Hartt freshmen

<p>Midden-- no need to bring a car. Most freshmen don’t. There’s a trolley that runs back and forth to the Performing Arts bldg. There’s also a cafe in HPAC (perf. arts bldg) that fits on the meal plan so they can grab lunch or dinner while they’re there. And wifi so they can do homework etc while they’re there. All of which is great because they’re always there! Also, kids with cars are very good about giving rides when rehearsal runs late, or whatever. Also there’s a bus to the town of West Hartford and the (huge upscale) mall on weekends. </p>

<p>D rooms with a dancer and they have been perfect roommates. Someone will make a Hartt 2017 group on Facebook soon, and they’ll start getting to know each other-- a lot of them choose roommates that way. I’d definitely find a roommate from Hartt-- theater, dance or music. The work ethic is so strong with all the Hartt kids, that they make good roomies too. </p>

<p>Safety-- U of Hartford sits in a very wealthy suburb, but The Perf. Arts bldg (though less than a mile away) is at the edge of a rough area. I was worried at first, but D has felt completely comfortable. She wouldn’t walk back from HPAC alone at night but walks across campus at night without a thought. The campus is very compact and well organized so a 5 minute walk will get you just about anywhere.</p>

<p>All the students fly in and out of Bradley Airport, so I’m sure that’s the right one, and it’s very close and easy to get to. Yes, it’s pretty easy to get around there. </p>

<p>If you get 15 posts you can PM me-- otherwise ask away!</p>

<p>Midden, a car is definitely not necessary first year. The campus shuttles run regularly and late. When there are evening rehearsals the upperclassman always make sure the young ones get home. No one is ever left at HPAC after hours! On weekends there are dd who transport kids back and forth to parties her car second half of freshman year because she had an internship off-campus. Of course after that she kept it. Re safety - they are fine <em>we</em> are the ones who worry!</p>

<p>Roommate selection is obviously a personal choice, D and I talked about her rooming with someone outside the program as a freshman thinking because the program was so insular it would be nice to have a little bit of regular campus life. After a few hits and misses, she found it best to room with people within the program and or with people from Hartt. She also opted not to move off campus as a sophomore, and has a nice single in an apartment on campus. </p>

<p>When we have needed to stay overnight, we book at the Holiday Inn express on Brainard Street in Hartford. It is close to the Bradley airport. There is a shuttle that goes to school. If you are renting a car there’s no charge for parking ($15+ a day at some hotels in town) We found it to be the most reasonable price around - ask for UH rate</p>

<p>Thanks for names of a hotels in the area and answering my questions!!! We looked for a FB group so far not seeing one, my d has been messaging a few kids that are planning on going to the university, but not to Hartt. We also are still looking into the financial part, since in my d acceptance letter it did not mention any art scholarships. I know that this is spring break for the school so may not get any questions answered on that front this week We (like most people) are ready to know where our daughter college “home” will be next year. We sure would love for it to be Hartt!</p>

<p>Hey! so my D was recently admitted into the Actor training program at Hartt as well as a few other schools, would she be able to join a sorority? We have talked and she would really like to join one, but knows hartt is the best place for her.</p>

<p>None of the AT girls joined sororities this year, but some of the MT’s did. It’s definitely possible.</p>

<p>Midden, unless it has changed in the past 2 years, the scholarship program at Hartt is very different from most schools. The University gives a certain percentage of scholarship money to each school to cover both academic and artistic, as the school sees fit. The secretary to the Theater department chair explained to us 2 years ago that Hartt had made a decision to use the entire amount to ‘woo’ the kids that they thought would be in most demand at many schools, to convince them to come to Hartt by offering a small number of large artistic, not merit, scholarships. So my daughter, who received a $20,000 combined artistic and merit scholarship at NYU was offered nothing at Hartt and was notified of nothing in the way of scholarships in her acceptance letter. That certainly put Hartt out of consideration for us! I hope that you find out differently, or that your d is one of the lucky ones, but I wanted to throw this out there as I know you have to wait through spring break to be in contact with them. I do hope it is operating differently now for most students, as we were very impressed with the program when we visited 2 years ago!</p>

<p>^^This is true-- although I’d say it was more meant to woo a diverse group–which, for instance, keeps the right balance of men and women in the program, etc. D was offered less at Hartt than at some others…but it has been worth it. Also Hartt’s tuition is more reasonable than some.</p>

<p>Midden - even though it’s spring break there is staff at Hartt-I spoke with someone in admissions this morning.</p>

