<p>cptofthehouse...I think you would have liked a certain member who posted a lot on CC (not just on the MT Forum) who has many kids ,one of whom went into MT and who auditioned for some BFAs but ended up at Yale (where one can still do quite a bit of MT and I know several MT kids who chose it). The reason I say this is because this member (who no longer posts), jamimom (look up her past posts on CC) used to say that college is a "halfway house" for young adults. She may have even referred to it as a "Disney Halfway House"!! Kinda goes along with your thoughts on some of the objectives you have for your child in college. </p>
<p>RE: the quote from whomever posted what you quoted Fishbowl.....and not saying you AGREE with it but I am just commenting on the quoted material.....I find it odd that a college, a private one no less, is saying they take more students than they can handle, in PART, as a way to fund the expensive amount of individualized attention and small class size they want for the upper years in the BFA program. All I know is that many colleges do NOT do this. Yes, they must figure into the budget the high cost of educating kids in a program with a low faculty to student ratio and may have to do so with funds from something else but not by taking in extra frosh and sophs whom they later drop but use the money to pay for the upper level training program. It would also seem to me that if they have too many in the lower years, that also defeats the purpose. Also, the person says only a small number can be adequately trained and accomodated. My kid is in a large BFA department but it is staffed in such a way to allow for that 15 to 1 number in every training class. I do believe it can be done well. </p>
<p>As far as schools like CMU and UMich and others, being able to admit "can't miss" students, I do believe any program, especially one like CCM, could do the same. I think more needs to go into the admissions process than just the ten min. audition because you can have someone who is truly talented but not up to the task of the training program and its rigor. Lots to assess in a holistic fashion. </p>
<p>I agree with cptofthehouse that there will be many students who do not hesitate to apply to cut programs (even some parents are willing) but I can see why a parent would view it differently because of the expense involved and also the difficulty that may ensue if the child is cut and it is too late to apply elsewhere for a year and the difficulty of transfer admissions in this field. In any case, again, I do think many are comfortable with such program policies and there is no dirth of applicants to these programs. Of course, it is a different story when we read accounts by students and parents here over the years, when they are cut and are no the other end of it. Nobody expects this to happen. These kids are talented enough to get in and so understandably, think they won't be cut. </p>
<p>There are students in many BFA programs, however, who have no clue what they are getting into and cannot handle the rigors of it. I truly truly wish more students and parents research and understand what a BFA program is like (not talking cut schools now but ANY BFA program) because it is not like regular college at all. And I have met some kids who I do not think can handle it even if they love MT. This type of program is not for all students. And that is why some students leave once they are in these programs and see for themselves. There are certain personality and work ethic qualities that a successful candidate should possess and this goes beyond singing, dancing and acting. Hopefully schools do try to ascertain (at the point of admissioins) these other qualities that are needed to be successful in such a type of degree program, let alone in the field.</p>