<p>Can anyone tell me what the cutting practices were Spring, 2007? Much was discussed about Spring, 2006. Many suggestions were made and the program seemed to regret what happened. Have practices altered? We need to decide whether to visit. We like the 'good' that we have heard, but not sure we are willing to drop close to a thousand just to visit for their new Freshman audition if they have not figured out how to manage acceptance/cutting flows (a rather simple HR issue). Can respond privately.</p>
<p>Out of curiousity, where did you pick up that the program regretted their practices? I recall someone from the program who was very nice, who posted defending their practices and explaining them. I was not aware changes were made or that there were any regrets for their policies. If you know otherwise, please explain as I have been going with what I knew of their cut policies when suggesting (or not) certain schools to students with whom I work.</p>
<p>I used the word 'regret' perhaps too generally. True, a representative of the University explained what happened Spring, 2006. I was just wondering whether anyone knows whether they have made changes to ensure that they did not have to (1)cut so many students again (2) in May, meaning, in the last weeks of their last semester in the BFA program. I am not sure whether there was 'regret' behind the disposition of the program representative who responded. I guess that not only am I curious as to whether they changed their practices, but also whether the institution (perhaps certain individuals felt bad) had regrets.
I often serve as an External Reviewer for another acdemic specialization/Department. If you think about it, Arizona Theater has the potential to be a top-top player in undergrad theater. Beautiful campus, excellent location, great climate during the academic year, and, compared to the other top programs (Purchase being the exception), cheap for out-of-state students. And it would cost so little on their part to alter their practices and gain this competitive advantage. They could go to Unifieds, interview lots of students, abate harsh cut practices, and so on. But, having been with three different big state research universities with strong athletic programs, their bureaucracy tends to kill-off anyone with strategic vision.</p>
<p>The thing is...your post is similar to another post you wrote recently about these programs with cuts changing their policies because some consumers did not care for these policies. Some of us responded to you then that these colleges believe in their policies. They have plenty of applicants who want to get in. There are plenty of applicants who are interested in those programs, policies and all. So, there is not a problem on THEIR end. What you need to do, as a consumer, or for your son as an applicant, is decide what college criteria HE cares about and find colleges that match up. If you don't like cut policies, don't apply. I know my kid didn't apply to certain programs due to certain policies. There are plenty who ARE willing to apply to these programs with their current practices. The administrator who posted on CC may not have any regrets as she supported the process her school follows and articulated their reasons. It doesn't matter if someone like you or I don't like it. They'll find applicants willing to come. This isn't the first time they have heard people criticize their practices. They do not have a dearth of applicants. They are surely elmininating some applicants who do not like their practices. I did not read any regrets for their practices in that faculty member's posts. She may have felt badly for students and understood their disappointment, but she upheld their practices for the reasons she supported, even if there were posters here who disliked the policy and how it was carried out. I'm not sure why you think they all of a sudden made changes....due to posts on CC? I mean they have had these policies for years! This is not new.</p>
<p>You mention what they can do to gain a competitive edge....but...well, CCM, for example...is one of the top programs in the country for Musical Theater and they have cuts. This is not hurting their competitive edge. DePaul has cuts and yet, they are one of the well known acting BFAs as well. These programs are not for all people. My own kid would not have applied to either even though she did apply to many top programs. But these programs are indeed very competitive.</p>
<p>It seems to me that you (not sure about your son....who is the one who has to go to college) do not like cut policies. So, my advice.....is there are many fine BFA or BA acting programs and choosing a college involves establishing one's own list of preferences and criteria and finding schools that match up. There are enough colleges from which to pick and create one's own college list. Eliminate schools that have policies that do not meet your own criteria or preferences. You can't change the schools. But you can research them and create a college list that fits your own criteria. That is how to truly build one's individualized college list, rather than simply a list of schools that have good programs.</p>
<p>I certainly concede that I know little as to how the BFA - theater admissions process works and what program does what and with what motives. Few people do, except those who have been through the process, whether as student, theater educator/administrator, or advisor. Higher education, regardless of the program, is, in crude business terms, an 'experience good', in contrast to a 'search good'. You do not really know what you have purchased until you have spent some time with it, and one person's experience is not going to be the same as that of another.
CC obviously decreases our level of ignorance. This is why I spend a lot of time doing this.
Our list consists of only a few top-level programs. It is loaded with what we call 'shot' programs; good, but not on anybody's top five list. We are also adding a few, 'never heard of it' BFA programs lodged in good colleges/universities (from Tulane to Drake), though my son;s SAT stinks at this point; taking it again. Our criteria, in order, are (1) cost, which eliminates many of the top programs with no tuition exchange or state universities that charge non-residents LAC prices (Michigan, Illinois, CCM), (2) quality of the BFA program, which may or not be correlated with its brand image (i.e., I have heard a number of nice things about, for example, Wyoming), reputation/educational/student life of the institution containing the BFA program, which eliminates a couple of top-ranked theater programs (will not name these), (3) whether they cut heavily (by the way,my Dept. takes the top 75 students ay the end of the sophomore year - about a 2.95 GPA ctoff score in an institution in which the average college GPA is substantially less. The rest must declare another major; it's how we play the game),(4) how far from home the program is, and (5) at the end of my list (though I would tell my son this prioritization) is whether X% versus Y% of different program graduates end up in theater-related careers.
My son threw DePaul off the list when I told him what they do. I told him that I would ask CCers whether, as explained by Arizona, the 2006 episode as described on CC was a one year thing, and whether their cutting numbers for Spring, 2007 were more in line with what they had seen in years previous to 2006. We would place them on our list if so, though their cutting philosophy would lead us to accept an offer from an approximately 'equal' program that did not cut. We do not like the way they play, but we are up to it.
Our list includes only two LACs; one experimental (where I would go if I could go to any college in the states, though it its ranked as a second tier LAC) and the one I have been at for two decades now; our safety - nice theater department, but otherwise, kind of like getting a root canal.
For this reason we started this thread, wondering whether Arizona should be put on our list. If they went to Unifieds we would love to meet with them, because they focus on a variety of historical styles; what seemingly turned others off. But I/we would love to avoid another long, costly trip. Also, his plate is real full with both a high school musical and regional theater production (Brecht's 'Mother Courage, which is showing its face again, given the anti-war sentiment) scheduled this winter.
Thanks for your time and dedication soozievt (is vt for vermont?)</p>