comparing programs

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>So assuming you have more than one offer, or, even if you did your homework and have a couple safeties to chose from - unless the finances are so drastically different as to make it one clear choice, how is your kid planning on sorting it out?</p>

<p>I am considering making a rubric of criteria that matter to my daughter and having her rank each school on how well it fulfills that preference. Of course that's just a tool, if she is overwhelmingly convinced a certain school is the place for her even if it ends up not scoring highest on the rubric then you have to think maybe you missed something on that rubric.</p>

<p>But it's a place to start.</p>

<p>What criteria would you use? The first one is THEY ACCEPTED HER IN THE FIRST PLACE!! lol.</p>

<p>Cost is a big one but the cheapest does not automatically win either. It's a matter of what is the best fit for her that is within our ability.</p>

<p>Some things I think she might consider (I haven't discussed it in detail with her yet)-
How many productions they do in a year</p>

<p>The actual curriculum - strength of acting training, strength of vocal training, strength of dance training, and if she's not in an MT program (like if she ended up in a BFA acting) how accessible those classes are to her</p>

<p>hands on as freshman or not?</p>

<p>competing with grad students?</p>

<p>established internship programs</p>

<p>study abroad programs or opportunities</p>

<p>summer programs</p>

<p>size of program</p>

<p>size of school</p>

<p>distance from home</p>

<p>quality and character and amount of core classes required</p>

<p>~what else?</p>

<p>(I guess feeling guilty because they just were so nice and seemed to be so interested in them isn't valid? Or is it? If they really seem to like your kid a lot wouldn't that indicate they'll take a lot of interest in them and take good care with their education? Or all they ALL nice? We still have most of our auditions and visits ahead of us!)</p>

2

<p>How about:</p>

<p>Is voice taught by a professor or a grad student?</p>

<p>Can they change voice teachers if not a good fit or do they have the same one all 4 years?</p>

<p>Does the school do a showcase? If so, NYC, LA, both, elsewhere?</p>

<p>Background of faculty: where did they study, how actively are they involved in the business?</p>

<p>Does program have master classes on campus?</p>

3

<p>Are there opportunities to perform with professional companies/partnerships in training?</p>

<p>What are the adjunct professors like? Who are the adjunct professors?</p>

4

<p>Is every student guaranteed to be in at least one production in his/her four years?</p>

5

<p>Level of niceness is an interesting one-- it can really drop once they’ve sucked you in. But if it feels genuine and seems spread across the department then it counts more as part of the vibe of the place and is, imo, one of the most important factors anywhere.</p>

6

<p>Looking back, all of the critera above are important on some level. Definitely, can they choose their voice teacher, and switch EASILY if not happy? How often are voice lessons and are they available for freshmen? Also be sure to consider travel expenses if it is far from home, as well as extra expenses that the program may require. IF master classes are off-campus, is it an added expense? Also: real campus vs. campus in midst of a city; atmosphere of area; safety of area; transportation (especially if no car); ability to take a leave if something comes up.</p>

7

<p>So MUCH to think about!!</p>

<p>You might also ask about what the “alumni network” is like. Do alums stay in contact with the school? That may also help you find out what the alums are doing out in the real world. My D was telling me that there is a Facebook page at her school and that current students and alums post on it. She was telling me what the alums are up to - tours, regional theatre, grad school - and I admit it was nice to hear that they are working AND staying in touch with the program at least in some fashion.</p>

<p>One thing I have found that I really like is how open and accessible the faculty at D’s school seem to be. I’m not sure how you figure that out in advance, other than by talking to current students/parents, but I found that to be a very positive attribute and one that I really hadn’t thought too much about when she was deciding what program. But I think she got a good feeling about it when she was sitting in on classes and visiting with the department chair during her visit and that it played a pretty big role in her final decision.</p>

8

<p>I agree with ttmom - voice taught by grad student, adjunct faculty, or full faculty? Private lessons all 4 years? 1/2 hour or hour lessons? Additional coaching/MT song classes in addition (not in place of) lessons? Additional fees for lessons, or included in tuition? How much theory/piano/musicianship is included?</p>

<p>Dance - every semester (or quarter, or term?)? Are classes leveled by ability, or are all levels in one class based on year (freshman, soph, etc)? Are styles taught (and leveled, if applicable) by genre - ballet, tap, jazz, or is it a generic “MT dance” class?</p>

<p>How much (if any) exposure to tech - both in classes, and in practicums?</p>

<p>How many core acting classes?</p>

<p>How many academic classes outside the music/theatre departments? </p>

<p>I would also include financial - not that cheapest is always best, but unless you have the $$ to pay without loans, it should at least be a consideration. </p>

<p>Also - some things may carry more weight with some students than with others. If a student is a novice dancer, the lack of dance leveling may not be as big an issue. If they have tons of experience, it might be a dealbreaker. If someone already plays piano, limited musicianship classes may not be important to them, but if that is a skill you don’t already have, it’s one you should acquire.</p>

<p>And - the one thing that can’t really go on a chart – believe in your gut feelings! Hopefully, they will follow along with other findings, at least to a large degree.</p>

9

<p>One other criteria … just plain old gut “feel”. D was lucky enough to have several good choices. But for her, the choice was very easy. She didn’t have to do any detailed comparing of the various aspects of the programs after she was accepted and before she had to send in her deposit … she just had a very strong feeling that she fit best with one of them over the others. And that was just based on what she already knew (which did include knowing about the programs, her experience auditioning, previous campus visits and what she had heard from others). Everyone’s experience will be different of course, but be prepared for a decision that may be more “emotional” or “fit” related than “fact” related.</p>

10

<p>LOL… sorry MusThCC - I hadn’t “refreshed” my browser to see that you had already mentioned gut feel! : )</p>

11

<p>stagedoor - that’s okay - it’s important enough to be mentioned at least twice :)</p>

12

<p>I’ll echo the “gut” feeling. My D was still trying to make a final decision when a friend asked her if she knew where she was going to be going to school. She said “it just popped” out where she was going to go and she knew that was the right place for her. She had the spreadsheet and everything but in the end…</p>

13

<p>I too, will echo the “just knowing this is the place for me.” DD eas fortunate to have choices but from her point of view there was no deep analysis of factors, she knew what money she would get from us, what she would get from the universities and what she woudl be responsible for and ended up with 3 places. Then it was just a git feeling - and in some cases other aspects that had nothing to do with the program (dance classes in the same building as her dorm).
Me, I like to analyze, my kid not so much.</p>