<p>Since so many threads focus on the musical theater college admissions process for high schoolers, I created a new thread so that current musical theater college students and/or their parents can share experiences. It is always interesting to read follow-up experiences from those who shared their admissions processes here, now that they are in college, or their sons and daughters are. Let us know how it is going. As well, it is helpful for those going through the admissions process to learn more about the theater college experiences from those who attend. Lastly, this can be a thread to just share as a community about any college experiences. What's happening on campus? Hope to hear from those on campus and their parents.</p>
<p>Elon freshmen moved in today. I saw or talked to several of our faithful CC friends. It's so good to see a familiar face! Some people traveled farther than we did to get here. It's a great place but a sad day (in a way) for us parents. My son is already having a blast with old and new friends. He won't miss us. He's also very pleased with his assigned voice teacher. Elon has a very well run move-in and orientation weekend.</p>
<p>for starting this thread. I had posted our experiences on the Webster thread last week, but it seems appropriate to repost part of those thoughts here:</p>
<p>THANK YOU WEBSTER!!!</p>
<p>It's been a week since delivering our Freshman MT daughter to Webster. What an amazing school, town, environment. The orientation was fabulous (informative, fun and never dull), the faculty was wonderful, and the upperclass students were amazing: warm and welcoming to the "freshies". We were blown away by how they went out of their way to find the freshman conservatory students as soon as their fresh feet hit the dorm room floor! And then had a bar-b-que for them, providing transportation, no less. (thanks to SUE aka 5pants sons' and all their friends who made this happen)</p>
<p>As difficult as it was for my husband and I to leave our "baby" so far away from home, the task was made less daunting knowing that she's truly in good hands at Webster! Listening to the faculty describe the conservatory program these 18 kids (regional and musical theatre total) will be lucky enough to experience was pretty inspiring. Hard work? No doubt, but when it's work you love, it's joy!</p>
<p>Was great fun to meet up with Marianne406. A "familiar" face in the crowd! Our girls are in for a wonderful four years.</p>
<p>Ericsmom:
Glad Eric's move-in went well and that he's already having fun with old and new friends. I suspect these kids will be far to busy and happy to miss us too much!!</p>
<p>I will be posting my observation about Uarts on the Uarts thread. She moved in this weekend; we are home today. Everything went well and it is very exciting. Perhaps tomorrow I will post the long description.</p>
<p>So glad to hear that our friends from this last year are happy and settling in well. (BiGismama - we ate at a table this weekend where we sat with you not too long ago in cafe in student union - missed you and our other CC friend who was there). (nytheatermom - talked about you all with another CC friend at Elon today - so happy we all got to be together last year). I'm especially happy that they all seemed to end up at the right places for each individual student. I think we were able to touch base with all our CC friends in the freshman class.</p>
<p>I'm on a hotel computer and not quite halfway home from Elon. We had a great orientation weekend and are most impressed with everything at Elon. Yes, I shed my share of tears. They were most sentimental / emotional at the formal freshman convocation (acorn ceremony) and also at a couple of parent meetings. How could we help but cry? The school reminds me of a bigger version of his private HS, and we love it! All is well, and we feel he's doing just what he should be doing. </p>
<p>My goodness, how things work out: his senior orientation leader and teaching assistant in freshman orientation course is the young woman who took us on a tour of campus and art dept. 2 years ago and has been most encouraging about the Fellows program (that we are impressed with). I am so glad he's getting to spend more time with her in the small group, as she really helped sell us on the university.</p>
<p>Lastly, and the main reason I got on here to post: the favorite mom of all of the CC family, Melsmom, who of course kept up all our acceptance and decision lists this last year, had a very special treat today. Out of 1275 students in the freshman class at Elon, one of the speakers at freshman convocation picked 4 entering freshmen to highlight in the speech about the outstanding and interesting things that this year's class has done (like helping poor / sick children in Africa and doing major academic projects). Anyway, Melsmom's daughter was one of the 4 students highlighted for her many accomplishments in both dance and theatre! We were so proud to know a celebrity! It was well deserved. I cried some more!</p>
