<p>So, I realize there are already a few threads about getting accepted into the National High School Institute and that sort of thing but having read some of the posts, I still can’t really get an idea as to what it is. My understanding is that it’s a theatre/musical theatre/film/(whatever you happen to choose) intensive camp on the campus of NU. That’s about all I know. Is it prestigious? Does it look good on a resume/transcript? How many people are we talking for each group? Expensive? Amazing experience? </p>
<p>A few things about me:
I’m a sophomore at a private HS with a B average.
I’ve been acting in school and community musical theater for about 6 years with leads in recent years
I have taken and am taking voice lessons for many years and am a very confident singer
My dance experience is limited to the shows that I’ve been in up to this point but I am currently taking dance classes to try to broaden my experience</p>
<p>My daughter attended the NHSI (Cherub) program for theater and loved it. There are NHSI programs in theater, music, film, debate and journalism running at the same time on campus. I can only speak to the theater portion since they are all run independently and the kids stay together by program. Note that you can only participate in the theater program if you are completing your junior year.</p>
<p>The theater kids were all grouped together in a great dorm at Northwestern which had its own common areas and a cafeteria. I think the journalism kids shared the cafeteria but not the dorm. Hers was an amazing, life changing experience that I can probably not describe adequately. She took a series of core classes in acting and voice (voice for the stage) and movement and then some electives (she picked improvisation, dance and something else). There was an emphasis on yoga and strengthening your inner core. The first day, all 150 kids performed monologues and then everyone was put into 10 groups of 15 kids each for plays -- fairly randomly it seemed. The plays were fairly "out there" shows and none really featured a "lead" per se. They were clearly meant as vehicals for the kids to practice what they learned. Every Cherub has to "tech" for two shows as well. There is a stage management component to the program so each show was run by a student stage manager. At the end of the five week program, all ten shows are run twice for the kids and the parents. My D has had lots of leads in shows but came out of this program feeling like she had learned SO much. She felt that she was surrounded with so many talented kids and that the instruction was incredibly high. They saw several shows -- both at Northwestern and in Chicago and had several trips into Chicago as a group. There were also Master Classes and a "College Night" where kids could question the faculty about different schools etc. The program did not specifically prepare you for the audition process, however.</p>
<p>She also took part in the two week musical theater extension. This is for 30 kids and is by audition. In the two week program, they had voice, dance, MT history and maybe acting(?). They performed a showcase for the parents at the end which was quite incredible.</p>
<p>There was this wonderful feeling of ensemble about the whole program. Everyone can only wear black, white or grey for the entire time (not for trips) so everyone begins to feel equal. My D's play was extremely tight and she liked the fact that no one was a lead. She still keeps in touch with many of the kids. She would HIGHLY recommend the program and felt it really contributed to her growth as an actress.</p>
<p>I just re-read your post and saw that I forgot to answer some of your questions! It was not cheap (you can check on line for the exact price) but we felt that it was well worth it. You can only do the five week program without the two week extension and that may make a difference cost wise. You cannot do the two week program without the five week, however.</p>
<p>Regarding how it looks on a transcript...My D got into Northwestern ED so we won't really know. However, a friend of hers who also did it found that he spent a great deal of time talking about it at his Tisch audition. Tisch seemed very impressed with it! The program has been around since the 30's and boasts many famous alums: the girl from Ugly Betty, David Schwimmer, Noah Wiley (the rest escape me now but you would be impressed!)</p>
<p>ya definitely! I was a Cherub last summer(2007) for theatre- I was actually there with Allie- Love her! But it's definitely worth the money. Prior experience, I would say does not REALLY matter. They want kids that have a LOVE for the art of theatre. yes I am planning on making theatre my career, but I can honestly say that the theatre program at NHSI teaches you so much about yourself! Lessons that can help better yourself for ANY profession. The friendships made are AMAZING and it's just---words can not express the program. It was seriously the BEST 5 weeks of my life.</p>
<p>As to answer your questions...I believe it looks good on resumes lol...I know 7 out of the like 15 people admitted into Carnegie Mellon's 2007 class were 2006 cherubs, and so far 17 cherubs are into Northwestern for 2008. </p>
<p>There are 160 kids in the program and roughly 32 stay for the 2 week extension.</p>
<p>It's expensive and got more expensive this year..but I recieved a scholarship!</p>
<p>EXTREMELY INTENSE...I can proudly say I came home looking like a different person. Fit and everything...definitely builds muscles- and CHARACTER! :)</p>
<p>AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I could go on FOREVER talking about the program! Like alliesmom's D, I still keep in contact with the CHerubs--they really become your family! no lie...</p>
