<p>Both are in Boston and both have MT programs. Are there significant differences? Are they competitive with each other? Are there strengths in one as opposed to the other? Does one have better facilities? A stronger faculty? More success in the “real” world after college?</p>
<p>You might wish to go “youtubing” and look for BOCO senior showcase videos. I have seen quite a few from BOCO and they were astonishing. The acting within the song was consistantly among the best. I haven’t yet searched for Emerson.</p>
<p>Boco and Emerson don’t compete.
Currently in the tour of Spring Awakening there are kids in lead roles from Boco and Emerson.
Facilties and size of programs differs. Boco will have completed building a state of the art new Theatre and rehersal studios in 2010.</p>
<p>BoCo is a pure conservatory, in that almost all classes are performance-focused. Not much general education stuff.</p>
<p>If you youtube videos of emerson and BOCO, you will see that BOCO is the clear winner. Not only is the singing and musicality fantastic, superior acting abilities shine through. I watched Emerson’s videos and found that a lot of the songs they sang were a bit pitchy to say the least.</p>
<p>Emerson, though does have a great philosophy: Train SMART MT Performers. Not saying that BOCO’s students are dumb at all, it’s just that their average GPA is 2.7 and Emerson’s is around a 3.6…</p>
<p>I don’t think the AVERAGE is 2.7 for BoCo, thats just the minimum, Im sure the average would be something different.</p>
<p>Since BoCo is strictly talent based and are training future professional dancers/ singers, etc, I wouldn’t doubt that 2.7 is the average GPA. (I know it’s not the minimum). That’s probably the reason that BoCo has the better talent. They recognize that “smart” isn’t just about books.</p>
<p>Kevinjames, I personally would not claim one school has more talent based on YouTube videos! Some colleges, such as my daughter’s, Tisch, has hardly any YouTube clips online as the school doesn’t allow videos to be filmed and doesn’t promote this stuff on YouTube. Some schools do. So, it could be that you are comparing a school that has lots of samples on YouTube and a school where the samples happen to be the few that individuals choose to post of their own and are not necessarily representative of the overall talent at the school. Just saying. </p>
<p>I highly doubt that 2.7 is the AVERAGE GPA at BOCO! I believe it may be the minimum (which may even be higher than that). </p>
<p>Jordcin, a school that weighs both academics AND talent does not necessarily have less talented people than a school that mostly weighs talent. It is not as if the other schools care about academics MORE than talent but simply that you have to have both. Ya know, you can be smart AND talented. :D</p>
<p>Just saying this generally speaking…I have no kid at either of these two schools, though my kid was admitted to BOCO. I just do not agree with the points in these posts.</p>
<p>WKDK,</p>
<p>It is my understanding that both are excellent programs. However, there is a difference in the ‘cut’ policy. I understand from numerous posters here that Emerson cuts down their sophomore class at the end of the year to a certain, required number. However, it does appear that different people have been given different answers to this question.It would be best to get your own answer from Emerson to that issue.</p>
<p>We just visited BoCo and I very specifically asked about their policy. At the end of the sophomore year, they hold voice ajudications. It used to be acting and voice, but as of this year is ONLY voice, due to advice from acting teachers that acting skills develop at different rates for different students. They are not looking to cut to a certain number. What they ARE looking for to put on probation are students who have ongoing voice issues that raise concerns about their success as MT professionals. However, once they are identified, if any are (only 4 this year), BoCo is very willing to work with them to try to solve the issues. They currently have 1 young man who is suffering vocal damage. He was put on probation for a few months. At the end of those months, a mutual decision was made to hold his place in the program for a year, while he worked outside of the program with his current voice teacher and health professionals to try and alleviate the problems. This speaks to a very caring and supportive environment to me!</p>
<p>In addition, the dance aspect of the program at Emerson is relatively weak. When my daughter visited Emerson and later auditioned, we were told on both occasions by students and department reps that to get more advanced dance training it would be necessary for my daughter to cross register and take classes at BOCO.</p>
<p>Just to chime in. I know of a student who was admitted to BOCO, Elon, Ithaca, UArts and Emerson and chose to go to Emerson over the others. I think we all get caught up in the “name” of the program. So many people obtain fine training in all sorts of programs. I asked this individual why he chose Emerson over BOCO, he stated that he felt he would be a number at BOCO, due to the size of the program. (his opinion)</p>
