<p>I’ve hesitated to join this thread because my d is quite indecisive. She has considered theatre and music majors including theatre design (costumes) and MT performance for the past year. I’m trying to help her explore several options, but I know it’s time to get down to business so she can apply in the next couple months.</p>
<p>Has anyone had any experience with applying for more than one major within theatre/music/musical theatre? I’m wondering if she should choose some schools to apply with one major and some with another to simplify the audition or portfolio process. I’m also wondering if she does pursue some sort of theatre design major if there are schools that would provide a good amount of training and performance experience for those students. And for MT majors, I’m seeing that some schools do at least have the students take a couple intro. courses in the tech/design areas.</p>
<p>I know she also has the option of pursuing a BA instead of a BFA or BM and we’re keeping that option on the table. Right now, I think she’s more interested in the music degrees (BM) in MT. We’ve had a huge list of schools that we’re researching and we’re trying to narrow things down a bit this month. The ones that are attractive right now (some because of the BM or music/vocal emphasis aspect are: Belmont, OCU, BW, SUNY Fredonia, Hartt, Shenandoah, and Webster. That is definitely not the extent of the list right now, though.</p>
<p>I was a music major ed. myself, but didn’t really get involved with musical theatre until late in college and after. I loved doing shows and directing the shows where I taught. I was even considering returning to school for MT instead of continuing in music ed. I auditioned and got in, and THEN I saw a sappy tv program about teachers and their impact on young lives. I’m so weak, I fell for it and I decided to drop the MT path and get master’s in elementary ed. instead. </p>
<p>It sounds like a lot of you (or your kids) are so solid in their choice to pursue MT careers. I’m assuming mine is not the only one who is still waffling…??..right?? These decisions are just so difficult to make. No one wants to make a “wrong” decision, so there’s just so much pressure. I know my d is feeling it now. </p>
<p>Lots of kids (mine included) do a combo of auditions for “straight” acting and MT. Some schools allow you to audition for both at the same time, some ask you to choose. I also know of at least one kid who did a few auditions, saw the lay of the land, decided they didn’t want the competition/pressure, and changed to tech while still in the application/audition process. (she auditioned for 4 schools I think, no BFA offers. Applied to 4 or 5 programs in tech theater, accepted in 3)</p>
<p>@W2BeHome: I am not an expert, but here are some thoughts:</p>
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<li><p>In general, MT is hard to mix with other majors and minors because of the multi-disciplinary requirements in acting, dance, and music. But it is certainly possible, although not at all schools.</p></li>
<li><p>A BM MT program is probably going to have the least flexibility to pursue other interests versus a BA or BFA due to all the music hours required to get the BM on top of the multi-disciplinary requirements in acting and dance.</p></li>
<li><p>A BA program is likely to be the most flexible and perhaps suitable for someone who is not quite sure what they want to do and are on the fence between performance and costume design.</p></li>
<li><p>Some/many BFA MT curriculums include several stagecraft courses with room for additional electives in more design courses, such as costume design. </p></li>
<li><p>Some schools, such as Point Park and Western Kentucky, admit you as a BA and then offer the option to audition for the BFA program later in the curriculum.</p></li>
<li><p>From what you describe, Pepperdine might be a good fit with their BA in Music and Theatre. There are other, similar programs where the MT program is a joint effort between the Music and Theatre departments that might be a good fit.</p></li>
<li><p>You may also want to look at some BFA Theatre Peformance programs that are more generalized than an MT program but still include some MT courses.</p></li>
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<p>I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear. I didn’t mean that my d was looking to actually double major or minor in something along with a MT major. I just meant applying in more than one area as to keep the options open as she continues to sort this out. @toowonderful - thanks for addressing that. I can see that possibly happening with d.</p>
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<p>I was in a BM program myself, so I completely understand these programs (and the BFAs) can be pretty intense. If d goes this route, we know what to expect. I was more thinking along the lines of an elective here or there for something like Costumes, etc. I know that there are some BFA programs that require a class or two in the tech or design areas. I’m just trying to locate those. I’ve gone through several degree plans with a fine toothed comb. I’ll admit to even color-coding and using spreadsheets in my pursuit of information and clarity. If anyone has real world experience, it would be great to hear stories. On the flip-side, if a tech major really likes to perform, I’d be curious to hear how much they’re able to juggle that with the tech side of the curriculum. Are they able to be in a show each year as well as designing or working crew for them, etc.?</p>
