MPulse 2007

<p>Anyone going to audition for it? I’m pretty sure I am going to, I want to go to University of Michigan for the Bachelor of Musical Arts. So this would be a good step towards letting the faculty get to know me, and plus, if you can’t get into the MPulse…there’s a good chance your not going to get into the program at University (right?) without a lot of practise your senior year. So if I dont get into MPulse, I kind of have a good vision of where my talents are in Michigans spectrum!</p>

<p>Anywho. IF your going to audition, leet mee knoww.</p>

<p>Oh! Also, Any Feed back from 2006 MPulse? How was it?</p>

<p>I am interested in Tom<avenueq's comment that being part of MPulse is an advantage in admissions to UMich. Is there any validity to that? I would love to hear what other people have to say and what they have experienced. I know a lot of people go into these precollege summer programs thinking it will give them an edge in admissions to BFA programs, but people on these lists have told us over and over again that that is just not true.
Soozievt? Coach C? Anyone?</p>

<p>NMR....It's a bit of yes and no. I would NEVER choose to attend a school's pre-college program with the impetus that it may be an advantage to get into the regular BFA program. Choose the summer program that best fits your needs and interests. Going to the summer program doesn't get you into the regular program. </p>

<p>That said, there IS a chance if you stand out in some way and they like what you've done in the summer program, it will be remembered come BFA audition time. If you think about it, that makes sense a bit. It is like auditions for a local show. If you are a newbie, they only get to see you in your five min. audition. But if they have worked with you before, they can't erase that from their minds and so they have lots more information about your work ethic, skills, stage presence, etc. than can be seen in a regular audition. That can cut both ways and if they weren't particularly impressed with your work over the summer, it ain't gonna help! However, they are not just going to take the summer kids over the unknown kids either. Simply put, someone who stood out in a very positive way in the summer, has that "extra" hook going for them in the audition process. </p>

<p>At CMU, I have heard of hardly anyone who attends the summer pre college as then getting in later, but sometimes a couple DO. So, the odds are still not high...surely not a reason to select that particular summer program. I had a client who did BU's summer theater intensive who was very very encouraged to come back and audition for their BFA program and she did ED, and was not admitted. I have heard that a few kids each year from MPulse do land in UMich's BFA program. Again, that's a very small number of those who attend the summer program. Not enough reason to pick it. I know someone who did very well at OCU's summer program, in classes and in casting of their summer pre college production and was very encouraged to audition there for college and did not get accepted later into the BM program. These are anectdotal accounts, mind you. At CAP21, my D mentioned when she got there freshmen year that one third of her class had attended the summer pre college program. I'm starting to wonder how she got in, since she didn't, lol. Just kidding. But there were far more kids in the summer program who did not get into the BFA program. And there are plenty of kids in CAP21 whom they had never heard of until audition day. </p>

<p>Don't pick a summer program to help you get into that college later. But if you happen to pick that particular summer program and you attend and stand out, it could help you in that they already liked you before you enter the audition room. Still, there is the entire applicant pool now for "competition". But the student who they liked from the summer....they have more information about than the unknown kids (like mine who attended no summer pre college programs, lol). THE MAJORITY of those who attend just about every BFA program are NOT from that program's summer program. However, usually there are some in the BFA program who were known beforehand from the summer program.</p>

<p>PS, another thing is that you don't have to do any pre college programs! They are nice ways to do an intense theater immersion and also sample the college experience. My kid never ever looked into any of these. She had been attending a six week theater immersion for 8 years and never contemplated doing anything else. It was not a pre college program. There are many ways to sample intensive theater classes and production work. Each program is very different in emphasis and what not. But it is not a necessity to actually attend a summer pre college program. Decide what you want to do and how it meets your needs and interests and goals.</p>

<p>Soozievt, what you say makes sense. Being part of the summer program does give the faculty a chance to see a kid over time. But if that is true, why do so few of the CMU summer kids get in when they audition? It's puzzling, because I would guess that a number of the kids who attend CMU's summer program later audition for the college program. Perhaps it is just a numbers game: CMU takes so few people that the odds are just against anyone, whether they took part in the summer program or not.
As you say, it's best to just choose the summer program that seems best suited to a kid (and where he or she can get in!).</p>

