Colleges For Musical Theater - Part 40!

<p>I've been out of town and trying to catch up on these boards, but all I can say to Bigsis is that your sister is very lucky to have you. My D is very similar to your sister. All of the above is true. My D did better on the ACT than the SAT, however one was dismal, one was less dismal. She had a 3.4 with no AP's, a few honors (mostly english), a lousy test taker, etc. We also got her a private tutor for the ACT, which helped a little. Don't stress (I wish I could say we didn't after her rejection from Emerson in December). I would just apply to those that are a better fit academically which is where they belong anyway (yes I do believe they all end up where they belong.) I think I would just help her get good audition coaches to help her prepare as this will hopefully
help balance out the decisions. </p>

<p>Lots of talk about BOCO cuts, which is where we are going. I hear different things. At the meeting that was held for accepted students in April, it seemed as if the kids that were cut, everyone pretty much knew who was going to be cut if for no other reason than they weren't doing the work. It is a LOT of work, even if they aren't considered "academics." I am so glad that my D went to CMU pre-college to get an idea of exactly how much work it would be - but as has been said before - it's what they love doing. She came home from that program so excited, and just hoping she should be lucky enough to go to any one of these schools that offer MT. My feeling on the cuts is this. If she is a candidate for this business, she will find out. Especially at a conservatory. It's not like she can say I'll just change majors here (although she heard someone she knew from high school that goes there and is extremely talented in MT has decided to switch to Berklee to write music instead - Berklee is part of the consortium of schools that BOCO belong to.) We also got an incredible letter from her second choice school that they will hold her offer of admission and scholarship offer for 1 year. I don't know if she will know in one year because they don't do juries until middle of sophmore year, but it's nice to know. </p>

<p>Big sis - if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.</p>

<p>Catsmom, if you could either post here or PM me and let me know which school was your D's second choice, I would be extremely grateful! I will understand if you do not want to do so, but I am floored by their offer to hold her place and scholarship for a year - and the reason I ask is very worthy. I am working with an INCREDIBLY talented girl who will be a senior, perhaps my most talented female student ever, and she is already well into her audition prep - but even though she will ABSOLUTELY be a candidate for top schools, she cannot attend any of these schools without major scholarship help. So I am trying to compile a list of rigorous and respected programs that DO give scholarship, and my extensive knowledge (from past students' experiences) is limited to PPU, UMich, CMU, NYU, and Northwestern.</p>

<p>If anyone else has any knowledge of schools (not in the above list) with great programs which offer big talent and/or academic scholarships for their MT's, please let me know, and I can communicate that info to my student.</p>

<p>Thanks, all! :)</p>

<p>CoachC,
Here's a link to an old thread I started about Scholarships at MT Schools. I bumped it, too. See also Post #270 on Theatre/Drama. I was led to believe I was in similar position as your student ... Full ride or stay home.</p>

<p>Thanks, Thesbo - as I posted on the thread you just bumped, keep any and all scholarship info coming, especially about the programs with which I have no direct experience (which are CMU, NYU, UMich, PPU, and Northwestern - and I remembered that CCM belongs in that list, too).</p>

<p>Coach C - I e-mailed you.</p>

<p>Hi, I'm new and have read tons - but want to see if someone can help direct my daughter and I. She will be a senior next year and MT is her life passion since she was 11 yrs. old. She's done quite a bit of comm. theatre, had the lead in the only 2 HS musicals at her school, dance (ballet/jazz), voice competitions and is also a competitive figure skater taking her senior tests this year. She's been extremely involved in school leadership and very able academically (currently 3.4) but due to her overcommittment to some activities, she received a failing grade in 2 quarters last year. :-( She was determined to attend a certificate based school (AMDA or Circle in the Square) until she heard about the BFA programs. She didn't take enough math or science courses to qualify for regular undergrad admission but thought she would be able to enter an audition only based program. Hasn't taken the SAT yet, but without many math courses, she'll be weak there, strong in writing. We have visited Cornish College of Performing Arts in Seattle (we are on West coast) but they do not offer any musical theater. Any advice for colleges that she should look into? If she doesn't get accepted into a BFA program, I know she'll return to the certificate idea - theater is her only dream! I don't want to waste time and money applying to colleges that would be hopeless for her. Thanks to any who have time to offer suggestions!!!</p>

<p>Check into Boston Conservatory and University of the Arts. CCM and Hartt might be worth a look, too, since they're affiliated with a lower rung universities that might overlook the grades. They don't offer MT per se, but you might also want to look at Juilliard, North Carolina School of the Arts, and CalArts. I think they only want to see that you've graduated high school or have a GED. Have you considered any of the British</a> schools? Most of them don't care about high school records as long as you've graduated. Santa</a> Monica College is a California junior college that might put her in a good position to transfer to a top program.</p>

<p>University of Arizona would be worth a look. They will admit students with one or two deficiencies in courses.</p>

<p>I'm bumping this because I see our all purpose thread has virtually disappeared.</p>

<p>What kind of discussion goes on the all purpose thread now??!! We have so many specialty threads!</p>

<p>I recently contacted Emerson, and got the following info on audition numbers and acceptance rates:</p>

