So far my S has auditions scheduled for CMU, NYU, Pace, BW, Point Park and still waiting for Ithaca and UM. We are trying to leave the UM dates open since we will be traveling to the school. Does anyone have advice on whether we should book everything around the UM dates?
My son applied to and was accepted to Post for this year’s BFA as a theater tech major. He had a portfolio review but no audition. His stats were not great, 3.4 GPA and 27 ACT (28 superscored). The campus is beautiful and less than 20 minutes from my home. He was offered a nice scholarship, but he still would have had to live at home and commute to school in order to make it through without loans. Also, his scores of 3 on 2 of his AP’s would not get credit. Ultimately, he decided to attend a different school. However, we visited the school several times and I have been there many times over the years. I was very impressed with the theater people we met, the teachers seemed knowledgeable and the acting students were happy and pleasant. My son said that facilities were nice, but he thinks those at his current school (which are new) are better.
I have heard good things about the Post program. I think it’s definitely work a look. We met a girl from Canada who said she turned down well known programs to go there.
Just a quick side note to bring you all some comfort…(and to brag a little) my daughter who decided on a BA over a BFA has just been offered her first true professional gig (she’s still a senior) and had to turn down another because of a scheduling conflict. They truly end up where they should be BA or BFA.
Yay @bisouu! Congrats to your daughter! I have always loved her story as a shining example of a student finding the perfect fit for them. So glad to hear she’s doing so well!
@techmom99 Thanks so much for the insight! It’s an out of state option for me, and so it would be a very big commitment for me to attend there
To all the people who only have top tier programs on your lists…add some other schools… even if only a few. I say this because I was recently looking at some of the top schools MT class of 2021 group pics and it sure brings the whole “ they take so few and so few girls”
thing into focus. When you see it in a group pic it brings the whole odds thing into your face so to speak. When I read that one school auditioned 800 -900 plus last year and they have legit 5 girls in their class… might I add those girls all seem to look the same which blows the diversity thing at that school out the window but I digress…
Anyway just a way to keep things in perspective! IMHO it was eye opening to me .
For some reason seeing a visual keeps it real
Also, whether you audition at the school or at a Unified probably makes no difference. My D made it a point to audition at 2 “top tier” schools; the Summer intensive for one she had attended. She was waitlisted at one, and not accepted at the other. Save your money and your sanity.
Just have to share this…my daughter is doing a master class with Karen Olivo today, and this was the best quote of the day so far, “You’re skin has to be so thick guys. I’m so sorry you picked this.”
I graduated from LIU/Post and have been employed in the industry since leaving college. Many Post Alumni, including myself, have performed on Broadway, Regionally, TV, Film. I have done all. If your kid is talented, the school does not matter. Too many of you put so much effort into this process. Getting into a “Tier 1 School” means your going to get your bank accounts drained. The one exception is Baldwin Wallace. They have a formula to help their grads get their AEA cards but it is not a guarantee they will work. There are great schools like Post, Point Park, UArts, which offer exceptional training in Urban Areas. Getting into Tisch means you will be competing with hundreds of other students for roles. College BFA Programs are about training, refinement, learning the craft. It’s about hard work by your kid, not helicopter parenting. These posts make me laugh! Let your kid do the work. You all are not helping them with all this neurotic planning and posting.
@WorkingActor - that’s a bold first post. If you find our conversations annoying, perhaps you shouldn’t read them. Idk how old you are now, but lots of the kids we are talking about are 17/18 years old. Maybe you did 100% of your college stuff on your own, and if so, my hat’s off to you. You are correct that parents can’t make this happen, (if only!!) but everyone can use a little help along the way. I disagree that well respected, nationally ranked programs (I hate the phrase “top tier”, it’s too subjective) aren’t valuable, but you are certainly entitled to your opinion. There are great stories of people coming out of lesser known programs, or no program at all…but there are MORE success stories from people who came out of Michigan, CMU, CCM, NYU etc. Here’s the thing, we never get to see the road we don’t take. If someone goes to X school (Insert famous and/or expensive school of choice) will they work more or less than if they had gone to Y school (insert less famous and/or less expensive school of choice) No way to know.
