<p>Would love everyone's opinion: high academic student, good singer, dancer, actor, choosing between American and Muhlenberg for Musical Theater - accepted with money to both. What's your opinion?</p>
<p>Songold, I don’t mean to direct this to you personally (really I don’t!) but there are a ton of threads on CC at this time of year that basically say, “accepted to X and Y…which should I choose or can you help me decide or what’s your opinion?” Here’s MY opinion generically speaking about such threads…there is NO way I can give an opinion. It is not as if one school is better than the other. The appropriate way to pick a college is what college fits YOU (or your child) the BEST. How could one comment on that without hearing the student’s selection criterion? I’d have to hear what the student laid out as wanting in a college. Then, I’d want to hear how he/she thinks X or Y school matches up (or doesn’t) with each selection criteria. I’d want to hear his/her comparisons of the two schools. I would want to hear his/her thoughts on pros/cons he/she sees in each school in relation to his/herself, and then I could advise and help probe and so on. It doesn’t matter which school I would pick but what school matches the kid the best. So, without knowing what he/she wants in a college, I can’t comment. </p>
<p>There are clear differences between American and Muhlenberg (back to your case). For example, one is in an urban setting and one is in a small town. Which setting does your child prefer in a college? American is larger than Muhlenberg. Does your kid care about size? One is an actual BA in MT program and one is a school where a student could piece together acting, singing, and dancing classes and fashion MT studies in a Theater major (double major/minors, etc.). I could go on and on about the differences but the missing piece is what YOUR CHILD WANTS in his/her experience. </p>
<p>I know my post won’t be seen as helpful (sorry!!) but without that information from your child, it is too hard to give much of an opinion. </p>
<p>I have had theater or MT students attend each of these two schools. I have students accepted this year to these again and one is deciding still but has already ruled out American but may choose Muhlenberg. I have other kids who have turned down their acceptances to Muhlenberg. It is all about FIT. I can’t emphasize that enough. It is a highly individualized decision. If a student shares their thoughts on their options vis a vie what they want in a college, it would help to guide them with the decision. Absent that, I have no opinion regarding these two fine college options.</p>
<p>In an older post of yours, you mentioned that your D was also interested in Music Education. I don’t know if that is still true but at Muhlenberg, there is a way to become certified as a teacher of music, I believe and perhaps that can be combined with a theater major.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input, Soozie - this query was for a friend of my D, who is making the Muhlenberg/American choice in the next few days. I appreciate your candor and of course you’re right, it is an individual decision. The very traits of each school that you mentioned are the ones she is looking at. For her the small town/big city aspect is a main part of her decision. At least its a good decision to have!</p>
<p>Ah, did not realize it wasn’t your own kid. My comments did land in YOUR thread, but were honestly meant for the many kids and parents who ask should they go to option A or B but don’t share their personal selection criteria or thoughts which really are needed in order to give input that is meaningful as picking a college is about what fits a person, not which college is best.</p>
<p>Indeed, this friend is in a good spot that she has fine options and can CHOOSE. Not everyone has that!</p>
<p>Having choices is a mixed blessing. My girl was almost there, then swung the other way. Now she’s swinging again. The swings are slower but as she gets new information it makes her weep. So many conversations with students and faculty, all of whom LOVE their school. Totally 180 degree different opinions about the same school from people in the business who should know. It’s really hard to leap into a school when these people here say it’s over-rated or another school when those people there say it’s not respected in NY as well. It’s important for the student to know what she wants in a school but I think it’s impossible to pick it out without considering what having that name on your resume the rest of your life can do for you. Certain names make jaws drop and open doors. Even years later, well after the initial job phase. It’s just that way. (A CD said it’s the first thing he looks at when he flips over a head shot.)</p>
<p>^^^In my opinion (LOL)…I would not go by the OPINIONS of others. I would talk to others to get INFORMATION…from those who attend or work at the program/school. I would be weary of “opinions”…for example…someone tells you that X schol is “overrated,”…what is this based on? Maybe that person didn’t get into X school or attends another and thinks theirs is better? This kind of comment would be meaningless to me in weighing a college decision. I think the MOST important thing is what the student personally wants in a college and which one of their options most closely aligns with those things, plus some gut feelings of which feels like the best fit. In terms of college name or reputation, that may be a selection factor for some people, but if it were me, it would be much more of a secondary factor, because you are truly picking where you are going to spend four years and it is most important that the fit of the school is a good match. I’d pick fit over name any day. I won’t discount that name of school sometimes opens doors or that there are connections to be made. But it is not the most important part of picking a college, in my view.</p>
