Complete Turnaround

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>When I was younger, I thought that it was cool to seem smart but not try, and also I am extremely lazy, so I slacked off. I took no AP class and got all B's with a few C's and fewer A's. I always got perfect scores on tests but refused to do homework. My sophomore year I moved to Kentucky and absolutely hated it. I went through a period of depression and gave up in school and gained weight and refused to do homework. Even though I gave less effort than I did in my old home in New Jersey, Kentucky schools are so bad that I ended the year with 3 A's 2 B's and 2 C's. I realized I wasn't who i wanted to be so I did a complete turnaround. I lost 70 pounds and started working hard. My junior year I took an AP class and maintained straight A's. I got involved with drama and choir. I won 1st place for comedic monologue and dramatic duet at Somerset Comunity Colleges regional drama competition. I won first for dramatic duet in North Harden High School's regional drama competition. I placed seventh in the Kentucky English Speaking Union's statewide Shakespeare recitation contest. I won first in Union Colleges Rushton Essay writing contest. I won Best Actor, Best Director, Favorite Male Cast Member, Best Monologue, Best Comedic performance, and Outstanding Junior in my school's drama program's annual drama awards. Although it counts for nothing I won Junior prince at prom, lol. I am close with the Principal of my school and my drama teacher who is a published playwrite and will get excellant letters of recomendation from each of them. I currently have an abysmal 3.3 unweighted average, and a 31 ACT/ 1360 SAT. I have not taken the writing test for either yet. I am going to take 3 AP classes next year (AP Government, AP French, AP English) and plan to continue earning straight A's. I have set goals for next year of winning 1st for dramatic monologue and dramatic/comedic/or musical duet at Northern Kentucky University's Drama Competition, Somerset's Competition, North Harden's competition, and win 1st at this year's Shakespeare competition. I also hope to win the writing contest again. I am going to run for class president, FBLA president, and possibly play football. I also realize how horrible my GPA is and how exceptional my essay will have to be and how much I will have to pull up my ACT/SAT to somewhere around 34/1500, which will take work, but I am sure I can do. I am planning on majoring in theatre.</p>

<p>I am considering applying to:
CMU
Yale
NYU
Rutgers
Northen Kentucky University
Berea College
Southern Methodist University
Florida State University
University of Kentucky</p>

<p>sorry for the long post, but I felt I had to redeem myself for my GPA</p>

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<p>Reach/ Match/ Safety?</p>

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<p>First of all, congratulations on that turnaround. That's outstanding.</p>

<p>I'm planning on majoring in theater too, so first I'll say to take a second look at some of those schools, and add a few as well. Yale's undergrad theater program is essentially an English major, so if you want a "practical" education (as in you actually get to act or direct), Yale's not the place for you. As far as the Ivies go, Brown has the most reputable theater program. (Yale has the most reputable GRADUATE theater program.)</p>

<p>SMU, NYU and CMU are the only schools on your list with a well known theater program. I'd add some really well-known programs because getting into all of them is so competitive and SO subjective. (Interview, portfolio, audition, look.) The typical theater schoosl are: Juilliard, CMU, Boston University, Boston Conservatory, University of Michigan, U. Illinois, DePaul, NYU Tisch, Northwestern, Cincinatti Conservatory at the U. Cincinatti, NC School of the Arts, SUNY Purchase, UMiami.</p>

<p>I plan on applying to all of those (!) plus about 5 others, because the programs are so competitive. It's likely that I will get into maybe 5 total. That's how uber-hard they are to get into. I have a friend who has done EVERYTHING and is practically famous locally, sang anthem for all 4 Detroit sports teams, all lead roles from freshman year etc...everyone thought she was going to "have to choose" between CMU, Michigan and Juilliard and she was rejected at every single school on that list except UMiami.</p>

<p>Anyway, it's hard to give specific stats because who knows what the college admissions officers at each school think about a "turnaround". Some like consistency, some don't. Obviously though an upward grade trend is a whole lot better than a downward one.</p>

<p>WITH a 4.0+ GPA junior and senior year, and with some raised SAT scores, I'd say:</p>

<p>CMU - reach only for theater. Academics are fine.
Yale - reach for academics.
NYU - good match. (academics)
Rutgers - safety
Northen Kentucky University - safety
Berea College - safety
Southern Methodist University - good match, wil be 4th hardest to get into for theater.
Florida State University - safety
University of Kentucky - safety</p>

<p>Good luck! :)</p>

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<p>Thanks for the feedback. I thought FSU was a very well known theatre school. I also had never heard of Brown having a good theatre program. I always heard Yale was the best in the nation. I also forgot to mention I sing and play guitar. I don't want to stray to far from home if completely necessary, DePaul is in North Carolina right? How about adding that to my list.</p>

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<p>Wow I'm an idiot. DePaul is in Illinois. Let me retract that and add Penn State, Otterbein, OCCC, and University of Evensville.</p>

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<p>Yes, DePaul is in Chicago. :D</p>

<p>FSU has a fairly well known theater program, but it by no means a theater powerhouse. FSU is not "known" for theater like NYU, CMU, Michigan, and DePaul are.</p>

