Final Decisions, BACKGROUND, class of 2018

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
21

<p>D has committed to Univ of Minnesota Guthrie BFA Actor Training Program. She was blessed to have some fantastic options, and was able to visit all the schools over the last 18 months, and was also able to sit in on classes at her top 3 schools.</p>

<p>For her, the critical factors were a combination of the following (in no particular order):

  • level of training
  • commitment level of fellow students
  • amount of credit granted for her AP classes, making it possible to minor and/or take classes in other areas that interest her
  • sufficient gen ed courses at a high academic level, and/or the ability to enroll in honors classes
  • overall campus vibe/culture/physical layout
  • theatre facilities at the school
  • interactions with current students (their “this is what it’s really like here” insights
  • faculty and staff
  • financial aid (academic and talent scholarships)</p>

<p>Of course, none of the programs/schools ranked highly in all of these areas! So she had to think through what mattered most, and where she could compromise.</p>

<p>She is very excited to join the Guthrie program, and can now finally relax and enjoy the rest of her senior year!</p>

22

<p>@omgcollege101 Congrats! We live in Chicago…it’s a great town and DePaul has a fantastic program! I agree in more schools doing callbacks. Good luck to you. </p>

<p>@mountainhiker Congrats to your daughter. Sounds like you both did your homework and I know she had some great choices. And it is good to be done! Good luck to your daughter too. </p>

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<p>Congratulations omgcollege101 and mountainhiker and D!!!</p>

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<p>Congratulations! :D/ </p>

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<p>Congrats to OMGCOLLEGE101! DePaul. Wow, what an honor!
And mountainhiker, I must admit, I am very jealous of your D! What an incredible program with so many amazing professional opportunities. Plus… Santino Fontana himself went there!</p>

26

<p>Congratulations to all! Mountainhiker and D…Thrilled about your choice! Cannot wait to see your daughter in plays around town. Please let’s keep in touch! Congrats on making your final choice. I have such fond memories of “the pit” and the Rarig Center.</p>

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<p>Applied to: Theatre programs at USC both BA and BFA, UCLA, BU, Fordham (all with auditions), also applied to schools with good theatre majors: Yale, Columbia, Sarah Lawrence, Vassar. Also applied to RADA.</p>

<p>Prescreens: none</p>

<p>Accepted to: USC BA, Fordham, Sarah Lawrence</p>

<p>Rejected from: UCLA, BU, Yale (both parents alums), Columbia</p>

<p>Wait-listed at: Vassar</p>

<p>Call-back in May, London: RADA</p>

<p>Final Decision: USC BA. Will go to the RADA callback as well…</p>

<p>Coach: vocal coach</p>

<p>Summer Programs: previous summer spent a week at RADA and week at Central School of Speech and Drama, both London, both Shakespeare (fantastic!)</p>

<p>Both my D and I did not comprehend ahead of time the extent of the number of people applying to all these schools. We had no idea what the Unifieds were, and were a bit in shock when we arrived. The wise thing she did was to choose her monologues as early as possible, making sure she was really comfortable with them in every respect. Unlike other moms, I never saw her perform her monologues, leaving it to her and her vocal coach to improve them (in only a few sessions); I think it was really important in our case for me to be the supportive and helpful mom, not the critic.<br>
My D is absolutely thrilled to be going to USC in their BA program, rather than the BFA. She wants to minor or double major in film as well, and the BA allows her this opportunity. To be accepted into her first choice school is a sweet victory for her, in the face of other almost inevitable rejections.
Congratulations to all the theatre students who are moving forward to a college they like, and to the parents who have supported them through this rite of fire! I know that my D and I are still recovering from this ordeal. </p>

28

<p>This post is about my son.</p>

<p>Applied to BA programs only: Pitt, Temple, St. Johns(communications major), Azusa Pacific </p>

<p>Accepted: all of the above</p>

<p>Prescreens: none</p>

<p>Coach: none</p>

<p>Summer programs: no formal program but performed in 2 summer musicals for regional group.</p>

<p>Final decision: Temple. </p>

<p>Kid likely settled on Temple summer before senior year. Several things fell into place for him. Liked ease of train transportation in and out of Philly. Liked that Temple offered theatre and broadcast journalism majors. Liked strength of both these programs. Liked the big city feel of Philly and buzz of activity on Temple campus. Since May SAT was high enough for full tuition, he did not have to retake SAT. Grew up on east coast and decided he’s not ready to move to Los Angeles yet. Thinks Temple and Phiily is best place to start college. Very different from his rural hometown but not as huge like LA or NYC so he felt transition would go better in Philly than in a bigger city. Tentatively planning to start with double major in Theater and media studies and production</p>