<p>NYTheaterMom, Ericsmom and BIGisMama....great to hear about your positive drop offs (for your kids, anyway, LOL.....I know what it is like for YOU). Can't wait to hear how much they are lovin' it this fall. Keep us updated. </p>
<p>Melsmom, if you are reading....that is so wonderful that your D was spoken about as an exampls of an accomplished student. Well deserved, I'm sure. Must have been a special moment. </p>
<p>My kids are not off to school yet! One is still at her summer theater job away from home, and one just got home from France (but is enroute to see her sister) and has not yet left for her semester in Italy. No drop offs yet for us. Then again, I don't have either one here!</p>
<p>Well I am more than ready to get back to school to start my sophmore year! I was in Boston the other day and I walked by BoCo and I went inside and I just felt so happy to be coming back after a long and painful summer. It is interesting that they have us auditioning for the fall musical and drama and the spring musical all on the first week back. I guess the spring musical is a new work and it will be workshopped through out the year so they need to cast it in the fall. I also can't wait to move into my new apartment on friday. It will be amazing! Well, ttfn!</p>
<p>Ericsmom, so glad the orientation weekend went well; looking forward to reading your Elon updates this coming year!</p>
<p>Melsmom, what a proud and wonderful moment to have your daughter's accomplishments recognized at the freshman convocation. Congratulations to her for all of her achievements!</p>
<p>As promised, I posted a long description of Uarts opening on the Uarts t hread. Here is a link:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=2881789#post2881789%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?p=2881789#post2881789</a></p>
<p>We just got back from our trip to take d to OU. Since it took us a week to drive the 1,500 miles as we stopped in Arizona along the way, she was tired when we pulled into Norman. We had a full day to check out the dorm room, meet the room-mate, open a bank account, and shop for the dorm. I'm glad we had that time because from the minute we got her checked into the dorm on August 17 she has been kept incredibly busy. The evening of August 17 the MT department held a reception for the new freshmen and their parents. The students already knew each from Face Book. Our son was with us, and he commented that they acted like they had all graduated high school with each other! The truth was that they came from all over the country. There are 13--7 girls and 6 boys. After the reception the older MTs held a party for the freshmen and drove them to and from the party.</p>
<p>The faculty is exceptional and very nice. We loved the campus and so much about the school itself. For example, there are no more than 19 students in freshman comp courses at OU. As a retired English professor that's a subject close to my heart! In fact, my d's English class only has 15 students. </p>
<p>She LOVES her teachers and her peers, was moved ahead 2 levels in ballet (says it's still too easy, but knows she needs to prove herself first), tested out of a few weeks of music theory, and was cast as a dancer in the fall musical "Once Upon a Mattress." She bought her football tickets right away! Downsides are aspects of the dorm room experience, which she can deal with, and deciding to put off taking jazz to take makeup fall semester. Bottom line: she's so happy, making a lot of friends, and eager to learn!</p>
<p>P.S. We got to eat dinner with 2DsnMT and her 2 Ds the night before dorm move-in!! I hear D2 is having a great time, too!</p>
<p>MTMommy, just a public "yippee" for your daughter on her awesome beginning at OU and congrats for her casting in her first show already. </p>
<p>I'm also glad we have a family from OU this year who can keep us posted about this fine program.</p>
<p>We returned last night from dropping D at Muhlenberg. She is being kept very busy with activities this weekend. Today one of her high school friends is on campus visiting her, as he has family nearby.
Since Muhlenberg is a BA program, I thought it might be of interest to some of you what her course schedule is:
She is taking a Freshman Seminar on Knights and Chivalry. Her other required class is a PE class on fitness and wellness. Her other classes include Dance Technique, Voice Lessons, Stagecraft, History of Theatre and Society and College Chorus.
