<p>My daughter is finishing her junior year in high school next month. She was accepted to CMU, Boston University, and The University of the Arts for their respective summer programs. We need to decide 10 minutes ago -lol- what she will do. She is planning on getting her undergraduate degree in Musical Theater after she graduates in 2014. The University of the Arts (UARTS) summer program will have a MT focus. So will Carnegie Mellon's. But, the BUSTI program for the summer is only focusing on theater. Will it make a difference on her college apps if she attends one school over another? We're running in circles. Does anyone have experience, recommendations, advice to help us make a decision? Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>It won’t make any difference which one she attends, and I know there is probably quite a price difference between them! It was explained to me once, but I can’t remember who by, that attending any summer precollege MT program makes more of an impession than listing roles in high schools and regional productions because the auditioners know the quality of the college programs but have not a clue of the caliber of the school or regional productions. It also reveals to them that the student is serious about the direction they are heading. My daughter went to UArts, one of the cheapest at the time 4 years ago and really enjoyed being taught by the regular MT faculty. She felt she really gained from their classes. Of course, CMU has an awesome reputation and may be more selective in who they admit than UArts, or was back then. If she really is applying for MT programs, I would personally advise choosing one of the MT summer ones, as she will get a clearer picture of what it’s all about and who she is up against.</p>
<p>My son went to BUSTI and loved it! But you are right - the focus was not on MT. They did do some singing, but the main focus - especially preparation of monologues for college auditions - was on straight theatre.</p>
<p>Thank you to both of you for your replies. I suppose my next question is, when she goes for college auditions, will she need to do a monologue even if she is going to major in MT? If so, then I’m thinking BUSTI would be helpful in strengthening the areas in which she needs the most improvement. As I mentioned, voice is her strength, so I’m wondering if BUSTI’s monologue training makes the most sense if she will need to do a monologue for college auditions. Or am I way off?</p>
<p>If cost is not an issue, I would recommend CMU. I think you will get similar audition prep on monologues as Busti plus training in dance and voice. My daughter went to CMU summer and had a great experience.</p>
<p>MTs applying for BFAs do same monologue requirements acting kids. For that reason acting and mt kids are mixed in the same classes at CMU summer</p>
<p>Thank you ActingDad…Is your daughter in college now? Did you get any positive feedback that candidates who attended CMU summer program were viewed more favorably?</p>
<p>No, I doesn’t affect admissions in that way at all. No program does. It helps to prepare material and learn more about the craft but having these on your resume is pretty irrelevant. Actually, the resume itself is not that big a deal. But attending should help her give a better audition. The reason to go is to learn.</p>
<p>HannahsMom2018 – my daughter went to CMU summer for acting last summer and was accepted at University North Carolina School of Arts (UNCSA), where she is attending this Fall. Two of the monologues she learned there during the summer she used in her college auditions. </p>
<p>I think it is an overstatement to say that flat out it “doesn’t affect admissions in that way at all” even for the CMU program. One male MT was accepted immediately into the program from the end of summer audition. I heard him sing – he has one of those very very rare voices (was told he also was accepted to Juilliard for voice as well). I know that at least one other male MT from the summer was accepted into the program through the regular audition process. It is sort of hard to imagine that six week exposure does not make ANY possible difference and at least in the case of one male MT from last summer it saved him from necessarily having to audition anywhere else. </p>
<p>But – I do agree with sentiment that no one should look at the summer as that being the reason to go because the odds of it having an impact are so small. Not one of the acting kids over the summer got in at CMU from the summer or regular auditions though many got very nice acceptances including my daughter and another boy who got into UNCSA and a couple of girls who got into Rutgers. I’m sure there are more but those are only ones that have been repeated to me by my daughter. The rumor on the street info I have is that an acting kid has not been accepted directly out of the summer in 10+ years directly though some certainly have gotten in through regular audition after attending in the summer. I can’t really speak to MT girls but it sounds like the accepted directly out of the summer is not really in cards either and its generally reserved for maybe the one male that really stands out. I know they also took a tech kid directly from the summer as well. </p>
<p>I really have no idea what the resume perception value is but another important aspect of these summer programs is for kids to learn whether this is really the kind of place they want to be in. Some kids find after spending six weeks doing not much else other than voice, movement, scene study, shakespeare, dance, etc. that they don’t really want a college life like that while others (like mine) are able to confirm that is exactly what they want in college.</p>
<p>Thank you, ActingDad, for such a thoughtful response. You must be very proud of your daughter! I know I sure would be. After reading your earlier posts, I spent some time on several different calls today with various department heads at CMU. In accordance with what you mentioned, one of them told me that last year only 2 students from the summer program had been accepted to CMU, and they were both acting students, not MT. There’s not a doubt in my mind that my daughter is like yours and that the pre-college summer program will confirm this is exactly what she wants in college. We had decided on BUSTI until I read your response this morning. After speaking with CMU, she has decided on attending CMU’s summer program. So, thank you, VERY MUCH, for all of the insight and assistance. I’m feeling very good about the decision, and I’m excited to be able to remain on this board throughout the grueling audition process which is right around the corner. :)</p>
<p>Good luck with the CMU program. BUSTI is a great program and I know lots of people who’ve had a great experience there so no one should think I’m trying to push CMU over BUSTI. I just think for someone planning to audition for MT that CMU would make more sense than BUSTI. </p>
<p>It does not really matter to anything really but whoever told you it was 2 acting kids that got into CMU from the summer and not MT students is not correct. My daughter is in contact with both MT kids from the summer who are going to CMU and she would have absolutely heard if one of the acting kids from last summer had gotten in since they were all very close.</p>
<p>And yes – I am very proud of her. :)</p>
<p>I think for someone who’s sure they are geared toward MT, the best choice is CMU, all other things (cost, schedule, etc.) being equal. I agree that it’d be important to get great acting instruction–obviously that’s available at both programs–but also it’s valuable to meet and get to know other MT applicants, which is more likely at a program that includes an MT focus. She’ll have a great time and learn SO much…and you’ll feel better knowing that she’s tested herself in that particular applicant pool.</p>
<p>Thank you ActingDad and Times3. We are FINALLY feeling very optimistic about her choice!</p>