Chance a musical theater ED/RD please!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Northwestern University
1

<p>Hey guys! I'm really interested in musical theater, but I'm not ready to make that my sole area of study, so NU is my perfect school, in that I can learn so much outside of theater, while being in a top theater program. If you guys could chance me both ED and RD, that would be highly appreciated.</p>

<p>Residence - South NJ
Ethnicity - Caucasian</p>

<p>UW GPA - 4.0/4.0
W GPA - 4.65/4.0
Rank - 1/350
ACT - 33 (First time, retaking in October)
SAT - 2170 (First time, retaking in October)
SAT IIs - Bio M, Math 2, and Lit (To be received in two weeks!)
APs -This year - AP Lang, AP USH, AP Bio. Next year - AP Gov, AP Lit, AP Physics, AP Calc, AP Stats
Course Load - Hardest in my school, only student with straight A's.</p>

<p>EC's -
All State Chorus
All South Jersey Chorus
Senior Company Dance Member (Captain, 8.5+ hours a week)
Fencer (Captain, 5 hours)
Musical (Lead parts, lots of hours!)
Volunteering (Tons, probably around 150 hours)
NHS (Currently running for secretary, probably won't win, LOL!)
Chorus/Vocal Ensemble/Jazz Chorus/Chorale etc.
Band/Olympic Conference Honors Band (Bassoon)
etc,etc,etc....</p>

<p>Summer -
Cornell University Summer College (2010) - 4.0/4.0 GPA, A's in both classes
New Jersey Governor's School in the Sciences (2011) - very selective research opportunity
Volunteering</p>

<p>Thanks guys! If you need any more info before you chance, let me know! I'd ultimately like to know if I should apply ED/RD.</p>

2

<p>First…pat yourself on the back. You have clearly worked hard in high school.
Second…you may not know this-NU’s program is such that you enter as a freshman in a major that is not musical theater but theater or some other major you have selected. Then at the end of your freshman year you audition for musical theater.
Now to your question about the likelihood of admission. Your stats/EC’s fall within the range of those accepted previously-with the caveat-that some admitted had higher-and some lower-so you are “in the range”. With that understanding, then you need to maintain your grades, continue to take the most difficult courses available at your school, and nail your essays. You may want to make it a point to include a recommendation from one of your teachers from dance or theater.
NU’s program strives to accept 50/50 split between the sexes AND only 100 students.
G’Luck!
~APOL-a Mum</p>

3

<p>I did know that about the program, actually, and that’s why it appeals to me so much! I want a year underneath my belt of true college training before I audition for a MT program! And, even if I don’t make it into the program, and I can stilll take the same basic programs that those getting the certificate would receive, hopefully helping me in time for my masters!
Thanks so much for your advice :). I was actually planning on getting a recomendation from my dance teacher, who knows me better than any person I know besides my parents. I’m doing my best to maintain my grades and take the hardest classes as well!
In your opinion, would my chances increase if I apply ED?</p>

4

<p>you seem to have a good chance… just make it clear that you really WANT to go to NU!</p>

5

<p>Common wisdom is that you would increase your chances by applying early to NU…however…because the number of slots available for their theater program is so limited-I honestly do not know if it applies for that major.
Let’s say that it does-then applying ED would be in your best interest. Flip side-it doesn’t increase your chances-then you might be better off applying ED for the college you feel is your first choice.
If you are asking my opinion-apply ED to the college you feel is your first choice-that way-if you get in-you are SUPER excited and hold no doubts.
G’Luck!
~APOL-a Mum</p>

6

<p>I absolutely want to go to Northwestern! :slight_smile: I visited, and emailed the office about talking to a theater program! I figured id write my essay about how much I love their internship opportunities, as well as the fact that the major is EXACTLY what im looking for. No other school matches that for me!
Apol- thanks so much for your advice! I really appreciate it!</p>

7

<p>Staryulover,
My son just finished his freshman year in the theatre program. He just got home yesterday so I am getting this info directly from him. Those chosen for the MT certificate come from only two majors, theatre and vocal performance. (The latter is a major in the Bienen School of Music.) You are permitted to audition in the spring of either your freshman or sophomore year. Please understand that you do NOT take acting classes your freshman year. The theatre classes you take include production and voice for performance classes. (That voice class is not singing, but rather a course in correct vocal technique for the actor.) The only acting training you get in your first year is if you happen to be cast in any shows.</p>

<p>This year approximately 100 students auditioned for the MT certificate, and approximately 20 were accepted into the program. Although hypothetically, NU strives for a 50/50 balance guys/girls, my son’s class is more like a 2:1 ratio of girls to guys.</p>

<p>You have really good stats and if NU is truly your first choice, I would highly recommend that you apply Early Decision. It does help.</p>

<p>BTW-are you a guy or a girl, if you don’t mind saying.</p>

8

<p>I am a guy! :slight_smile:
thanks for that info! Did you son audition? Does he like the classes so far?
now, is those classes standard for theater students? Is there no way id be able to take a vocal lesson?
in any case, I feel like the opportunity to be at college would help me with my audition in general.</p>

