<p>I am trying to think of new ways to help D compare theatre schools, so that she can make a decision. (To recap, she currently has 5 schools to decide from, of which 2-3 are clear favorites.)</p>
<p>One of the things D is doing is requesting from each school a curriculum planbasically a road map of the next 4 years showing what theatre courses, elective courses, and gen-ed courses she would have to take to get her BFA. She plans to take these and have a pow-wow with a couple of her theatre teachers and compare their features and deficits. Ok, thats the first step.</p>
<p>We have visited most of the 5 schools and have pretty clear impressions of them as far as fit for D, and have two more visits/revisits scheduled. At these D will actually sit in on a couple classes and spend the day with the tech professor and his current students. Thats the second step. </p>
<p>The other idea I am currently intrigued with is to directly ask each theatre tech head what he thinks are the outstanding attributes of their program, vs the others. In other words, get D to get up her courage and ask I am trying to decide between programs X, Y and Zwhat about your program do you think makes it different or stand out from the other two? Would this be considered terribly crass? As far as protocol, is mentioning names of other schools you are accepted to not done? </p>
<p>D has corresponded with all 3 professors now on a first name basis via many emails and they all seem quite friendly and approachable. Also, as Ive mentioned elsewhere, her particular tech specialty is a small world and Im 100% positive each of them know or have at least met the others. I would think they would know something about their competitor programs. What Im hoping to get is discriminating information about something--maybe their industry contacts, or training emphasis--that is non-obvious or that she couldnt otherwise glean from a visit or curriculum plan. But I also hope it doesnt come off like shes inviting them to bad-mouth each other either.</p>
<p>Anyone ever done this? I would appreciate any of your feedback, including naturally, doctorjohn.</p>
<p>I just want to let you know that your D's plan to compare the curricula at each of her 5 choices is a good one. She probably does not need to write to the schools to get the curriculum guides. Most schools will have this info on their websites. I downloaded the curricula for about 17 different programs for my D when she was evaluating MT programs. In fact, there was only one school whose info couldn't be found on-line. I got the BA MT course requirements for that school on-line. (Since students can't audition for the BFA program at that school until sophomore year, they don't post the course requirements for the degree online.) It can be tricky to find the degree requirements. A few schools will post the curricula on the theatre dept. website. Many other schools only list the curricula in the coursebooks. If you poke around, you can usually find it. </p>
<p>Also, asking each theatre tech chair to tell your D what he thinks are the outstanding attributes of his programis a fine idea. It is not at all crass for her to say she's trying to decide between his school and others. The chairs will probably ask for the other schools' names. They know that they are competing for talented students, just as your D is competing for a spot in a good program. My D had dept. chairs tell her that that even if she didn't choose their school she wouldn't go wrong by choosing School A or B. </p>
<p>Sounds like you and your D have a fine plan of action.</p>
<p>I concur completely with dancersmom. It's a good plan, and there is no problem asking the various chairs to compare their programs. They may not be completely familiar with the details of the other schools' curricula, but they certainly will know what they consider their own particular strengths. </p>
<p>Dancersmom is right, you can find curricula on-line in most cases, but I'd give the schools the opportunity to send you other materials. Just have your d ask for anything they think might be helpful to her in making her decision. </p>
<p>Finally, one other thing that occurs to me. Most department websites will have photos of productions. Your d should be able to get a decent idea of the kind of design work done by faculty and/or students from looking at the photos. She'll be able to tell not only the design approaches (even if she can't define or label them yet) but also the kind of plays a department tends to favor. I suspect one aesthetic will be more appealing than the others.</p>
<p>Thank you both for your thoughtful comments. I have seen a few curriculum plans posted on school websites, but in varying formats, and some don't show what year you would take what. She is asking questions to clarify them so she can match apples with apples.</p>
<p>Glad for the reassurance about the other question. I am the type that believes knowledge is power and why not be frank and ask for what you really want to know. I would imagine it's so much easier for them to answer "what makes your department unique from XYZ College?" than the far more open-ended "what makes your department unique?". Now I just need to buck up D's courage that it's okay to be direct and ask.</p>
<p>I never thought about looking at past productions to see what sort of plays or artistic approach a school favors--excellent tip, doctorjohn.</p>
<p>I'll report more on what we learn. I just can't believe there's only 2 months left before d-day May 1. Gosh it seems like I've been in a timewarp since this whole college thing started....</p>
<p>Please read the thread "The need for tech students in college theatre" for her complete story including schools. It's just a couple threads below this one in "Arts Majors". I hope it helps to motivate your son. There's also a thread called "Theatre Design & Production" you may find helpful, a couple threads below that.</p>
<p>Does he have any schools in mind yet? What grade is he in now?
