My older D attended NYU’s MT summer intensive through Steinhardt many years ago and that particular summer about 10 students were told that they did not have to audition further for the program if they were applying as undergrads–they were “accepted” for the talent portion of their application based on their summer work. They still needed to apply to NYU and get accepted academically in order to attend–but were told to get in touch with the department head when they applied so he could flag their applications for the talent acceptance. She ended up with a nice merit scholarship too.
About 7 of these students ended up accepted at NYU and attended. One vastly talented student just did not have the grades and was rejected. He did, however, attend NYU for grad school with a major scholarship 4 years later.
My understanding is that this is no longer the policy of NYU. However, faculty members who teach the summer program in MT sit in on undergrad auditions. So even if the policy officially changed, they clearly feel that they were able to make a decision on a student based on their summer work, and if you have impressed them, I am sure it is still remains a determining factor.
More than anything, the summer was a way to see if NYU was my D’s first choice. Since it was taught by real faculty, she got a taste of the program and their expectations.
We have a good friend who attended a summer program at a very well known school where the faculty members teach the program. At the end, the student (and parents) were told how talented the student was and how excited the faculty would be when the child attended their school. The student wasn’t admitted & was heartbroken.
The answers about training,audition practice, feedback and making friends are so true - use them for that!
I know I have mentioned this before. At CMU’s orientation, the teachers put up a power point presentation showing all the schools the summer kids are admitted to. I don’t even recall CMU being on that list. They are very upfront about the numbers but do say - you will get out what you put in this summer - do the work and it will help you in the audition season.
Ugh, the rejection stories are heartbreaking. So sorry, guys. I look at it this way:
there’s no way to have a “control” experience, where the kid doesn’t go to a summer intensive, to see if the chances are equal/better/worse that they get accepted to a specific program (or numbers of programs…)
say a college summer intensive has 65 campers…and the following MT Class is 25, well obviously not all summer participants are going to be offered spots (that’s without factoring applicants that didn’t attend the intensive)
send your child to an intensive if you think it will be valuable musically, dramatically, etc., for the training if you want to and can afford to. If not…don’t. I think it almost always looks great on their resume and if you choose carefully there are some great programs out there!
if the college in question is high on your child’s college list, even better! Because a) they find out if the faculty and basic program, place, etc., are a good fit. And b) if the college doesn’t offer you a spot then perhaps the fit isn’t right and your child will definitely thrive happily elsewhere!
This is such a hard process, but sometimes the no’s are just as valuable in their way as the yeses. I’ve known families whose child went to a summer intensive just SURE that the program was absolutely their top college choice only to find out the fit wasn’t good at all, and then not even apply to the program; a much cheaper learning experience than starting your MT program there and then reauditioning and transferring later.
Looking back I wish we had not done it. The outcome was heartbreak we really could have used that money (about $4000) for Audition year expenses. She is in a BFA MT program and loves it.
My d attended a summer intensive that was technically not affiliated with a college MT program (although the college it was housed at has an MT program): Triple Arts at Western Carolina U. I wanted her to get the feel of a being away/on a college campus, and to get the experience of working in that intense environment (especially the dance part) with the amazing faculty. Also, the price, dates and the amount of time worked for us (many of them were longer and cost more, or the same length and just as pricey). After hearing before she applied, from a few MT moms I know (and now, reading this), I am glad we went this way. She had a very positive experience, and didn’t “fall in love with an MT program” that she won’t get into (she’s did’t even apply there).
@dramaqueen219 That’s interesting that it isn’t associated with WCU… it looks like it is taught by WCU faculty at WCU campus. It is a top school on my daughter’s list because of the cost. Sounds like it was a positive experience. Is your daughter a dancer? I ask because my daughter is looking for dance training but its not her strength…
@KTVoice it is taught by Terrance Mann and Charlotte D’Amboise (and her family of dancers). I believe Terry (as the kids called him ) is a visiting faculty member there, but it doesn’t seem to be a full time gig of his (he is in a show off B’way right now). The real reason she isn’t considering it is because of location (it is very removed/rural for a city gal, and quite a distance from home).
My d is not a dancer. For me, this was one of the reasons I encouraged this program. You have to audition with 2 pieces; she chose a monologue and song. As long as they see something good with the 2 you submit, they work with you on the other. She really got what she wanted out of it, dance wise (as well as the acting and singing). They worked them hard, but were very nurturing.
