@SingerDancerMom – agree with @Neensmom. Both elite programs, but FSU will certainly have more distractions. It used to be rated as a Top 3 party school. Probably still is. I visited some of my buddies down there in college. Not sure how they ever got anything done. 
@SingerDancerMom I concur with the above. Texas State (although I don’t know a ton about FSU program other than daughter’s friend is in the BA and loves it). I would add Kaitlin Hopkins to the list of reasons. She is so caring and connected in the field and loves all her students… My D did Nexus and to this day if she emails Kaitlin she gets a quick personal response even after just a summer camp. And the One Voice program started by Michael Maresca did wonders for my daughter. Plus proximity to Austin gives lots of summer performance opportunities!
@StanfordAI2019 C’mon man. you’re from Texas. Texas State has been the #1 party school in the past. I know it was when I was in college (then known as SW Texas State).
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As far as Texas State, I know very little about the program. My kids didn’t apply there, largely due to the gun laws in the state. Just thought that was maybe worth mentioning as someone above also mentioned it in regards to another school. We have been affected by a mass shooting, so it is a topic we take into consideration, but I realize many people may not look at that.
Haha ? @TexasMTDad YOU ARE RIGHT! I graduated from Texas A&M and I definitely remember that SW Texas was THE party school in the state! Did that somehow change when they changed the name?
Thank you @secondtimemt . That is an important issue to me as well!
@StanfordAI2019 I also agree with @TexasMTDad . Texas State has always been known as a party school although I wouldn’t put it as #1 in Texas. That honor goes to UT. My guess is that Kaitlin Hopkins runs a pretty tight ship so the party atmosphere has much less influence on MT students.
@secondtimemt The law in Texas regarding weapons on campus is that the weapon must be concealed and the person must be licensed. The minimum age for obtaining a license is 21. Because of the age requirement, the training needed to get a license and the hassle of keeping a handgun concealed on a very watchful college campus, the number of students that carry on a campus is probably very small. I personally have never owned a weapon, so I have no first hand knowledge.
I think (from what I have heard and observed) that Kaitlin keeps the BFA MT kids under her thumb quite a bit. They have a different set of standards to be part of this program – and rules. I heard she lays down the expectations at the beginning and they are expected to live up to them. But I think there are probably several other programs elsewhere that are similar to this. She also cares very much about their mental wellness. Something that is one of the most important things, IMO. And she watches out over them. So many come from other states and parents are far away. I remember reading a post on a forum SOMEwhere that described a medical emergency (hospitalization?) involving their kid at Texas State and how Kaitlin jumped in and helped until the parents got there. I just searched and couldn’t find it, but she truly has created a “family” there. She is also very supportive and the loyalty and commitment to these kids continues after they leave. I really wish I could remember where I saw that post, because that made me feel really good about Texas State. And, honestly…just go to YouTube and look at some of their production videos. The quality is truly amazing. (Again, IMO) The training is exceptional.
not that I know of. A buddy of mine was a waiter at the Dixie Chicken his freshman year and obviously failed out of Texas A&M. He ended up graduating from SW Texas State where his “extracurriculars” were more in line with the norm! 
Guns never a problem for my son at Texas State. As for a party atmosphere, I’m sure it happens but wasn’t an issue either. The MTs and Actors are a community unto themselves. Plus, Kaitlin Hopkins has all MTers sign a fairly lengthy contract that addresses various behaviors that won’t be tolerated and she keeps a very close eye on everyone. If this is an issue for you, I highly suggest you contact Kaitlin directly and have her address it. kh40@txst.edu
@AmarilloTX, thank you, that law is different than the one in many other states as far as having a concealed weapon on campus. Also, there is the time you spend off-campus to consider, at least for us. I’m sure it’s a great program, and we have a lot of friends from Texas, but given our history with a mass shooting, Texas was off our list. I don’t mean to knock anything about Texas, but I think it may be a consideration for people who come from a state with stricter laws and who may have had a personal tragedy that makes them very sensitive to the issue.
