<p>We are trying to decide between OCU and another school. Both seem to have good reputations and my daughter was accepted to OCU as a double major for Musical Theatre and Voice Performance. We are going back for a few days to visit the school, talk to voice teachers and sit in on classes. The problem we are having is that we hear great things about the school and then we hear no so great things… such as the program might have too many students in it, maybe their reputation is leaning on Kristen Chenowich and Kelli Ohara, etc. SO - because we want to make the right decision and get HONEST information, if anyone has info please share.</p>
<p>You will hear good and bad about every program. No school can please everyone. My D loved it there and got excellent training. There IS a lot of competition, but that’s life in the theatre world. It is a great place for the double major. Without knowing the other school, it’s impossible to compare. Only you can make the decision after you visit.</p>
<p>When you say there is a lot of competition do you mean a lot of people in the program or just good people which creates competition? Do you have any insight as to how undergraduates are viewed in comparison to the graduates? Are the grad students getting first shots / preferences? Sounds like your D has graduated? Is she working in the field? Thanks for your insight… I’m sure you remember how difficult this process was when you had to decide on the final school</p>
<p>Broadway or Opera, I have sent you a private message.</p>
<p>I don’t know how many students are in the program, but they accept more than the 10 or 12 a lot of programs accept. Every student is tremendously talented, so the competition is in both numbers and in talent. Although there may be 100 students auditioning for a show (everyone is required to audition), they are not all up for the same role, i.e. they are not all sopranos, or all tall, leading-man types. I don’t recall grad students getting preferential treatment. </p>
<p>I saw in another post that you are deciding between OCU and an opera conservatory. OCU is a liberal arts school with academic course requirements. I would think the two schools would be vastly different, which would make the choice much easier, IMHO, if your kid knows what he/she wants in a school. In other words, if he hates math and science, go the conservatory route!</p>
<p>My D graduated in May. She is home right now trying to save a little money before moving to New York. She waits tables, teaches dance classes, and choreographs some community theatre shows here to pay her expenses (which include student loans) and has performed non-stop in a great community theatre here and a regional equity theatre. She has thought about grad school, but is considering a local opportunity which would postpone grad school, but would also delay going to NYC. Her mind changes often, but she has learned that she does not enjoy waiting tables, so anything else is attractive right now.</p>
<p>As far as the grad student question, no they don’t favor the grad students. The right person for a role is the right person regardless if they are a freshman or a grad student.</p>
<p>Broadway/Opera: Does your daughter dance? I’ve been told the dance instruction at OCU is wonderful (this from an east coast dance school director). Can she dance at the opera conservatory? Such a great problem to have 
But yes, the decisions are tough. Congrats to your daughter!</p>