<p>We are really leaning towards Hartt, even with the price tag it just seems like an amazing unique program, going to take a visit soon and make a final decision. Im sure will have more questions but it just feels right to my D and to us as parents</p>

<p>I have a study abroad question. I understand the AT juniors go to London for a semester but I read somwhere there are opportunities to study abroad in sophomore year? How does this work?</p>

<p>Hi Midden…how did you come to the conclusion about Hartt? My daughter loves it on paper and wants to visit. We have other schools to consider, Oklahoma City, Rider, Ohio Northern and Chapman…these are the schools she wants to visit.</p>

<p>djexpress, we have not visited the school yet either, like you all, Daughter has several choices to consider, actually 2 more added today, however my d and I really were so impressed at the Q & A at the Chicago unifieds, (1st was impressed that they even had a Q & A most programs didn’t) and now over the last couple of days the kids she is chatting with on FB are awesome with information and enthusiasm about their program, and to be honest, its just a feeling we are both getting, you know, like it is just the right place for her. We are going to go see the program and that warm and fuzzy could go away after visiting (although I have a feeling it will only intensify) anyway, that is where we are right now……have you scheduled a visit yet? we are needing to do that soon, all the end of year school stuff is coming up you know….I get a little teary eyed thinking about it!!</p>

<p>Hey guys! I’m a freshman AT at Hartt and I love it! If any of your kids (or you if you are the kid haha) are on Facebook – look up “The Hartt School Actor Training 2017” page! About five of the freshman AT’s are on there answering questions and getting to know our future classmates! Meanwhile I’m happy to answer any questions here if you want :slight_smile: </p>

<p>About London! YES the entire AT class spends 10 weeks in Birmingham, England studying Shakespeare etc. junior year :slight_smile: However over Spring break two theatre faculty bring students to Italy to study theatre in a more academic sense. This trip is open to all UHA students so is not just theatre division. More MT’s than AT’s tend to do this trip, because AT’s have the oppurtunity to go to London :)</p>

<p>Thanks. Do you find the academics challenging? How were the dorms? Anything for kids to do who don’t like to ‘party’ all that much?</p>

<p>Hi! The academics are fairly hit or miss, sometimes there will be a challenging one but usually not so much. I haven’t found a good one yet, but my friend has a GREAT sociology class this semester and talked to the teacher so she will be able to take her honors course next semester. It’s kind of a matter of seeking them out. However the theatre academics, text analysis etc are amazing! I’m in modern drama this semester, which is a ton of reading and writing but I’ve learned so much about both the literature and types of theatre. Recently we talked about Subsaharan African drama, it’s an incredible class. </p>

<p>The dorms are fine, not bad not good. They have big windows which is nice and they’re a decent size so not much to complain about – but they certainly aren’t beautiful either lol.</p>

<p>Kids who don’t like to party! Yes, I’m one of them! Plenty of kids party every weekend, but just as many can be found sitting in someones dorm room eating bagel bites and watching smash. or doing ballet in the laundry rooms. we go to Elizabeth Park and play frisbee. or anything else. Also there’s a beautiful down town and a great mall that we love on weekend daytimes! Also if you want to go to a party but not drink it’s a SUPER chill environment, none of the upperclassmen will ever pressure you into it, so you may find yourself enjoying hanging out at a party eating cheetos. hhaha.</p>

<p>Thank you! Mainly worried about my D who is not really into parties and worried about the drinking…but sounds like there are kids like you who can still socialize without having to worry about it! And knowing you can at least seek out challenging classes and do honors work is good to know also. Dorms. Someone mentioned lots of kids move off campus second year. Do just as many stay?</p>

<p>A lot of people move off campus, but a large number, maybe slightly less, will stay in the on campus apartments. Many of my friends will be off campus next year, but I’m choosing to stay on campus because I feel it will be easier transportation-wise and I don’t feel ready to do the whole land lord thing…however lots of people feel differently. It seems to work out pretty well for everyone…</p>

<p>ok, one more question…sophmore year if you elect to stay on campus are there apartment style alternatives, more specifically, single apartment style housing? That would be D’s preference second year, to have her own space and not have to share with others.</p>

<p>Sophomore year you can have a single dorm on campus, but the apartments are for four to six people with two people in each room :)</p>

<p>Newbiet my D is a sophomore MT who chose to stay on campus - most if her very large class live off campus. She is in a single in an apartment that she shares with 3 others - one in a single and the other two in a double. She is very happy to have company when she chooses to and a door to close when she desires privacy. She will be doing it again as a junior.</p>