Hello, My S is very interested in Montclair State for the MT BFA Program. I am reading so many mixed reviews and wondering if anyone on here has a student attending and willing to share all they know. He is interested in the school for the campus, proximity to NYC and great running trails, and he likes the fact that MT majors can share a dorm, thinking that this will be a great opportunity to make connections on campus.
I look forward to hearing advice and thoughts of anyone currently attending.
My son is a freshman there and he loves it. He was not a dancer going in and feels like the dance curriculum is awesome. He has improved so much.
2nd semester is when they are assigned a private vocal coach. My son me his just before the break and was astonished that in an hour he learned so much. My son’s vocals were very much his strength already.
He performed in a student-run show in the fall and is cast in the big musical production (Titanic) this spring. Also, he very much takes advantage of his proximity to NYC. Summer Stock callbacks were in the city last weekend and he didn’t have to travel across the country to get there. There were also auditions for the touring cast for Hadestown… since he is a Equity candidate he was able to wait in line and get an audition. He waited in line for 2 days, which he was able to do because of the $7 one-way trip into the city.
They have workshops from people working on Broadway and one of his professors is a very-well-respected director on Broadway. Also, he was able to see an alum in Beetlejuice and the same star is moving on to star in Mrs. Doubtfire.
All-around great, underrated program… although starting to get more recognition. Oh, for me the absolute best part is that MT kids get in-state tuition. So we are paying about the same amount as if we had sent him to school here in Texas… well plus plane tickets.
@TexasMTDad thank you so very much for all your information. This is exactly what I was looking for. My son, too is not a strong dancer, it’s his vocals and musicality that are his strength. He a runner and has done some dancing in the high school productions, so he is capable, but not his strength, one of the areas he is looking forward to developing on, while being a bit nervous about it too. We are also thrilled with the tution pricing, very similar to one of our state schools here in VT and he would have more opportunity. It definitely looks like a school for him at this time, but we are trying not to fall in love with any one school in particular.
I also love hearing all the your son is able to do and that they can catch some shows!! Best of luck to your son this summer!!
Good idea to be cautious in falling in love with a school. Most of my son’s Montclair classmates are very strong dancers… and they have dance classes with the BFA dance kids. He likely got in because of his very strong vocals and acting… enough to overcome a deficiency in dancing.
@TexasMTDad, he only wanted to look at 6 schools.
Rider
Wells
Arcadia
Dean
Elon
Western Conn University
It was tough to get him to look at more, but he recently added Montclair and AMDA, but I have made him look at a few others, Malloy, Marymount Manhattan, Manhattanville and Long Island University-Post. He wants to be fairly close to home, within an 8 hour drive and close proximity to the city as well as running trails, (it’s how he handles stress and excess energy) We are still looking to add a few more that are “Reach Schools”. We are hearing that his vocal and acting talent are in his favor, he has a bit of dance but no formal training. He is a tenor and 5’11" with vocal and instrument experience, he plays the trumpet, trombone and the euphonium.
Well, break a leg to him! My daughter (who is a senior) this year has already gotten accepted into UTexas and Texas A&M Engineering… which are very both very competitive (especially UT). She was into both by the first week of December and all we need to do now is decide which one she wants. My son had his first audition last year about the time that my daughter was done this year. I guess technically, she has a couple of super-reach schools to hear from but we consider ourselves done. MUCH BETTER than last year! I don’t envy any of you.
What a relief that must be, knowing so early on in all of this that she has a place to land that she truly is thrilled with. Congratulations and best to both of your children!!