Thank you so much @bfahopeful! My D is looking mostly at acting programs but was curious about programs like the one you describe at UNCSA. It is on the list! This is exactly what I was wondering- thanks for the answer.
@artskids - My D will be in her 2nd year and LOVES it. I know our Dās auditioned at many of the same programs a couple years ago. Sounds like yours (#2) is enjoying Purchase as well. @artskids and @ginaf1102 Please message me any questions about UNCSA. While my D didnāt really want to be in the south, the program won out and she has zero regrets. Looking forward to hearing all about your adventures this year.
@ginaf1102, I mentioned it only because there definitely have been in-depth threads on the MT forum about which MT programs emphasize acting most (CMU and Hartt come to mind), vs. which emphasize singing or dancing. So if you want to know about MT programs, thatās the place to look. Just trying to be helpful!
@actorparent This page is super helpful! Thank you. And I will check out the MT page too. So much scrolling and reading - I find that I enter into the CC vortex and the next thing you know itās 3 hours later. 
@bfahopeful so funny you mention the south. None of my kids wanted to be south of the Mason Dixon (their words). D2 is really intrigued by UNSCA so is breaking her rules. Maybe I can get her to let me keep Elon, too! D1 is loving Purchase - counting down the days until she gets to return!
@ginaf1102 The degree that the MT kids at Tisch get is a BFA in Drama, the same degree as all Tisch drama kids get. Excellent MT training but also very focused on acting training.
Most schools have their curriculum on their websites and, if not, you can always email them with questions.
CMU students get a drama degree too -whether acting or MT major.
@artskids I will say UNCSA is a bit of a bubble in the south. Winston Salem is a college town and very artsy. A bit more liberal than one may expect. It is by no means NYC or any other larger, northern city. But my D has found many like minded people -many of whom are from the northern or western states or large cities. This includes faculty as well as students.
Good luck to your D this year. Canāt believe you are back at it. I give you lots of credit. I am dreading if my youngest pursues an audition based BFA as well. Glad to have finished it and come out in a good place for D1.
Feeling like a bit of a nag in my house, trying to keep my son on track with everything he needs to do this month. Heās got ACT prep, college essays, AP summer reading/essays, and monologues to work on. AND, heās working all day as a camp counselor. He works well under pressure, but itās a bit much!
@Twoboysandadog I feel your pain. Iām doing the same and my D has been gone for 6 weeks at the CMU summer drama program. She has had NO time to work on essays or college things. Sheāll have 2 weeks to finish summer reading, work on apps and essays and pick up ACT prep. Pedal to the metal here!
@artskids My son was gone for 5 weeks too at his summer precollege program. I keep telling him that August is his tough month and, if he can just get through it and get everything done, things will get better. (That may or may not be true though.)
Yes, we are all in that same boat. My D is at RADA (London) for 5 weeks and whoa, when she gets back itās ACT prep, college essays, etc. This was the one down side to a program out of town, but she is absolutely loving it!
Yes, my guy is working hard so he can keep afloat during the fall. I read a Dadās journey over in the MT thread, and I started using the application āRemember the milkā, that way I could break things down into smaller tasks.
As you all start out, here is an article about Samira Wiley and her college audition experiences. Everyone gets rejected. And some very talented people I know have gotten many rejections from BFA programs -but you only need 1. Of course her 1 was Juilliard, but she still got rejected everywhere else.
Just wish she hadnāt put āYaleā as an example of conservatory. That is only MFA. They donāt offer a BFA but rather a BA in theater studies. So many people donāt know that and this will add to the confusion. And I believe Temple has a BFA now too.
But her words of encouragement still ring true.
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I think Samira Wiley is an wonderful actress! I love that the only BFA program she got into was Juilliard. Perhaps her time at Temple, and the interest of a drama teacher, served as sort of a gap/maturity experience!
@bfahopeful I just read this article! Someone else posted it on Facebook, and I read it hungrily. I love that her professor redirected her. Thank you, professor! I always hope our talented kids will encounter good people along the way, giving good advice. Like you, I read the article and thought, what Yale? I have tried to clarify over and over again, that Yale School of Drama is for Masters only. But it appears on certain lists of top acting schools, and it is really confusing. Anyway, the message in the article is great! Go where you land and make the most of it. Bloom! Be ready when opportunity knocks, but you might have to knock on the door, or answer!
I just booked rooms for Chicago unifieds at Palmer House ā¦ (hopefully the rates wonāt go down more than the current rate?) Just FYI - they added a discount when I specified that it was for theater auditions- the discount they applied on the phone for ātheaterā was a better price than my Hilton Honors discountā¦however they did not let me apply any points towards a further discount for this stay. Just figured I would share in case anyone is in the same boat and ready to book.
Iām curious about the type of room you were able to book at Palmer house. I booked an executive floor room with two bathrooms a while back. Once the site was up for unifieds, I called to see if I could get more than just my honors discount. I was told they didnāt do any other discount rates for āupgradedā rooms. Apparently it is for a standard room only. Im happy to have a room with two bathrooms but the price was cheaper around the corner at the Hampton- and itās next to the Hamilton stage door. Ultimately I decided to pay the higher rate for the executive floor room. Iām wondering what others have found out.
@TNTheatreDad You will be happy to have the nice large room and two bathrooms. It was a refuge from the crazy, chaotic scene a few floors below. It was so nice to be able to have such a big space to call home for a few days and also be just around the corner from the open supply of drinks and snacks as well as nice breakfast and late afternoon hot appetizers, which turned into dinner on a couple of exhausted evenings. I would happily pay the extra dollars again for the upgraded experience we had. I think you will be happy with your decision!
Agree with @sopranomtmom. We stayed on the executive floor at the Palmer House two years ago and were very happy with that decision. It was far enough away from the floors below to get away from the madness for a time. Also, I was working while D1 was auditioning (will be doing the same thing this year). The work space is very comfortable and roomy; I bought the extra fast internet connection and was able to work fairly seamlessly.
One note of caution - we noticed many college auditors on the executive floors, not just on the audition floors. It is important to honor what we call the ā10 block ruleā. We never discuss a show, how we felt about the actors, etc. until we are 10 blocks from the theater. At Unifieds, we discussed specifics about programs and auditions only in our room or on a walk away from the hotel!