<p>I don't have the answer about CMU for you. However, realize that there are many many many talented kids in the country who did not attend CMU's Pre College but who audition for their BFA. Therefore, the talent/applicant pool widens beyond those who did their summer program. Those kids were not up against the larger pool over the summer. So, my feeling is that if someone stood out in the summer program plus gives a great BFA audition, they have that extra boost at the school who now knows more about them. But they had to be "good enough" to get into the BFA in the first place. CMU is not going to fill their small BFA program with just the summer kids. They are going to look at everyone. It is just that a high end kid from the summer also has this "extra" of having been seen and worked with before. Still, you gotta get into the BFA amongst the entire applicant pool. You'd have to have been capable of getting into the BFA without the summer program "boost". </p>

<p>Also, from what I know of CMU's summer program, you don't audition to get in, right? So, while many talented kids do attend, the talent pool is not equivalent, as a whole, to the talent pool in the BFA audition circuit. </p>

<p>In any case, please realize that a kid sight unseen can get in there and elsewhere, as I have witnessed first hand. Choose the summer program you want. If you want to experience a certain college, then go for it. If you happen to stand out in their summer program, it may help but you don't know in advance if you will be that stand out person(s). Not enough reason to pick it. You also won't get into the BFA on the summer thing alone unless you were someone they'd take for the BFA anyway.</p>

<p>My niece attended a summer theater intensive this past summer at one of the schools she really likes and they allowed her to audition at the end for their BFA since she lives so far away. She had gotten into CMU and Northwestern's summer programs but didn't choose them. Remember, I also shared vignettes where kids apparently stood out over the summer, and were VERY encouraged to apply/audition at the end of their summer pre college programs and STILL were not accepted. Keep all of it in mind.</p>

<p>I am so glad this question about summer theater programs has been brought up. It is something I have been wondering about since last year whenever we went through the audition process with our S. Other than weekly voice lessons and an acting coach for college monologues, all of my S experience had been in community theater. We now have a S who is a junior and wants to head down the same path as his older brother. We are seriously considering sending him to a summer program instead of doing the usual two or three summer shows that he usually does. At some of the auditions we went on there were definately some kids who the faculty had a connection with due to their attendance at the summer programs. Obviously, the talent has to be there to get ultimately excepted, but it really makes me wonder! But is it reason enough to go that route? I don't know! Will I ever figure this all out...................</p>

<p>If I'm interpreting tom<3avenueq's post correctly, he's not trying to infer that acceptance into the MPulse program would give him a leg-up into the BFA program. But rather that a rejection from the MPulse program might tend to indicate he's not the "fit" which the UMich faculty is looking for in their BFA students.</p>

<p>SrMoment, yes I agree that is what tom<3avenueq is trying to infer and he makes a very valid point. </p>

<p>I was just answering NotMamaRose's query which is sorta the inverse :D. </p>

<p>CTMom, I know what you mean. Once my kid got to college and told me how many kids had done the summer program, I was like, geez, well, good you got in anyway LOL. Still, my take is pretty much what I wrote in earlier posts. I do not think one MUST go to a pre college program!</p>

<p>What I think is that each person, through various avenues, needs to get training, production work, and even try out something of an intensive nature. But there are SO many ways to do that! Each kid going to BFA programs now did a variety of things before they got there. Like I mentioned, we don't have performing arts high schools where we live. We do not have "theater training centers" that I have heard of where others live. We don't have state thespian events and awards and the like that I read about elsewhere. We have no drama classes at our HS. We have no acting classes in our area. But we did piece togethter various aspects of training and also production experiences. And our kid did go to a summer theater program that was intense where she was immersed in all things theater 24/7 with others who shared her passion and many who were very talented, and it was not like anything locally. But she did not do pre college, had no audition prep courses, etc. To prep for college auditions, she worked on songs with her voice teacher and got an acting coach for six months for the sole purpose of working on college monologues. That's it. She has a mix of training in voice, dance, and acting and also many varieties of production experiences...school, community theater, regional theater, professional theater, youth summer program productions. </p>

<p>There is no magic recipe to get into BFA programs. It doesn't matter where you train, as long as you train in some capacity. Theater productions are another facet. Your son is getting to do adult shows in your area (a great thing) and also an educational performing arts training program as part of his school day. It may be all he needs to do. If he actually wants the overnight summer theater program, it is worth looking into, but he doesn't HAVE to have it. I wouldn't do it as a hook to get into a particular college. I'd do it as a worthwhile experience in itself, and also knowing that any sort of intensive theater program may be beneficial as preparation to get into ANY BFA program, and need not be affiliated with one particular college you want to attend later. I also know lots of kids who have attended pre college theater programs who had difficulties in getting itno BFA programs, in general, not just the one they spent the summer at. So one cannot equate precollege summer program = BFA admissions. Talent, skills, training, theater experiences....those may equate to BFA admissions....and you can obtain those many different ways.</p>

