<p>Hi!,
So I posted this on the OCU discussion board, but I thought I'd post it here too to see if I could get any more advice...</p>
<p>I have been accepted in the Acting BFA programs at both OCU and Ithaca, and am having an incredibly hard time deciding where to go. I initially auditioned for the MT programs but was accepted into the acting programs, which I'm really excited about too, but I want to continue studying music and dance. So a big part of my decision will be based on which school allows Acting majors to take voice lessons and add dance classes to their schedule. </p>
<p>Another big part of my decision is that I have a NM scholarship to OCU, which is a huge plus obviously. I do have a significant scholarship to Ithaca but it's hard to compete with that. I've heard that the music school at OCU is stronger than their theater program though, which concerns me. Is their acting program as competitive and strong as Ithaca's? </p>
<p>If any current students or parents know anything about either of these schools, please let me know! I would appreciate it SO much! Thanks!</p>
<p>My S has a very good friend who is a sophomore at Ithaca in their acting program (she auditioned for MT and got in for acting) and she loves it and does take dance and voice lessons as well. She has also been in many of their musicals. </p>
<p>My D is at OCU in theater, so I can give you a few insights about it. But remember I am a Dad, so take it with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>My opinion is that the OCU theater department gets a good many folks who try out/investigate OCU because of their MT reputation. They may not get accepted to MT, but they like the school and atmosphere and end up in theater.</p>
<p>I would guess that has caused an increase in drama enrollment and has led to some very encouraging recent upgrades to the OCU theatre department. They have added a lot of new staff and have a new department head. I think they have some really good talent there, and have a program that should definitely be considered on the upswing. And they put on a lot of shows. Usually several shows each semester, so many students get in shows pretty quickly.</p>
<p>Their fall drama production, " Lend me a Tenor" was selected in this year's Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival as the alternate production (that would make them "coming in fifth place" in this nation-wide competition involving the country's top drama departments, since the KC only selected 4 shows to be staged). I think that's outstanding since Tenor is farce comedy, and not the typical political/diverse/etc. drama that often gets selected.</p>
<p>You can also get great voice and dance classes as a theater major at OCU. They have very strong music and dance schools. As a theater major you may not get access to the highest level voice instructors, but their adjuncts are still excellent. And you can certainly audition for the musicals. </p>
<p>The only thing I have heard my D mention in any kind of negative light at OCU is the overall size of the school itself. She came from a large high school, and OCU is a fairly small school, from a number of students standpoint. So you may not get that big state university setting, if that is what you are looking for. The facilities are amazing though. The only holdover is their main auditorium is getting a bit old, but I think they are going to replace that soon.</p>
<p>I think OCU is definitely a great school. The faculty and staff work very hard for their students to make sure they get the best possible college experience as well as professional training.</p>