<p>Penn State and Evansville are well known programs, and you can probably get into them. (Especially Evansville.)</p>

<p>Otterbein you can probably get in, but it's not a great program.</p>

<p>What's OCCC? Is that a community college?</p>

<p>As far as Ivy's go, Yale has a great theater school (but ONLY for graduate work. The undergrad theater degree is not well known at all, it's basically just an English degree. But an MA or MFA from Yale is arguably the best drama degree in the nation.) Of the Ivy's, Brown has the best UNDERGRAD theater program. The person who turned Monty Python into a Broadway show (Spamalot) went to Brown, and is a pretty big name in New York.</p>

<p>About distance - you know, DePaul isn't much further from home than Penn State. I really think you should consider it. It's a great theater school and a good academic match for you. When I visited a few months ago, I loved the campus. It's like a small town friendly neighborhood plopped down right in the middle of a big city.</p>

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<p>I hear Chicago is miserably cold in winter, is it a big enough problem to discourage someone from a southern state. By OCCC (should have been UCCC) I think I meant CCM, not sure, its the University of Cincinati College Consercatory. I will definately look into DePaul though. I am really shocked that University of Louisville doesn't have a good theatre program when it is in such a theatre town (the Actors Theatre, home to the Humana Festival) Thanks for the replies! To your suggestion, I would like to know my chances at Brown and DePaul.</p>

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<p>The Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers is an outstanding theater program made strong in part by its proximity to NYC. While I'm pretty sure you'll get into RU you need to check out the requirements for admission to the BFA acting program, which has separate admissions procedures. <a href="http://mgsa.rutgers.edu/admissions/aud_theater.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://mgsa.rutgers.edu/admissions/aud_theater.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Knoxcounty,
First off, congrats on your turnaround and those kickass awards you've been winning! It looks like you have the start of a good list and your academic stats should be good enough to get you accepted with the exception of Yale which will be a reach and possibly NYU/Tisch. </p>

<p>I'm not going to regurgitate everything on the Theatre/Drama thread because I know you've posted there and assume you've read it. (Lots of good advice - especially in the early parts - though it does have its share of random ramblings from me and others.;)) One thing I will reiterate, however, is that there is absolutely no such thing as a "safety" when it comes to audition-based admissions at the good theatre schools. The results are entirely too capricious. Basically, admissions from my class were all over the map. For instance, my most "prestigious" acceptance was NCSA, but I was rejected by FSU which is lower on the food chain. A friend of mine was accepted to Juilliard, but rejected by Boston U and Otterbein. Another girl got in at CMU and NCSA last year, but was rejected by Hartt. Two years ago, WCT's son - a Presidential Scholar in the Arts - was accepted to CMU, but was waitlisted and later rejected by Rutgers/Mason Gross. NOBODY on the MT Forum was accepted at Otterbein this year though a lot auditioned and were accepted to some other damn good programs. See ... Admissions really are all over the place and the best thing to do is just have a good spread of eight to ten schools you think you'll like. You can rate them by preference and "prestige" until the cows come in, but accurately judging your chances of admission just isn't possible with the exception of RADA, Juilliard, and CMU which are reaches for anyone and even those can be fairly random. </p>

<p>If you haven't seen it, Doctorjohn, the chair at Otterbein, wrote out a nice strategy for selecting the schools for which you'll audition on Part</a> 1 of the Theatre/Drama thread on May 3 of last year. Hope this helps and break a leg!</p>

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<p>Thesbo, I would like to thank you for all the extremely helpful information you have posted due to your addiction to this site. You have been a great example of a positive attitude and hard work paying off.</p>

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<p>I'd say you would have a good chance but the GPA has to go up to at least a 3.5 or higher...</p>

<p>Anyway, it is people like you who make me want to stay in Arkansas(good school, though) and turn things around..you are an inspiration. Good job</p>

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<p>Knox,
Haha! No prob! By the end of last summer, my addiction ran so deep that I sometimes asked questons I already knew the answers to just to keep the conversation going. (No, I wasn't really going to use "Lesson in Leavin' for an audition piece. ;)) I just hope the answers given help this year's rising seniors. I really am going to have to go cold turkey before move-in day. I've already ditched "The Sims" ...</p>

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<p>Let me start by saying that right now my EFC is 0. Yeah, we're poor.
Updated list</p>

<p>CMU- Perfectly between NYC (my birthplace and of course the greatest theatre town on Earth) and my home in Kentucky, less than one day's drive either way. Amazing program with impressive Alumni. Housing is unmatched by any other college I have researched. Pittsburg seems nice. I also like being within one days drive of the shore.</p>

<p>NYU- Great program, Great Location, Great Opportunities, Relatives and friends nearby,worth being far from home.</p>

<p>Rutgers- Same reasons as NYU, but scared of the RU screw.</p>

<p>Northen Kentucky University- Best Theatre program in Kentucky, close to home, close to Cincinatti, close to Actor's Theatre in Lousville.</p>

<p>Berea College- Free tuition and free laptop to all attending, small liberal arts college, "Harvard of the South" opportunities for many fellowships, pretty good theatre program allthough no BFA offered</p>