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<p>Yep - that’s why we’re keeping this on the radar. I have encouraged her to plan for the BFA/BM in terms of auditions, etc. It’s easier to back away from those programs once you’re on that path than to try to make the leap into BFA/BM after you’ve started a BA (aside from those programs you mentioned that are designed that way). I think when we started looking, those programs that admitted everyone with the BA and later auditioned or evaluated students to enter the BFA were not attractive to my d. She felt that if she were going to put the work into a school, she wanted to know that they wanted her for the BFA from the beginning.</p>
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<p>I haven’t looked into that program yet. I will definitely take a look. Most of the schools we’ve looked at are from TX to the east coast. </p>
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<p>There’s a program at Texas State that caught her attention as her gears were shifting from design to performance. It looks like it would be a good option for someone caught in the middle (BFA in Performance and Production). I’m open to other suggestions of specific schools. </p>
<p>Otterbein has a great BFA Design & Technology program as well as BFAs MT & Acting. There’s also a BA in Theatre track. Adding a link for easy access to the programs: </p>
<p>@kksmom5 - Thanks. Otterbein is on the list and looks promising because of the connection with the music department. I can’t find the degree plan on their website like I’ve found on many others. If anyone finds in on the website, let me know. I can have d request one, but many of the schools are putting the degree requirements right on the website and it’s a great way to get a feel for the program.</p>
<p>Nevermind…I did some more searching and found the catalog…</p>
<p>BFA in Theatre Performance suggestions with room for pursuing costume electives (for example):</p>
<p>Evansville - 1 course in costume design plus 1 theatre elective plus 16 hours of electives
Baylor - 1 course in costume design plus 6 hours of theatre electives
Memphis - 15 hours of theatre electives</p>
<p>I am not sure if any of these are closely connected to the music program.</p>
<p>There are more, you can search on broadwayworld.com’s database for “bfa in theatre performance.”</p>
<p>James Madison allows you to audition for more than one program - MT or Theatre and perhaps other areas, not sure. Each audition has a few different requirements but you can audition for both.</p>
<p>Might take a look at the Ball State BA/BS Theatre Studies option. Reading through the sample curriculum it looks like there is a performance aspect, a technical aspect, and quite a bit of flexibility with regard to theatre electives, depending on the direction chosen. For someone who is still exploring, something like this might be a great fit.</p>
<p>Hi everyone! I found CC when looking for a summer program for my S when he was 13. He’s a 5’10 -ish tenor who has been singing since he could make noises. He started theater at 6, has taken private voice for 4+ years, acting workshops, and dance here and there, but picks up combinations fairly easy. He’s interested in a conservatory style BFA with few gen- eds, but willing to compromise the amount of gen-eds for the opportunity to attend certain programs. He currently has NO safety on his list and that makes me nervous. Actually, I’m nervous about this entire process. I got to meet a few of the amazing CC moms at his summer program showcase (BW) this week and that felt great to connect with other people who will get the next 9 months of insanity.</p>
<p>I have said it before, and will say it again, finding a school where you can see your kid happy, with rolling admissions (so you hear early in the year), is GREAT for piece of mind. If your S did BW Overtures, you probably know they do a November audition where you can hear as early as December. Two of D’s friends got their 1st acceptances that way (and both will be attending BW in the fall)</p>
<p>I agree with you. I should have stated “yet” because we are still looking for one that he is genuinely happy with. We have discussed other training options should he not be accepted anywhere. BW does not typically take many Overtures kids, so that seems like he has even smaller odds there.</p>
<p>Keeping d focused on picking out a couple of non-audition safeties is our biggest challenge in the whole process. A drawback to going to the Nebraska Thespian Festival is that d’s attention is drawn to audition-based programs that recruited her and she has decided that one of the schools that gave her a verbal offer is her safety (unfortunately, it is not a good overall fit and reliance on a verbal offer is a bad plan, as noted in previous posts).</p>