Welcome, and thanks for making your first post here.</p>
<p>TaraMom-
I read the threads you recommended. Sounds like our students have a lot in common with tech theater. My son is a senior and has been heavily involved in tech theater for 4 years. I'm happy to learn there might be jobs for these students upon college graduation. Most of the info I hear appiles to acting and musical theatre so I'm eager to exchange more info with you. I'll try to email you individually.</p>
<p>Do any of you or your respective children ever consider which school might offer the best advantage should a change in major occur? I ask this because I know it's rather common that students change their minds and majors once they start in on their college lives. </p>
<p>Just wondering if this "what if?" ever comes up in the decision making process?</p>
<p>Ha, good point. My D would tell you such a thing as a change in major could never happen with her. I do believe her sincerity but have been around the block enough times to know things can evolve. After all, there was once a time (only a couple years ago) that she wasn't interested in theater, wasn't there? (smileyface)</p>
<p>But your question certainly enters the debate Im having with myself and her over her college choices. One of her top picks is a school dedicated to the arts, and the other is a university. I've read many of the threads on the musical theatre board that have overlapped this subject about training vs education, and BFA vs BA and conservatory approach vs traditional colleges. I found a lot to chew on there. After much thought I believe I prefer the university for my D, not so much because I think it will have back-up majors in case she changes her mind about theatre but just because I want her to be exposed to those different majors in the first place. </p>
<p>As I see it (metaphorically speaking), in the arts school she will be learning in the bright,. intensely focused spotlight of her chosen craft, and the training will be the best in the nation. That's great, but....that's all. The only other students she will interface with will be other artists--in dance, film, graphics, etc. At a university, she will still learn her craft, but in a softer more diffuse sunlight, with some dappled shade. Also there will be a large body of students around in creative majors AND non-art subjects such as political science, mathematics, philosophy, and engineering. The university has a higher GE requirement and will also require her to take more courses in areas like these than the arts school will, even though both degrees are BFAs.</p>
<p>So I would hope that favoring the more varied environment isnt being undermining to her long-term goal, i.e, expecting her to have a change of heart after a couple years of theater. I would never in a million years expect her to switch to law, medicine, math, or science. She might however evolve into film, or other creative areas that utilize her specialty. She might also one day want to start or join a small business producing these tech effects for entertainment and media. But I am expecting her to stick with her current focus, and just want also the broadening effect of a traditional college education as much as possible. Oh yeah and the football team, my husband (half) facetiously says, she cant go to a college that doesnt have a football team gotta love them.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, Taramom, for your very thoughtful and thought provoking reply to my post. I really appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I went to a university myself, though I received a BFA - and I have to say that some of the absolutely best and most inspiring clases I took were not in my major. I truly did get a great deal out of that diversity you mention in your post.</p>
<p>When I originally posted earlier - I'd just finished reading NCSA's description of their program and individual majors and almost fell over with their astounding program - but then I started to think about the possibility of one's "changing horses in midstream" so to speak. For myself, I really should have changed my major but I was in my last year and held back... It's still early in the game for my daughter but I'm trying to keep my eyes wide open. ;)</p>
<p>I just read this post and thought I should cross-reference it here.</p>
<p>It's #18 on the "College visits at decision time" thread in the Parents Forum.</p>
<p>BassDad mentions some excellent criteria to include when visiting which I wouldn't have thought of myself. Though he's talking about music programs, it's quite applicable to theater as well. The rest of the thread is great as well.</p>