<p>most bfa programs have become a money maker for colleges. They are popping up all over. New programs every year. </p>
<p>@neuroticstagedad BFA programs are far from moneymakers due to the intensity of the program and the small teacher/student ratio. But I have a feeling you already knew that.</p>
<p>college in general is about making money for the school. Look at the numbers . More MT and acting programs then ever before.</p>
<p>Some kids come out of the big programs so over directed and over coached that they lose their sense of self, which could kill them at professional auditions. </p>
<p>Here’s my dose of realism - if you graduate from a “top” program with a mountain of debt that you could never hope to repay you’ll be far worse off than going to a mid-level program that provides excellent instruction without killing you finances. We have THAT conversation with our D all the time.</p>
<p>One more thing about the so-called top programs - you read lots of advice on CC about finding the right fit for your kid. We learned this first hand during Chicago Unifieds, where our D auditioned for 12 schools from across the spectrum. By being able to make immediate comparisons she was able to learn which schools felt right with regard to faculty, attitude, organization, philosophy, etc. At one of the “top” schools the dance call was so large that they couldn’t possibly evaluate the kids fairly. At another “top” school the auditor was so rude to all of the kids that our D hopes for an offer from them just so she can tell them to shove it.</p>
<p>And one last thing - thinking in terms of your kid being good enough or not being good enough to get in to a so-called “top” program is dangerous. Remember that the colleges are essentially filling out a cast based on a combination of talent, type, and personality. I don’t care how talented your kid is, if a school doesn’t need any more of his/her type they won’t make an offer. This type of unrealistically judgmental attitude sets your kid up for feelings of inferiority that are completely unfair.</p>
<p>Dr John Stefano from Otterbein said it best (love that man) “If they are looking for oranges and you are a banana you aren’t getting the part” LOL</p>
<p>I agree , being good enough is not the issue. Its about filling out a cast. your D better get used to rudeness. casting agents are about as rude as they come</p>
<p>And fruitcake is plain nasty, so just be yourself.</p>
<p>My D clearly has a sense of “fit.” Since I am not an actor, singer or dancer I have to respect her knowledge and her instincts when she tells me she does not like the feel of a school or a teacher. We can discuss it to be sure she’s not gotten some incorrect information but I have no doubt that throughout this process she feels more of a fit with certain schools and teachers and I could not have predicted it.
I can remember too when I visited colleges myself as a 17 year old, feeling like I didn’t “fit.” </p>
<p>@neuroticstagedad - our D is pretty wise for her age, and rude people don’t bother her. My point is why would she want to train with a guy for 4 years if he was so rude during auditions.</p>
<p>does that mean she would rufuse a role in a broadway show if the director was rude?</p>
<p>Have no idea if this is relevant…but a former elementary student of mine got her undergrad acting degree at a completely no name college… was just accepted Full Ride to Yale MFA this week…and in the final group for Juillard and NYU</p>
<p>Some schools do have a philosophy that requires breaking kids down and building them back up. It’s a teaching style, not manners. And, my D also rejected one school because of this. Well, that was before they had the chance to reject her which probably would realistically have happened, but still. She knew that way of learning was not for her. Now, she also has to respect her instructor and that can sometimes be a high bar for various reasons.</p>
<p>I’m sure not @neuroticstagedad, because then she would be getting a paycheck to deal with the jerk rather than going into debt to do so! ;)</p>
<p>I think perhaps the statement regarding CCM and $ is relative to talent scholarships. There is not much $ available. However, if your child is a strong student, UC does have some great scholarships for which CCM students can apply. </p>
<p>@bisouu it is absolutely relevant, and a great story. </p>
<p>CCM is one of the cheaper schools we are looking at - Roosevelt, Point Park, Amda, Pace, Baldwin Wallace, Webster all cost more. Admittedly, some of those schools have offered us serious scholarship money, and CCM have not, but not all the paperwork is in yet. Our cheapest option would have been our local state school - U of M!</p>
<p>Interesting discussion, just have to agree though there is more than just a name. Sometimes the big names are able to “ride” on their big name awhile before people begin to see the downward trend…the opposite with some of the lesser named school, they can ride under the radar taking kids who are raw and not completely developed and turn them into something amazing. I have met and worked with some casting directors who have said, in the end the only name in college that might make them look twice is Julliard…other than that it is all about the goods the person has and what the casting people are looking for. I for one believe that a school is only as good as what they can do with their weakest student, not what they do with the ones that come in already ready to go to Broadway. I look at highschool vocal coaches, directors, acting coaches the same way. Sometimes those who are really well known have stayed well known by attracting students that are already set and were picked because of their current talent level. Then there are those who actually thrive on taking the raw talent and turn it from a rough package into a polished gem. Who would you rather work with in the end? </p>
<p>We see it all the time here in Atlanta. There are those with the big names and lots of flash, they attract kids who are already polished and claim them as their kids even if they are not responsible for any of the real training, so people go there thinking their kids will turn out that same way and leave terribly disappointed when their kids are not focused on and don’t get training. However, there are a slew of teachers and coaches who can actually take the raw talent and help it develop into something more. In the end those teachers are more focused on doing the work than making a “name” for themselves. It takes a little more research and time to find them but when you do it can make all the difference in the student’s future. I guess that is how I can see that some of these lesser known programs can be hidden gems.</p>
<p>Wow this is an interesting discussion. With the unemployment rate so high in this industry, there is an awful lot of amazing talent in limbo at any given moment who are more than willing as well as able to round out the teaching staff in programs all over the country. If you’ve got the faculty, and the school is committed to the program, it really a question of attracting a talented student body to raise the experience for everyone and the program’s visibility. A school that only a few years ago was barely on the radar can be the hot one. Look at how successful TSU has been at doing just that. As recently as two years ago it was barely discussed in the MT forum and if you look back, only 2 CCers made the decision to attend there and nobody was talking about priority holds whatever that actually means. Now look at TSU. Its cup runeths over with leading ladies and gentlemen who easily could (and many were) have been accepted to any of the “top” programs however you define that but who think they are in one. (Because they are.)</p>
<p>I have really come to appreciate the excellence that exists in lesser known programs that are far beyond the reach of Broadway. I have good friends whose kids are doing amazing things that my Tisch kid would find envious. Their kids still get to be fish (big ones or small ones) in smaller ponds. In New York, the pond is enormous and overflowing with fish so it’s pretty easy to end up flopping around on the shore gasping for breath. </p>
<p>Fit wise, my kid was still willing to take the risk of being a shore flopper but that sure would not be a good fit for everyone. </p>
<p>I think it is clear not all kids and all families are driven by the same thing. Believe it or not there are people who wouldn’t go to a big name school if it wasn’t a great fit for them personally. And people who would not take a job if they felt the director was rude. There are many different definitions of success in this field. I hope all of your kids’ dreams come true, whether they want to be on a cruise ship, in a theme park, on a national tour, regional stage or the Big White Way. And hope everyone finds a great place to get their training. Lots of great options out there for training and work!</p>
<p>@katestyles Last year Webster offered a great financial and scholarship package-they are also part of a MI tuition reciprocity . I know BW had a specific amount for grades/test score/class rank. Also once you get your financial packages let the other school know what the other offers are and see if they can meet that. </p>