I didn’t get into any of my first choice, or even my second choice mt programs first time around auditioning. Ended up committing to a small auditioned BFA program with the hopes that it would still provide good training. I am now about to enter my junior year and I’m regretting not taking a gap year and re-auditioning. As a freshman, I thought that the training was good enough, but now as I’m progressing through the program I’m realizing that if the training keeps going the way it’s going, I won’t be prepared for life after graduation. My skill set is so far behind other musical theatre students my age in other programs.
Is it completely ridiculous to contemplate transferring at this point? If I did end up leaving, I would be throwing away my senior year to start over completely somewhere new. I wouldn’t graduate till I was 24, and that’s IF I could find a program that would take me as a sophomore.
I’m not happy where I am, but there’s no guarantee that transferring would solve my problems. I want to be able to graduate from a musical theatre program that I’m proud to have a degree from, where I am receiving good training in all three areas, and where I feel like I’m included and accepted by the mt faculty and students. I have to say that at the place I’m at, I’m not feeling any of those things. Should I suck it up and push through the next two years and then try to find better training after I graduate, or should I look into transferring?
I think my suggestion would be to supplement your training either this summer, or the summer after you graduate. rather than change programs now You are so close to getting your degree – I would stick with it for one more year and graduate. What training do you feel is lacking?
If you are concerned about dance: looking in Broadway Dance Center Professional Semester. You can work a part time job and flexibly schedule classes around your other needs. And get amazing training. Others to look into in NYC are Steps, Alvin Ailey and lots more.
Circle in the Square has summer programs, a 2 year training program and various seminars you could consider in a variety of disciplines.
If Acting is your concern, there are so many great studios that offer acting training. Look at Stella Adler, The Barrow Group, Michael Howard Studios and lots of others in NYC. Other towns may have great training also,
You also could consider doing an internship for summer stock that provides both training and performance experience. Many of these require you to pay for participation and they can vary in their quality - so really check them out, but look into programs like Hangar Lab Company, Barrington Stage and Weathervane to name a few that have a pretty good reputation. Some even offer the opportunity to earn EMC points. So worth checking out.
You may also look into internship programs post graduation that allow you to continue training.
There are amazing voice teachers all over the country. Research and find one that will help you achieve your goals.
You also could consider getting a masters in MT to get additional training. Check out places like Boston Conservatory, Oklahoma City University, NYU Steinhardt, and San Diego State.
All the to say - don’t throw away the last 3 years of training you’ve received. Finish that degree – you’re almost done! And keep pursuing your dreams. Most actors never stop training and learning. You will be in good company!
Those are all good suggestions! I’m already doing a lot of dance and acting outside of school, and I would really like to participate in a summer stock program like the ones you mentioned!
I guess it’s not only the training I feel that I’m lacking- I’m not feeling support and attention from the faculty, and the students are very cliquey. We also don’t have very many alumni working as actors, so I also feel like I’m missing out on an important support network of connections.
So I guess my options right now are doing a training program after graduation/over the summer, going for a master’s, or transferring… yikes! All pretty costly options!
@mtmajor1999 Thinking of things from a purely cost perspective, you have already paid for 3 of 4 years in your degree program. If you transferred, most schools would have you start over so you’d pay for 4 more years to get your BFA. A masters degree would be 2 extra years of cost. My advice would be to stick it out and either supplement your training as @vvnstar suggested or go for the masters. Best of luck!
I think you said you are going into your junior year @mtmajor1999 ? There might be some programs where some of your classes would transfer but obviously it’s too late to audition for programs starting this fall. Are your parents involved in paying for your education etc? You could also consider auditioning for professional theatres for their upcoming seasons and see if you could take a leave of absences from your current college for a year to work in the professional theatre world. Since you said you are doing a lot of dance and theatre outside of your program, does that mean you haven’t been involved in any productions at your college? There are year long internships at professional theatres that pay a small stipend (and usually housing) and provide lots of training.
Yes, I am going into my junior year, so if I transferred, I would be looking for a program where I could finish in 3 years so that I would be adding 2 extra years onto college. One of the things I’m looking at is affordability because I wouldn’t want the cost to be too crazy.
And to answer your question, I haven’t really been cast in any school productions yet. I’ve been auditioning for everything, but no such luck up to this point. I’m not sure if taking a year off to work in professional theatre would be an option for me right now, but that’s something I’d like to look into later!
Since you are 3 years in I think you’d be throwing money away to transfer - and to be brutally honest if you haven’t gotten top-quality training to date your chances for transferring to a better program aren’t very high because the auditors aren’t going to know if your current less-trained skill level is your fault or your program’s. Either take a gap year or graduate, move somewhere where you can work to support yourself, audition for work, make connections and continue to train. It’s what most graduates of MT programs will have to do anyway - training doesn’t stop at graduation and networking is a career necessity. I understand your concern that you won’t graduate with everything you want to have accomplished in college but you need to move forward from that.
I agree about the outside training and work experience. But, maybe you need to sit down with your professors and ask them for honest feedback about what you need to work on and what they suggest you do outside the school? Do you have annual juries so you know what training would be most helpful?
I agree with @loribelle especially since you haven’t been cast yet in a school show. Asking for feedback is so beneficial. Are there any student run productions you can get involved in to help you get to know your peers better?
Agree with wise words above. Finish your degree where you are & supplement your training in summers or holidays. A Masters degree would be better fiscal & career choice than starting a new. Look at The Broadway Collective and Broadway Artist Alliance for intensives as well in NYC to supplement your training in the meantime. These organizations have lots of options that can supplement any college MT program. And Junior & Senior year of college will fly by quickly. So you’ll be moving on soon anyway.