Hi everyone,
I’ve been considering writing this post for a while, and decided to post because I definitely think people need to go into Millikin with eyes open. All the negative things said about Millikin MT on this blog are true-- they just don’t affect everyone. Going into the BFA you have to know that hurdles will make or break you. It’s not about how hard you work, it is about how well you fit their mold and whether they think you have what it takes. If you do not-- your options become severely limited if you want to continue pursing performance. You can no longer take high level acting courses without permission (which does not happen often) and doors become closed that you needed open. Honestly, it is hard to know if this will happen to you. I thought I was doing fine until I got put on probation— and was still told that I was doing great and it was just to check up on me later. Well, apparently when they checked back in things were not okay. Perhaps I am not the best MT in the world, I’ll readily admit that. But, I still want the education I came to school for and can no longer get it. If you have any questions let me know. I’m happy to answer.
I wouldn’t paint the program with so broad a brush. It’s true that the program is extremely competitive and demanding, and for some people, that won’t end well. People do get redirected to other programs, but from the people I knew, it was in their best interest in the long run to be BA acting or change entirely. By keeping standards high, the program protects its reputation and makes employment easier on the people who do complete the program. It’s not just the MT program that’s like that, music and nursing cut people too. Anyone going in as BFA should have a plan B if it doesn’t work out. Being in the elite programs is kind of like being an elite gymnast- you may have the talent and be on the national team, but if you’re not “on” at the right time, you don’t go to the olympics. It’s not anything malicious, it’s just the nature of the beast.
@mtphilosophygirl what reason did they give you to put you on probation? What was the reason they eventually cut your from the program? Where did you go at that point? How many people does this happen to and does it happen annually? or by semester? what is the time interval? Thank you for your input.
@KPike320 The reason they gave for my probation was that they “just wanted to check in on me later” and that “I should just keep doing what I’m doing.” They did give feedback on things to continue working on but basically they told me that all would be well and not to worry. When I was eventually cut things were not so rosy. They told me in no uncertain terms that I was not a strong enough actor to continue with the MT class and that I would do better pursing things besides performing. At that point there was nowhere to go except to take refuge in my second major and I am currently trying to stick in out as a BA with little success because it just really isn’t what I want. I cannot give you exact numbers, but it is a lot more than they let on initially because they literally cannot sustain the amount of people they bring into the program. It can happen at any time, but I gather most happen after second semester, third semester, and fourth semester with a few occurring in the junior year. I hope that was helpful!
I haven’t seen any recent Millikin posts, so I thought I’d ask this here – does Millikin encourage MT students to attend professional auditions like MWTA, ITA, SETC, and UPTA?
@janne006 I’m not sure if it’s encouraged, but it’s not discouraged. Some people I knew went to UPTA at least. I was not a theatre major, but I worked for the department so it’s possible that more went than I knew
To clarify/correct above comments, Millikin only takes as many into the program as they can sustain. Given that, they do expect to lose a few people because they voluntarily leave and a few just aren’t hacking it. It’s not a situation where they “cull the herd” because there’s too many. You can be removed from the program after hurdles or if you don’t meet gpa requirements. It’s rare to have a junior kicked out unless there’s some unusual circumstances involved.
When we attended auditions and were accepted into the BFA MT Program they announced that due to the new Performing Arts Center being built that they had made an “agreement” with administration that the number of accepted students would increase beginning with class 2023. They would hire more people to offset the increase in number. Millikin was not the right fit for my D. She has recently notified them that she will not be attending.
The Hurdles aspect was well explained to prospective students and their parents at auditions. We were told no one is cut who doesn’t see it coming. Students, is that true?
As @biscuithead 's new CC BFF (haha) I have had the same question about hurdles. My D works her tail off on her craft. The potential for a blindside derailment is discouraging.
I’m also wondering about a comment I saw elsewhere. Someone mentioned that music theory is not part of the Freshman curriculum, yet a certain level of knowledge was expected for their Freshman year hurdle. This is concerning… can someone provide any info on this? Maybe @GloriaVaughn or @mtphilosophygirl ?
MT kids take theory as sophomores. IDK what exactly is on their freshman hurdles, but I imagine it’s nothing that shouldn’t have been covered in your voice lessons. I can’t see it being strange to be asked to sing different kinds of triads or a major and minor scale. Those are elemental skills to singing any song. I imagine you’re also expected to know solfege (your do-re-mi’s). You might also be asked for things that you should have learned in grade school music, like what key or time signature your song is. They wouldn’t be asking you for anything like to find a secondary dominant or if your song ends with an authentic cadence or a plagal cadence. You will be behind the 8-ball if you come in with zero vocal training (no voice lessons, no school choir).
No one gets kicked out without warning. You have a probation semester after failing a hurdle and at the end you retake the hurdle and you pass or you don’t. If they find you have a talent in another area, you might be redirected if you fail. Unless you’re impossible to work with, they want you to succeed and will tell you point blank if you are unlikely to as BFA MT. Again, go in with a plan B for if you get bumped to BA or out of the theatre dept. entirely. Also, don’t blow off your non-major classes and tank your GPA. That’ll make it impossible to transfer or get into a different major. Once you get past sophomore year, just don’t do dumb stuff. Don’t disregard safety instructions, don’t party every weekend and stop putting the work in, don’t blow off your tech crew assignments etc.