Also, to clear up a little misinformation in your post, Tisch students are guaranteed casting in their studio from sophomore year onwards.
And finally - there is no way to avoid neurosis in parenting or in theater- it’s simply the nature of the beast. Might I be so bold as to suggest that it is negativity that is truly less than helpful
I agree. WorkingActor’s post started off so helpful and valuable (saying that as long as you’re talented and get good training SOMEWHERE, it’s not important for it to be a “Tier 1” school) and not to stress so much over “prestige name” schools…but then ended up ATTACKING parents for worrying about their kids and trying to do the best they can for them! Was that really necessary? You could have ended the post in a positive and reassuring way instead of turning it into an attack on parents who are trying their best to help their kids.
Preach @toowonderful!
@workingactor there are a lot of parents on here who do not live in urban areas or have communities of performing arts people to get advice from. Their kids are trying to navigate the process of applying to college for performing arts and it is a lot of work! Be supportive! The internet and CC can provide a wealth of information and some misinformation too (like I found in your post…but that’s just my opinion). As you know, there are no guarantees in this business no matter where you go. But meeting the world with grace and kindness is a good start.
@WorkingActor I can’t speak for anyone else, but applying to these schools and going out to the auditions costs a pretty penny. I don’t think any parent with any sense would hand over their credit card and let their 17 year old do all this “neurotic planning.” Most families I know do not give their children carte blanche to apply anywhere they want. Even the less expensive schools are still costly, and typically require travel for auditions (we have exactly two programs within an hour from our house, the rest are several hours away.) Applying to college is not only a financial commitment, it is a family commitment. If you were able to apply to a dozen schools on your own dime with no help from your parents, then more power to you. Personally, I don’t know any kid with that kind of cash or even ability to navigate this incredibly daunting process alone.
Third time neurotic planner and poster here. I disagree parents who are helping with the organizational piece of this process are not “helpful.” I have a college senior (MT) and sophomore (Acting) who thanked me over and over again once the audition season was done. I didn’t go to college with either of them or write their essays or choose material and both are responsible, fairly organized young adults who have are learning to handle all the demands of the major and (soon) the profession. I don’t feel it is helicopter parenting to help 17 and 18 year olds with executive tasks but that’s just my opinion.
I knew nothing about the process before I found this forum. We are in the “northiest” of the north east, and I have yet to meet a local parent who went through the BFA MT/Acting application and audition rigamarole. I was fortunate to meet a fellow Class of 2018 CC parent who attended a college production my son was in last year. I introduced her to my son and told my son that she was one of many kind parents who helped me help him. My son spontaneously hugged her and said “Thank you so much!!”. CC was a lifeline for us.
@entertainersmom - Hey - I know who that mom is! 
As a mom of 3 sons, only one of whom is planning to pursue a degree in MT, I am so grateful to have found a group of amazing parents/guardians/students to share in the application process. We do not have money to spend on private coaches, etc. so all of you have been a lifeline. My S has written his own essays, arranged for friends to film his pre-screens and has worked his tail off to have the opportunity to audition at various MT programs. I am proud of all he has accomplished and hopes to do in the future. I will continue to reach out to all of you to share in his success and help him and others through this crazy process. I’m proud to be the mother of a hopeful MT student!
@kategrizz, lol, I hugged you too!!
I don’t think workingActors post was an attack, it was actually honest. I have a very well working Juilliard graduate friend who said the same thing… and it was almost Verbatim “as long as he’s really good and works really hard, it will not matter what school he attends” and there were some hints there as my son is hoping to enter into Juilliard or some other great performing school. In all honesty, we’re in Chicago, there are amazing schools here but he’s set on the east coast. He also attends the only fine arts school in Chicago for high school students