Colleges For Musical Theater - Part 40!

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>Brilliance!! Just brilliance! You are Mahvalous Prof.!! You've just helped out a TON!! With your statement on "majoring in performance, then continuing to study in a minor area" I think that might work out. And I've heard as well how demanding the major is, and it's understandable. After I'm done with the demanding major, go back and look at education or something. So I think I have a fair idea on what i'm going to do. I've been looking on my prospective college's site that past couple of days and looking what they suggest with courses and what not. But thank you again! Your two posts just now helped immensly! </p>

<p>I have another question. With planning on being a performing major, as a freshman in college am I still going to have to take freshman-have-to courses? I've been taking AP classes to test out as many credits as I possibly can to avoid them and go straight to focusing on theater - am I thinking/planning correctly??</p>

<p>That's about it for my questions - the rest I'll find on the site I believe. But if there's any more tips or info, I'd be glad to read it.</p>

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<p>Hi, dream:</p>

<p>Thank you, dah-ling!</p>

<p>On the AP courses, you are SOOOOOO doing the right thing!!! Many exclamation points on that!!!</p>

<p>I have a few students who have knocked out the toughies, like science, math, composition, etc., with AP exam scores. They are the "relaxed" freshmen; ones who can focus in on getting those extra dance classes, or taking opera theatre or chorus electives, or just volunteering for all kinds of projects...because they have the time to.</p>

<p>You must check with the school you are intested in (usually the university advising, and not the department who know little of the ins and outs of general education side of advising). How many AP credits will the school accept? Which university "general education" courses will your specific AP courses satisfy? If they accept them all, then you are clearing up one "solid" gen ed (usually a 3 or 4 unit course requiring more homework/research) for each AP course accepted, so that means you can either take that freed-up time for bubble baths (hah!), taking classes before your peers** (in terms of the department's suggested curriculum plan), or use that time for classes you really want to take (as electives, most likely) but that are not in your curriculum. Any of these options can only help you: more free time, more liberal education, or graduate early. Win, win, win.</p>

<p>** Many of the performance courses must be taken in sequence, and one level of coursework is a prerequisite to the next higher level. So you may not be able to take more advanced performance courses early; but you can certainly take other theatre courses such as design/tech, history/criticism, and literature early. Anything you can get out of the way early-on is of benefit - whether gen eds or non-performance courses required in your major.</p>

<p>If hoping to graduate early, be aware that universities will limit how many units you can take each semester. You may be able to get special dispensation from the school to take more, as theatre majors are infamously high in unit load (unless you want the "five year plan"). If you hope to graduate early, this is something to consider when budgeting your classload and desired amount of time to graduate.</p>

<p>Personally, I don't suggest graduating early for performance majors. The reason is that you want to get all the performance opportunity available to you before you hit the real world. So while you may be able to knock out your requirements in 3 or 3.5 years, you will WANT that extra semester or two to perform in the "capstone" roles that seniors are favored for.</p>

<p>Onward and upward,</p>

<p>eve</p>

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<p>Be careful when you gather info from folks about "NYU". There are 2 programs at NYU-Steinhardt and Tisch. The programs are very different and the acceptance numbers are very different. We had ruled out NYU because of info we had gathered from various people. Then we got some personal insight into NYU Steinhardt which totally blew all the other info out the door. I can't tell you what Tisch's acceptance rates are. However, Steinhardt only accepts 18 into their freshman class. The bigger numbers are at Tisch.</p>

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<p>As to Tisch, here's info I got from their webpage and from their Musical Theatre admissions office:</p>

<p>AUDITION TIMING & NUMBER ACCEPTED:</p>

<p>You must audition for placement in the program before your 1st year. Musical Theatre is their smallest studio program, so they can't place everyone there. Alternatively, you could train in an acting studio for two years and then transfer to Musical Theatre (if accepted) in your 3rd year, but you would be placed in 2nd year CAP classes…and without the core curriculum available only to musical theatre, 2nd year “acting” students will likely remain non-competitive for placement in the 3rd year. Third year slots open up only if Musical Theatre studio kids decide to change to another studio track in their third year - and most of the hard-core students I know about would not consider changing tracks.</p>