<p>I guess the point really is that everyone has a different feel, that is why there are varieties out there to suit different people. I also agree with Soozievt that you can not count on YouTube or even this forum for all of your information. Many small programs are loaded with talent. </p>
<p>Also, on another note, Keep an open mind as you are going through this process, because your choices of schools many not be at all what you expected. :)</p>
<p>I grew up in Boston, have been involved in the higher-ed and arts communities here for 20+ years, and have numerous friends who’ve graduated from both programs. BoCo and Emerson both receive rave reviews from their graduates. :)</p>
<p>Emerson is only partly a performing arts college; they also have academic programs in communications, journalism, arts administration, etc. Within their theater program, you can major in several different kinds of theater tech, or straight (non-musical) acting, neither of which you can do at BoCo. Also, Emerson has programs for non-degree students–lots of people go there just to take a single class in writing or media studies or what-have-you.</p>
<p>BoCo is entirely performing arts. Emerson has no music or dance departments; BoCo has both, and their dance department (like their musical theater department) is among the top four or five programs in the country. (Their music dept. isn’t on that level yet, but I’ve seen dozens of their concerts over the years and they are definitely on the way up.) BoCo also doesn’t offer programs for non-degree students; you can’t go in and just take one class.</p>
<p>BoCo and Emerson are part of what’s called the Pro Arts Consortium, which means that registered students at either college can take classes at the other college (or at Berklee or at three of the visual arts schools in Boston). Lots of BoCo students do go over to Emerson, though, to take courses in writing or film or theater admin. However, my buddies at BoCo tell me that it’s almost impossible to get permission to take performance-based classes at one of the other schools, meaning that Emerson students don’t really come over to BoCo.</p>
<p>Hope this is helpful to you. They really don’t compete with each other–both are superb schools, they’re just very different.</p>
<p>Soozie, The minimum GPA for Boston Conservatory is 2.0. You can also be admitted with a GED. It’s a conservatory, talent counts for everything. As Choryphee said Emerson is only partly a performing arts college, the schools are different. </p>
<p>Example: you have two schools who are auditioning musical theatre majors, dancers, singers. You have twenty students who are superior to all the rest in terms of talent.<br>
But only 1 school can offer them a spot because they don’t have a strong enough GPA for the other school. Who’s going to have the most talented pool? Of course you can be the most talented singer/dancer/perfect SAT/GPA bla bla but a lot of the times that’s not the case. Boston Conservatory is performance based, they are turning out performers.</p>
<p>Jordcin, I am well aware that for BOCO, the audition is the main thing and that for schools like Emerson, the audition is primary but academics definitely count and in fact, they are selective. </p>
<p>My point is that at a school that also weighs academics, you can have students who are just as talented as at a school that has an extremely low academic bar to be admitted. When there are tons of talented kids auditioning for these programs, it is not impossible to find 20 who have the requisite talent and who also are good students. </p>
<p>Further, some who are admitted to BOCO happen to ALSO be very good students academically (my own kid who was admitted to BOCO fits this profile) and so it is not as if BOCO only admits those with talent who are poor students. BOCO admits many applicants who are also admitted to schools like Emerson, Tisch, UMich, etc. that have more selective academic admissions. These admitted BOCO applicants’ talent is the same as they are the same kids. BOCO also admits students who are unable to get into the more academically selective BFA programs. That doesn’t make their class stronger in talent. There are plenty of talented MT kids who have both artistic talent and solid academic profiles.</p>
<p>By the way, I have a student admitted to both BOCO and Emerson this year. He is likely to attend BOCO but his talent would be the same if he chose Emerson. </p>
<p>What I DO agree on is that both are excellent schools but are VERY DIFFERENT.</p>
<p>Thank you Soozievt very well put. I truly believe talent exists in so many programs and one cannot “claim” one school has more than the other.</p>
<p>I agree with everything you say Soozie. I just don’t want a talented student discouraged from auditioning because of misinformation. BoCo accepts gifted students with GPA’s lower than 2.7. That’s a fact. If the next Kristin Chenoweth comes walking through their door do you really think they will turn her away because of a 2.0 GPA?</p>