9

<p>He did not audition, since musical theater was not his focus going in to the program. He does really like most of the theatre classes so far. Remember that you are also taking many other courses from different departments. He took 5 classes in the theatre dept. out of a total of 12 classes this year. (Four courses per quarter.) Four of those theatre classes were required. Besides a course called Production in Context, there is a course called Theatre in Context which the entire freshmen theatre class takes together, and a Theatre Writing Seminar. Voice for Performance is the 4th class. As far as vocal lessons, until you are in the Musical Theatre Certificate program, those lessons are not free. You can audition to be placed with a teacher and can pay for voice lessons. If you are admitted to the MT program, voice lessons are free thereafter. There is also a course called Performance Seminar which you can take as an elective during your freshman year. It’s an instructive course in acting for musical theatre (acting a song.) It is good preparation for the MT audition.</p>

10

<p>Thanks so much! That’s very valuable information! Im still very much interested in the program and the musical theater program in general. do you happen to know the dance classes that NU offers for freshmen? :slight_smile:
Is your son double majoring? Best of luck to him, and thanks for being so incredibly helpful!</p>

11

<p>My son said that this year there was a movement for actor’s class which was offered to freshmen. Each freshman was assigned to take it during a particular quarter, but it was optional to actually enroll in the class. It’s not an actual dance class, but a movement class which includes some dance. Actual dance classes work the same way as do any other class registrations-if you are lucky enough to get a good registration number, you may get into a dance class. He said that the dance classes are quite popular.</p>

<p>At this point he has not decided if he is double majoring.</p>

12

<p>There are many dance classes that you can take as a Freshman, sometimes it’s a bit hard to get into the more popular/entry level ones as a Freshman but if you persevere you’ll get in. My daughter has taken at least 2 dance classes each term and during her Sophomore year she took as many as 4 one term - crazy! She also had private voice lessons as a Freshman, some she paid for, some she did not as she was a student of a grad student who needed the teaching hours for her degree.</p>

<p>Also in regards to the MT program - last year (June 2010) they had more kids auditioning for the program (130-150) and took more boys than girls.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

13

<p>My daughter is a dance major in the theater department. When she applied, she had no idea that so few students were admitted, so we are all beyond grateful that she got in. If you live near NU or you live in an area where NU will be doing off-campus interviews, I highly recommend that you sign up for one (my daughter’s was in January, after all her apps were completed). She matched the general NU profile (grades, test scores, ECs, etc.) of an NU admit but, well, so does everyone else applying to NU. However, she was able to discuss her varied interests with the interviewer, and the interviewer thought she was a great fit. On the same day that she got her admit letter, she got an e-mail from her interviewer encouraging her to accept. Hope this helps.</p>

14

<p>That is all extremely helpful! That’s so much for the wonderful information!
amtc- did you daugter audition? Was she admitted to the program? Was she able to deal with all her other classes on top of her several dance courses?
Enough- I live just outside of philly, so id be surprised if there weren’t interviews nearby, since im so close to a city center. I will absolutely make sure to get that interview! Is your daughter liking the dance program?</p>

15

<p>While nobody can be sure about you gaining admittance to the musical theater program, just because its an audition, I’d say your almost a shoe-in at NU. Your grades, and EC’s(with your focus in dance and singing) are (I dare say much) higher than the average NU student. Your class rigor is probably near average or a little above the average applicant. Your test scores are average, a 33 def wont hurt you, but it won’t make you stand out either. I’d say if you can get a 34, you will be a shoe-in. That being said, I wouldn’t apply ED, unless you are 100% sure that you want to go to NU, have no other interests, and money isn’t a major problem for you. Good Luck!</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/1161681-chance-please.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/northwestern-university/1161681-chance-please.html&lt;/a&gt; Chance back please, anyone? haha =]</p>

16

<p>staryulover - Yes she auditioned and yes, she was admitted into the program. My daughter has had no problem keeping up with classwork, working on productions both in front and behind, and socializing. Generally her non-theatre classes are not those considered easier; she is the only MT kid taking advanced Math classes and holding her own very well in all of them as well as History classes, etc. She just takes what she likes and is very happy there.</p>

<p>But I’m not going to tell you the Freshman year is all fun and games, especially if you want to get into the MT program, it’s much more stressful than Freshman year should be, if MT is your only true goal as it was for my daughter. She was ready to quit school totally if she was not admitted, fortunately, that never became a reality.</p>

17

<p>Staryulover, you should familiarize yourself a bit with the Jump, Rhythm, Jazz Project because it plays a pretty large part in the dance department. Some people love it/tolerate it/hate it. I think my daughter particularly likes the jazz and modern classes. She is, however, seriously thinking of changing to engineering while continuing to participate in dance classes and her extracurricular dance/drumming troupe. She’s been taking a lot of math and science, so the switch will be hard but not impossible. From what I hear, NU students are constantly switching majors and schools (within NU).</p>