<p>Any tips on how to decide among programs? I know there are the obvious criteria: location, courses, etc. But I'm wondering how much being chosen in the first round, number of students in MT, number of productions, etc. affects decisions. For example, if you are offered an acceptance right away, there are fewer MT students so more chance to be cast, but have also been accepted somewhere off a waiting list with more MT kids, how do you decide?</p>
<p>All of those things will influence a decision, of course. For my daughter, the general atmosphere of the university in general and the program in particular was the deciding factor. She had visited all of the schools where she was accepted, and was very strongly drawn to one in particular – she felt comfortable there immediately. And it turned out to be the right decision.</p>
<p>WHEN you are offered the acceptance into a program has NO bearing whatsoever once you attend…be it casting or anything else. It doesn’t matter when you are accepted. If you are accepted, the school wants you. If you are wait listed and then accepted, the school wants you. </p>
<p>After all results have come out, try to put the accepted schools side by side on paper…this could be a chart, a spreadsheet, or simply a page/list for each school. List everything you know about the school…size, location, setting, type of theater degree, theater and/or MT curriculum requirements, amount of liberal arts requirements (and specifics), MT opportunities, production opportunities, showcase, other facets (or notable things) of the college, campus climate/atmosphere, as well as list some pros and cons for each. It really helps to do this exercise. Compare them to one another but also compare each with your own selection criteria and what matters to you and it may become clearer as to which one most closely aligns with what you are seeking in a college. After that exercise, pick two or three to either revisit or visit for the first time and line up some very specific things to do on the visits…observe classes, meet with current students, meet with faculty, arrange an overnight in the dorms, and so on and those visits will help you determine which one feels like the best fit.</p>
<p>There are a lot of discussions here regarding this, so you might want to browse. There are so many things that come into play, and a lot of it is personal choice. There are the obvious things that you mentioned, including BFA vs. BA, size of program, size and type of school, (conservatory vs. univ., big vs. small), voice lessons as freshman, # of productions and when students are allowed to audition, scholarships, cut policies, senior showcases, etc. Also check out opportunities that may be specific to that program. All of the students at my D’s program recently went to NY for dance and voice master classes- expenses were paid by the program (incl. lodging, transportation, and the classes) except for food and a show that many of the kids attended. Also sometimes even if there are few students in the program, other majors are allowed to audition so there still may be a lot of competition. You might also want to check to see what the numbers are when it comes to getting cast; are there a lot of kids graduating who have never been cast in a show at the school. I don’t know that being chosen in the first round would have mattered to my daughter. If you are offered an acceptance at, say, your second choice, and are wait-listed at a first choice, there is nothing wrong with accepting the offer at the 2nd choice as long as it is a school you would be extremely happy to attend. Then if you were to come off the waitlist at your 1st choice, you are allowed to notify the 2nd choice school that you are no longer planning on attending because you were accepted off the wait-list at the other program. You may lose any deposit, but that would be the only issue. A lot of it is just fit- does the student see themselves at this school for 4 years. Sometimes when it comes down to the final decision, it might help to make a chart to compare features of the school and program.</p>
<p>Also, be sure…IF you do care about number of productions (you mentioned that)…that you make sure to find out not only mainstage shows, but all other performance opportunities including student run productions…AND don’t compare apples to oranges among your schools when it comes to number of productions because SOME of that is relative to the size of the program. A larger program may have more productions than a smaller program and so it is all relative. Also, while number of productions are an important part, I think it is less important than selecting the program itself.</p>
<p>In my opinion, this decision is so personal it would be hard to offer general advice. Maybe the best one can do is share their individual thought process and/or observations about specific aspects of any given program.</p>
<p>Maybe a good place to do that would be in a “Decisions - 2015” Thread. Is there a particular person who typically starts such a thread?</p>
