<p>I second Mikksmom. CoachC...you are very wise. And you're not old....at least not next to me, lol, and I don't feel old anyway. </p>
<p>Today, I was working in a classroom, subbing for a teacher. The teacher I was subbing for had been MY student when she was in third grade (I used to be a teacher). She would now be about 32 years old. For one thing, that can make me feel old. But get this, I announced to the class of fifth/sixth graders that I used to be their teacher's third grade teacher. And a boy says, gee, you both look about the same age! I wanted to hug him! (I am 49) :D</p>
<p>CoachC...may I ask you a question which has nothing to do with the current topic? A friend just called me and he is frantic. His daughter (probably 13 years old) is starring in the school musical tonight and woke up this morning with a very sore throat. She cannot swallow or sing, etc., etc. You know, it is the usual middle school sick time of year. Is there any short term quick "cure" you can recommend just to get her through tonight? My friend has a call into the family doctor, but you have an extensive knowledge about this kind of situation that the family doctor will not have. Thank you for any information I can pass along.</p>
<p>That's a tricky one, especially because it's so last minute. My best advice is take her to a dcotor or an urgent care facility ASAP. She needs to be seen to determine if she has strep or another throat infection. Depending on how much singing and what type of singing she has to do, she could probably "tough through" ok, although probably not with her normal sound, IF it's a "simple" infection if she gets a personal steamer (available at any drugstore in the vaporizer aisle - do NOT use the menthol pads!!!) and steams continually between now and having to sing, drinks a ton of water, and has non-methol throat drops available (such as Hall's Fruit Breezers). Can she make any sound at all? I really wouldn't advise singing until she knows what's wrong or if it hurts too much - it's not worth risking her voice in the long-term. And if the doctor can't make a quick and DEFINITE diagnosis (like if it's not an "easy call" that it's strep b/c of visible white patches), she should NOT sing, because she needs to find out why her voice is "gone" and her throat hurts so much!!!!</p>
<p>CoachC: thanks so much! I called my friend on his cell phone and read him your post and he turned the car around to head to the nearest drugstore to get a personal steamer and Fruit Breezers. I can't thank you enuf for giving him something to "do" that couldn't hurt anyway...I know he feels so helpless....he too is concerned about long term damage and that is his first priority of course. Oh gosh, the days of middle school crisises seem so almost peaceful compared to what waiting for the mail is like these days! Good news however-- D was accepted at both University of Arizona and Syracuse so far (my first choice and her first choice respectively!). Thanks again for your terrific advice!</p>
<p>Wow...thank you so much for your advice! It makes me feel truly happy to know that there are people out there who would support my alternate path of education...and I'm glad to know that others so deeply share this passion for theatre. I think that it is difficult for someone to understand why I would restart my whole college career unless they share the passion for theatre. Only when one has such intense love for something are they willing to take drastic measures to obtain it...and to live their dream. Needless to say, your words have definitely inspired me to seriously follow through with this. Whenever I think about doing it, I feel good inside, and something just feels completely and utterly "right." Thanks so much! and I would appreciate any advice from others as well.
It was particularly helpful to hear about other people in the same situation as me...i love that. And the advice from CoachC to make my year off very valuable...that was helpful too. I am going to look for unique, helpful opportunities that I can pursue during my time off. If you can suggest any short term programs or anything like that which you know of, that would be extra helpful!
Thanks again, you guys!!</p>
<p>I'll keep you posted as to how my life proceeds....</p>
<p>You and me are taking very similar paths! Last semester I withdrew from my second state school because I was so unhappy. So now I am taking some time off and am planning on returning to school in a MT BFA program (hopefully at Point Park) in Fall 2007. And I will be 21 going on 22! I've started voice lessons up again after I left school and I'm involved in a community theatre production for the first time. Over the summer I'm going to be in AADA's summer program and then over the next year I'll take up ballet/tap classes and continue voice. My reason for not going to a BFA program in the first place was because I didn't think I was good enough to even get accepted. But I'm starting to come to the realization that I do have a chance and that I should stop comparing myself to other people. I hope you keep us posted about Syracuse and here's hoping that you get accepted next year!</p>
<p>I never would have thought it, but I've actually been happy as a clam at my state school this semester and they're making it very hard for me to leave. I'm comfortable in my surroundings, I'm around old friends, and I'm acting a lot. I'm even enjoying most of my classes. I already get full tuition through a state program as long as I take fifteen hours a semester and keep a 3.0. Now the theatre department has figured out that I'm here and are offering to pay for my dorm and meal plan and are also offering automatic admission to the MFA program on graduation if I stay. I also already have credit for the required acting and introductory theatre studies classes plus six hours of electives so I can easily graduate in three years since most of my GEs are done through this year's coursework and my AP credits. I'm not doing anything mainstage right now, but the grad students have been using me a lot in their directing scenes, I have a standing offer to join the local Shakespeare company as a paid member, and I've been having a total blast performing with an improv troupe. It's like I can pay to go off into the unknown and have a conservatory BFA at twenty-three or I can stay put and have a fairly well-respected MFA with lots of experience working with seasoned older actors by the time I'm twenty-four. Some things just make sense, but I'm really torn because I miss training. I suppose I could always go to New York to do a summer program at a pro studio next year though I think it's too late this time around and I'm already cast in a play, anyway. At any rate, I'm starting to think that I'm gonna make some waitlistees very happy unless somebody comes off huge on a financial offer. This next five weeks is gonna be per-itty strange. Life is the sum of your decisions, right? Decisions, decisions ...</p>
<p>Good for you!! THis just goes to show that you do not HAVE to go to an elite BFA to get your experiance. Although it is not what you have always pictured your college life to be, you seem pretty darn happy...and with being the sweetheart of a theatre program, nearly getting paid to go there, you should be. If it is an MFA program that you like, and you don't feel like you will regret not going to (another) BFA program, I say go for it because it seems like a sweet deal. You sound like you are getting a good education through real experiance, and that is pretty much as good as anything. A BFA from a top program is great, but it nothing garentees jobs, so this is as good as anything, in my opinion, as long as you are happy.</p>
<p>These next couple weeks are going to be pretty strange, but you will be fine where ever you go, it's about passion, and you definatly seem like you have it. Good luck with all those decisions you have in front of you!</p>
<p>Fishbowl - This is TOTAL proof that a BFA is not the only way to go. Your resume will be impressive if you go this route and you'll make contacts, as well. You can't ask for much more than that. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>Fishbowl-
Wow, what a turnaround!!! Good for you. Did you even audition at any schools this year [I kinda remember you were looking to do that right?]? When did things start getting better? This is just great for you! So happy things are going well.
