<p>I would really like to speak to a current student if there are any lurking around on this board</p>
<p>Me too....</p>
<p>Try contacting
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/member.php?userid=33100%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/member.php?userid=33100</a>
and</p>
<p>hey everyone</p>
<p>i am a (soon to be) junior MT major at Point Park who can help you with everything you need to know about COPA, PPU, Pittsburgh, BA vs BFA...anything! I am incredibly busy right now (it's nearing finals week, I am in 3 shows, subletting my apt for my summer job blah blah), it might be easier for you to email me than post things on here because i'm not sure i will remember to check this. <a href="mailto:brdwaybabe811@hotmail.com....just">brdwaybabe811@hotmail.com....just</a> put something about this message board in the subject so i don't think you're creepy. seriously, i will help you with anything you need...i can also talk about other schools, "the business," auditions, ANYTHING. i know it all! pass my email on to anyone who needs it. good luck and most importantly, DON'T STRESS OUT. that's the one piece of advice i wish i had taken seriously during this whole process. i'm here to help you.</p>
<p>Be careful with Point Park. Problem is you're spending over 150,000 on your education in 4 yrs. Shows are difficult to get into. Favoritism & politics play a big part in the process. I know sometimes it's like that in the real world but you're not paying 150,000 to get turned down. There are normally 3 shows a semester and favorites are double casted in more than one show. Pretty terrible for the ones that never get into a show. If you're good enough to get in you should be cast. It kind of like going to airline pilot school and never getting to fly the plane. Most schools do not double cast the same people in more than one show in the same semester in order to give other's a chance.</p>
<p>I have thought about responding to dancer1234's post and did so in a way on a different thread, although Soozievt addressed some of what was brought up similar to how I would have. </p>
<p>I think that when pursuing a BFA in college it is really important to remember it will be distinctly different from some types of youth theatre people may have been involved with "where everyone gets to play", and "all is fair". </p>
<p>A BFA gets you ready for the real world, and in the real world you will face people who simply are more talented, and you will also have to deal with people getting cast, who have a reputation of being easy to work with and who get the job done. </p>
<p>Also, Point Park is definitely very, very generous, and to some of you who are uncomfortable with the immediate stream of letters asking you for a deposit, please know that Point Park is rather lenient with the actual due date as well.</p>
<p>While my daughter is not a student at Point Park, her experience as a freshman at another MT BFA program is relevent to this discusion simply because it reflects that there is a common denominator in the audition process once a student hits the level of a BFA program. Her school just finished auditions among all students for the spring shows. While casting has not been announced yet, some freshmen received as many as 6 call backs, some 1 and some none. Obviously, the likelihood of being cast is proportionate to the number of call backs (although even 6 call backs is not an assurance of being cast in anything). Fairness has nothing to do with the process, a good audition that shows the student is a good fit for the role is what is determinitive. I have no idea if my daughter will receive a role. If she does not, I would encourage her to get feed back from the casting directors as a learning experience but not to expect that roles will be handed out in an "equitable" manner. The former is what I would expect of educators in this field, not the latter. While as a "consumer" of "higher education" one might understandably equate the opportunity to perform as getting your "money's worth" for your tuition dollar, there also has to be a realistic understanding that a BFA program is a "profesional training" program and as such is going to mirror what happens in the real world in many ways. If you are not getting the opportunities you desire, then things need to be reevaluated more comprehensively than simply looking at the "fairness" or "equities" of the process.</p>
<p>Brava, MichaelNKat!</p>
<p>I have to agree with dancer, your paying for training and stage experience. If you made it through acceptance auditions, your surely good enough for college musicals. Beside, how good is the schools MT program if they only have a few capable performers that they have to double cast. </p>
<p>However, I will say a good indicator is how much money the school gives you. If your paying full tuition to a private school, that school didn't really want you that much, and probably won't do that much with you. I would venture to guess that 10 to 20% of the MT majors are getting close to a free ride. They are the ones the school really wanted and they are ones being double cast. This is true of all private schools.</p>
<p>tiptoe, </p>
<p>I do not agree with you, though I do agree with MichaelNKat. I don't think any college promises you that you will be cast. They promise you an education and they provide opportunities and then as Michael wrote, those opportunities mirror the real world in some ways and casting is casting and there are no "fairness" issues at this level. We did not go into our child's BFA program EXPECTING how many shows she might be cast in. We knew there were a great many opportunities to perform at various levels at her school and the rest was up to who was able to get cast based on talent and type. She is there primarily for the training. As it turns out, she has been involved in many shows. </p>
<p>I also disagree with you when you say that how much money a school gives you indicates how much they want you. For one thing, an ACCEPTANCE into a competitive program ALREADY indicates they WANT you. Every kid who gets in is wanted at these programs. I have NO doubt about that statement. </p>
<p>Your comment that paying full tuition to a private school means the school didn't want you that much is just simply not true. A school doesn't OWE you any discounts or scholarships. They may "owe" you need based aid if they are a school that meets 100% of need. But they don't "owe" you merit money. It is a gift of recognition for the top students they wish to attract....IF they offer merit aid at all. To give merit aid to every student defeats the purpose of merit aid. Very few colleges give merit aid to every student who enrolls or they may as well just cut the tuition cost! Merit aid is to attract some top students to their school.</p>
<p>I also disagree with your statement that 10-20% of MT majors get full rides. Full ride scholarships are rare in MT. Few get these. NONE get these at my D's BFA in MT program. </p>
<p>Let me add that those who get merit scholarships at my D's school have NO advantages....NONE....when it comes to casting. NONE. By the way, do not overlook that at many theater programs, there are casting opportunities in student directed productions....I doubt merit aid plays a part in casting there either. </p>
<p>Lastly, you say that ALL PRIVATE schools give money to those they truly want. Well, that is not true of ALL PRIVATE schools. My D attends Brown University and they give NO MERIT MONEY TO ANYONE. Neither do any other Ivy League schools nor most of the highly selective PRIVATE colleges to which she applied. And ya know, I believe my D's school REALLY wanted her anyway. :D She just found out today that she won a prize, selected by the faculty, for the most outstanding senior in her department, to be awarded at her upcoming graduation. I think she feels wanted. But her financial aid is ONLY need based aid and has nothing to do with merit.</p>
<p>Do you have any suggestions about which dorm to live in for a freshman male? My son may be going to PP for musical theatre. Thanks!</p>
<p>The OCU thread also discussed this situation: spending 4 years in a school and not getting out of the ensemble, adding to my growing list of parental worries. Does this happen only in the schools with a “large” MT class? Is it possible that students have been accepted and “pegged” from the beginning as possible “lead” types or strictly “ensemble” types? Or are students accepted with the idea that all of them have the appearance, size and talent requirements to get named roles down the road at that school, if they do well auditioning?</p>