<p>I would be happy to start a thread for Final Decisions - HS Class of 2011 / College Class of 2015 and pin it to the top of the MT Forum. Keep in mind, many are taking April to make these decisions, including visits, as commitments to enroll are not due until May 1, and so it is still on the early side for most people to have decided (as well as not all results are out from all schools). </p>
<p>It will be arranged as in the past by member name…such as:
MomCares’ D: Northwestern</p>
<p>However, that thread is really for keeping a list and not so much for discussion. If someone wants to discuss their individual decision making process and get some input, then starting a thread on that topic would be best, and not on the Final Decisions tally thread.</p>
<p>@CollegeMom – Ah, I wasn’t sure how the Final Decisions thread had been managed in the past, so now I’ll know to also keep an eye out for a Final Decisions Discussion thread. </p>
<p>Can you tell that I’m over-eager to hear what everyone decides, and why? ;-D </p>
<p>Thanks!!</p>
<p>Here is the link to last year’s thread. As you can see, anyone can start such a thread and it was started about at this time last year. Only a moderator, however, can pin it to the top of a forum page. Please notice that a list was maintained but the thread was not so much for discussion, so that people did not have to wade through that to see the lists and update them. Discussion is best on other threads.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/890579-final-decision-class-2014-a.html?highlight=final[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/890579-final-decision-class-2014-a.html?highlight=final</a></p>
<p>Here’s some of what I know about D’s decision criteria. She has many talented friends with very different criteria who will land in very different schools, so certainly one size does NOT fit all – which is awfully lucky since the competition is stiff enough without everyone trying to get into the same school!</p>
<p>I know in D’s case, she viewed a slightly larger pool of theatre students as a plus, as she experienced firsthand the fact that one or two strong personalities could make or break the atmosphere in a very small class of, say, 20 MT students. She also preferred the additional network of contacts one would form through a larger program, plus the larger number of productions that a bigger program would mount in a given year. </p>
<p>She wanted a program where MT students would freely interact with Straight Theatre, Design, Technical, Directing, Dance and Music students, as opposed to programs where various factions are kept more separated. </p>
<p>D preferred a program that stressed academics as well as vocational MT skills, and so had no interest in Conservatory or even many BFA programs, as she wanted to be as flexible as possible upon graduation. With that in mind, she wanted a program that allowed and even encouraged a Double Major. She wanted a school with strong “brand recognition”/reputation, as she didn’t have that with her high school.</p>
<p>She also had a very particular desire to have a traditional college experience, and so was not interested in inner-city schools with no real campus. She wanted strong a cappella groups, a small college town, ivy-covered buildings and even maybe a football team on a stand-alone campus. That said, she also wanted easy access to a major metropolitan area so she could continue to see world-class professional productions on a regular basis. </p>
<p>In addition, she wanted a program with particular strengths in her areas of relative weakness - specifically acting and dance. She also wanted the ability to participate in student-created projects as well as professionally-created new works.</p>
<p>I know this isn’t everything that drove her choice, but it’s probably already more than enough info. ;-)</p>
<p>I had this discussion with my son at the time of his acceptances and again recently to see how his choices worked out. He is currently a junior at UMiami. At the time we went through the discussion about size, location, etc. All the concrete things that made sense to me, a science kind of person. At the time he felt that the most important thing was the quality of the acting teachers and methods, then the singing and individual voice teachers. He wasn’t too concerned with the number of productions or other mechanical type of things. He really felt a lot of positive chemistry with the teaching staff, and especially the acting teachers. Not that the other schools had anything negative, but this particular school felt really positive. I had a hard time understanding this at the time he made his decision. It is a personal and subjective decision. Now, almost three years later, he remains very happy with his decision. He has made tremendous gains in his personal abilities, as well as growing a good group of connections. I don’t know how helpful this is, but each student will have to make some decisions based on their subjective feelings about each program. As a parent it was difficult for me to accept what seemed like a leap of faith, but it worked out very well for my son.</p>
<p>I am desperate to ask the schools that accepted my girl a question but I don’t know if I should or how I would word it (and I’m NOT fishing for complements.)
