<p>Thanks to all of you who offered advice about taped auditions. We will give it a try next week. We have a lot to learn!</p>
<p>re: taped auditions</p>
<p>I know two people who got into OCU MT (college in the Fall) on taped auditions this year. One was done "professionally" in a recording studio--check your yellow pages-- and the other was done at home.</p>
<p>So videos definately are considered seriously.</p>
<p>just my experience with taped auditions - they are TIRING!!! unless you are super cool and can get it just how you want it in one take, then that's AWESOME but for those of us who are paranoid about things like that, be sure that you have LOTS of energy for the filming. I must have done one of my 16 bars for my Interlochen audition tape about 18 times lol. I just used a rehearsal room at a local theatre that had a plain white wall behind it and GREAT acoustics (sp?), which I think could be the most important thing about getting a good tape, at least for MT auditions. So thats my advice: lots of energy and good acoustics (mehh i cant spell!). We used a normal digital video camera, just fyi. I got in to Interlochen, by the way. :-D sooo excited...</p>
<p>Hi!
I could use a little help. I want to get into a great Musical Theatre college, so i'm starting early (I'm only a freshman in highschool) on my research. I was accepted into the National Honor Roll, and they're sending my information to 4 schools of my choice. I want to start letting musical theatre schools see who I am, so thats who I want to send the info to. I already have NYU, which is my dream school, but what other ones would you suggest that I put on the list? I live in Texas, and my parents want me to put some Texas schools on there too. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>You should definitely check out Oklahoma City University since you live in Texas. It has one of the top MT programs (and since you are a Wicked fan, Kristen Chenoweth is a graduate of OCU!)</p>
<p>Thanks so much! Thats definitely going on the list.</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon should definitely be on your list! Top drama school in the country...incredibly successful alumni, wonderful faculty, new facility</p>
<p><a href="http://www.cmu.edu/cfa/drama%5B/url%5D">www.cmu.edu/cfa/drama</a></p>
<p>Thank you so much for your help! ^_^</p>
<p>I Would suggest looking at the thread "Decisions for 2005", where there is a list of the schools people on this forum have chosen to go to next year. All of these schools have something to offer for the right people, it just depends on individual choice. There are not many schools in Texas that have a Musical Theatre program per se, although several people on this forum have auditioned at Sam Houston, so you might want to put that on your list to at least check out.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Hi and welcome to the forum. Cute name too, btw. It is never too early to be thinking about colleges. I'm going to just offer you some advice because I am a mom, am well versed on college admissions, and have been through this with two kids myself. </p>
<p>Here are a couple things to think about.....right now, you are just a freshman. It is really great that you have a passion and know what you want to pursue. For now, you really do not need to be making a college list. Your energy for the first two years of high school would be best put into achieving the best you can academically, training in the various disciplines of musical theater (acting, singing, dancing), participating in theatrical productions, and achieving to the best of your ability. What you want in a college is something that may evolve over time. While it is good to be well versed on this now (never too early) and to have long range goals, it is early yet to be getting more specific than that. Come junior year, when you make a list, perhaps you can visit some or all of these schools and from those visits and research, you can ascertain which college criteria are important to YOU, not merely which are the best schools. Schools differ and it is a matter of which meet the preferences you have for yourself in a college. Articulating those preferences too soon might not be best because they will evolve over time. </p>
<p>When you do make your college list, you will have to discuss geographic locations with your parents. In the field of BFAs for Musical Theater, you will likely need to look beyond your own state because there just are not a ton of programs in this field. You need to find out your parents thinking on this aspect. You might also wish to share with them the locations of the schools that appeal to you and why and go from there. </p>
<p>IF you look in Texas, there are not that many BFA programs. I made a quick search for you and I'm not sure if these are just BFAs in drama or if Musical Theater is also an option but there are not many: Baylor, University of North Texas, UTexas at Austin, Midwestern State University, Sam Houston State, Southwestern University....and Southern Methodist is just acting I think....and if you go to an adjoining state, there is Arkansas State and Oklahoma City University (the latter being a top notch or well regarded selective program). If you are thinking of a school like the BFA at NYU/Tisch, however, then I think you are looking at a certain degree of selectivity and some that I mentioned in your state are not in that same category so to speak and thus you need to ascertain which kind of program you want and at what level. It may need to be outside of Texas and so that discussion is a good one to begin with your parents early. </p>
<p>Lastly, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but selection to organizations like the National Honor Roll, Who's Who, and The National Society of High School Scholars does not impress college admissions officers. These outfits are for-profit businesses that endeavor to single out strong students for special "honors" and then to separate them (and their proud parents) from their money by charging application fees and/or by selling pricey directories. When admission officials see these "accolades" on applications, it's never a plus in the admission process, and it can even make the unsuspecting students seem a tad naive. So I would urge you to leave these so-called honors off of your resume and applications when the time comes. For now, you do not need to send colleges anything. When you apply and when you audition, you certainly want to let them know of any awards or honors or achievements that you have earned both academically and artistically. But please be aware that the program you mentioned, as well as the ones I just listed are not ones you want to list on your resume for college or auditions. They will not hold meaning and in fact, the admissions folks will think you are unsuspecting to think that these were selective honors. These things are mailed to tons of students around the country in a money making scheme. These are not the sorts of honors that your schools will be looking for, in other words. For NYU, definitely leave this "honor" off but put the ones you earned locally, not from these companies ON your resume. I offer you this advice in good faith and with sincerity. I am sure you have gained and will continue to earn achievements while in high school. Concentrate on these now and when the time comes, put them down on your application and resume. Do not send to colleges now. </p>
<p>Lastly, you have come to the right place to be reading this forum because you will gain lots of information, insights from others' experiences and much else. This is a good place to hang now and so when the time comes, you will be truly informed and know where to find resources. In fact, if for some reason, you feel your parents may not be keen on your going to college for a BFA outside of Texas, you might want to get them reading here sooner, rather than later.....</p>
<p>Keep up your dreams and aspirations....keep training....keep performing....keep up your grades :-) and enjoy these next couple of years before you really have to get immersed in the college process because you don't want to burn out on this college thing too soon. Junior and senior year will be plenty, trust me, LOL. For now, the focus ideally will be on your experiences and learning and achieving, so that when senior year comes, you will be ready for the fun of college admissions!</p>
<p>Best of luck to you.....and keep defying gravity!
