<p>The material in the handbook is worded quite a bit differently than what you described, alittleteapot. It isn’t unusual to require a certain level of proficiency in any of these BFA programs at any of these schools. It seems to point to more than just one scene on one day, rather a whole process of work, including grades and required level of acting technique, which is likely discussed when the scene is presented. </p>
<p>This is not different than what many of these kids in preparatory programs have already been dealing with for years. I don’t see this as a negative. Frankly, it is a little more than I expected from MMC and I take that is a good thing, not a bad one.</p>
<p>This policy appears to be absolutely sound and truthfully, what a strong theatre department should be doing. The students need the feedback. Most, if not all, programs have some sort of jury process, especially the non-cut programs.</p>
<p>There is definitely value to any school’s policy that weeds out students who don’t have what it takes to succeed in the program. At Marymount this tends to actually happen more frequently though voluntary attrition than through official probation. For some students, however, the amount of stress involved in the probation process can negatively affect their class work and ability to grow. If a student knows this about his/her own learning style, that can play a role in college selection.</p>
<p>What is most important is that incoming students are aware of the policies, and accept that if it turns out that they do not respond well to the training techniques of the BFA program they could be prevented from moving on to Acting III and IV. The offer of admission is no guarantee that the program will end up being a good fit for a given student’s learning style. Especially with acting, so much depends on what types of training styles and class environments the student responds to, and a failure to grow as an actor can have more to do with whether they respond well to that particular class situation than with work ethic or inherent talent.</p>
<p>Teapot,</p>
<p>This seems like a reasonable policy to me. There are several, well 2, programs I’ve read about that admit students to a BA with a chance to audition “up” to a BFA track - Emerson, PPU and Fordham (I think). </p>
<p>It seems like you have a better chance to remain on track at MMC than you have in getting elevated in the other programs. Or at least it would make sense. </p>
<p>Either way, as a parent, I think I appreciate the fact that there are milestones to surpass in the course of earning your degree. And the sooner you are redirected to another track, the better (if it’s inevitable for whatever reason).</p>
<p>This is such an incredibly hard profession to work in. And only the very best of the best can do it and only when exceedingly lucky. I have every faith that anyone who is talented and mentally tough enough to get through this process has the ABILITY to work in the biz. But the sooner you learn that the only way to get to the point where you even have an opportunity is through extremely hard work, the better. </p>
<p>The feeling I get reading MMC’s probation policy is that if you do the work and show them beyond doubt that you are committed, you’ll move up. I could be wrong. I mean, the fact DOES remain that there is a huge amount of attrition in the program. I don’t know if that’s a good sign or a bad one. But I DO know that the MMC program seems to have a very good reputation in the NYC theatre community. </p>
<p>I hope this doesn’t sound too hard-ass. I will support our D in anything she wants to achieve. But I feel good that if she ends up at MMU, she’s going into a program that is challenging and will give her the best preparation to actually go out and work when she’s done. </p>
<p>I honestly don’t know how any of our kids have the nuts to go through one day of this stuff let alone make it their life’s work. Amazing to me.</p>