I want to know why program directors grabbed my kid out of the mass of talented, driven young women and said “I want her.” Are they thinking about casting in the future? Is it all about the ability? Is it really just type-type-type? Why exactly did the school think my girl is a good fit for their program? If we knew what the directors were thinking it would give insight into what she could expect in the future at a school. I am still dazed, confused and gob-smacked about how it has all turned out and she only has a couple of weeks to decide. And she thought the traveling would be done with the auditions! Ha! (Maybe she could ask “Why do you think I’d be a good fit for your program?” Is that an honest wording without seeming to ask for complements, but for useful information?)</p>
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<p>I think that would be a fine question, but maybe even better at this stage would be “Why do you think your program would be a good fit for me?” </p>
<p>Maybe now that she’s been accepted is the perfect time to ask them to sell their program to her.</p>
<p>Is she going to any admitted students days? That’s when colleges/departments help admitted students figure out if their program is best for her.</p>
<p>We are very fortunate that D has choices. And that our family was able to take time during her junior year to do the college tours, meet w/students and department folks, gather SCADs of paper about each school that made the cut for her to apply this year. (She considered that her year of auditioning the schools…before they auditioned her…and some schools that looked like a fine fit on paper totally fell OFF the radar once she stepped on campus and started exploring.) Not everybody is able…or wants to…do this, but it really helped her. (It was also great, when arriving on campus to do an audition, to have at least a vague idea of where she was going!) </p>
<p>Throughout this year, a maddening (if well-meaning) question has been “Where are you going to school next year?” (Am I right, gang?) So after she would explain the audition and wait process, then next question invariably is “So, which is your favorite?” Simply put, d didn’t have a “favorite” – each school on her list was picked because after her research, she could definitely see herself there. And it wasn’t just whether the MT program seemed perfect…her criteria, like every single person auditioning, was different. Kid needed programs with strong dance, preferably a dance major that she could take classes with, honor programs/strong academics, performance opportunities and a track record of graduates who work in the field. A Jimmy John’s sandwich shop near campus didn’t hurt, either ;-)</p>
<p>As acceptances have arrived, we have continued to research (thanks to everyone on CC who’s given PM input about your school, when asked!). She’s emailed and called and talked to department heads, current students, etc. She’s talked with her voice teacher, drama director, ballet mistress. This is her school’s spring break, so there are campus-revisits in the works for the “finalists”.</p>
<p>And our family has talked…and talked…and talked. We have written up pro/con lists, have continued to scour websites, viewbooks, etc. A couple weeks ago, School A really seemed to be the front-runner…but as the research and conversations have continued, she is, according to her, 99% sure she’s attending School B. We’ll know for sure after we visit and see another show this week. And it feels right. Gut feelings count, too. Everything on her list is falling into place, and she’s also realizing that some things she hadn’t considered about school choice are plusses for her – the advantage of the distance of School B (close enough, yet far enough away…) and the scholarships she’s received from the school. (Grades and test scores can equal automatic merit scholarships, which can move a school from terrifying price tag to something that a family can consider.) Each of these facets has been important, and we have logged many, many hours in the process (none of us wants an unhappy kid at school!!). One thing I think we did was work very hard not to pre-judge any school that made the “I will audition there” cut along the way, and truly keep an open mind in the process. And the gut is NOT to be underestimated…one school that she liked on our tour last summer just didn’t feel great on her audition day…and that’s something to write in the notebook, too. </p>
<p>I won’t be able to put my weight down until the ink is dry on her commitment signature…and right now, we’re going on hopes and impressions and the best information we have… No one will make the same decisions for the same reasons, and everyone needs something different to make a school fit for them and their kid. But just think…in a little over a month just about everybody’s going to know where they’re going…and we’ll all be celebrating and congratulating each other as survivers of this amazing, frustrating, terrifying, exciting, stressful, unique year!!</p>
<p>I agree that admitted student event days are great to attend as many schools have a lot going on that is helpful to the prospective student, and often includes an overnight (not all school do).</p>