29

<p>Wow I love hearing everyone’s stories! Here’s ours: </p>

<p>Applied to: Fordham, Emerson, BU, Pace, NYU, Marymount Manhattan, Purchase, Rutgers, Syracuse, Ithaca, CMU, DePaul, UNCSA, URI </p>

<p>Prescreens: Ithaca and Pace (he did them in the kitchen with his camera on a tripod.)</p>

<p>Accepted to: Emerson (BA), Pace (BFA Acting), NYU Tisch (BFA), Marymount (BFA), Rutgers MG (BFA), Ithaca (BFA), URI (BFA, non-audition) </p>

<p>Wait-listed at: Purchase (BFA), DePaul (BFA), BU (BFA), Syracuse (BFA) </p>

<p>Rejected from: UNCSA, CMU, Fordham (accepted only for theater minor) </p>

<p>Final Decision: TBD… </p>

<p>Public high school </p>

<p>Coach: 4 one-hour sessions to help with choosing monologues. Given limited $$, we opted to forego SAT prep in favor of the coach sessions. He had to work the monologues himself, but he LOVED the ones the coach helped him choose. He did his dramatic monologue for his teacher at school and she gave him some tips. His comedy and Shakespeare he did on his own. But he spent a lot of time - every day after school for a few weeks. And…he has never let me see them to this day. :frowning: </p>

<p>Summer Programs: 1 summer at Stella Adler after freshman year - he took the train to NYC 2 1/2 hours each way every day. He has dreamed of a conservatory college experience since then. </p>

<p>I really thought my son was applying to too many schools. It was expensive and he was really burned out by the end of it. Honestly close to a breakdown. I mean he LOVED the auditions, but missing school, homework, shows, friends - it all took a big toll. But now that the decisions are all in, I realize he was right to apply to a high number of schools. Getting the talent, academic and financial pieces to all fall into place is so tricky. The audition process is so subjective and inscrutable… so I would advocate applying to as many schools as you can stomach. And definitely include a safety or two. Anyway, my son was lucky to have ended up with a few really exciting choices! We are visiting schools over the next couple week-ends. And I emphatically echo that if I could do it over, I would have started logging on to this CC group MUCH sooner. I wish I had a similar support group for other aspects of my life! So thanks guys - I am really anxious to see where everyone ends up! </p>

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<p>Applied to: (in order of audition) Atlantic Acting School, The Hartt School, Guildhall, CalArts, Juilliard, Rutgers, UMinn/Guthrie, Southern Methodist University, Royal Welsh, Otterbein, Carnegie Mellon, UNCSA, BU, RCScotland, CCM, and LAMDA.</p>

<p>Prescreens: none</p>

<p>Accepted to: Atlantic Acting School (2.5 year certificate), The Hartt School (BFA Actor Training), Southern Methodist (BFA Theatre Studies acting/directing), CCM (BFA Dramatic Performance), and Rutgers (BA Theatre Arts)</p>

<p>Rejected from: Guildhall, CalArts, Juilliard, UMinn/Guthrie, Royal Welsh, Otterbein, Carnegie Mellon, UNCSA, BU, and LAMDA</p>

<p>Wait-listed at: Rutgers (BFA Acting), UMinn (BA Theatre Arts), and RCScotland (BA Acting)</p>

<p>Final Decision: CCM (BFA Dramatic Performance)</p>

<p>Coach: Had monologue coaching from MTCA. Met about two to three times a month since June of my junior year. Also took adult Shakespeare classes at The Shakespeare Theatre in DC during week nights. </p>

<p>Summer Programs: After Sophomore Year: BUSTI and After Junior Year: Guildhall 3 Week Shakespeare.</p>

<p>Monologues Used: </p>

<p>John from ■■■■ by Mike Bartlett “You wanna know what I am?…”</p>

<p>Phillip from Free Will and Wonton Lust by Nicky Silver “I don’t find my sex organs particularly attractive…”</p>

<p>Adam from Shape of Things by Neil Labute “When Picasso took a ■■■■…” (Back Up contemp. never used)</p>

<p>Berowne from Love Labour’s Lost “Now step I forth to whip hypocrisy…”</p>

<p>Richard from Richard the Third “Was ever woman…” (Stretch piece for Guthrie)</p>

<p>Romeo from Romeo and Juliet “Tis torture and not mercy…” (Back up Shakes. Used at SMU)</p>

<p>(Mostly paired ■■■■ with Love’s Labours Lost, for just contemp schools I did ■■■■ and Free Will, and for schools that asked for three I did ■■■■, Free Will, and Richard.) </p>