<p>Being new at the whole MT process, I have been absorbing as much as I can from all the great input from all of you. I have to admit I am overwhelmed with the prospect of preparing for my s to start his applications and audition process. However, he is only a junior this year so we are at least on track. He would love to audition for MPULSE next summer. Of course he is interested in the great training that it offers but honestly,he is also is hoping to make a good enough impression (should he get in) to benefit his chances of acceptance into U of M.
After reading this forum we realize this can either work for or against admittance depending on how well you are recieved by the faculty. Does anyone know of anyone who DID get accepted after attending Mpulse? I also wonder how it compares with Interlochen's summer program ( which he has attended in previous years). It has gotten to be just about as expensive! It's ironic that we invest so much into our kids to help them pursue their passion, and yet I read how very little one can expect to make with the BFA degree!</p>

<p>Thanks for all the good posts guys.</p>

<p>Mombull
My D attended MPulse in 2005 after her sophomore year of high school. There were 25 kids, mostly rising seniors. I think 6 were rising juniors including my D. Of those who auditioned for UM last year from MPulse 2005, currently 4 are freshman MT majors there now--two girls and two boys. Two others are vocal performance majors there--one girl and one boy. Others auditioned but were ultimately not accepted (some were deferred or waitlisted I believe initially) and others chose not to audition for UM for various reasons. I'm pretty sure that's accurate information. As to 2006 MPulse, my D did not attend as she went to Broadway Theatre Project and the dates conflicted, but she heard from a few kids who had attended with her in 2005 that this year it was only rising seniors. Those kids obviously are in the auditioning mode this year (as is my daughter who is now a senior), so we won't know results until spring! I have read on CC (somewhere) that in past years, not very many (one or two maybe) were accepted to UM for MT after attending the MPulse program.
I don't know anything about Interlochen or how the programs compare. Sorry.</p>

<p>There were three rising juniors in this past summer's MPulse group.</p>

<p>Here are the stats:</p>

<p>15 boys - 13 seniors, 2 juniors
8 girls - 7 seniors, 1 junior</p>

<p>A quick question that maybe one of you more experienced MT parents can answer:</p>

<p>It says online that applications from people who wish to audition in person must be in by March 1. It then says that the in person auditions are slated for March 16 and 18.</p>

<p>Does that mean that the university will contact applicants after March 1 to tell them on which date they will audition? Or (and I am hoping that this is the case!), do they contact applicants shortly after the University receives the application and assign one of the dates? We don't live anywhere near Ann Arbor, so we would need some time to plan a trip!</p>

<p>I apologize if I have not asked this very clearly.</p>

<p>Sorry I can't help, but our D auditioned by videotape. You might want to consider that, since you live far away too. It's a lot of expense for a ten minute audition apppointment (unless you are visitng the campus, doing the admissions tour, etc. at the same time). And kids definitely do get in from video auditions!</p>

<p>Great idea ..... we were thinking of visiting the school around that time, and figured we could combine the two. If not, video is definitely the way to go. nydancemom, have you posted before about your D's experiences at MPulse? If not, would you consider doing so, or perhaps PM-ing me?</p>

<p>I'm also applying for MPulse for next summer, and I was wondering how competitive the program is. Being UMich, I'd expect it to be difficult to get into, but it seems (at least in my experience) that not many people know about it. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Hello!
I attended MPulse this past summer. I was very interested when I saw this little forum, haha! If anyone has any questions, just message me. I would be happy to get back with you!!</p>

<p>I know this is a little late to post an answer to actormcfamous from January, but this is what I know about the Mpulse audition last year. There were around 110 people who auditioned and that includes the 20-30 that sent in videos. They accepted 23. My S attended and will be auditioning for 2007. He only has positive things to say about the program.</p>

<p>llong39: Were the students who were accepted last year from different parts of the country or does MPulse typically take a lot of students from the midwest? Also, do they do some sort of show or performance at the end of the program for families?</p>