Susan</p>
<p>FYI...UT Austin does not have any BFA programs in undergrad theatre (except for Theatre Studies/Teaching Emphasis)...they have BFA Dance though</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your help. I was wondering if this was the situaution for the National Honor Roll, but I decided to pursue it anyway, and I haven't ended up spending anything (although there are options to do so). I've mainly been looking up school's requirements so that I will be prepared and ready when that time comes. The advise ya'll have given me really helps. ^_^</p>
<p>DefyingGravity....I'm glad you took the advice as good will and as meant to be helpful. I am sure you have many accomplishments. Keep a record of these....don't include these outfits mentioned above....save the real ones and make them shine on your application when the time comes. Right now, colleges are not really going to want information from you anyway. And I feel certain that they will ignore the National Honor Roll thing. These companies prey on wonderful students like yourself and their aim is to make money. Normally, real awards and achievements are not ones where you have to pay to get the award or honor or some book with your name in them. Use that a bit as your guide. The outfits I mentioned earlier are not taken seriously by colleges. I know you had no way of knowing....and in fact, that is why many are still in business. Who doesn't like to open mail that says..."you have been selected....". ;-) I think it IS good, however, that you are thinking of long range goals and what you need to do now to prepare. So keep up the training and the shows and enjoy this time and keep learning about colleges if you want but there is no rush yet to be picking them out. Your criteria might change in a year or two with regard to location, size, type of program conservatory vs. college, BFA vs. BA, etc. etc. </p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Defying Gravity - Welcome! I'm a parent of junior in Arkansas and have found this site an unbelievably wonderful resource. When you have time this summer, try to read all the way back!</p>
<p>I hope you'll get to see the Wicked tour when it comes to Dallas in Oct. We know someone in the cast and want to get there if the schedule works! We loved it in NYC, as you must have, also.</p>
<p>You have received excellent advice so far - I have a couple of additions - Webster in St. Louis and Southwest MO State. I would not recommend Arkansas State for MT, although we know people going there for drama. My son is not looking anywhere in the state of Arkansas for college even though his older brother is about to graduate from UA.</p>
<p>Some of the other TX schools mentioned - unfortunately, I believe that Baylor and SMU with excellent drama reputations do not offer MT. Sam Houston State does offer MT and has been discussed on this forum.</p>
<p>My big addition to your list is my alma mater - Texas Christian University (TCU) in Ft. Worth. Maybe I need to start a thread on it to get it more attention. It does offer a BFA and it does not require an audition (although you need good grades and test scores to be accepted to the university). The BFA in theatre offers several areas of specialty, one of which is MT. They are doing work now in collaboration with Ft. Worth professional companies. We had a wonderful visit there recently, and it is definitely on my son's list.</p>
<p>Defying Gravity - One more TCU note - They have an audition the first weekend in Feb. which is not for admission but is for talent scholarship consideration. They also offer merit based scholarships.</p>
<p>I had to chime in here as well -- DefyingGravity89, my daughter is also a HS freshman and we live in TX. My D is very interested in OCU, with TCU as a "safety" school. While TCU does not require an audition for Musical Theater, the school does offer a location that offers a good bit of opportunity to perform at professional theaters. Recently the school presented the musical Baby at the large professional theater in Fort Worth, Casa Manana. The theater dept chair has only been at the school a short time but he has become very involved with the area's professional theaters and is directing a show at one of them for the second time this year. </p>
<p>I have heard good things about the straight theater departments at SMU and St Edward's in Austin.</p>
<p>Baylor has an excellent reputation for music and music education, but I don't know much about the theater department.</p>
<p>I have seen some pretty nice shows coming out of Texas Tech. They have a summer stock /outreach program where they take students to Angel Fire, NM for several weeks each summer to teach classes to youth and adults and perform shows for the community. Each student is cast in two shows. The Tech students seemed very happy with their chair and the dept. </p>
<p>Welcome to the board - I'm new here too!</p>
<p>Dramama</p>
<p>d gravity...don't overlook CCM IF YOU HAVE THE CHOPS,,</p>
<p>I had never heard of the National Honor Roll, so I did a Google search, which ironically led me back here to the College Confidential site. Here's an old post that might shed some light:</p>
<p>I was noticing that one of the two Presidential Scholars in the Arts in Musical Theatre this year is going to Hunter College in NYC. Has anyone heard anything at all about this program? Check out where the other ARTS awards winners in Theatre and MT are going at artsawards.org, its a really interesting mix.</p>
<p>AspiringActress...it's funny but I was reading that same thing last night and it is interesting the various places everyone is heading and I did notice the Presidential Scholar for MT is going to Hunter which made me wonder about the choice. I don't know much about Hunter but it reminded me of a talented girl I know who did not get into any of the BFA programs she had auditioned at and I know she landed at Hunter but I have never looked up their offerings. That is how I had heard of it before. Maybe this girl just wanted to be in NYC and this was the best option for her to do what she wanted to do. Who knows. Obviously quite talented to be given such an honor though!
Susan</p>