<p>PS, I would be VERY leary if I got input from people at X school who gave you opinions about Y school. I would only want to hear their opinions about their OWN school. I have had advisees who visited X college where even faculty at that college said things about Y college that were entirely false information. My own kid visited A college where the students there told her to not even apply to B college and put down B college and my D landed at B college (her first choice) and loved B college. I was really turned off that the students at A college would put down another college. I’d much rather hear what they like or dislike about their OWN college.</p>
<p>You can’t worry about what people say - even CDs that is just absurd! If you put 10 CDs in a room (or Agents or Managers or whatever) you will get 10 different answers most every time. Don’t try to figure out the professional field four years from now. The one thing you will learn in this business is that there is no logic or one way to do things. Do what works best FOR YOU, no one else, and that is what will allow you to succeed.</p>
<p>Agree with amtc! Don’t be persuaded by others’ opinions. Choose a school that best fits what YOU want in a college. The most important thing is fit. You have to attend for four years. It matters not what others think. And these others’ are offering opinions and not facts and their opinions will differ if you talk to several people! </p>
<p>When my students talk to me about their college decision, I never express an opinion about their schools or try to influence their decision of where to attend. I discuss what they should do to compare them with one another and with their selection criterion and help guide them in figuring out which school feels like it fits THEM the best, not which is the best school. I never gave an opinion to my own daughters about the college choices they were handed. They articulated their reasons for their decision and it was well thought out and I believe (now that they graduated) that they truly picked the right schools for THEM. May not be right for someone else!</p>
<p>By the way, if someone says that X school is not respected or is over-rated…and I have heard people make such remarks about certain schools…well, look at the success of their graduates…I have seen such a remark made about particular schools and where many of the graduates are working professionally in the field including on Broadway. The graduates are signing with agents. So, how “disrespected” is the school in reality?</p>
<p>I agree. My D has been deciding between 4 different types of programs with very different college campuses. We have stayed out of the decision making process as only she knows where she will truly be happy. She will probably pass up on some very good programs but if she isn’t content over the next 4 years it isn’t worth it.</p>
<p>As some wise CC poster once said, “In the end the top school is the one where your child best fits and feels artistically free to train and grow as a young person and as a performer.”
At least I think that’s where I first read this gem…wrote it down at some point when my
D was in the midst of deciding between programs a year ago. So true.</p>
<p>I completely agree. Our D’s top school choice surprised everyone initially, but as we’ve learned more about it we’ve realized it sounds perfect for her.</p>
<p>Program reputation is a dangerous basis for a selection for many reasons. </p>
<p>1) Obviously, what you hear about any school depends on the biases, breadth of experience and opinion of whoever you ask. If we started an “Unpleasant Things you’ve Heard About Various MT Programs” thread, I assure you there are commonly-heard rumors/complaints about EVERY program out there. Similarly, if there was a “Why My School is the BEST” thread, you’d hear lots of people wax poetic about how amazing the program they attend is. </p>
<p>2) Programs change. The staff that once made a program great might move on OR get older and less motivated. Programs gain/lose funding. A specific class may be amazing, and after they move through a program it may be left with less-amazing students. A few strong student personalities can totally change the “vibe” of a specific program rather rapidly.</p>
<p>3) What YOU need/want from college is not the same as what someone else may need/want. Some kids want a program that plays to their strengths, while others specifically seek a program to fill their training holes. Some want rigid discipline, while others want freedom to explore. Some people love one coach, while others learn nothing from them. One of the strongest MT kids I have ever seen chose a school this year based solely on acting training, as that’s where he wanted to focus for the coming 4 years. Another chose a pure Opera program. Neither chose MT programs (both were accepted to great MT BFAs), but I expect these kids to be among tomorrow’s biggest MT powerhouse performers. </p>
<p>4) YOU will impact the quality of your school. This is not only because what each student gets from the program will differ depending on what they need, but also because most of these programs are relatively small so each individual student strongly shapes the experience of their specific class. Even the largest programs are small, and within them there are often very small 4-year cohorts for studios or acting classes. Would you rather go to a school that has produced famous graduates in the past, or help create the class that will contain tomorrows superstars?</p>
<p>I’m thinking most people need to have a final choice in the next day or two. Have fun deciding, and we can’t wait to see your choices in the Final Decisions thread!</p>
<p>WOW Momcares - what a great synopsis!</p>
<p>I agree with amtc, great posting MomCares!! Thank you.</p>
<p>Thanks! This past year has been a journey. A year ago I might have written a “UMich, CCM or bust!” post, but as it turned out D never even auditioned for either as her final choice was made before it came to that. ;-D</p>
<p>I wonder how many of our kids have landed somewhere unexpected, yet now it seems perfect for them?</p>