<p>For my older daughter, when she applied to college, she narrowed all her acceptances down to her three favorites. She had already visited them all but we went to the admitted student days at three of them to help her decide. Each of these events involved an overnight in the dorms and lots of other things going on for the students. In fact, it was at the end of the two day event at Brown, when I met up with my D (we separated the entire time…she went to student stuff and I had gone to parent stuff), that she said to me, “I’m going here!!” and that nailed it and when she said she was ready to go to the bookstore to get the sweatshirt, I knew the decision was made (would not buy any of that until she decided). :)</p>
<p>For D2, my MT kid, it was a little different. She never truly discussed a decision of where to go because as soon as she was admitted to NYU/Tisch (while in the hospital), it was obvious she was going there, as she had talked about it since age 12. She liked her other BFA schools, and had visited them all already and so made an informed choice. We did, however, attend the admitted student event at Tisch, but not really to decide, but rather to be informed and to celebrate. As it turned out, it was D’s first day out of a hospital bed in three weeks and making the trek to NYC, wheelchair and all, was a bigger celebration than expected and full of hope. The event really was great and ended with a stop at the bookstore to get the sweatshirt. :D</p>
<p>I’m about to fly across the country with D1 for her to go to accepted events for grad school. That D will not decide until she sees her options (did not see before applying in this case).</p>
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<p>Soozie, had to LOL at that - very true! ;)</p>
<p>Well - we think we know. Unless something really drastic happens with aid, as in the first choice school can offer more money, or if our revised fafsa changes the award down signficantly at what we think will be the one (girl in FA office said it probably wouldn’t) then we think we know.</p>
<p>It’s not the most affordable school on her list, but it’s the best school that is affordable for us. By affordable I mean we can find the money: I don’t mean it won’t hurt some. But it won’t bankrupt us. Her favorite is just beyond what I can imagine being able to do without not only all the Stafford loans but the OTHER loans too, and that is a firm and automatic NO.</p>
<p>There are two state programs she could go to that would not involve us finding another dime - we have enough saved - but I don’t know - it’s not the programs themselves I object to, though one I have heard that someone we know of is unhappy about some things at one of them, and the other isn’t an MT program, it’s Acting. It’s a good Acting program but I can’t find any source for voice training that isn’t strictly and only classical voice training -that would probably not be the end of the world, BUT, we visited again Saturday and I just didn’t feel good about it.</p>
<p>But as I say it’s not the programs themselves, it’s the academics. I just think that D would be more challenged (in the good sense, not the euphemism for “in over her head” sense) and exposed to the kind of personal growth opportunities at the private but still affordable school. (golly I hope I’m not jinxing anything and that the stupid 3 thousand dollar income increase doesn’t get her award lowered dollar for dollar cause that increase was a one time thing) </p>
<p>It’s the academics and the town - the town is her favorite in the world, except for NYC. While I think the town is down on the list as far as what is most important, in this case, there’s more opportunity in this town for directly and positively impacting her education - outside theater opportunities, a wonderful ballet company where she can take extra dance classes on a drop in basis (very few schools offer advanced pointe and she’d like to stay in practice) and she simply is so happy whenever she’s there. </p>
<p>Although the other school was our first choice, this school is only slightly below it as far as the program and academics.</p>
<p>The ironic thing is, it’s one of the handful of schools we visited long before we were even aware of CC or how this whole MT audition process works. Also, (and this is HARD for me to let go of but I have to somehow) it is the only school she missed the audition. It happened when she was sick. It was for money, not admission to program, which is a BA with a review - and the range of monies there for talent is 500 to 2000 which isn’t staggering BUT STILL, and now that it comes down to it, 2000 would have been a decent chunk out of what we still need to find. And they don’t reaudition every year - that was the one shot. RRRR. But even so it’s still the only private school that is actually within our range from what I know at the moment.</p>
<p>I am not meaning to imply that private schools are automatically better than public schools but on our particular list, the public schools were in fact a few notches below the private schools, academically, and while she’s not Smarty McBrainiac, she is very much wanting the whole liberal arts, mind broadening, Socratic discussions with the professor, type of experience and dreads the idea of 13th grade type classes.</p>
<p>So…it’s not for certain but the Magic 8 ball is saying “it’s a strong possibility.”</p>
<p>We had choices but when it came down to really good schools AND programs that we could actually afford, it narrowed down pretty darn quick.</p>