Columbia College Chicago

<p>you need to have graduated from high school/have your GED.</p>

<p>alot of times if you have a low high school gpa or only a ged columbia will make u come for a short summer school session to see if you can handle the school.</p>

<p>and i asked and got an answer about why the bfa is not on the website. at columbia you need 20 students in a major... since I in the first class of bfa and we only have 8 students we cant be classified as a major till the next class auditions or the class after that... so basically it wont be official till i graduate in 2010... but if u call the school or email them they can give u a curriculum and info on the bfa!!!</p>

<p>the bfa is on the website. i am a BFA MT major next year. I'm kinda excited. out of a class of 215 2 ppl applied (and got in) and we are in Boston :-O crazy i know, since it isn't that well known of a school.</p>

<p>I know at least 5 students at Columbia. I'm loosing track as our 2 male leads went there a couple years ago and based on friendship and their feedback others keep following. These were students that were extremely talented and virtually lived for theatre but not as interested in academics or taking AP courses, etc. Even as a Freshman they got amazing opportunities at CC one even doing professional film work. One has been called back 3 times for a major TV network pilot. One of them lasted till the final cut at Julliard. From an academic standpoint they weren't qualified to get in the colleges at the top of this list. From a talent standpoint, they are superior.</p>

<p>Does anyone know anything about the "study abroad" program for improv and comedy writing that Columbia has started with The Second City theatre in Chicago?</p>

<p>yea.. i'm not in the study abroad program but i know alot of people who have done it... it's comedy studies both performance and writing for a semester at second city... You can't apply for it untill junior year i believe... and most of the credits dont count for your major so you would either have to take an extra semester to finish your degree or take 20 or more credits each semester... any other questions lets me know and ill find out</p>

<p>Jiddir or motter.....I believe you both have stated that you are in the new BFA in MT program at Columbia, right? If so, perhaps you can answer this question....</p>

<p>A parent with whom I am working, called Columbia College and spoke with the head of the program who explained that you start out as a BA in MT as a freshman. There is an audition at the end of the first semester of sophomore year to get into the BFA in MT and one more chance to audition at the end of the sophomore year. She was told that the incoming class for the freshmen in the BA in MT numbers 81 students. She could not answer how many they plan to take into the BFA in MT at the end of their sophomore year. Yet, both of you guys seem to be indicating that you are IN the BFA in MT. The head of the program told this parent that the incoming freshmen class are the first class eligible to even be in the BFA in MT program and I am confused now. </p>

<p>Are you in the BFA in MT program? What year are you in? How many students are in your grade in the program? Do you know how many soph BA students get selected to advance to the BFA in MT degree program? An approximation? Thanks for anything you may contribute. </p>

<p>She was also told that there was no private voice in the first year as you have to attain a certain level of mastery of music theory and sight-reading first. Do you guys get private voice as sophs? Are there group voice classes as frosh?</p>

<p>I still do not see anything about the BFA in MT on the college's website.</p>

<p>well I am BFA and motter is an incoming freshman ba with an intent to do bfa. I will be a junior next semester and my class is the first class eligible to graduate at BFA musical theatre. I'm not 100% sure but i dont think they have a number limit for who they accept into bfa. Some years may be only 3 or 4 people and others may be 15. There were only 6 accepted in my class, and only 2 of us will be able to graduate in 2010, the other 4 need to stay an extra semester due to the fact that they were transfers.</p>

<p>now voice lessons. yes it is correct you need to take intro to theory, theory one, sight singing/ear training, and techniques in singing before you can take private voice... Techniques in singing is a group singing class and there is also fundamentals of musical theatre singing that is required for the major and can be taken freshman year... I took fundamentals of musical theatre voice and techniques in singing freshman year and started voice lessons sophomore year so i had at least one singing class every semester... plus there are elective classes like singing for the actor that are great and can be taken.</p>

<p>and why it's not on the website is because they need a certain number of students enrolled in the degree to declare it a major and 6 is under that limit so the school can't declare it a major until the next round of students are accepted. at least that is what i've been told.</p>

<p>Jiddir, thanks for the prompt reply. So, motter really isn't in the BFA (yet). One thing that doesn't jive is that the head of the program told this parent that the incoming freshmen class will be the first class eligible to enter the BFA in MT program (after their soph year) but then you are already IN it. Oh well. If I understand you correctly, six got into your class, the rising junior class (four of whom were tranfers). I'm not sure where you come up with "some years may be only 3 or 4 and some years may be 15" but perhaps you are making an educated guess. So, the first group was a group of six, which is what we know so far. Would it be safe to assume that of the 81 incoming BA in MT frosh, a small percentage will eventually make it into the BFA in MT? Sounds that way to me. </p>