<p>Students MUST meet university standards in academics (GPA, prep courses, and test scores - SAT I & II, ACT) for admission.</p>

<p>Numbers accepted into Musical Theatre for fall 2005: 60 of 1000 accepted (6:100)</p>

<p>Number of Tisch acting students transferring into Musical Theatre (at the end of the second year, if openings occur and if accepted): only a very small number accepted – about the same odds as for freshman acceptance…6:100</p>

<p>TOTAL YEARLY BUDGET: $48,640.00 (plus transportation)
All scholarship aid is predicated on need. Academic merit and artistic talent are considered in allocating aid, but you have to demonstrate need, by way of the FAFSA, to get there.</p>

<p>This is an EXTREMELY competitive admission school. Not to discourage anybody; just to let you know.</p>

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<p>A quick note as I can't stay online....though Tisch has more kids IN the program, the acceptance rate is just as difficult. You can't go by numbers, you must go by acceptance rate, what percent of the number auditioning get in. I can get you those numbers later from my notes of a direct presentation at Tisch. </p>

<p>As far as scholarship money...I was told DIRECTLY by the office that gave these scholarships upon my query about my D's Trustee scholarship to Tisch, asking if this was a merit award or needs based award...and if it is for EVERY year, not just the first year....they told me for one thing, it was for every year....$20,000 per year (as long as grades were over a certain bar). They said that this scholarship was for merit first but then the AMOUNT of the scholarship took financial need into account. So, some kids also got a Trustee Scholarship (and even posted here to that affect earlier this spring) based on merit only (they did not apply for need based aid) but their total scholarship was lower than my D's only because my D ALSO got more added onto her scholarship based on financial need. </p>

<p>I'll get you the acceptance number stuff later...
Susan</p>

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<p>Sorry for any misinformation I may have given.</p>

<p>This was all info gleaned from their website and (admission numbers and acting-to-musical theatre transfer numbers) from correspondence with their Musical Theatre admissions officer.</p>

<p>eve</p>

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<p>Well, as well and beautious NYU would be to attend, I have a feeling it's out of the question. Money and traveling wise - how to get there for auditions. But thank you anyway for the info (unless it's just general info for everyone on the site to view). If anyone has info though on Stevens Point to Columbia College Chicago (or any other chicago colleges) besides what's on the college sites, whould be utmost helpful. Thank you! But I have a feeling, many people on this message board know more about the bigger colleges besides Stevens Point and such.</p>

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<p>Eve, no apologies needed! For one thing, I'm sure most here would agree with me that your contributions to this forum are undeniably helpful and an amazing resource. We are so lucky to have someone from inside a BFA program and with your experience participating here. I have already learned bunches from you, so thank you! </p>

<p>Actually earlier, I did not even notice you did give the number of students applying and admitted into CAP21. The only thing that was not completely accurate was the scholarship information. There is a list of scholarships somewhere on their website. </p>

<p>In any case, I'm going to give numbers that were told at a presentation regarding Tisch admissions. Students audition for Tisch Drama. The total number applying to all of Tisch Drama is 2,500. Then 500 are accepted into the drama department which makes it have an overall admit rate of 20%. HOWEVER, of that 2500 who audition, 900 specify CAP21 (the BFA MT studio program) as their first choice. They accept 80 kids to yield 60-65 freshman for musical theater. (By the way, while there are approx. 60 kids per year in CAP21, they have 15 kids in a particular class/course). Those numbers are pretty close to what you mentioned and I have heard about 6% before so that is a ballpark admit rate give or take. So, it is important to clarify (as Eve did) given Divamom's post, because while she is correct in saying that Tisch's CAP21 program has more kids than Steinhardt or even more than many other BFA MT programs, it does NOT make it easier to get in, because the admit rate is still in the single digits similarly to a great many MT BFA programs. Simply, there are more kids auditioning. So, it would be misleading to think that because there were more kids in this program, it was easier to get in. Thank you Eve for also cautioning against that analysis.</p>

<p>I want to also add, along with what Eve posted, that switching into CAP21 if from an acting studio, is not that likely but is possible after two years. But I would never apply and take a drama studio with the INTENTION that I'd get into CAP21 that way. </p>