@SingerDancerMom @onnete I can tell you from first hand experience that the program does have the kids walk-through and sign a rather extensive contract and code of conduct (over 20 pages). The contract not only states expectations but gives the reasoning why each one is important and healthy for performers who are there to hone their craft. The faculty takes this VERY seriously, and it is true that Kaitlin is on this. Almost nothing slips by her. I have heard that other programs have similar contracts but do not follow through with very much.
@secondtimemt Your feelings on the matter are very understandable. Fortunately I have yet to see anyone open carry, at least in my part of Texas.
I’ve had several private discussions about how much non-MT campus life plays in to people’s decisions. My preference (but for some reason, I found out the decision was not all about me 
) would have been for my S choosing one of his schools that had the big university feel - TCU or Syracuse or in the above example, FSU. Football Saturday’s, thriving student groups, national tour concerts, etc.
For my S, that had ZERO weight but others coming from bigger cities may have issues with some of the rural / suburban campuses. My S is loving little old Westerville, Ohio for Otterbein but we’ll see how he feels in 3 more years when the novelty wears off. Luckily, Ohio State is 15 minutes away so I can sneak over to a Big Ten football game on the day before his shows And they have already ventured out to explore Dayton, Cincinnati and Cleveland is on the list next. I’ve talked to other parents that worry about their downtown Chicago kid or urban Philadelphia kid going bonkers in a town like Westerville - it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. Weather is another thing - but probably a toss up between Texas State and FSU. My S came from KC to Ohio so very similar weather.
And to be honest, there isn’t a whole lot of downtime time for MTers to fill anyway. “Normal” classes are 8 to late afternoon and during rehearsals its an 8 am to 10 pm day. I personally (again, not my experience) loved the distraction of a big time football game on weekends while I was studying engineering. Theater kids have a unique talent for entertaining themselves without all of that. Unless you KNOW your kid needs that external stimulation, always pick the program over the location - it’s only 4 years (or less)
@SingerDancerMom and @NeensMom as a Philly native, I can confirm that UArts is in one of the best places in the city. My parent’s friends are all moving there from the suburbs and enjoy an active arts life with fabulous restaurants, all within walking distance. Of course, you always need caution in a city, but did want to put out there that I personally know the neighborhood and students who go there.
I think my comment about SW Texas being a party school back in the day might have been mis-understood. Not that any of you know me or my kid but just in case… For the record my daughter is not a partier (unlike her mom at her age ?) and the fact that Kaitlin keeps a tight reign on that will be a relief to her because there will be no pressure to be part of the crowd.
@TexasMTDad – LOL. I actually didn’t know that about Texas State. I’m originally from KC, so have only known Texas as an adult. Good to know though. I’m sure my 3 boys will have it on their radar!
@artandtechmom That’s great to know about the area around UArts! So hard to know the safe and unsafe parts of any city when you’re not from there. Thanks for providing that information!
New Braunfels is just a skip away and that place has long been known as a place to “float” the Guadalupe. They give you an extra inner tube to put your cooler in.
Greune has the oldest dance hall in Texas, etc. Plus you’re half-way between Austin and San Antonio.
@AmarilloTX I’m surprised you haven’t seen any open carry out there. I usually pass through a couple of times year and haven’t but that is small sample size.
I honestly haven’t seen that much open carry because so many people got used to concealed carry, they’re just comfortable with it. But every time I do see an open-carry… it is jarring.
The first time I saw open carry was in Colorado (before it was legal here). They guy (in his 20s with wife and kid) is showing it off to the hostess at a restaurant. Not only unholsters it, but pops out the clip and actually dropped a round on the floor. I wanted to say “you idiot, you are the EXACT reason why not everyone should have a gun!”
@TexasMTDad A few years back on family vacation we stopped in Rifle, Colorado to eat at the cafe where all the waitresses are armed. That was an interesting experience.