<p>Southern Methodist University- Uncle was major contributer, will not apply unless a buttload of FinAid is offered ( I don't really want to be in Texas)</p>

<p>Florida State University- Mother's almer mater, will not apply unless an Alumni scholarship is offered or I am likely to get a lot of scholarship or FinAid money</p>

<p>University of Kentucky- close to home, relatives in city, sister attending same school, offers a BFA with many productions.</p>

<p>Penn State- Good Theatre school, midpoint between NYC and Kentucky, less than one day's drive to the shore. Possibilities for more FinAid.</p>

<p>Otterbein- Close to home. Great Theatre program. doctorjohn seems nice, lol</p>

<p>University of Evensville- close to home, great theatre school, good enough for Thesbo</p>

<p>DePaul- still scared of being frozen to death, but I have heard nothing but great things about this school, Chicago is a happening place for theatre.</p>

<p>Another thing I am looking for is a senior showcase in NY and LA. LA preferably as I want to be a film actor. I believe that a good actor must have a basis in theatre and learn to scale it down for film. I still am not sure if I want to consider a MT major. I have sung all of my life, I'm in an elite choral group in my school, and I play guitar and sing about an hour or two every day. I am worried that I may miss some intense dramatic traing and it be replaced by dance classes if I do a musical theatre major. For film acting, I guess going for MT seems unfocused to me. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.</p>

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<p>That's a ncie list, knoxcounty. I'd take the advice of Doctor John and add at least two more BA programs. (BA programs, unlike BFA's, do not usually require auditions. My personal choices for BA programs are Davidson, Brown (stretch of course), Wake Forest, U. Richmond, and UCSD.) I plan to apply to the "typical" theater schools as well. As an example, here would be my A's, B's and C's according to Dr. John:</p>

<p>A: DePaul, UMiami, UMichigan, UCLA, SCAD, Penn State, Syracuse, UBC, UIUC.
B: CMU, NYU, NCSA, BU, USC
C: UMass, Davidson, Brown, Richmond, UCSD, Wake Forest, MSU, Ithaca, UVA.</p>

<p>And also, I wouldn't worry about DePaul winters. I live in Detroit, which is just as cold (if not colder) than Chicago, and I moved here a few years ago from Richmond, Virginia. That's similar to the weather in Kentucky, and I had no problem with the change. The winters are certainly colder but you really don't notice it much.</p>

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<p>knox i know what you went through bro! STAY IN THERE AND NEVER GIVE UP, that's the kind of son I would want</p>

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<p>I would definately follow up on TSdad, Rutgers has one of the best theater programs in America. My sister said their acceptance was at a mere 20% !</p>

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<p>Knox and Renin,
Looks like you both have good lists to me, but one thing to remember about CMU and Tisch is that they cost $40-45,000 per year and Tisch, in particular, is notorious for being stingy with financial aid. I think WCT's son did manage to get some good grant aid from CMU though he's still gonna have lots of loans to pay off which can be kind of scary with a BFA in Acting. Another thing to check on is to see if your state has reciprocation (???) agreements with out-of-state universities where you might be able to pay in-state tuition. Another thing ... DePaul is a reputed to be a great training program, but they admit 52 and cut half of them at the end of freshmen year, so it's only great for the survivors. It's a little less brutal than their old system where they were still cutting people at the end of sophomore year and beyond, but still ... it is what it is.</p>

<p>Have either of you looked at the Webster University conservatory in St. Louis or the University of Minnesota Guthrie Theatre Program? I went to the callback weekend for Minnesota/Guthrie and was MOST impressed though the winters there truly are brutal. Unfortunately, I had to cancel on them before I found out whether or not I got in because I had to declare by April 1 for NMF scholarship reasons. Had they gotten off their butts and sent their letters out in time with a happy one for me and a nice scholarship offer, I would've had a much tougher choice to make. If you're into screen acting, you might want to give Emerson a long look, too. Vassar is also another great BA program to consider if you can afford it and they have what is supposed to be a good film studies program with some of on-camera ops for actors.</p>

<p>Oh, yeah ... ReninDetroit, You should check me on this, but I believe UCLA has around a 3% admit rate for theatre. Ithaca's BFA in Performance is also selective though not necessarily a "Theatre Ivy," so you might wanna move it to your "A" list. </p>

<p>Zetsui,
Admissions to Rutgers' BFA Acting program is more like around 6-8%. That's the admit rate at most of the good audition-based theatre schools. Maybe your sister meant their BA in theatre studies.</p>

<p>BTW, you guys should repost on Theatre/Drama to keep it going. ;) There are a lot of people "in the know" that read there who can give you good advice but probably don't read here.</p>

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<p>Good idea Thesbo, I'll be sure to put some stuuf up there.</p>

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<p>probably bohemian, i heard it was impossible to get in their. Some parent told of her daughter's rejection from the program , her daughter was a 4.0 student from Umich (maybe?) honors program, which threw me off my chair</p>

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<p>Nice job on the turnaround, knoxcounty! I also know the terrible reality of KY schools after living in a state with real schools (MA, MI, even TN).</p>