<p>What are your thoughts on UChicago for theatre and overall? I actually suspect that it may move into her top five once we make it up there to visit…</p>
<p>Just curious… what weight do you parents and applicants give to the various college rankings? For example, Brown is currently ranked as follows: US News #14, Forbes #12, DailyBeast #16. Only BuzzFeed ranks Brown #1 and for a very specific category. Despite all of these various rankings, my daughter clearly ranks Brown first. Do any of these ranking factors sway you in your decision as to where to apply?</p>
<p>WWWard, it’s up to you guys and your daughter, but if you want to focus on theatre and being academically challenged, can I respectfully say I don’t understand the reasoning in some of the schools you list? Name recognition among friends doesn’t seem to me to be a cogent enough reason to spend or decline four years at a college. For instance, Columbia is not well known for theatre; Barnard is. People who are in the industry know this. UChicago isn’t known for theatre. Duke is not especially known for theatre. If you want to maximize her chances of employment in the industry, it would make sense to me to go to a school that is known for the industry and that has great connections and preparation.</p>
<p>connections: Thanks for your input. </p>
<p>Well, she has actually been working in the industry (film/tv), albeit on a clearly limited basis - and only in Louisiana and Florida, along with her in-school theatrical pursuits for a # of years, and she has sought out the advice of some industry pro’s who she has met and worked with – those who work full-time in the industry and are mainly based in L.A., NYC and London. She has probably spoken to 6-7 different people, and the views do vary widely. The consensus though seems to be that she would do well to consider USC, Yale, Brown, Northwestern, Columbia, UMiami and FSU… among the list of schools that she offered for their input. Some did mention UChicago, but not most. Princeton and Duke were not mentioned by anyone, but again - Columbia was and repeatedly. In fact, we heard more than once that more Academy Award winners have attended Columbia than any other university. Maybe it is simply because it is the NYC Ivy… but I also recall something being mentioned about a cooperative program with Julliard that is offered at Columbia. Other schools suggested that she did not favor were: UCLA, Carnegie Mellon, NYU, Julliard and UNC. Barnard was never mentioned.</p>
<p>Maybe it is different based on geographical viewpoints or the industry specifically. These advisers were people working specifically in film and television… so maybe they have a different mind-set from those who work in theatre or on the stage. And my daughter does favor acting for the camera versus stagecraft specifically.</p>
<p>A good deal of the advice that she received emphasized the importance of being close to L.A., NYC or Chicago for work outside of school though. And I do believe that my D would like the idea of being able to work in film or tv while still in college… so that certainly makes those larger cities attractive. </p>
<p>I get your point regarding Duke’s and UC’s limited viability in terms of aiding a career in theatre, but they are highly ranked by most sources overall… US News ranks them #7 and #5. Hopefully my daughter will simply gain admission to one of her top four schools though, and we will not be faced with that tough choice :)</p>
<p>For Musical Theater, UMich Ann Arbor is on many people’s lists. Very competive entrance, however.</p>
<p>I’m just going to jump in here and suggest that for wwward’s daughter considering UChicago, definitely visit and research. It’s got a very different vibe than Duke, for example, and it’s not right for everyone. I don’t know if I can explain it very well beyond saying that quirky kids are the norm there. It’s one of my son’s top three choices, and maybe my top choice for him, but it would absolutely be the wrong place for my younger daughter. Even reading the threads here in the UChicago section will give you somewhat a sense of it.</p>
<p>T26E4: Yes… I forgot about UMich. They were recommended to her as well. She considered it for a bit, but then she decided against applying there. She ultimately favors private colleges. It is also why FSU and UVa are way down her list. They were the only 2 public schools she applied to in the end.</p>
<p>Sculpting: Thanks. We’ve heard similar things. Her UChicago interview is tomorrow, and she plans to ask some probing questions about the culture there. My D considers herself to be fairly indie/alternative/eccentric, so maybe UC could be a good fit though. The same thing is true regarding my younger daughter. I doubt that she would even consider a school like UChicago.</p>
<p>Her Duke interview, ironically, is tonight. Northwestern’s is next week. We actually wish now that we had visited Brown before her interview, but she had that one back in November - her first.</p>