<p>Also, as Eve posted, a student's academic profile at Tisch matters a great deal in admissions. The admissions process for Tisch involves a 50% weight on the academic review and a 50% weight on the artistic (audition) review. In that respect, just to get into NYU itself academically (if you were not applying to a BFA) is still selective with approximately a 27% admit rate. This is contrasted to SOME BFA programs where academics are weighted less, as well as SOME BFA programs where you must just pass above a certain academic "threshold" which is not THAT high. But some schools also have pretty selective academics involved in admissions (ie., UMich, and others of course). So, anyone applying to Tisch, needs to figure all this into it. This program combines the professional training of a conservatory with the liberal arts education. </p>

<p>I'm sharing that information so that someone just looking into it can decide if this fits what they are looking for because it may not. I think it is really important to figure out just what sort of program best suits one's needs/interests as they are all good but do differ in various respects. </p>

<p>Dream Theater....I don't know where you live but perhaps in proximity to Chicago? If so, please be aware that NYU holds auditions at Unifieds (as do many schools) which cuts out a lot of travel for auditions, and Chicago is one city where these are held so you may want to look into that option. </p>

<p>I'm glad you are bringing up programs that may be talked about less or known less on this forum. The more programs we learn about, the better. My own kid wanted to stay in the east so I am not as up on the programs in the midwest (but UMich), so I can't help you as much on those but there are others here who can. The only thing I know about Columbia College is that a girl from our dance studio went there for a BFA in dance which she had to audition for. I think this school might be "easier" (not easy) to get into than some mentioned more often on this forum so it might be worth looking into to keep various options open. Also in Chicago is Roosevelt. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

<p>PS....OOPS, sorry I did not see until I had posted that you live in Wisconsin. There are several mid western MT schools like Baldwin Wallace, Millikin, CCM, Wright State, Roosevelt, Northwestern, Western Illinois, Illinois Wesleyan, Ball State, Indiana (this one is a BA but good in musical theater....my D's friend just finished freshman year there and in fact is currently in a production with her), Drake, Wichita State, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Webster, Ohio Northern, Viterbo, Stevens Point, and I think there is a program through the Guthrie Theater (I can't think of the name of that program right now).</p>

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<p>Wow, I had no idea schools did that. I just may have to look into when auditions are and where. I live about 2 hrs from Chicago (Southeast Wisconsin). Now would NYU have these auditon places on their site? I'm guessing so...anyway, yet another option. After three days of scrollin on this site, I have learned more than just searching on college sites. This is truly amazing.</p>

<p>P.S. I just read your p.s. and saw all those colleges. That is awesome. I shall look at them.</p>

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<p>dream_theatre,</p>

<p>From the sounds of it you aren't too far from where we live in Wisconsin. We live in southcentral Wisconsin just 30 minutes south of Madison.</p>

<p>I urge you to check into Webster University....just a 5.5 hour drive and if I am guessing your location correctly there have been a few students that have attended Webster from where you live.</p>

<p>The Guthrie program that Susan mentioned is affiliated with the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. They have a BFA program for acting. My Ss' backup plans would have been to do a BA program in theatre in the Twin Cities if they had been excepted onto the BFA route.</p>

<p>If you have any questions feel free to email me.</p>

<p>SUE aka 5pants</p>

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<p>I'm not particularly skilled with this whole message board thing but as you can tell by my user name I am a student at Point Park University. I am going to be a sophomore musical theater major this fall but I have close friends in both the theater and dance departments. If anyone has any questions about the audition process at Point Park, the curriculum, the Conservatory and Professional Theater companies attached to the school, or any other facet of Point Park life feel free to email me. My email is <a href="mailto:Caro8604@aol.com">Caro8604@aol.com</a>. I remember how stressful and confusing the audition process can be and I'd be more than happy to do my best to help out any perspective students. I'm not sure if this is the right thread to post this on, if not, please redirect me to where I could be of more help. Thanks!
Caroline :-)</p>

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<p>PointParkStudent:</p>

<p>That is a terrific offer. I suggest you go up one level and start a new thread entitled "Point Park University" and repost your message there. Then anyone interested in PPU can go to that thread for answers.</p>

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<p>Hey everyone! I am posting this here because I don't know very much about WVWC yet; I've never been there and don't know anything about their MT program (BA). I noticed that it was listed as a non-audition-based program on the "Big List" on the FAQ website.</p>