Thanks for that @dramaqueen219 sounds like something my daughter would love. She is looking to be streached ats a dancer, her weakness, so we’ll check into it!
@KTVoice I wish mine would go back this summer, but it’s unlikely (because of the schedule, and the limited time between hopefully moving into a dorm a couple of weeks later, and the expense, adding that on to the college expense). It was a great group of kids too!
@CTDramaMom I was looking at some summer programs for my daughter and I think the CMU one did specify that it does NOT give attendees a leg up versus those that did not attend their summer camps/intensives.And, that was for all their summer programs, not just MT. I think only a handful (maybe 6?) out of 127 summer attendees ended up going to CMU. No idea if any were MT majors.
I don’t think ANY MT kids got in my daughter’s year. That being said, they did get into some great programs, like Emerson, CCPA, Pace, and in my daughter’s case PPU, where she wound up being taught by some of the CMU summer dance instructors. IMHO, if you have your child do a summer program, do it to 1. help them hone their audition skills; and 2. see if the rigors of an MT program are what they really want. Don’t do it thinking it will help your child get into that particular program.
@NewJeffCT NYU does look at how you performed at summers college when reviewing your audition and application. And if you have a high GPA in high school.
Thanks @Ducky312 The NYU program was pricier than CMU on a per week basis and my daughter was also told that students teach at the NYU summer camps and not the actual professors. Not sure if what she heard was true or not, though.
However, NYU is $9,000+ for four weeks and CMU was $8,000 for six weeks when I checked before. - so $2,250 per week versus $1,300 per week.
@NewJeffCT - my D attended the NYU summer program in 2013 (rising senior) and worked for it in 2016 (after her sophomore year at NYU). While students serve as TAs - all classes that D has seen/been a part of are taught by NYU faculty. When my D auditioned for the school in 2014 - she had already taken classes from 3 out of 5 auditors she interacted with. She said it was by FAR her most “comfortable” audition - b/c she was greeted by hugs etc when she came in.
Also, NYU’s program offers 6 college credits. While I realize those would not necessarily transfer to other BFA programs - the fact that my D ended up there meant that the $9000 I spent that summer has SAVED me the same amount in eventual tuition (based on the idea that NYU runs about $1500 per credit hour)
My daughter did CMU one summer and Pace the other, and the big differences between the two programs were length (6 weeks vs. 2), cost (because one was much shorter) and the fact that at CMU she was taught by the actual professors. What she learned that summer from Gary Kline and Don Wadsworth was, I think, invaluable in getting through college audtitions.
@NewJeffCT my d attended NYU summer 2016. It was a great experience. There was some adjunct faculty that came in to teach that we’re qualified and experienced but otherwise all NYU faculty especially from the dance department. Many of the students that were there we saw on the audition circuit. And a lot of kids ended up at NYU or other top tier programs. The six credits were very apealing to me. Lots of opportunities to see broadway shows or performances and students were asked to write responses regarding the performances. It seemed like a true college experience to me. I thought it was a very good value. We chose it because of the length and because academics were a factor in getting accepted to the program.
@NewJeffCT my daughter attended the two week summer MT program at NYU Steinhardt the summer after junior year. It is far more affordable than the longer credit granting program that is run through Tisch. It is also taught by faculty. My daughter loved it and the faculty (especially Michael Riccardone) were incredibly supportive. She got a ton out of the experience. The only drawback was we didn’t really start any college prep until September! NYU Steinhardt is a great program with a more classical focus than some MT programs. It is housed in the school of Music and MT’s graduate with a BM in Music. Many of her summer friends are currently enrolled in Steinhardt’s MT degree but my girl chose Michigan instead. However it was a great experience and one I am definitely glad she did.
Forget the “trying to beat the odds by already having a personal relationship” angle. Doesn’t generally work and sometimes that could even work against you. Spend whatever cash you have on TRAINING and COACHING so that her audition is the best possible. My 2 cents.
) is a visiting faculty member there, but it doesn’t seem to be a full time gig of his (he is in a show off B’way right now). The real reason she isn’t considering it is because of location (it is very removed/rural for a city gal, and quite a distance from home).