Is it true Princeton's trying to expand its theater program?

<p>And if so, would it be a sort of hook to apply with a great passion and talent for theater? Especially if I sent in a vocal supplement and got a rec from my voice teacher? Thanks!</p>

<p>Princeton has definitely taken steps to expand it's theatre program (and other creative arts programs as well). The Berlind Theatre, renewed and strengthened ties with McCarter, interesting course offerings, and a proliferation of extracurricular theatrical activities are great examples of strides Princeton's taking in the theatre arts field. So if you're in to theatre, there's no lack of things to do.</p>

<p>And by the way...I LOOOOVE WICKED! Therefore I heart your CC name. Come to Princeton! If you're accomplished either theatrically or vocally (i.e. you've been heavily involved in either or both over the last four years with (hopefully) some distinguishing recognition), it could definitely be a major asset to your application. Good luck! :)</p>

<p>Yes, Rapelye spelled out the strategy in a letter to alumni last year. Absolutely do send a CD/DVD in or even ask if you can audition.</p>

<p>I think Princeton is making an effort to pay more attention to all its arts programs. I visited with a photo professor and he said that now he's asked to make a list of people he wants, and that his opinion matters more now, as opposed to a few years ago.</p>

<p>Very good news! Thanks for all your advice.</p>

<p>And philntex: I love Wicked too! I'm a huge musical theater fan. I change my cd's in my car about every week with new show recordings. Have you heard 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee? It's hilarious!
And I can assure you, if admitted, I will definitely attend! If only it were that simple...</p>

<p>Noooo, I haven't heard that yet :( That's funny, because one of my best friends (whom I call Queen of Musical Theatre) hasn't mentioned it to me...I definitely just started my Broadway CD collection now, so I have a ways to go. I really hope you get in! You can never have too many theatre nerds (said with the utmost respect and affection, of course) :D</p>

<p>hey, when you guys say "creative arts," do you think that includes creative writing, too?</p>

<p><em>crosses fingers</em></p>

<p>:D</p>

<p>Creative writing shares a building with visual arts. I think they're close enough...but Princeton already has a well-developed creative writing program, imo.</p>

<p>so if creative writing is a well-developed program, which of the following do you think would be more likely?</p>

<p>SITUATION 1</p>

<p>"Look, koala loves creative writing! We love creative writing too!"</p>

<p><em>enthusiastic applause from adcoms</em></p>

<p>There is much singing and rejoicing as koala's app is added to the Admitted pile.</p>

<p>SITUATION 2</p>

<p>"No, not another creative writer! My god, when will they stop applying?"</p>

<p><em>obnoxious booing from adcoms</em></p>

<p>There is much hissing and tomato-throwing as koala's now vegetable-stained app bypasses the Reject pile and goes straight to the garbage can.</p>

<p>P.S. (sincere apologies for hijacking your thread, glinda! ;))
P.P.S. ok, i know it's really not this cut-and-dry, and creative writing probably won't make or break me, but you get the general idea... how do you think the adcoms will feel about creative writers?</p>

<p>I am a proud theater nerd! I just have to figure out how to emphasize it on my app. Ugh...You'd think I'd have started by now. I'm just really nervous I guess. Want to think it through and cover all the bases. </p>

<p>koala: Don't worry about the hijacking! I'm sure you're just as nervous as I am and are seeking answers to unanswerable questions too. ;)</p>

<p>Haha...NOW I know why my interviewer spent twenty minutes asking me about my eagerness to play in pit orchestras and youth orchestras and why I hated "Joseph" so much...and another hour about piano.</p>

<p>I guess it also helped that my major essay was about music.</p>

<p>So what IS the strategy?</p>

<p>New strategy, starting this year:</p>

<p>Take all the apps and divide them into 2 piles, theater apps and non-theater apps. Automatically admit the theater apps. Go through the non-theater apps and find people with perfect SAT's, then put them in the maybe pile. Everyone else is an automatic reject. Then go through the reject pile, find koala's app, and put it in the admit pile, because that would make her happy :D. Sorry, folks... you can win every international award in the world, but if you haven't been in your school play, you're gonna have to settle for Harvard.</p>

<p>Hehe... i'm just kidding, by the way... people seem to have a hard time sensing my sarcasm on this forum ;)</p>

<p>I think situation 1 is more likely, and I'm not just saying that to make you happy.</p>

<p>awww, zant, that DOES make me happy! :D</p>

<p>especially now that i know my app won't be covered in tomatoes... i hate tomatoes :p</p>

<p>Kind of off topic, but do certain less popular majors help? Like say, classics?</p>

<p>Well....on topic...lol....I'm proud to say that I'm a fine arts recruit! lol The admissions office is definitely making an effort to increase fine and performing arts at Pton and I'm positive going and auditioning (I'm a dancer) made a huge difference in my app. I know the dance instructor there wrote a letter for me to the adcoms and such, and I'm pretty sure there's a pretty direct correllation btw that and me getting in!</p>

<p>Do you think auditioning in person would make a better impression than sending in a tape?</p>

<p>I thought it helped me cause it gave me a chance to actually talk to the director of the program face-to-face and let her get to know me a bit. But if that's not possible, I'm sure a tape's fine.</p>

<p>If you live close enough to visit, an in-person audition would be preferable. </p>

<p>I think that Princeton, like any liberal arts school, wants a balance in terms of what the students study, so if you put down a less popular major, it might peak their interest, but you'd have to back up your interest in that topic in the rest of your app so they know that you're not just saying it for the sake of looking different. It doesn't make a huge difference though...I put down Econ (the most popular major there) and still got in. I don't think it's something that would keep you out, and certainly sometimes it can help a bit (like if you're a female engineer). </p>

<p>I visited with a photography professor after I was deferred, but I never sent in a supplement (something I regret) and I don't even know if the adcom heard about my visit (They said it was too late to send in a supplement at that point...it was February) so I'll never know if that made an impact on my app.</p>

<p>Note to the creative writers...If you have talent and are interested in a creative writing certificate at Princeton, make sure you submit a writing portfolio. On the "official list" of porfolios encouraged to be submitted, creative writing is not included. However, after talking with an adcom and cw students at pton, if you're serious about writing, send a sample. It worked for me!</p>

<p>Edit: As a side note, I also agree with others' opinions that Princeton is making efforts to expand its art programs. After also sending in a visual arts portfolio, I received an email from the visual arts director... The email made me believe the art directors have more influence in the admissions process now and are following the students who submit portfolios.</p>