<p>Each year, they hold 450-500 auditions (and may turn away more) for only 20 places in the freshman class (1:22 to 1:25 odds). The junior and senior studios have approx. 16 students each.</p>

<p>Also, don't know if other schools are the same as CSUF, but extracurricular activities don't affect our admission here - simple factoring of GPA and SAT or ACT test scores. If deficiencies exist, the student must take remedial work immediately (can even start this in the summer before starting the real "fall" semester of classes). This has often been useful in the areas of math, science and foreign language deficiencies.</p>

<p>While the actor training at Santa Monica is very good, the training at LA City College is superior. And the musical theatre training at Santa Monica has not proven very competitive, in my experience. Sorry to be a bummer on this, but not a great prep school for musical theatre - check out Citrus College, and Riverside College if you are interested in So. Cal. jr. colleges.</p>

<p>Anyone know anything about Westchester (in Pennsylvania)?</p>

<p>Prof. Himmelheber--
I'm intrigued in your list of JCs that there's no mention of Fullerton College. I know they have a big theatre department, so big that on their website the department is the only academic department to have its own link! Are you judging these programs by the students who transfer or try to transfer to CSUF or by other criteria? Did you intentionally or unintentionally omit Fullerton College?</p>

<p>Fullerton J.C. is INDEED a great program, but not the strongest in terms of musical theatre students who have TRANSFERRED or AUDITIONED at CSUF... We get some great acting students from FJC, but not many Musical Theatre kids - maybe their students are going elsewhere (who wants to go to school where they grow up, right?), or going directly into the business.</p>

<p>I have nothing but respect for FJC's program. I have performed there in the past (in my younger days), and seen productions there more recently. I must admit, their productions are splendid! And their faculty are working professionals - most notably in musical theatre, Gary Krinke, who professionally directs shows ALL OVER the southland!</p>

<p>I apologize for neglecting FJC - a fine school in all respects. I just hate to speak from reputation/bias alone (rather, I prefer to write of programs that I know of first hand through their students who transfer to CSUF).</p>

<p>:)</p>

<p>And FYI, Cypress College would be placed in the same category - one I know to be reputable, but not one that feeds our program in any great/regular numbers (perhaps for similar reasons as those mentioned above).</p>

<p>thanks for asking,</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>I should also note that students who attend Citrus and Riverside JCs are exposed to IPA in their voice and movement courses...another reason for my recommendation to those schools specifically (over Santa Monica).</p>

<p>Santa Monica is not as strongly preparing students for TRANSFER to CSUF, as their voice & movement curriculum does not include IPA (the International Phonetic Alphabet) - a requirement for student in their upper division work here at CSUF. IPA is used as a "common and universal language" in the instruction of foreign and regional dialects, Standard American Stage dialect, "vowel substitution" for singers, etc. For this reason, students admitted to the program must prove proficiency in IPA in order to take their upper division coursework.</p>

<p>At the juries (BFA program auditions), if we are interested in a transfer student we ask them to show proficiency in IPA by transcribing on the spot (without reference charts or cheat sheets). If they are not proficient, this factors into their overall evaluation.</p>

<p>Our own freshmen are evaluated on their mastery of IPA in their first semester of voice and movement classwork here...and if they are not proficient, they will not earn the "B" in the course required in order to audition for the BFA in musical theatre.</p>

<p>For this reason, students who attend Santa Monica are under-prepared for this BFA audition requirement. Even though they may have taken the required two semesters of voice and movement class in order to audition for the BFA program, and even though we will accept these two semesters from Santa Monica as "transfer units," they are deficient in skills expected.</p>

<p>Hope this makes sense,</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>ORmom,</p>

<p>Marymount Manhattan and Pace University both in NYC are a possibility. Nazareth College in Rochester (typical beautiful upstate campus--BA in MT, very good emphasis in voice)</p>

<p>We have just spent most of the summer visiting these colleges for MT!!! (Yes, I am a mom of an upcoming senior who loves the stage!) What we were told is that the auditions, of course, are weighed the heaviest. After that, CCM goes to your SAT and grades. One of the first questions my daughter was asked at HARTT was "What kind of student are you?". CM asked for transcripts for her visit. I agree with Boston Conservatory, they do not even have an average SAT information and do not require them...but they are still at the top for MT!! (The GPA was a 2.7) U of Arts is probably the same...we went there, but decided it was not for our daughter. So, just wanted to let you know what I have found out. I have a feeling I will be living on this sight all year, and my daughter too. My daughter is starry-eyed and working hard with the audition process. Sooooo very selective. We will do all we can. So, if anyone has any questions about a school from Ohio to Mass., let me know because we have probably been there this summer!!!!!</p>

<p>I couldn't find this anywhere else, but sorry if it is somewhere on the forums...there is so much info here :-)
Do NYU applications for those applying to Tisch have a special deadline? I know the regular decision deadline for undergraduate applicants is January 15, and I know that RD applicants can start scheduling auditions on Nov. 1, but do they also have to have applications turned in by this time?
Thanks :)</p>

<p>bigsis - you are the greatest! NYU audition can be scheduled 11/1 independent of having forms in. Regular decision forms are then turned in by 1/15.</p>