Missouri State Admitted Students Day

My D visited MSU yesterday. EVERYONE was super friendly and she loved the school. She watched a dance class & participated a little in an acting class. She met with Robert Westenberg, who she loved.-I won’t share about their mtg because it will ruin it for anyone who still has a trip planned. My husband and D went downtown to the small city for dinner. She said it was a cute and clean area. Tonight, she emailed Westenberg and committed to MSU, MT BFA. We are super excited for her future. I am so happy this part of the process is over, and we can move on to the next step.

Some questions asked:
She asked if MT, BFA was a “cut” program because we heard that a few times. Response: “No, but you are evaluated every year and given the opportunity to improve if needed.”

Freshman can’t audition first semester. The reason: “The Fall shows are already casted or will be by the end of this school year.”

Traveling to airports: "Many kids who attend MSU live in Missouri, and a lot are from St Louis. Many kids connect with each other and find rides w/the St Louis kids. There are also Greyhound buses to St Louis (and I guess other airports.

@triixxie Congrats to your D!!!

@trixxie Congratulations!!!

I can’t offer up any experience with the theater program at MoState, but my elementary ed daughter is just finishing her freshman year there and has had a fantastic experience in general. Professors have been extremely helpful and she has loved every second of campus life. Tutoring is available in the library on a walk up basis every evening and has helped her keep her 4.0. Her only complaint has been the cafeteria food. We are also near Springfield, IL and the drive isn’t too bad.

@triixxie - Congratulations, and welcome to MSU! My D met yours when she visited this week - she was at my D’s dance class (and I think her acting class as well). As far as flights, Bob is right - there is always someone driving to St. Louis, and the kids hitch rides with each other. We just got my D a car that we’re going to get to her in the next couple of weeks…since we’re from Chicago, she will drive through St. Louis any time she comes home, so she’ll be one of the options for a ride if your D ever needs one for a flight! We’ll pay it forward since she’s had so many BFA kids giving her rides around Springfield for the last two years! I think your D will love it there - it’s a great program. Message me if you have any questions.

@RosaMT My D said everyone was so nice and loved her visit. Thank you so much for that offer. It’s comforting to know there are options.

We won’t be able to visit campus due to shows. Can anyone help with some recommendations as far as dorms go? We’re looking for suite-style rooms near where most MT classes are held. TIA!

The website does a good job of describing the dorms. So pick which suits your personality best. Hammons/Hutchens are popular Freshman dorms. But many are liked.

@Kkrazie We’ve learned a lot from the site, thanks. Are there any MT kids prefer for location?

I’m not sure if MT gather in a particular dorm. It seems like it’s more about what kind of dorm suits a person. After classes are announced the older MT kids start a group text with the new class. Lots of questions get answered in that forum.

@MTMama23 -They seemed to be all spread out in my D’s class. She was in Freudenberger House, and Blaire-Shannon is right across the street - those two might be the quickest walk to the theatre building. But the campus is pretty compact, so nothing is a very long walk. Those two aren’t suite-style, though. We applied for one that is, but she was assigned to Freddy.

@mtmom1967 , @gatorbridget , @triixxie , @RosaMT @4angels @pegski . Hi all. Just came back from Missouri State visit with accepted S (and mom - family visited together). This will be a love story, so where do I start.

Left LGA in NYC at 6am, arrived at 10:15 to Springfield airport for a 11 :30 start of day tour. Whole trip took 5 hours travel time and I will look for alternate routes in the future (Fayetteville nonstop from NYC maybe) Rented car at the airport, which was so nice since it is a small airport.Bing, Bang, out the door. Short 10-15 drive to the school. Parked in lot near fountains past the stadium, where I got a parking ticket, but Kathleen Hains (department administrative assistant said don’t worry since it’s a rental, and campus police aren’t city cops), so I threw ticket away. My S had to meet a young student from MT, Nathan, and he took him to lunch for an hour. My wife and I started to walk around to get a feel for the campus. It is not small, not large, but a very nice medium squared off campus with two very nice “quads”, one near the fountain , which is beautiful, and one near the “old campus” buildings just past the student union. So much greenery and the trees where in bloom. I have to say my S loved the campus feel. Lots of kids walking around, talking, laughing, very polite to us older folks (read: parents). It felt like a big school with a smaller footprint. Football stadium was right on campus, a stone’s throw from Craig building theater center.