<p>Columbia does have an acting MFA program. And, I think some kids that are already established in the business attend Columbia undergrad for a general education, but not necessarily for acting classes. Again, any Columbia undergrad who wants to take acting classes would need to walk across Broadway to Barnard College. I believe the Juilliard/Columbia partnership is set up for the conservatory level artists who want to take classes at Columbia. As of now, I don’t think it allows for a Columbia undergrad to take theatre classes at Juilliard. </p>
<p>Regarding name recognition, I think HYP and Stanford carry weight such that employers, lenders, financiers may take a flyer on you because you have that name on your resume (I’m really not talking about actors, but say as an artistic director, producer or an undertaker of some artistic entrepreneurial venture). Below that tier of schools, I would agree with connections that departmental excellence and contacts should probably trump overall college rankings. </p>
<p>For example, we were sold by an admissions officer on Amherst, but upon visiting, my daughter found the theatre department literally in a basement and the acting classes a bit high schoolish. Whereas, we visited a similar type and rank LAC, Williams, and stumbled upon an amazing theatre department. Graduates from Williams literally have real direct contact with all alumni including Stephen Sondheim. So in an overall ranking two colleges may be equal, but miles apart in specific departmental appeal.</p>
<p>Sorry, I don’t know anything about U of Chicago, except that they seem to send out a ton of promo mailings.</p>
<p>Thanks, arwarw. </p>
<p>Does anyone have a view on Stanford’s theatre offerings? We have heard very little about it.</p>
<p>According to my younger daughter, I may be a little behind in terms of my D’s current rankings. She says that it is now: 1. BROWN, 2. PRINCETON, 3. COLUMBIA, 4. Northwestern, 5. STANFORD, 6. U CHICAGO, 7. DUKE, 8. USC. This remains subject to change most likely, as she has only visited 1-3 and 7. I am sure we will make it to Chicago soon, but we may never actually make it out to CA unless by some miracle she is accepted to Stanford.</p>
<p>T26E4</p>
<p>U Mich is arguably the best MT program in the country, but a completely different animal than the schools in question here (except possibly NU). Different training, different entrance criteria and much more selective than even HYP. Along with CMU, it’s an almost automatic conduit to Broadway.</p>
<p>arwarw - have you heard any consensus related to training for those who prefer acting for the camera?</p>
<p>Chapman in california has a BFA in film acting. I know NU has extensive studios and equipment in their Communications college. I’m guessing UCS and UCLA as well.</p>
<p>You might try the Theatre forum here on CC for more info.</p>
<p>I understand if you’re a good theatre actor it’s an easy transition to film. But I’m certainly out of my element even talking about it.</p>
<p>Thanks, arwarw</p>
<p>One more thing on the national rankings - They create huge traffic jams in admissions. For your younger daughter you may want to scratch below the surface. Look at the top high schools in the nation and where they are sending their kids - Many go to schools outside of the top 20.</p>
<p>As connections said, the general public may not know about schools like Barnard, but be assured a lot of talented and smart kids are going there and to other non-top 20 schools</p>
<p>[Matriculation[/url</a>]</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.schoolwiki.jesseweiman.com/College_decisions_of_the_class_of_2012]College”>http://www.schoolwiki.jesseweiman.com/College_decisions_of_the_class_of_2012]College</a> decisions of the class of 2012 - Stuyclopedia](<a href=“http://www.hw.com/abouthw/SchoolProfile/Matriculation.aspx]Matriculation[/url”>http://www.hw.com/abouthw/SchoolProfile/Matriculation.aspx)</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.exeter.edu/documents/2013_Profile_for_Colleges(1).pdf[/url]”>https://www.exeter.edu/documents/2013_Profile_for_Colleges(1).pdf</a></p>
<p>[Choate:</a> College Counseling](<a href=“http://www.choate.edu/academics/college-counseling/index.aspx]Choate:”>http://www.choate.edu/academics/college-counseling/index.aspx)</p>
<p>Thanks again :)</p>
<p>WWWard,</p>
<p>I suppose it is to late for your daughter but Wesleyan could have been a
college that would have been a fit. It has a very strong film school known in Hollywood circles thanks to Joss Whedon and Jon Turteltaub and also a great theater department</p>
<p>shacherry: Yes… likely too late now. But thanks…</p>
<p>Hello all~ I applied on December 30th, but still didn’t get the confirmation email from Brown, though I even got an email from Cornell just now…
Should I be calling Brown about this? Thanks</p>
<p>Had my interview this morning and I believe it went very well! My interviewer was very nice and easy to talk to. It felt like more of a conversation than an interview. </p>
<p>Now we all just have to wait until April 1st! It cannot come soon enough.</p>
<p>@Aquafina–same! I’m curious if anyone who submitted around the time we did has heard a response. I’m also wondering whether getting an interview is contingent on whether you get an account soon enough…I’m hoping it’s not!</p>