<p>This is my first post after lurking for a while and trying to absorb all the great info from the community. My D is a sophomore who has discerned that MT is her vocation. I am not familiar with performing as a college or career choice AT ALL, and am grateful to each of you for your input.<br>
My question has to do with summer programs, Interlochen specifically.<br>
She applied and was accepted to the 3 week musical theater program for this summer. When I asked her why she did not try for the 6 week program, she admitted that she was not willing to be away from home that long. She then got accepted to BoCo Musical theater dance intensive for the next 3 weeks which is closer to home.<br>
Is any one familiar with Interlochen and can comment on the 3 week program vs the 6 week. Will this program be adequate? I actually am pleased at her decision to concentrate a great deal on dance this summer, but she says she feels there is a negative connotation to the 3 week program from some she knows going to the 6 week.
As she is only a sophomore she is planning to do a longer program next year.
Grateful for any input.</p>
<p>My D did the three week MT Workshop last summer and loved every minute of it. The six week puts on a full musical, while the 3 week does a cabaret. I don’t think the kids in the workshop felt they were “less” because they did the three week - most of them had the same issues and were so busy with their own shows at home, other intensives and the like. My D did the last session so that they ended with everyone else at camp at the “closing ceremonies” which was a lovely way to do it. She still texts daily with her Interlochen friends, saw them at auditions around the country, and felt the faculty still care so much where she lands, how she is doing. I can’t say enough great things about the experience for my D. It changed her. However, I’m sure there are other programs that do the same thing for others, so it may be more what type of environment does your D want? My D loved the entire tradition of Interlochen - the knee socks and wooden cabins by the lake. That’s a pretty cool thing.</p>
<p>Welcome! (and holy smokes, do you really have 9 kids?! Wow!) </p>
<p>Interlochen is a really, really wonderful program! The 3 week and 6 week program are both fantastic, and I would say don’t worry at all about there being a negative connotation associated with the 3 week- the fact that she actually got in to Interlochen speaks a great deal to her talent. I’m from Michigan, and the kids here sometimes think of Interlochen as “just some arts camp up north,” when in reality it’s one of the best performing arts high schools in the country and they do a really, really fantastic job with their summer programs.</p>
<p>The main difference between the 3 and 6 week programs are that in the 3 week program, the kids are taking classes in various MT areas which lead to a showcase, while in the 6 week program, the kids are preparing a fully staged musical. If your daughter is concerned that the 3 week program is advertised for “beginning to intermediate” while the 6 week is advertised for “intermediate to advanced,” again, no worries. I know a girl that’s gone to the 3 week program for the last 2 or 3 years and she’s UBER talented, and I would consider her “advanced.” For her, it was more about not wanting to spend her whole summer away, enjoying the classroom style setting and her parents liking the price tag a little bit better 
</p>
<p>That being said, BoCo’s dance intensive is nothing to sneeze at either! It’s all about what she wants to get out of a summer program. If she wants to focus solely on dance, do BoCo. If she wants their entire MT experience, do Interlochen, and please assure her that their program as a whole is very well respected!</p>
<p>Thank you for your insight, MTCoach and LuvMTs. I feel reassured and excited for her summer. Because she is hard working and motivated we are going to dig deep and allow her to go to both Interlochen and BoCo this summer as they don’t overlap. I have an oldest who plays college football, and I remember his high school summers as the time when he had to do camps and showcases, especially sophomore and junior years, and this seems to be much the same.
And yes, I really do have 9 kids!</p>
<p>PERFECT! If you can afford this, I think that is ideal. Dance is fun and informative at Interlochen, but obviously the intensive at BoCo will be more of a builder of those skills. The MT experience at Interlochen will broaden her perspective. Sometimes it’s really key to get impressions and experiences from a wide community like that. My D changed her ideas about some of her college audition plans after the summer there.</p>
<p>Wow, that’s really fantastic that you’re able to provide her with that opportunity! She will certainly have an unforgettable summer with an invaluable amount of learning! I agree with LuvMT also that she will start to really get a feel what she likes about colleges come time to apply. You really can’t get two more different atmospheres than BoCo and Interlochen. Congrats to her!</p>
<p>To LuvMT:</p>
<p>I would love to hear more details about her experience and how it changed her perceptions as I feel we are babes in the woods!</p>
<p>Welcome to CC! Congrats to your daughter on 2 great programs! 3 weeks is plenty!</p>
<p>Momofnine, my D did the 3 week and went back for the 6 week. She had the time of her life and learned that this is something she wants to do for the rest of her life. She was surrounded by others with the same passion and love as she has. She loved the surroundings and the instructors were wonderful, as well as the counselors. The stories about the cafeteria food are legendary ;-). As for us as parents, we noticed she came home a driven and mature artist who understood where her weakness was and how to improve.</p>
<p>Momofnine - my daughter went to Interlochen’s 3 week MT program the summer after her 9th grade. She changed and grew so much in those 3 weeks. She loved Interlochen…so much so that she has spent the last two years at Interlochen Arts Academy and will be graduating from IAA in May. Best wishes to your daughter and a potentially life-changing opportunity.</p>
<p>S attended IAC MT 6 week program between 8th and 9th grade and loved it. He then attended IAA for 3 year and graduated this past May. He and his classmates were well prepared for Chicago Unifieds and were accepted to top BFA programs in the country. Interlochen is simply a great performing arts school.</p>