<p>Well, it is interesting you agree as I think what I posted is not in agreement with what you posted but that’s OK! :)</p>
<p>I think BOCO has the pick of the litter and when selecting less than 10% of applicants, I feel that they may have second thoughts about an applicant with a 2.0 GPA. That is quite a low GPA. It is not that BOCO is academic in nature but it is a rigorous program and they may give pause to an applicant with a 2.0 GPA because it speaks to a student’s work ethic and how to be a student. In fact, I recall reading feedback by someone who attended a BOCO information session about a year ago and BOCO stated that they were starting to examine the academic profile more because of the importance of having students who could handle the intensity of the program. BOCO does cut students and it is not a stretch to say that those who cannot do adequately in school (a 2.0 is low), may not be able to make it through their program. It takes MORE than talent to succeed in a BFA program. It is a SCHOOL. We are not talking about casting (where someone’s record as as student would not come into play) but we are talking about an EDUCATIONAL institution that wants students who can succeed as students in the program, not simply have talent. Some students who are cut at BOCO could not handle it. While you don’t need high grades or SATs to get into BOCO, having a VERY low academic profile (such as a 2.0 GPA) may not position you well either when they have PLENTY of highly talented applicants with GPAs of higher than 2.0 who will be less of a gamble when it comes to students who can succeed in the program (not the same point as people who have talent or can succeed as MT actors). </p>
<p>Clearly, BOCO is a school I do recommend to students who have less than stellar academic profiles who don’t stand a chance at schools that are very academically selective. But I do believe at some point, there is a minimum that even BOCO would consider acceptable as students they feel can succeed in their program. Then again, they do cut students who they feel are not handling the program well and so there is that aspect at BOCO (if not cut as an applicant, you may be cut later if you don’t have the student work ethic required).</p>
<p>By the way, I think I am correct about the 2.7 GPA min. for BOCO. </p>
<p>A while back, a member asked the academic requirements for BOCO and I copied and pasted a quote from their site at the time. </p>
<p>HERE IS MY OLD POST ON CC:</p>
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<p>I disagree. There are hundreds of MT offerings throughout the US. While it maybe impossible to measure one “top” school against another “top” school talent wise, it is pretty easy to pick out lesser schools. Go to a senior showcase or even a freshman review. Go to a main stage production. Look at the resumes of the faculty. Does the school have a reputation for turning out working professional on a consistent basis?</p>
<p>The better schools “generally” attract and admit the more talented students. Usually the prospective students have done their research to draw their own conclusions before auditioning. To be clear, when I refer to “talent” I am referring the the student body as a whole. Not an individual who comes out of nowhere to be a star.</p>
<p>I AGREE WITH POST #19. Yes, the overall talent pool in certain MT programs is stronger than in other ones!</p>
<p>What I was disagreeing with was making that comparison based on YouTube clips. Further, I disagree that a school with a low academic bar means they have a stronger group of artistically talented students due to that factor. </p>
<p>I actually would put BOCO as more artistically selective overall than some schools, including Emerson. That is my general assessment. But that is not always clearcut. Hey, my own kid got into BOCO and not Emerson (was accepted academically to Emerson and that is not the cause). But she has a friend accepted to Emerson but not BOCO. Likewise, my kid got into Tisch but not Emerson and her friend got into Emerson but not Tisch (and not due to academics as this girl was salutatorian of the senior class). So, even though I would put BOCO above Emerson in terms of artistic selectivity, it is not a black and white thing. </p>
<p>But that is not the point I was making earlier. I was responding to points made in other posts, not to how artistically selective BOCO is (and it is). I agree with the post above this one that certain programs like BOCO would be rated higher in terms of overall talent and the strength of the talent pool auditioning, than at certain schools such as Wright State, Coastal Carolina, Roosevelt, Montclair State, SUNY Fredonia, etc. There are overlaps in talent of course, but BOCO overall would have a stronger talent pool than certain other programs.</p>
<p>PS…not sure I’d say there are “hundreds” of MT college programs though.</p>