Auditions for Urinetown are this week, as well as for the acapella groups, and dance team. She is pleased with her schedule. Move-in was great. They had around 50 upperclassmen take everything out of our car and carry it upstairs.</p>
<p>My only question is, when do college students sleep?</p>
<p>Diana, Great to hear your update on dropping your daughter off since, as you know, Muhlenberg is on our list. I had a wonderful conversation with Mr. Richter a month or so ago, and we plan on meeting him when he's in Chicago for NACAC in early October. Speaking of Urinetown, he strongly encouraged us to schedule a visit during its production, but the two weekends it runs coincides with tech week/production week for our HS's fall play. However, we do plan on visiting in October when my daughter has off for Columbus Day; this way, she will be able to sit in on some acting classes (which he also highly recommended). Please keep us updated on her experience. I look forward to reading about it.</p>
<p>Thanks Terri. Urinetown is going to be up during parent's weekend, so I plan to see it when I am there for that. As I get more info about the Muhlenberg experience I will gladly update.</p>
<p>a now non-mt student wanted to be, checking in-</p>
<p>A reminder of my story- I applied to to and was promptly rejected from 8 top mt schools, and decided to attend the not so illustrious (or so I thought) BFA/BA theater and dance program at Chapman University (the local private school where my father works and my entire family is an alumni of)... </p>
<p>I thought I would hate it, but now being a summer older and more mature I made an amazing decision...</p>
<p>I landed my first professional show to rave reviews, kicking everything in august to a great start. My show that I directed is going to be revived by a local pro comapny for a commerical run. And through doing a lo of stuff on a non-high school level, I have networked my way completly through the soutern california theater community. Something I would have had to throw away at college...</p>
<p>I got a full ride schoalrship, paying now only 6,000 for dorms. The school costs around 40,000 for everyone else with dorms... so now I don't ever have to worry about excessive debt unless I screw around with credit cards...</p>
<p>and the theater department is AMAZING. I am getting amazing training from a growing new budding program. The energy is amazing and the people are so talented and kind. I cant stop smiling... the place is great. </p>
<p>I'll update more... but getting rejected is not only NOT the end of the world and your dreams, but possibly the chance to open the doors to get you to where you wanna go!</p>
<p>I'm VERY proud of you! Great training is to be had in many places. Having the initiative and drive to make use of those opportunities is really special. Thanks for posting.</p>
<p>I've always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason :)</p>
<p>Reading your story made me smile and want to say "there ya go, see....."</p>
<p>Best of luck, sounds like you landed in exactly the right place!</p>
<p>Drum, it is great to hear from you! I think you are doing great things and are on your way! Maybe at first, Chapman seemed like your consolation prize because it wasn't one of the schools you were aiming at and it was all too familiar on your home turf. Remember, however, many kids really were picking to go there as a first choice. I have read up on Chapman and in fact, have suggested it to some West Coast students. It looked quite good to me with a BA by audition and BFA in Theater Performance option. I think as long as you get the training, and you will, you can aim for the same goals down the line. There are many paths to get there and you have found a good one. It sounds like you are already accomplishing things. Real good stuff. Networking in the theater community there will be great for your future as well. Make the most of this chance and you will be going places. Best of all, no debt. It's all perspective. Now that you are past the college admissions process, you can see that you landed in a great place and go seize the day! Best wishes...</p>
<p>I've been encouraged to post my report from OCU and UCO. For those of you still finalizing your list of schools, you may want to take a look at UCO. It is not a well known program and is often overshadowed by OU and OCU, which are less than 30 minutes away, but we've been impressed with their organization and attentiveness to the students. </p>
<p>D1 is a senior MT/VP double-major at OCU. We moved her into an off-campus apartment where she is in heaven.....so much room! Her first week of classes went very well....she's in 4 dance classes and loving it! She was cast in Music Man which already started rehearsals and she secured a job as a section leader/cantor at the Cathedral.</p>
<p>D2 is a freshman MT at UCO (15 minutes from OCU). She has the best dorm ever...I can't believe how comfy she is. UCO remodeled a Ramada Inn last year so the dorm rooms are like regular hotel rooms....2 students sharing a room (bathroom). Her classes consist of tap, ballet, piano, voice, MT history, MT interview and audition technique, algebra (17 hours). She placed out of Music Theory I, Aural Skills I and Eng I, so will continue with those next semester. She was bumped to advanced tap the first day....pleased with that. She says her Ballet class is too basic, but the teacher wouldn't move anybody up....so she'll deal with that. She got the voice teacher she wanted and loved her first lesson. She pledged Sigma Alpha Iota (music fraternity) and Alpha Psi Omega (drama fraternity). Auditions for Sondheim's 'Saturday Night' are next week. All in all a very good start.</p>
<p>I read all your posts with interest last yr, keeping an eye on students from CA. ;) What a great turn of events for you! Congratulations! It's said so often that things happen for a reason, that you will land where you were meant to be.... How difficult those things are to hear when you are in the midst of rejection letters. Your journey since last spring has been filled with wonderful accomplishments and happier times. All the best to you this year and please keep us posted on how you're doing. :D</p>