After going through this process, I have to say I’m walking away with a huge amount of respect for those schools that do take time with each person who auditions. I know it must be difficult and exhausting to actually make each student feel they are important and worth their time - especially at Unifieds But in this long process where many kids are left feeling like just another nameless, faceless, warm body that walks into an audition space, those schools that make the effort to try to connect with each student and encourage each one automatically become the best places for an MT degree in my mind.
@heliobike I would be interested to know and I’m sure others here would be also, which programs you felt really extended themselves to your student in terms of quality time and attention. If you would be so brave is to share that with us. It would be really valuable information to have going into this next year
@Notmath1 I messaged you.
@MTheaterMom Bravo! Thank you.
I think it’s a process. Every school does it a little different and I’m thankful for that. I think all the schools we dealt with were very professional. We’d all like to have a Chrystal ball and know what those auditioning our children are they thinking. We don’t. Sometimes you just have to have faith in the process and our own children. A year from now you’ll look back and think how happy your child is with their choice. Remember it only takes one yes and it doesn’t have to be a BFA MT.
I was only going to reply to the original post but DANG, @connections and @EmsDad 's comments are so real. Let us not forget that college admissions and auditions, and musical theatre itself, is a businesses. And that deeply concerns me. It’s annoying to me that “future marketability” is all based on the past models and molds they’re trying to fit students into. Especially since the most famous performers really truly don’t fit any mold and got famous BECAUSE they didn’t. Like, screw you if you think my “look” (read: weight) means all I can be onstage is funny, aka laughed at. If that’s all musical theatre is, if we just have to suck it up and deal with the way things are, I really and truly don’t want any part of it. Which is why I go to UArts, lol.
OKAY @MTHopeful99 I was you in high school. I was EXACTLY where you are. I never had leads in high school. I was never one of the talented kids. I did not come into my program, or the college audition process, with an astounding amount of talent (although I had some training). And even now, as a sophomore, having grown a TON, I wouldn’t say that I’m ready to audition professionally.
The thing is, you are always going to worry that you’re not good enough. Literally always. And I guess my main advice is, don’t go to a school that isn’t interested in training you. Does that make sense? Don’t go to a school that’s only interested in training triple threats/Future Broadway Stars. This is incredibly personal and vulnerable work that we do. You have to be with faculty that believe in you and your potential and understand that you’re LEARNING. It’s about who you are going to train with and who is going to help you find who you are within the work and the field. In my opinion, “talent” is hyped up way too much. Like, what does that word even mean? There is a lot of work you can do to improve, whether that is in terms of technical skills or confidence and power and other mystical acting stuff. Do not let anyone tell you that “success” in this business depends upon your natural talent. Also you’re freaking 17!!! You have so much time! Graduating from a BFA program doesn’t end your development as an artist. You don’t even have to be a finished product then. I know I won’t be, through no fault of my program. We have to keep learning, or else what’s the point?
The idea that an educator would take on a student who is already perfect and ready to find immediate success, just because they want to take credit, really grosses me out. What are you going to do if not teach your students!? I just don’t think you’ll find a theater professor who is going to admit students that they won’t have to work with. They are teachers for a reason! Plus, people do make crazy leaps and bounds in theater school. You’ll see it. Aside from the financial aspects, more of this is under your control than most people would lead you to believe. If I hadn’t felt like I needed the rigor of a BFA program to improve my skills, I wouldn’t have auditioned for any. What a waste of time and money to train people who are already there! Not that a BFA is the only place to get training, it just happened to be really convenient.
I truly don’t know what it’s like at other schools, but every time I see a thread like this I am so so so grateful that I am going to UArts!
@MTTheaterMom Will have to listen to that podcast and so true about the money flow. However the fit issue is probably true but to be honest in our quick visits and auditions to schools neither my kid nor we were able to figure out the best fit. They all sounded great on paper and in their presentations so for my kid often it just boiled down to locations or facilities.