<p>I'm in =) I'll know if I'm actually going very soon.</p>
<p>Money aside, the best of the best go to BOCO. BOCO is the major leagues of musical theatre. There is only one other school in the country on a par with BOCO. The drop off from these two schools is big. So if you are considering a career in MT and want the best chance to suceed, find a way to afford the tuition.</p>
<p>beenthereMTdad, wow! That's quite a statement, to say that there is only one other school on par with BoCo. Can you elaborate on why you say that? One thing that most people accept is that there is really no way to rank these MT programs.</p>
<p>Research.Research.Research. </p>
<p>In no order:</p>
<p>School Reputation</p>
<p>Quality of Faculty - read bios</p>
<p>Sucess after graduation (percentage who have careers in the arts)</p>
<p>Going to most of the schools, staying overnight and observe how deep the talent pool is. Training is always better if you are not the big fish in the small pond. Student realize how hard they have to work just to keep up.</p>
<p>Cut systems</p>
<p>See how many of the big talent agents and big casting agents show up at the senior showcases. </p>
<p>Spoke directly with agents and casting directors</p>
<p>I certainly am not disagreeing that Boston Conservatory's program is a fine one. In fact, my own kid auditioned there and was offered admission. Had we not held the program in esteem, she wouldn't have made that trip to Boston to do so! (She did try to schedule her BoCo audition at Unifieds in New York City, but she ultimately couldn't make the schedule work with the required dance audition, so we schlepped to Boston!)
I just think it is an exaggeration to say that there is only one other program in the country on par with it. That's unprovable, no matter how much research you do. Students in MT programs at all of the top schools have to work hard to keep up and to continually improve, and a number of schools have senior showcases to which industry people show up.
Again, I am not in the least disputing that Boston Conservatory offers a fine program. I just don't believe that one can realistically quantify the quality of a program that trains musical theater performers. :)</p>
<p>I'm not looking to argue but will leave everyone with this thought. Do you believe you are judged by the company you keep? Do you think it matters if you went to Harvard or Yale instead of Penn State? I'm not saying you can't be a brilliant and talented and attend Penn State. I'm saying that copming out of school you will be hired a lot quicker or given a chance. I also had/have the ability to contact the top casting directors and agents in New York and get THEIR opinion. Which is the only one I think counts.</p>
<p>Penn State is not a good example for this argument/debate, as it's MT program is one of the most selective out there, with about a 3.6% acceptance rate. That's even more selective than Boston Conservatory's acceptance rate!
That said, I don't believe that even those percentages tell us that much about the quality of a BFA program. The only thing that counts is that young performers with talent and drive get the very best training they can, which I happen to believe is available at a number of college/university/programs, including Boston Conservatory. Lucky for the young people that there are so many great programs out there.</p>
<p>Just curious, beenthereMTdad - Have you had a child go through the audition process yet?</p>
<p>beenthereMTdad, </p>
<p>I happen to agree with NotMamaRose. I think your statement that BOCO is the "best" and that there is only one other program in the country that can match it is an OPINION and is best not to be stated as factual. Indeed, BOCO is ONE of the more well regarded and well known programs. I have NOTHING against it as my D chose to apply, liked it a lot, and was admitted. I think there are several "top programs" and BOCO is among them but I have never heard it as being the best in the country tied with one other. I think most would agree that it is in a "top tier" of several MT programs. Many of your other points about the program are true. I think the issue is more the one I just mentioned ("the best of the best" and "only one other school on par" and "the drop from these TWO schools is big") than anything else.</p>
<p>With regard to what you said about paying for BOCO...."if you are considering a career in MT and want the best chance to suceed, find a way to afford the tuition.".....My thoughts are twofold.....One is that a MT performer has a chance to succeed no matter the program they attend as the student is the one who succeeds, not the program they came from and the fact is, there are many successful MT performers from a great many of the fine MT programs and not just BOCO and one other MT program. Two, while we did not limit our children to where they could attend based on price and we did do as you believe....and are "finding a way to afford the tuition" and our kids are on financial aid.....I do not question the many families who do make decisions about which college to attend based on finances. While that is not my choice to do, I respect others who have to do that or choose to do that. We each do what we can and what we value and make choices.</p>