<p>Reasons for the Decision:</p>

<p>Small ensemble based training (12-15 students in each class)
4 years of Shakespeare training (and awesome voice training)
Toolbox Method (Viewpoints, Suzuki, Stanislavsky, Meisner, Morris, Checkov)
A whole lot of time spent on getting you prepared for the industry
Most (all of the senior class this year) leave school with a SAG/AFTRA Card due to the Commercial and film industry in Cinci
Lots of encouragement to get outside work after the freshman year (there are a handful of equity theaters in Cincinnati that hire CCM students)
They are very opening to learning as much as you can from as many places that you can via summer programs and internships
The opportunity to take private voice lessons (I want to keep up my singing)
Positive environment
LOVED the students there. All grounded in reality, very intelligent and fun people. </p>

<p>There is a lot more to say and I will elaborate on the whole audition experience and everything in a later post. In the end, I could just happily imagine myself there. Going to the classes walking from dorms to the CCM building and going through the day to day life. I really dug the energy that UC and CCM had. I was floored by how much I fell in love with the school while visiting. </p>

<p>Best of luck to everyone else making decisions!</p>

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<p>Congrats Josh!! So happy you fell in love with CCM and have no doubt you will be hugely successful! You must feel great!</p>

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<p>Thanks @hermomma‌! I do!</p>

<p>It looks like CC edited some of my post. The first monologue is from the play “C-O-C-K” so in the parenthesis thats what **** is. </p>

33

<p>So happy for you Josh, even though we won’t be going to school together it was so great meeting you and I wish you the best of luck this fall :slight_smile: :slight_smile: </p>

34

<p>Same to you! :slight_smile: </p>

35

<p>Josh!!! So happy for you and with your decision. My daughter may be posting on this board very very soon. All the feelings you’ve expressed match hers exactly! So, so, so very happy. Were you there this weekend and did you have a chance to see Spelling Bee? :D/ </p>

36

<p>I was! I just got home about an hour ago. Spelling Bee was awesome! </p>

37

<p>Congratulations Josh! CCM sounds really awesome! I hope you have time to report back when you’re there.</p>

38

<p>What a superb “decisions” post, Josh…much appreciated CCM is lucky to be getting you. Looking forward to more of your posts.</p>

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<p>My daughter is interested in creative writing, as well as acting. For that reason, she applied to only BA programs and only pursued a few auditioned programs. She was equally interested in the writing programs at the schools where she applied and a program where she could explore directing, playwriting, etc.</p>

<p>Applied (auditioned programs:) James Madison University, Emerson, Fordham
Applied (non-auditioned programs:) University of Richmond, College of Charleston and Boston University (planned a minor in theater there, so did not audition for BFA)</p>

<p>Additionally, she auditioned for theater scholarships at the C of C and University of Richmond, although they are non-auditioned programs. </p>

<p>Accepted: JMU, Emerson and College of Charleston</p>

<p>Waitlisted: Fordham and University of Richmond</p>

<p>Denied: Boston University</p>

<p>Final Decision: Emerson (BA- Theater Studies/ Acting)</p>

<p>Coaching: Met twice with a local director/ acting coach for some help when choosing monologues</p>

<p>Summer programs: Was selected and attended the month long Virginia Residential Governors School for the Performing Arts for theater between her junior and senior years. This experience helped her decide that she did want to pursue a theater major in college.</p>

<p>High School: did not attend a performing arts high school, but does attend a public high school with an amazing theater program with 2 full time teachers and lots of performance opportunities. Very blessed to be taught, nurtured and encouraged by both of these directors.</p>

<p>This was my family’s 2nd round through this college audition process. In both cases, we had them pick only a couple of the very, very selective theater programs to audition. Because we weren’t doing any strictly BFA schools this time, we did not attend Unifieds but did the auditions on the campus. </p>

<p>We tried to see a play at each schools as well, although we have never seen one at the school she ultimately chose. Seeing a play helped particularly in choosing to which of the non-auditioned programs to apply: for instance, one of our favorite plays we saw was at College of Charleston…not necessarily known for their theater program, but clearly have some talented students and are doing great work and having a ton of fun! Loved the faculty, the facilities, etc. Felt the same way about University of Richmond. The head of the theater program there was a student of Uta Hagen I mention this because the focus here on CC is so often on the really exclusive theater programs, but I think it is important to know that there are schools all across the country with vibrant, wonderful theater programs where kids are learning and growing. You just have to explore a little more deeply with those less known, non-auditioned programs and find out how they are structured, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Non-auditioned programs can be wonderful as well!</p>

<p>For this daughter, a more urban environment was also on her list…probably because her sister is LOVING the city life in Washington, D.C. She is in love with Boston and so excited to begin her life there next fall. </p>

<p>SO happy to have this decision made! Best of luck to all of you as you make your final choices!</p>

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<p>KellyLJ1, love your post and reading about your daughter’s successes and strategies (ours sound similar).</p>

<p>Agreed about the hidden gem theatre departments (especially in reputable LACs). I have been surprised about the lack of discussion with particular schools. congratulations to you both!</p>