So while S was at lunch with the other student, Jean and I walked around campus and grabbed onto a tour group that was in front of us. We did not have time for the official admissions 2 hour tour, so they were nice enough to let us join. Got to see some classrooms and 2 dorms. Shannon (6 person suite was awesome) and Freddy (2 person traditional). Both had rooms that were spacious. What I loved was the 6 person suite. Each 2 kids have their own rooms, plus a common living area and bathroom. So 3 bedrooms, plus living area. Bonus, ALL the dorms at Missouri are air conditioned and heated with separate controls for each room. Each dorm also comes with a fridge and microwave in each room, plus free laundry. The bonuses keep stacking up. The rec center is beautiful. Lots of “classes” like Yoga, spin, bodywork, etc…Great pool for lap swimming plus a “lazy river” pool for students to unwind. They have inner tubes for students to use. Great way to get some relief I guess.

Then we joined S for a one hour meeting with Bob. This is where we were sold.Bob is so dynamic and can really sell the program. He spoke of the high level of the faculty, dared us to google each teacher (get into the weeds as he said), which I had already done. Must say, faculty has impressive resumes, theater vets and the like. I could go on, but I would say that Bob had S hooked when he spoke directly to him and discussed his acting philosophy. My S is a singer / actor first, dance last. He has been wanting someone to match his acting philosophy. Bob’s is that of (paraphrasing here) "most actors are selling themselves on stage. It is not about you. Its about yo making the relationship with everyone else on stage: This hit a chord with my son. He commented later that this was his philosophy since he had gotten serious about acting in the last few years with his teachers. Wife and I commented on some other school’s senior showcases we saw in NYC (we live near NYC and did this to see what the senior talent was for graduating class). My wife and I were underwhelmed to say the least. Bob spoke to this and said he was as well for the few he visited. So he discussed his “week in NYC” with the seniors. Not only do they do master classes, see a show, but do a round robin informal workshop with agents and casting directors that he brings in, get positive and negative feedback, but then do it again 2 days later AFTER the initial meetings in a traditional showcase. They also have a jazz night in NYC and afterparty as a “release the beast” event. Bob really sold the rest of the program. Productions, working with film students for indy films, and being part of student devised theater groups that go out to the community, not to mention Tent theater and Little Springfield playhouse opportunity, which many students apparently get cast. We spent and hour and 20 minutes with BOB before we realized S was late for his assigned first class. So we ended there, felt amazed, and sent him off. S did a “contact improv” class, which he described as a dance lyrical class with an acting twist. Then he went to advanced acting 4, for an hour and a half and sat in on scene student. He talked with a bunch of the kids and really felt welcomed. The level of training seems great in his opinion and mine. Bob talked about he is now searching for “pop rock” vocal teacher and will add that next fall to each student’s junior year curriculum, on top of regular 4 year weekly vocal training and group work. Music theory is also becoming a bigger part of the training next year.

Jean and I went to lunch at student union during his classes. They have a papa john’s, Mexican bowl, veggie shop, Subway, Chik Filet, and a burger grill in the student union. Big building with lots of space. We walked around campus to get more of a feel and felt like t was a place S could spend 4 years and he would be comfortable. He felt the same way.

Went back to Craig and took a tour of the facility with Kathleen (she is so friendly, if you email her, she gets right back to you). . They have a black box, decent size where smaller productions are done, and a large theater (400 seats) with a large stage and fly system, plus scene shop connected. Dance studios and classrooms around the building. The theater was not as large as Coastal’s, but it would serve the purpose for big mainstage shows. Bob spoke that shows audition in the fall and spring, and freshman can’t work the first semester since those are cast already. Students MUST accept the roles they are cast. They can audition for acting , musicals and all participate for the dance show in the spring if capable. Everyone in the building and department seemed very welcoming and open. Bob asked at the end of our meeting when we would decide. I told him because of Easter holiday travels I would need a week to have the “family meeting”, so we will decide by next Thursday the 25th. It looks right now like we will commit. S has one more college visit this Monday to Western Carolina that we bought airline for already, so don’t want to cancel, but he already said, unless he gets “blown away” Mo state felt like home. I have a feeling we will be “Bears” very soon.