<p>I have a friend who goes to WVWC, and she loves it there, and plus, we wanted to check out a non-audition program that was close to us (my family lives in Pittsburgh) so I started looking into it. If you go to their website (<a href="http://www.wvwc.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.wvwc.edu/&lt;/a&gt;) and check out the admissions page, you will see something about the Early Advantage program.</p>

<p>"Early Advantage:
Applications Accepted: June 1 - September 1
Notification: Within 2 weeks of the date a completed application is received beginning June 1.
Important Facts about the Early Advantage Application include: </p>

<p>There is no application fee associated with the Early Advantage Application.
An essay is not required to complete the application.
The Early Advantage Application is non-binding. (*This means when a student submits a completed Early Advantage Application he/she is not obligated to commit to West Virginia Wesleyan College.)
Students who submit the Early Advantage Application are granted priority scholarship consideration."</p>

<p>I e-mailed to see if this includes musical theater applicants, but haven't heard back from them yet--if I don't hear in a few days, I'll call or have my sister call. Anyway, just wanted to give anyone who might be considering applying there a heads up--it would be nice to get an acceptance REALLY early in the game!! I was really surprised that they are already in application-reviewing mode. And priority scholarship consideration sounds like a great thing! My friend is an upcoming sophomore, and although she is not majoring in performance (she's majoring in science) she actually received one of the arts scholarships for voice, as well as academic $$.</p>

<p>Again, I don't know a thing about the MT program...but my family is definitely going to look into it.</p>

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<p>Hey everyone!! Hope all of you had fantastic summers and those who are leaving for college- congratulations and have a wonderful school year!! Just wanted to say hi to everyone on the board and let you all know that my summer at NHSI Cherubs (and I should probably give a more detailed explanation but I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow and have just started packing) was the most rewarding experience of my life. I was in the most creative, passionate, talented and fun-loving community I've ever known for a full seven weeks. I only wish that everyone could have this experience, or one like it. I could go on and on and on forever about this summer, but again... there's that packing. I also dont think the words I have could possibly do the program, the faculty, the kids justice. Anyway, just thought you guys would want a report! Class of 2010-- it's our turn! (ah!)</p>

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<p>Dani, this is a very quick note. I have been thinking of you all summer and can't wait to hear more. It sounds like a fabulous experience and I am so glad you did it! And you are right, it's your turn this year and I hope to see you back on here as you go through the process. I'm leaving tomorrow to take my D who is your age off to college and won't be online either. By the way, she is rooming in the same dorm as your friend ;-). </p>

<p>When you get back from your vacation and also when I get back from two trips in this week to take both my kids to college, I want to hear lots more about Cherubs!</p>

<p>Susan</p>

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<p>Congrats and Good Luck to all the cc kids who are off to college! I wish you all much success and happiness! </p>

<p>kaysmom</p>

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<p>Hi! I am looking for a 1-2 year musical theater program in New York or Florida. Having 2 degrees already (Vocal performance and Education) I am looking for something other than a degree. Perhaps a diploma from post-secondary school or a non-academic program.</p>

<p>Any suggestions? I would greatly appreciate any feedback.</p>

<p>Thank you so much, :)
Steph</p>

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<p>Hi Stephiegps,</p>

<p>Welcome to the forum! It would probably help folks advising you if we had a sense of your goals. Are you looking to perform? teach? What do you perceive to be your strengths? What needs work?</p>

<p>I'm sure you'll get some good ideas once we know what you want out of an MT program and where you see yourself down the road.</p>

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<p>just wanted to mention another school with a program. Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas has a BM in mt. It's a beautiful campus in a quaint and beautiful town in southwest arkansas. We know a couple of girls who have gone there and love it. It's also a very fine school with a fine reputation.</p>

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<p>Stephie...
You may want to look into Circle in the Square Theater School which is located in New York City. It is a two year certificate program and you can focus on musical theater. Some students in it will have already gone to college and some will not have. I know others who have gone. I know someone who is entering now who has a BM in Vocal Performance. My teenage daughter's voice and acting teachers both are on the faculty of that program and they are excellent. I recommend you check it out for what it sounds like you might be looking for. </p>

<p>Susan</p>