<p>Hi Mary C. Yes I have. My D just finished up her first year. My wife and I looked at about 40 programs, narrowed to 30, visited 20 and applied to 15. My D was accepted to 10 with varying scholarships offers. My D already has professional representation, is a working actress and a member of SAG and AFTRA. We re-visited 5 and my D spent a few days observing classes at these schools. When the final decision had to be made I was able to speak with NY agents and casting directors who almost unanimously felt "BOCO and CCM were head and shoulders above the rest". This is easily confirmed by the numbers on Broadway, the shear number of agents and casting people that show up a senior showcases and the number of kids that get representation.</p>
<p>My point from the very beginning (finances aside) is if there is any way to afford BOCO (which is the most expensive) you should.</p>
<p>I know there are other GOOD programs and MANY talented people who will suceed at these other places and I know how hard it is to afford and everyone has an opinion and blah, blah, blah. I just felt that I could offer more than an opinion because our experiences. People should take what I say with a grain a salt. This is all behind me now. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Wow. This is the kind of thing that makes this site dangerous. Please, if you are just now beginning the process, read EVERYTHING on the site and get a broad look at many opinions. Most all are from personal experiences and have their own level of validity. You need to find out for yourself what you believe to be true. Best of luck to all! This is not an easy process and there are as many experts and opinions as there are kids trying to make their dreams come true.</p>
<p>BRAVO. Disney Director. You are right on!!!!!</p>
<p>I think it is important when posting to share personal experiences and viewpoints but to be clear that you are sharing opinions or experiences and not state them as facts. </p>
<p>As far as BOCO being the best of the best and one of only two programs in that category and that the other schools are a sharp drop down is an opinion.</p>
<p>Regarding what some agents said, I don't doubt one word of it. But you also will get different opinions depending on the agents. For instance, my D has had an agent in NYC for years who is one of the well known ones who has many clients on Broadway, etc. and I recall her telling my D that she is seeing some of the best talent coming out of UMichigan. Different agent, different opinion. </p>
<p>You stated that BOCO is the "most expensive." I do not believe that to be true. I have looked up the cost (and as I said, my own kid was admitted), and my D's school, NYU, costs more. So, again, it is important for readers to take posts as opinions and to always check up on what may be stated as facts. </p>
<p>The real value here is in sharing experiences and opinions. It would be good to share experiences such as why someone chose BOCO over their other acceptances and which schools those were and why a person felt that this school fit what they wanted the best. </p>
<p>There are several "top" schools in this field that are often talked about and have had a reputation for a long while (as well as there are so many other very fine programs!) but I don't believe you'd find too many who would say that there are only two top programs and the rest drop off. That is an opinion, albeit garnered through one's own investigations. </p>
<p>I believe my children go to very good schools that are very well known but I do not believe I could ever state that these colleges are the "best" of all colleges. I do believe I could say that both my kids' undergraduate schools have been the best fit for them and I believe my D's upcoming grad school will also be a very good fit for her. While she is heading to a reknown school, I don't think anyone could make a claim it is the best in the country (but it is ONE of the best in her field).</p>
<p>Glad that BoCo has worked out well for your daughter, beenthereMTdad. I truly am. I just think it behooves us all to be careful how we word our statements and posts, as all we can offer are our own and our children's personal experiences and opinions. There is no real ranking system for MT programs. Period. And even trying to judge a BFA program based on how many of its graduates are on Broadway is fallacious, as Broadway is only one measure of success. Also, opinions are malleable; they change. I recall a few years ago posts by a young man who was going to CCM and he declared that CCM was the best program out there. He got there and disliked many things about that "best" program and so he left and went to BoCo. He no doubt thinks BoCo is the "best" now, which is understandable. All that matters is that a particular progarm is "best" for a particular kid. No name on any diploma is going to get a job for someone, though it certainly can open a door or two to begin with and that's valuable.</p>
<p>As I prepare to write out the big check, I sure am telling myself it's the BEST school for my kid!</p>
<p>I certainly agree with the sentiment of "best school for my kid"! I can relate to THAT. I think my own kids chose the best schools for themselves (now that they have been in them a long while, I can readily see why they picked the schools they did) but I can't imagine saying their colleges are "THE best schools" (even if they are well known and well regarded and rated) because I don't think that it is necessarily true.</p>
<p>It's obvious to me that NotMamaRose and SoozieVT are professional blogers with over 12,286 combined posts. Ready at a moments notice to take things out of context, distort what people say so they can feel good about themselves. Do you think that the people that read this can't decipher that it is only opinion and personal experiences? You give them very little credit.
