you are with in the end, or does everyone just graduate as "Tisch"? One last question, you said that CAP21's senior showcase is non-audition (I thought it actually was by audition only), and so can one leave CAP after 2 years for say Stonestreet, and then 'transfer' back in time for the showcase? I am a bit confused by it all :).</p>
<p>MTgrlsmom, yes, a common thing is to switch studio after two years and either do another studio or an "advanced" studio such as Classical Studio. My D didn't do that as she really likes CAP. But you can audition for ETW "transfer track" at the point in time that she has done so (I know other juniors from other studios who will do that track with her this semester.....everyone in her group of 15 will be new to this studio for this ONE semester and then after that she can continue in ETW, but doesn't have to...but she wants to try to do the senior project and stage her own musical and so plans to). </p>
<p>As far as when you graduate....truly EVERYONE at Tisch is earning a BFA in Drama. There is no named "BFA in Musical Theater" degree. The degree is a BFA in Drama. Then, one would may typically list on a resume which studio they attended. Some have attended one studio all four years and some will have trained in more than one studio and thus would list all their studios, if they so chose. As far as the "degree", it is a BFA in Drama regardless.</p>
<p>With regard to the CAP showcase, you have to have done CAP for three years to do the senior year showcase and so no, someone who left after soph year to a different studio does not return to CAP for the senior showcase (but certainly can try out for the Tisch showcases which are called Industry Nights, one of which is for MT). Similarly, those who transfered INTO CAP after two years in another studio (at the start of their junior year) cannot be in the CAP showcase (rather they do two years of CAP21 training in junior/senior years). My D has been in CAP for 2 1/2 years and basically all but ONE semester of the training program. Those who run the program have said she could do the CAP showcase semester one semester next year and she may do that. She also will audition for the Tisch "showcases." </p>
<p>That said, you have to remember that with Tisch being in NYC, industry folks are invited all the time to shows as well. I believe an industry packet will go out for the cast of the upcoming Mainstage musical ("Only Children") in which my D is the female lead. I know that if she stages her own musical at ETW, industry folks can be invited. This is common at NYU.</p>
<p>Also, let me clarify your misconception regarding the showcases. CAP21 has its OWN showcase which they began around last year, for those in CAP21 for three years. They do not audition to get into it. However, Tisch itself ALSO has showcases called "Industry Nights." I believe one Industry Night is for MT and one is for Acting. Any Tisch student is eligible for these (please know that there are talented MT kids in acting studios) but you MUST audition to get in and given how many attend ALL of Tisch, these are not a given by any means. Thus, a student, like mine (or yours) in CAP21 can be in the CAP21 showcase for sure, but is not assured a spot in the Tisch Industry Nights. My D plans to audition for that in senior year. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Soozie, I knew you would have all the answers :)</p>
<p>One more question, does only ETW offer a "transfer track" or do any other studios offer this type of "one semester track" as well?</p>
<p>^^^ I definitely don't have all the answers. :)
I can't for sure answer your question and my D never looked into other studios. There are some studios that are advanced studios that are only available to juniors/seniors like Classical Studio and Stonestreet Studio. I haven't heard the term "transfer track" with other studios but I don't have the definitive answer but can tell you that ETW has this track. You likely could go on each individual studios' site and read what they offer. ETW has this specific "transfer track" semester which is what my D is doing for this semester. Some other studios, such as CAP21 are simply studios that one can audition to get into for their studio after their two years in primary studio are up. For instance, my D has some friends in her a capella group who were in Stella Adler who transfered (by audition) into CAP this year as juniors and will do CAP for two years. They are in NO special "track". Rather they are in regular class with CAP students.....I BELIEVE they do the second and third year CAP program with second and third year students respectively. That is different than what my D is doing in ETW. She will not be joining the current ETW students THIS semester. She is in a special track of 15 kids from other studios for this transfer track for a semester. Then she can take any electives at ETW next year along with other ETW students (less structured than CAP as you can choose the training classes from a wide array, whereas in CAP, your training classes are chosen for you and everyone takes the same ones). So, I think this transfer track thing may be an ETW thing only (but cannot say for SURE). I can say that CAP21 doesn't have this particular "track". You enter CAP for the second two years after another studio by audition but there is no special "track" program.</p>
<p>When I went to college (almost 20 years ago)...it was called the "Freshman 15"...now its the "Freshman 30"??? Yikes!! ;)</p>
<p>Just edited my post b/c I had only read the first page of this thread...I see that MTgrlsmom already addressed this..sorry!</p>