<p>Trip planning - Our young friend at Point Park said it is 5 or 5 1/2 hours to NYC. I guess it depends on how fast one drives, but it is all Interstate or Turnpikes.</p>
<p>After very poor trip planning on our part, I realized that combining Pittsburgh with Ohio schools, such as BW and Otterbein would have made more sense than what we did. Pittsburgh is very close to Ohio and very far, relatively, from the NY schools. A year ago spring break we had a great trip planned - NYC shows and colleges, drive to Ithaca and Syracuse, drive to Pittsburgh. Our flight plans took us into LaGuardia and home from Pittsburgh after 9 days. We visited several colleges in NYC and Pittsburgh, of which my son only wants to pursue Juillard, NYU, PPU, and CMU. In Pittsburgh we also saw Univ. of Pittsburgh which impressed me if I were picking a college for myself, but it wasn't at all what my MT son wanted. When at CMU, be sure to visit PPU also. My son is also interested in pursuing Ithaca and Syracuse, but we didn't even make it there on that trip due to 15 inches of snow that came to upstate NY the day we were scheduled to leave! (We had to go back to those schools last summer). Instead of going to Ithaca and Syracuse that March, at the last minute we went to Baltimore on the way from NYC to Pittsburgh (saw Goucher - great dance, not MT option). This allowed us to get to Pittsburgh a day early and see all the sites - we loved the city!</p>
<p>Travel time - I believe, had we done the drive, we expected a 4 hour drive from NYC to Ithaca, 1 hour on to Syracuse, then 5 hours from Syracuse to Pittsburgh (all on NY turnpike and Interstate, if I remember correctly).</p>
<p>well that's very good news that it is under 7 hours! Not sure whether it is longer or shorter from my neck of the woods, as there are various ways to go, south or west.</p>
<p>Hehe, D's in! Figures, just bought plane & hotel tix for FL in July. All's well tho, we are rigging a pretty good intensive locally, so hopefully she'll have plenty of confidence to spare when those pesky auditions roll around.
Best summer wishes to those going, it should be great. Keep posting!</p>
<p>Hey! I'm the daughter of Debelli and thought I would create my own CC screen name:) I was also accepted to the CMU theater program (MT) so if anyone wants to chat.....feel free to IM me! </p>
<p>P.S- I also joined in on the CMU chat a few days ago:) It was quite good...so if anyone has any ?'s...I might be able to help (I asked quite a few myself). Plus their having another discussion on May 31st:)</p>
<p>For those interested in more info about the program, thought I'd share the precollege student handbook website that we got with D's acceptance (2 little 2 late)....</p>
<p>Hey. I've talked to a bunch of you already thanks to AIM (I'm macbeth428). But I think it would be neat if we could all set up chat room together sometime. That way we could get to know some of the people that we're going to meet this summer. I'm not sure when, my schedual's pretty hectic right now. But if anyone else is interested in pursuing this idea just IM me.</p>
<p>As of today, 5/25, there are 32 days untill the opening day of CMU Pre-College . . .</p>
<p>We're trying to figure out my getting home arrangement...I am most likely to fly home alone. They said that you can sign out between 2 adn 6 on Friday August 5th and 8 and 12 on Saturday August 6th.</p>
<p>Which is better to do? Is it better to be around the last night or do most people go home Friday that it's kind of pointless??</p>
<p>Do most people leave really early that Saturday morning? ie would it be wiser to get an early flight with a lay-over than a really late flight with no lay-over?</p>
<p>Hey, about the AIM chat room thing- There was already a small one with a couple of you. But I think a Sunday might be good to try and pull some more people in. How bout this Sunday? I'll be online around 5ish I think. Anyone else interested can join in. If you're new to it and want to join the chat just IM me (again, macbeth428)</p>
<p>I remember when my D did precollege in '03 that departure was affected by your mock audition slots. The auditions took place on the last three days of the program and several who had made plans to leave the last day found it to be too tight a scheduling issue so maybe Saturday is best for you. Check to see when the mock auditions will be scheduled this year to be certain.</p>
<p>To CMU Pre-College Alums... a few questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Should my daughter bring a lot of her sheet music, monologue books, etc., or just some select ones?</p></li>