continued on next thread…

@mtmom1967 @pegski @gatorbridget @triixxie @4angels @RosaMT
continued…Make sure you get to speak with BOB, If nothing else. I really feel like he would be the father to my S while at school. What sold me was when I asked about who would be his faculty advisors over the 4 years, and he immediately responded “ME”. There is also another advisor for MT (can’t remember her name, but she has been there for 23 years), but it is only he and her for the 4 years. He takes charge of guiding each student, and he really feels like you will get the professional training to make it. He said “you are in that chair because I believe in you”. He is accepting no more than 20, but he really wants only 18. He said his wait list is very long this year. I truly feel that this program, if it stays in the direction it is heading now, will explode and be listed as one of the elite in the midwest (if not in the US), and get the recognition that other schools like Texas State, Otterbein, Coastal, PennState, etc… have now.

We drove around town on the way back to airport, and it seemed very nice with comedy shop, theater, restaurants in the downtown area. Overall campus comments are that it is very clean and open, with NO roads crossing the campus. I love that. I remember at some other schools feeling like I had to watch from not getting run over by cars on campus. The parking lots are on the fringes of campus and not where the classes and quad runs. The school bell tower sends off tunes every half hour, which was a very pleasant welcome. So yes, I am raving about Mo state. I finally saw the glow in my son’s face that I had been waiting for after 23 auditions and numerous campus visits. I hope to say (although I gave him the final word and choice to make) “hello Bears” next week.

Let me know @mtmom1967 your feelings when you get back.

@collegeboundSam Wow. Sounds like you had a great visit! We are leaving tomorrow morning and will be in the area until Tuesday. They have a full day planned for her Monday, including a meeting with Bob. We plan to check out Springfield and the area on Sunday, and then we have the campus tour on Tuesday morning before we leave. I will let you know how it goes!

@collegeboundSam What a great report! So happy that he has the glow. We also LOVED Bob!!!

@collegeboundSam - this was a much needed, after we spent a day at my daughters dream program yesterday and she just did not connect at all. After searching high and low, receiving 14 offers, I can honestly say that we have seen nothing even close to Missouri State program. Of course some facilities, and liberal arts programs where the class sizes overall are much smaller are unquestionably superior. But when it comes to $120,000 more out-of-pocket I just think it’s senseless for us… . Since we live near Springfield local I know she had a dream To go away. But sometimes the best chargers are in your own front yard. Also I urge you to google Springfield Little Theatre. It is not some local play house. They do a wonderful season each year with sold out three week runs. It’s a vaudeville beauty and lots of MSU students play roles. It’s one of the perks in my opinion. To go away. But sometimes the best chargers are in your own front yard. Also I urge you to google Springfield Little Theatre. It is not some local play house. They do a wonderful season each year with sold out three week runs. It’s a vaudeville beauty and lots of MSU students play roles. It’s one of the perks in my opinion. Our meeting with Bob is Tuesday. Cross your fingers!

@4angels @mtmom1967 Wow, sounds like both of you guys are headed for a treat. 4angels…tell your daughter to going away is “on a campus that is not your house”. Mtmom1967…wondering what your airport transportation situation is for your visit? Bob mentioned that he has 70 kids on a waitlist. I forgot to ask him if that was ALL THEATER KIDS (BFA ACTING, MT, AND PRODUCTION) or just MT. I doubt MT only, that sounds like a lot. But having a waitlist is a good thing, since they are being selective. If you find out more , forward to me please. Looking foreword to see how you guys feel after the visit.

For those visiting. The students often go to downtown Springfield too. Cute restaurants etc. Also after Freshman year kids live in cute houses near campus or apartments often with other BFA students. My D living in sorority house next year … but with MT kids in a cute house Junior year. But nice to know fun options after a year in the dorm.

@collegeboundSam Sounds like you had the same experience my wife and I had with our D. We toured more than a dozen campuses, big cities and small towns, and MSU/Springfield just feels different. When we got in the car to leave, D said this is the one. There was no doubt. Bob’s vision for the program is infectious and the commitment from the university makes it feel like anything is possible. She’s very excited about it all!

Hi @Mempho , so another MT dad? Thanks for the message. I’m excited and hope that next week he says " I’m a bear". Decision by Thursday