<p>American offers a 5 year year accelerated combined bachelors/masters which would also help anyone interested in pursuing another credential (i.e. education). The requirements are laid out at the bottom of the page listing course sequence for the BA Mt degree.</p>
<p>Does anyone here think that the overall fit of the school itself - not just the quality of the MT program - is also a pretty valid basis on which to make your choice?</p>
<p>We feel that the school itself that D ended up with is about as perfect of a fit as there could be. It’s exactly the size of and type of school, in exactly the kind of town, with exactly the kind of student base, in which she will be very happy and will fit in. I am as sure as anyone can be, without a crystal ball, that she’ll be challenged but not overwhelmed. I’m sure after a couple weeks of the newness wears off that she’ll miss mama and maybe be a bit homesick but she knows and loves the town so much (who wouldn’t love Austin?? Hell I wish <em>I</em> was going there!) and her dearly beloved uncle, great aunt, and several cousins live there, as well as dear friends who graduated earlier and ended up going to the “other” school there. (that tiny little school with the cow as it’s mascot, lol). </p>
<p>I have always put the town itself as one of the least important factors as far as evaluating the school, but I think where it does matter is if it’s such a great town that the student will adjust to and love school and therefore have less chance of COMING BACK HOME and not finishing!!</p>
<p>I don’t know why it is but my son, and so many of his friends, and so many of my daughter’s friends who graduated before her, and so many of my friend’s kids, went off to someplace great…and came back home within a year. They weren’t happy up there, they weren’t ready for it somehow.</p>
<p>I really don’t want that, after all the work we put into getting her someplace, after all the work getting her ACT score up so she’d get a decent scholarship. I know that if they get settled in, get engaged in the goings on of the school and start to bond with other people there, that the chances they will stick out the whole time and not come back home, are much increased.</p>
<p>Of course maybe theater kids overall have more of that than other kids - because we know how it is in theater programs, how they tend to bond rather quickly - but having had one kid come back home, and not wanting to see that happen again, I was grateful to not have any doubts about whether my D would actually like it there. She flat out told me she didn’t want to move to certain states, and though the schools in those states which made her nice offers are <em>really</em> good programs, I was afraid that if I didn’t listen to what she was saying, she’d be unhappy and come home. What good is the program if she doesn’t stay at the school?</p>
<p>Some kids are perfectly ready to go to schools that are 7 states away and will finish up and do fine - my D, though she wants to be far enough away from Mom and Dad that they won’t know what she’s up to every minute, haha, knew herself well enough to know that she wasn’t ready to go THAT far away. Not just yet. Now, NYC itself would have been an exception because my gawd it’s NYC. (But we did not even apply to any of the NY schools because the research I did on them informed me that there wasn’t any way in hell we’d be able to afford them or get enough scholarship to make it happen, so we chose to focus on the schools that we knew there was a shot at being able to afford if she got in.) But anyway, except for that exception, the location did end up being a pretty big factor in her decision.</p>
<p>Ultimately the most important outcome for me, is that she finish up and get that degree no matter where no matter what. The most worthless degree is the one they never finish. To that end, the overall fit of the school - if it’s one where she is blissfully happy and loves her college experience - was also a factor. (Of course it had to also have a well regarded theater program or it wasn’t even on the list in the first place.)</p>
<p>My D has a similar problem tier 1 university campus in Texas with great sports but, an ok very small theatre dept. but, the staff loves her and it feels very personal to her, BFA no showcase .Other choice big city back east downtown urban conservatory well known for their theatre department only, a BA has a showcase. It is like big fish little pond first school, little fish big pond second school I put down dep. at both schools to hold her place because she still cannot pick, I worry that the first school will not give her enough exposure because of it’s location and you can see all the money goes to the sports program and at this point she even would take a gap year because she really does not know what she wants but, then again who wants to do this process all over again!</p>
<p>typecast, my post is meant in a positive spirit and to be helpful. I hope it is taken that way. </p>
<p>Double depositing is against the rules. If a school finds out you have double deposited, they can rescind your their offer. I’d say this to anyone. In your case, you also have a body of posts on CC that indicate where your D has been accepted. Further, besides the actual rules, your daughter is holding a spot in a BFA class where she will not be attending, which isn’t fair to those on the wait list and I don’t know when you plan to make your D decide but if you wait any longer, those on the wait list will be far along in their plans to attend other schools. </p>
<p>I realize it is hard to pick but all the other kids had to pick by May 1. </p>
<p>This isn’t meant to be my opinion, but the official rules that govern college admissions in terms of the applicant’s responsibilities and the rules that colleges also must follow. </p>
<p>In any case, many people read these threads and so I’ll put it out there for those who are reading along who perhaps haven’t yet gone through the college admissions process.</p>