I gave my reasons why I felt the way I did and I stand by that. I encourage anyone who views these threads to glean what you can out of it, and make your own decisions. I apologize if anyone out there who feels insulted. It was not my intention. I am also sure that all of you will flourish in any environment you are in. If you were able to successfully audition into CMU, Ithaca, School of the Arts, Emerson, Hartt, NYU, Penn State, Syracuse, Elon, Michigan, FSU, UCF, Miami among others, you are truly fortunate and talented. For every 100 of you who accepted, there were 1,000 rejected. Good luck to all. This is my last reply.</p>
<p>We'll also not take this out of context beenthereMTdad and realize that just because you haven't found NotMamaRose and SoozieVT as helpful, supportive, and insightful as the rest of us, that that doesn't matter. It's just your opinion.</p>
<p>beenthereMTdad, </p>
<p>This is a discussion forum. Now you are putting down other members. Nobody has put you down. It is turning into more of a personal argument and that was not the intention. I do not believe that anyone took your comments out of context, nor distorted what you said, nor tried to feel good about themselves. In a discussion forum, someone states something or in other cases, offers an experiences or opinion. You stated:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Money aside, the best of the best go to BOCO. BOCO is the major leagues of musical theatre. There is only one other school in the country on a par with BOCO. The drop off from these two schools is big. So if you are considering a career in MT and want the best chance to suceed, find a way to afford the tuition.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Others are responding to your statements. These were stated with no qualifiers about personal opinions but came across as factual. Others than gave their opinions. That's what discussion boards do. </p>
<p>This is not a blog. I am not a "professional blogger". I have been participating on CC for over six years. I first found CC when my oldest child was entering junior year of HS and embarking on the college process and have stayed through her college process, my youngest one's BFA in MT process, the oldest child's graduate school admissions process and continue to stay on and participate. I learned a lot from others and try to give back. </p>
<p>Further, I became a trained college counselor at CC through an intensive training program five years ago, and now counsel students and parents in their college selection and admissions process (and in the case of theater applicants, guide them through that specialized admissions process as well). Because I do that for my job, I am interested in reading CC's forums. I also try to volunteer for no pay many hours to answer questions on the forum to help many people at one time, as I cannot field all the MANY individualized PMs and emails that come my way on a volunteer basis as well. Sometimes I participate here as a parent and sometimes as a college counselor who knows a thing or two to help others going through this process. </p>
<p>Again, I think it is better to share experiences and opinions and when doing so, to make it clear that these are personal experiences or opinions and not facts (when they are not facts). </p>
<p>As well, the Terms of Service at CC does not allow for personal attacks and all comments should be regarding the ideas presented and not the people behind them.</p>
<p>beenthereMTdad, I honestly am sorry if I somehow offended <em>you,</em> as that wasn't my intention at all. As someone who was fortunate enough to stumble upon this list back when my own kid (about to head for college this fall) was a high school sophomore, I am very aware of how seriously readers can take what is said here, (even if they shouldn't always do so!!), and that's why I questioned the proclamation you made that BoCo is the best of the best. Most of us in this community avoid making those kinds of sweeping statements about any school, no matter how wonderful, for what I think are good reasons. One -- and the most important one -- it is impossible to actually quantify which program is "the best," because there are too many variables at work. And two, because making grandiose statements as to one program being "the best" ends up offending/hurting the feelings of others who may go to different schools or who may not have gotten into the school that one is claiming is THE pinnacle. (I don't see the benefit in hurting people's feelings and I apologize if I have somehow inadvertently hurt yours, beenthereMTdad.)
And soozievt and I are not professional bloggers. :) Soozievt has explained herself above. I have no excuse for posting so much except that I am talkative and social. ;)</p>