<p>I saw this on the Webster thread so I thought I would copy it over here.</p>
<p>It has Julliard, Boston Conservatory & Webster as top 3 schools.</p>
<p>All three certainly ARE great schools. No question about that. But I wonder how the Associated Content reporter decided on these three? A cursory perusal of the article doesn't include his methodology. Associated Content apparently is a "platform that enables everyone to publish (his) content in any forum on any topic" and distribute it. It says on their website that they are supported by "ad-related content." So it stands to reason that the "methodology" used by the reporter was advertising. (Kimoki, please know I am not taking issue with <em>you</em> and certainly think the link is worth passing along to forum members. It is just that I am just naturally skeptical when people start ranking MT or theater programs -- or any other programs, for that matter -- in such a definite way. Since I have been on this forum, doing so has been a recipe for, at best, debate and, at worst, outright hostility. :)) So it behooves all of us, as consumers of information, to know the source and to weigh this information with all the other info we have.</p>
<p>I know I was just passing it along as an FYI.</p>
<p>NMR....you raise excellent points about this article. The writer was giving his OPINION. It wasn't a "study" or ranking. He just stated, "top three" as a writer voicing an opinion. THEN, what is particularly odd is that he called them the top three ACTING conservatories when we all know that BOCO is just for musical theater and so someone seeking a top ACTING conservatory would not pick BOCO (the acting training it good but it is not for straight acting applicants). Unfortunately, the writer did not say it was his opinion and people read such articles as gospel.</p>
<p>Considering the fact that one of his other articles was on natural remedies for constipation, a grain of salt may be in order. Most people won't quibble with Juilliard. Perhaps he distinguishes between theater and drama. When my D and I visited North Carolina School of the Arts, I made the mistake of mentioning theater and I was quickly told that they don't have a theater department. I compounded my mistake by saying that I was under the impression that they had perhaps the best theater department in the country. She said they had the best "drama" department in the country. Excuuuuse me!</p>
<p>I think some conservatories and depts take exception to the term "theater" because they seem averse to the whole "theater arts" idea. They want to be known as "drama" programs or "actor training programs" (ATPs). Then again, other universities have "Departments of Theatre Arts." It's difficult to keep the terms straight. :) I would just take my cues from the school's web site.</p>
<p>I think that's right NMR. I was just caught off guard by the woman at NCarts because we were there looking at vocal performance and I think I just asked where the theater department put on its productions. She could have guessed that I was no expert in drama programs. She had an edge to her anyway. She bad mouthed other schools which really turned me off. She took one look at my daughter and said "you do realize that we don't have a musical theater major here, right?" I'm not sure exactly what that meant - I chose to take it as some sort of back-handed compliment.</p>
<p>I wish that people representing any entity (college, university, conservatory, bank, whatever) would realize that saying negative things about competitors is not a way to win friends and influence people! :) It merely makes the person speaking look insecure and petty. Much better to concentrate on talking about what the person thinks his or her college/conservatory/bank/etc. does well, and emphasize that.</p>
<p>^^^NMR...I agree. When we were visiting a very well regarded BFA in MT program, which my D really liked, one thing that did strike us was that the kids in the program very much badmouthed another BFA in MT program, using offensive wording and trying to discourage her from considering it. I can't imagine my kids doing that. They have nothing against other schools or programs but simply are happy with their own choices and also liked other programs too. I found that attitude off putting but tried to not let it get in the way since my D liked the program and it certainly is a very good one.</p>