Columbia College in Chicago?

<p>Can anyone share any specific details about this school? I found the info on their site but was hoping someone here was familiar w/it. We have another option as a back up (URI) but thinking we might need an additional to consider. We have no acceptances & 2 auditions left so feeling like we will need to go this route. My D is honestly thinking of going to her back up school & auditioning again next year, hopefully we will be able to connect w/a coach for some advice. Feeling very discouraged. </p>

<p>We attended an informational session for Columbia last fall. My S was very excited by the vibe/feel of the school and the location as well. It is right in Chicago. I haven’t heard about specifics of the MT program except the representative told us if you like ‘traditional’ musicals (Music Man, Oklahoma, How to Succeed) then this isn’t the school for you. He emphasised their love of new work. </p>

<p>It is our backup school as well. It is a BA MT for freshman year, with the ability to audition for the BFA MT program about halfway through the second semester of freshman year. I don’t know how many they expect to take into the BFA path each year, but from my limited research they look at a combination of talent, audition performance, and demonstrated work ethic. The curriculum for the BFA program looks just like any other BFA MT conservatory around the country. </p>

<p>Most of the dorms have been refurbished and look like luxury condos overlooking the beautiful Chicago skyline.</p>

<p>In case you don’t know, Chicago is a terrific theater town. Dozens of theaters of all sizes, many national tours to see at any given time, and the famous Second City Theater which gave us Saturday Night Live. The Columbia website boasts of many internships in local theaters and casting agencies.</p>

<p>We consider it to be a backup school, but not a compromise school.</p>

<p>Hang in there - good things are bound to happen.</p>

<p>I agree with cheeseheadmike, Columbia College of Chicago is a great safety, not a compromise school. But like everything else, you have to want to be there and be self-motivated because they do have many students who “think” they want to be there but then realize it’s not for them and then leave. By sophomore year, it’s a great tight group in most of their majors.</p>

<p>Two kids from my S’s youth theater group are at CCC – and both thriving. We visited last spring, just briefly, and I have to say, I was really impressed by the energy of the place. There were LOTs of productions going, all at once. The film school is one of the best in the country (Kathryn Bigelow went there). You do have to make your own opportunities there, and I believe that some of the intro classes are larger than most people would prefer. However, if you go to theater in Chicago (especially underground/experimental theater), you will see Columbia College alums all over the program. </p>

<p>@amtc agreed - they get a large number of kids who watch Glee and decide to try MT because it looks more like fun than actual work. Boy, are they in for a surprise! </p>

<p>When we looked into the school a few years ago, there was a lot that was very appealing. However, I was so concerned with their very low retention and graduation rate that I called the department to better understand what the issues were. If I remember correctly, I think they said it was a combination of things: 1-Because it is a non-auditioned program, people attend who do not understand the commitment; 2-The nature of any specialized program/school is that students are tempted to jump ship to grab a professional opportunity; 3-cost. If my memory serves me, there is very little housing, so most kids live off-campus. Some kids can do OK with this in a big city, others have trouble. While their gen eds would be great for my D - many options relate to her major - I wondered if they would transfer well if she decided to make a change. All that being said, while it probably wasn’t the best option for my D, it might be perfect for others. I have heard of some very talented friends of my D’s who attend it and love it.</p>

<p>My daughter was in a show last summer with a girl who is an MT at Columbia College. I actually had the chance to ask her about her program when she was at the house for dinner one evening. She’s very talented and happy there but she did make a comment that you have to be self motivated to get what you want out of CC’s program. I believe she meant that the path to the BFA is far less “prescribed” than you might find in other programs. For example at Tisch, my daughter doesn’t have much choice in terms of the content of the studio classes. It’s laid out for them year after year. For somebody like your daughter @cheeseheadmike that I think you described as the oldest 17 year old in the world, it would probably work just fine. For others, it’s something to be aware of or at least investigate further since my knowledge is not first hand. </p>

<p>Does anyone know what housing is like if you aren’t able to get into their housing? What does a new student do to find a roommate and a place to live? I am wondering when a transfer student would be allowed to audition for the BFA.</p>

<p>My son goes to CCPA, which is about a block away, and has been looking for off-campus housing, so i can tell you that there is lots of student housing not specifically affiliated with the universities nearby, though it is not much cheaper than the dorms. I would call their office of residential life and see if there are online bulletin boards where students look for roommates. </p>