<p>Whiie there is no private voice the first year, and you say there are singing classes, I recall a post of yours a long while back that said that there were something like 15 slots in that singing class available. If that is the case, does that imply that of the 81 freshmen wanting to study MT, that a small percent will even be able to take group vocal classes as frosh? </p>

<p>Thanks for your help. </p>

<p>I must admit that I do not get the reasoning for not putting the BFA in MT program on their website. Even if not many are in the program YET, the fact is that it is a program that they will be offering to incoming students and would be important for prospective students to know about. Not sure why the head said that the incoming class will be the first that can even do this BFA (enter after soph year) when apparently some, like yourself, are already entering the program.</p>

<p>What i mean by the some years 3 and some 15 is that they do not have a quota... Every individual who auditions will be looked at individually and if the faculty thinks every single one belongs in the bfa they will put every single one in and if they think no one belongs they wont accept anyone.</p>

<p>That post about lessons and 15 spots was true 3 semesters ago but not anymore... they added more sections which means more spots.</p>

<p>and lastly in regards to Estelle telling you the incoming class was first I'm not sure about. This incoming class is the first to start the new revised ba which may be where someone got confused but I wasnt apart of the convo so your guess is as good as mine.</p>

<p>Jiddir, </p>

<p>Thanks for your reply!</p>

<p>bump for twisstedfaerie</p>

<p>I have a question--</p>

<p>How many musical theatre students on average are in the freshman class? Since there are no academic requirements, are there many many students in the program?</p>

<p>there are about 90 mt freshman/transfers (new students this year)</p>

<p>according to admissions there are exactly 79 new freshman/transfer musical theatre ba this semester... that number normally cuts in half by sophomore year with the amount of people who drop out or switch majors.</p>

<p>why do most students leave C.C.C.? I’m just curious because I am in the midst of trying to transfer there to see if I get accepted, but I really want an intense program that is going to push me which is why I left my previous institution because it was not intense enough (little dance and acting, but great vocal training).</p>

<p>Do freshmen often seek private voice lessons off-campus?</p>

<p>people leave for many reasons. They realize theatre is not for them. but most leave because though columbia is open admissions its a very hard musical theatre program… it isa run like a conservatory so most who apply realize in the first semester its not just singing and dancing all day… those who are dedicated to the profession are the ones who are left…</p>

<p>I know this is an old thread, but if anyone comes upon this, I was just wondering what I should apply as - I want to major in musical theatre, but would it be easier to get in as a cultural studies major? I plan to double major with that, but I also want to ensure that I’ll be able to take theatre and music classes if I apply as a cultural studies major.</p>

<p>I just wanted to bump this thread and ask a couple questions.</p>

<p>I’m coming in as a transfer and want to go for MT BFA. Technically I should be a junior, but BFA training usually requires at least 3 either way. Since I’d have to audition at the end of the year for it, would I be transferring in as a freshman or sophomore? It seems like the BFA is a 3 year program. I’m guessing I’ll be there for 4 years in total, but it would be great to hear from anyone else with a similar situation.</p>

<p>I’d also like to hear about what their program is like now. The posts here are a few years old.</p>

<p>Looks like I’m bumping this thread again… but now I can answer my own questions!</p>

<p>I ended up attending Columbia and really love it! You do start off as a MT BA, but then can audition for the BFA at the end of Fall or Spring. There tends to be a smaller group at the fall audition, requirements being that you have completed at least 30 credits, so not too many incoming freshman participate in that round. There were about 30 of us at the audition, and 11 were selected for the BFA, myself included.</p>

<p>As of now it looks like I will be spending 3 full years at Columbia because of the degree requirements and time frame of when I can take some of the courses. I came in as a junior, and 60+ credits almost kept me out of the BFA. The faculty cares about the amount of time and money you spend on the school. If you are in a similar situation, audition and discuss your options. I really had my heart set on being in the BFA, so I told them I would be fine staying an extra semester or so if it meant getting the extra training. </p>

<p>About the retention rate…
It is true that many people discover that theatre is not for them, even before the school year starts. New students have to attend the Connections session that happens 2 weeks leading up to the start of school. For MT we had to sing 16 bars in front of the rest of the incoming class and then participate in a group performance that goes up at the end of the week. There were people who switched majors before the semester even started. The school has the mentality that they shouldn’t pride themselves on how many people they turn away, but on how they will give everyone a chance. </p>

<p>There are so many opportunities for both theatre and film on campus and endless opportunities off. If nothing more, it makes a great safety school.</p>