<p>My d is a junior who wants to attend a theater conservatory. Her drama teacher is encouraging her to apply to the Carnegie Mellon pre-college program. My daughter really wants to attend CSSSA in California, but her teacher does not agree. CSSSA requires an audition, is relatively cheap, and highly regarded. CM's program has no audition, seems to accept almost all who apply, and is really expensive. I know both programs are great, but how can my d convince her teacher that CSSSA is a good program? She will apply to both, but she needs help to argue for CSSSA!</p>
<p>What does CCCSA stand for? My daughter did the CMU program 4 years ago and loved it! She learned a great deal and I do think it helped her. We made her go since it a 6 week program with a heavy schedule. She wanted to attend a BFA musical theatre program in college and we thought this would help her decide if this is really right for her. I do believe there is scholarship money available of you qualify?</p>
<p>It sounds like the reasonably priced program is the better pick for your family. I don’t understand why the teacher has the final say. Is it because she is writing a recommendation for your D? Jeeeeesh, these controlling drama teachers - LOL!</p>
<p>CSSSA stands for the California State Summer School for the Arts. It is a 4 week program on the campus of CalArts for motivated arts students. They accept one out three applicants in the areas of theater, dance, art, film, and music. It is subsidized by the state, hence the $1500 tuition for the entire 4 weeks. We live in CA, driving distance from CalArts, so we would have no travel expenses. And YES, the drama teacher is writing the letters of recommendation! We would not qualify for scholarship money at CM. My thing about the CM program is that they tell the kids that they can audition for the conservatory program, and make it sound like it gives them a leg up, but they actually rarely accept kids who were in the summer program.</p>
<p>I never really thought of the program ending audition at CM as getting a leg up… just as a convenience. That’s one less audition during their senior year. And those who are auditioning must be extremely interested because they are already very familiar with the campus and program. Almost like having an early decision candidate.</p>
<p>My son attended the CMU pre-college for MT this past summer. It is very expensive, and if you have found another program that will meet your daughters needs for a fraction of the cost, I say Go for it! I would like to clarify that the CMU program is one that provides the student with the actual classes they would take as a freshman MT (or Drama Major). One of the major focuses of the time there is to research and select monologues and songs -if MT- that the student may or will use for auditions, learn how to audition, and finally they will audition at the end of the program. The faculty make it very clear during the opening info session (and in the FAQ on the web site) that it is very rare for a student to be offered a spot in the next year’s class based on their pre-college audition. It has been known to happen, but as far as my son knows, no one from this summer’s group was offered a spot from that audition opportunity. He did learn that a fellow student was offered a spot after an audition this Fall.</p>
<p>CMU is great, and the reputation speaks for itself, but if I lived in CA (I don’t, I live a few miles from CMU), this would be an absolute no brainer, especially given the difference in cost and travel. The CSSSA program looks like a nice pogram. </p>
<p>Here’s a question. Why does your daughter have to convince her drama teacher that CSSSA is a good program? The drama teacher isn’t writing the check. The drama teacher isn’t buying the plane ticket and sending his or her daughter 3000 miles away for the summer. Let’s be frank, in the grand scheme of things, she will grow from both programs and going all the way across the country to go to CMU for six weeks isn’t going to make or break it for her in auditions for college programs (including CMU) and in her life as an actor.</p>
<p>CollegeSearchDad’s advice is spot on. My daughter went to CMU summer and loved it. However, if CSSSA can provide a similar experience at a fraction of the cost, go to the CSSSA program.</p>
<p>Thanks all for your advice! Her drama teacher is somewhat of a control freak and we are concerned that her recommendation may be stronger for one program, and not the other. But yes, ultimately we have the final say. Thank you for the pep talks, now I just have to give it to my daughter!</p>