<p>It is hard to get our 17-year-old to fight the urge to take the easy path and grab the first offer that comes down the pike as her fallback instead of taking the time to pick out a well-grounded safety based on things like experienced faculty with interesting bios, a curriculum with the kind of training she is interested in, solid academics with the right mix of gen eds for her, good merit aid, favorable credit for her AP scores, a campus location that she would enjoy, etc. After her relief at having some success at Nebraska, about the last thing on d’s summer list is to sit down and go through spreadsheet comparisons of curriculum, performance opportunities, estimated costs, etc. for schools that are not high on her “I want an audition-based BFA” radar. It is much more fun to trade emails with audition-based programs about scheduling visits with voice lessons and acting class observations and dream about what might happen. I keep trying to draw her back to her days as a softball pitcher and her mantra, “one pitch at a time, one out at a time, one inning at a time.” Sigh…</p>
<p>Working with my d through this process does bring to mind many of the people I have worked with throughout my career, including most CEO’s, who only want to talk about the possibility of the shining success of Plan A and never want to discuss the seemingly dreary (compared to Plan A), but possibly likely, reality of Plan B.</p>
<p>I’m right there with you @EmsDad. I want more than anything for people to stop telling him he’ll get into any school he auditions for. We all know that is not the case and that talent is very subjective. He says he knows not to take much stock in that, but his actions say differently… I sigh a lot also…</p>
<p>Completely feel this @IfYouOnlyKnew and @EmsDad. I find it even a struggle within myself because I WANT to believe it too, even though I know that it is not reality. Not that D will get into every school but that she will get into some It is hard to have people tell her and I that she will have offers. No one can really say this. We have one safety that I think is a true safety with her grades and scores and she will send an arts supplement to use her talent also. Is one enough though? </p>
<p>Those that say your child will get into many schools, any school, all schools, etc. are not truly aware of the competition out there. Let me say that my child was told that by friends, by faculty, by coaches (vocal and audition), by any director every encountered and they were all wrong. In our tiny speck of the world my child is among the best! Mine has always been recognized, a stand out - performed in NY at an off broadway show, performed in many local and community theaters, was always recognized as the best vocally and for talent in middle and high school but when it came to auditioning for college - well that was a different story. I don’t believe in safety schools. Unless you have an offer to one, there are no safety schools. On a positive note, I will say that it does seem that things work out the way there are meant to. After a very long audition season with highs and lows (more lows than highs) it all worked out in the end. It is important to find the school that is the right fit. Fit is a very subjective thing - but if your child and you are excited about where they are going that is a fit! Good luck to all!</p>
<p>For auditioned programs, I would completely agree that there are no safety schools.</p>
<p>However, we believe that non-auditioned programs for which d meets or exceeds the published 25th percentile of the academic acceptance profile for test scores, GPA (where available) and class rank to be a “safety school.” D meets or exceeds the published academic merit aid award levels for all of the safety schools we are considering. She writes well, as confirmed by high ACT and SAT writing scores and a high AP English Language score, so we are not too worried about low essay ratings.While it is certainly possible that she may not be admitted to a school at which she meets or exceeds the upper-end of typical acceptance profiles, we have concluded that it is very likely that she will be admitted, hence, our use of the term “safety school.” However, that is why we are looking for at least 2, just in case.</p>
<p>@EmsDad - I agree with you logic. D’s “safeties” last year were Muhlenberg and Denison. She was more than qualified for each based on published percentiles etc…and she was admitted to both. The caveat, (as I mentioned yesterday) is that neither school had rolling admissions, so while we “felt confident” we didn’t KNOW until mid march, hence there was still “stress” (though minor compared to the MAJOR stress of waiting for BFAs)</p>
<p>My D and I are also struggling with finding a non audition safety that she would be happy to attend. We’ve visited 3, and 2 were immediately taken off the list(by her, I thought one of them was actually pretty fantastic). The last one is on the list grudgingly, because she only wants to go to an audition BFA. I am insisting that she apply to at least 1 non audition program, she says she would be happy at this school, but only if she doesn’t get into any audition program. So, yeah, sigh.</p>
It is hard to have people tell her and I that she will have offers. No one can really say this. We have one safety that I think is a true safety with her grades and scores and she will send an arts supplement to use her talent also. Is one enough though? </p>