<li><p>Do you pay extra for all the off-campus activities, or is that included in the "tuitition"?</p></li>
<li><p>How much "spending" money should one bring? It is worth it to use the school's "Campus Xpress account"?</p></li>
<li><p>The handbooks says about $300-400 in spending money, does that include the $150 on text books? (And by the way, what are these textbooks?)</p></li>
<li><p>A new listing of the nation's best Pizza (Pizza: A Slice of Heaven) includes Regina Margherta in Pittsburgh. Is it really that good? (We have a New York and New Haven perspective.)</p></li>
<li><p>My daughter is not bringing a computer and does not intend to spend a lot of time on line. But is there some opportunity on a regular basis to check email, etc., or should she give out her snail mail address?</p></li>
<li><p>I assume kids bring cell phones, although the handbook talks about bringing a phone set for the room to get incoming calls. What do you recommend? Is cell phone coverage good in Pittsburgh? (We have T-Mobile.) </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks. I'm sure we will have more questions between now and departure.</p>
<p>My D will also be attending the CMU summer program this year. We live in Pittsburgh, so maybe I can help with some of your questions.</p>
<p>I have only been in Pittsburgh for 1 1/2 years, but I have never heard of the Pizza place you mention. Pittsburgh is not that big of a city so I'd be surprised if it is worth searching out. If you want to get a taste of Pittsburgh go to Primanti Brothers. </p>
<p>Cell phone service in Pittsburgh is OK, but not great. There are too many mountains and hills. I am a T-Mobile customer as well. You may have to move around a bit, but the phone will work.</p>
<p>wait...is it not okay to leave on the 5th? because uhhh I really want to get home by 8 and see Wicked's opening night...haha.</p>
<p>can anyone tell me about these mock auditions?
do they accept people or I mean...mock accept people?
...sorry, I just don't know much yet...
<3Syd</p>
<p>When I called a few weeks ago to inquire about admission for my son, I asked about the auditions. They told me that it is "rare" - but they have offered admission to a summer student with exceptional talent in the past.</p>
<p>I'll try to answer some of the questions. My D had Verizon and it worked well. She did not get a phone in her room, she just used her cell. She did bring a computer, but was never able to hook it up, so she just used the computers in the library or in a friend's room. During the week they have an 11:00 curfew, so you can't even stay in the library after that time to get work done. We left on the last day of mock auditions on a 5:00 pm flight. I called before to let them know so she was done that day by noon. You need time to pack up all of your belongings as well as get checked out on the last day, but it was very doable as long as you let CMU know that she has a flight that day. I think most people checked out on the last day (for us it was a Friday). There were very few people waiting until Saturday.</p>
<p>The off-campus activities do cost extra, but after the initial trip to the water park and to a musical, she went to very few as she had lots of work to do, extra rehearsals, etc. and really didn't have much time. You do not need to pay for these as soon as you get there. I would wait to see as they go along. </p>
<p>As far as offering admission after the mock auditions, they only offered 2 boys admission to straight drama last summer, none to mt. </p>
<p>Hope this helps. Ask away. I've been offline for the last few days, so if I've missed any questions, let me know.</p>
<p>Verizon seems to work very well at CMU. My S is a student there and has used Verizon the last two years, (nationwide service). His cell worked so well that this last school year he did not get a regular phone. He will do the same next school year. Text messaging has also been great.</p>
<p>Catsmom: I know one of those boys that got in:) He'a actually going to Julliard. Kinda cool!</p>
<p>I wish they would send us a packing list....I have a feeling I'm going to forget something.</p>
<p>About the chat...I think I'll be able to make it sunday. It depends what time because I might go to a graduation party. But just tell me the time and I'll see what's going on:)</p>
<p>In the online handbook there is a packing list of sorts. Not detailed, but mentions things to bring. Also, make sure you look at the list required for the dancing component.</p>