Keep in mind that whatever decision you make, you can always chose to change direction later. Go with your gut.</p>
<p>My friend and I were having an argument. She says that having a BS in Theatre is more likely to gain you admission to ANY Master's program, including an MFA. I say that a BFA is just as likely to get admission to a MFA or MA program. Does anyone know what the case is? I'd like to get a BFA in Musical Theatre and then an MFA in Acting, Directing, or an MA in Theatre....something that would allow me to teach at the university level. What is the bets route to go?
Also, don't most musical theatre programs mostly employ professors with MFA's and BFA's?
I just need to settle this dispute with her...any advice would be lovely. :)
Thanks again!</p>
<p>I suppose there may be some differences, but I don't believe that universities with graduate programs necessarily prefer BA/BS degree holders to those with BFA degrees. Much would depend on the nature of the graduate program.</p>
<p>One critical piece of information about graduate programs, however: the MFA is considered (along with the Ph.D.) a "terminal" degree, and will allow you to be hired into a tenure-track position in most colleges and universities. The MA degree is not. If you do an MA, you need to plan on continuing and doing a Ph.D. if you wish to teach college in a full-time position.</p>
<p>ckp and lynnm,
Thanks! I wouldnt even be considering this if it werent for that MFA guarantee, but its nice that Ill have a good safety when Im going through the URTAs and whatnot in two years if I do it. I suppose actually performing with MFAs and conservatory grads will in a way be as good as taking classes from them ... at least for the time being. The thing is, I'm about as much a BFA personality as there is and I really do miss training. Ill just have to make sure I dont get complacent. So far, Ive been good about doing a voice warmup every morning and staying in shape, but Im really gonna have to make sure I keep it up if I go this route. Theres also the admittedly silly feeling I have that Im falling behind some of my h/s classmates that are at conservatories. I guess I should just look at that as a tortoise and the hare kind of thing.</p>
<p>Believersmom,
I did my auditions and have some really good options whichever way I go. A lot of it is gonna come down to finances. Im not sure exactly when things started getting better. I suppose its kind of like walking through the mist for awhile and suddenly realizing youve gotten wet! LOL I do need to make sure whichever way I go sticks this time, though. I dont wanna be swapping colleges until Im in my mid-20s. </p>
<p>Ilovethestage04,
From what I understand, it really doesnt matter which undergraduate degree you have for getting into an MFA. However, it is hard for someone coming straight out of college to get in some of the better ones. Some even require three non-collegiate references from directors youve worked with in professional productions. Someone did some research on this on the Theatre/Drama Colleges thread last year and the MFA heads she contacted recommended a BA degree. Heres</a> a link. I dont know which programs they were from, but it could possibly be that they are from universities that have an undergraduate BA in theatre and thats their official philosophy. I pretty much got that whole spiel recently from the department chair at my current school where thats the setup when he was pimping me on staying.</p>
<p>Hello, everyone...
This is my very first post. I've read a lot of posts and threads but it's a little bit overwhelming, so I'm sorry if I post something that's already been posted.</p>
<p>I'm going to be a H.S. senior this fall, and plan to major in musical theatre. However, the schools I've been planning to apply don't seem to show up in this forum. I wonder, if anyone has any info. (positive, negative, informative, anything) on the following universities and their MT programs?</p>
<p>Ball State University
University of Northern Colorado
Western Michigan University
Western Kentucky University
Kent State University
Wichita State University</p>
<p>Thanks so very much!
Also, since I just found this forum, what thread is a good one to start with? I want to eventually read everything (or at least snippets of everything) so I know that I'm making informed decisions regarding choosing schools and such...
help! :)</p>
<p>Hi FossieCait! Welcome! I'm pretty new to the boards myself. Your going to find some valuable information on this board. I'm so excited you have discovered it. Everyone here is so full of helpful opinions and etc. Alot of the schools your looking at are ones i'm looking at as well. Anyhoo, just want to say again welcome to the forums! If you ever want to talk PM me.</p>
<p>Anyone out there know which schools offering BFAs in MT actually offer early decision as an option? I know Tisch does, but I am also told others do not, because they (quite understandably!) want to see <em>all</em> their candidates before making decisions.</p>
<p>L,
Not too many BFA programs offer ED for MT. There could be more but the ones I can think of are NYU/Tisch and Syracuse. Emerson offers Early Action which is not the same as ED but you do find out early (in Dec.).</p>