<p>I am interested in applying to a summer program for musical theatre to prepare myself for college auditions. I have looked closely at the CMU Pre-College program because it says its main goal is to prepare students for college auditions. Also, at the end of the program you are given a chance to actually audition for CMU's program.</p>
<p>However, it appears that the NHSI program is much more selective and perhaps more intense. Would you say it prepared you (or your child) well for college auditions? Did people who auditioned you (or your child) talk with you (or your child) about it? Did you (or your child) leave with specific songs/monologues ready to perform?</p>
<p>My D -- who is a freshman theater major at Northwestern right now -- would say that NHSI changed her life. She had been in lots of shows and had been singing, dancing and acting her entire life. However, she felt that she learned SO much in the program.<br>
That being said, the emphasis is NOT on actual auditioning for college. There was a college night, she learned alot about various programs from the faculty and her other classmates, and D came back with some great monologues, but the emphasis was on growth as an actor rather than preparation for college auditions. Intrestingly, most of her Cherub classmates got into excellent BA and BFA theater programs at the top schools so the intense training they received must have served them all well.<br>
Good luck! We would highly recommend it.</p>
<p>Having never been on this website before, I am astounded at all the info I am getting. Here is my question. My daughter just got accepted into the NHSI musical theatre program as well as Carnegie-Mellon’s. She is really unsure which to go to. So many more of her friends have gone to Carnegie and loved it. Carnegie also sounds a bit more relaxed. Did your daughter actually have fun and make good friends? My daughter is a passionate musical theatre kid but the weekend classes and dress code sound intimidating and off-putting. What’s the real deal? It sounds very inetnse but I want her to have fun.</p>
<p>I have had students who have attended CMU pre-college and others who have attended Cherubs. Both programs are intense. But at both programs, the students LOVED it and made good friends. I even had a student who has attended BOTH programs and loved both just as much. Neither program is “relaxed.”</p>
<p>Mollysmom, I would not go at all by prestige in picking a summer program so that colleges will look favorably. That is not how it works. Colleges would see that your child committed to an intense training program over the summer no matter which one she attended. It would not make a difference to a college which one she had attended. Your D should compare both programs in terms of what they offer (there are differences) and see which matches up with what she wants to do for the summer. Both programs are well regarded and both are intensive.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your reply. It’s very difficult when so many kids and parents talk about one program being “life changing.” My goal is for her to have a summer where she can do what she really wants to do-theatre/music, etc. and have a wonderful time meeting like-minded kids. Sounds like either program would meet those needs. She is leaning towards CMU because she has many friends who went and loved it. It might also be good for her to see CMU which she has not.</p>
<p>Mollysmom, I know many kids who have gone to both these programs. And at both programs, the kids I know came away with “it was life changing”…“it was amazing”…“best summer of my life”…“I made so many theater friends for life”…“it gave me a sense of what an intensive college theater program would be like”…and so on. Truly that happens with BOTH these VERY WELL regarded summer programs. </p>
<p>So, it really is a matter of which one appeals the most to your D. She is gonna like either one I really bet. There are many differences and she should examine them. For example, at NHSI Cherubs, she would be doing acting for five weeks and then the two week MT extension (she got into that I assume?) and at CMU, all six weeks would be MT. That doesn’t make CMU better but just a different focus and it is a matter of preference. I have had some MT kids really like the chance to focus just on acting for five weeks at Cherubs for example. At CMU, there is a lot of preparation for college auditions. I’m not sure that is as much at Cherubs but this will matter to some and not others (like my D went to a summer theater program that had no college audition prep and LOVED it…we didn’t look to her summer program to prepare for college auditions). But if your D wants that, CMU is real good with that. Cherubs’ five week program puts on little plays. CMU doesn’ t do that. Some kids care and some do not. The MT Extension puts on a MT revue. CMU puts on like mock auditions where they get feedback. Also, examine which faculty teach at each program. Look at which size of program appeals. Same with location.</p>
<p>Your D cannot go wrong and at this point, I would go with personal preference. In BOTH cases, she will not only have a great summer, but if you are worried about the application resume, in both cases, she will have been immersed in a summer theater intensive and can show some committment that way but it is more what she gains from the experience than points on a resume.</p>
<p>By the way…you are on the NHSI thread and so parents here are talking about Cherubs being life changing. If you go to the CMU pre-college thread, I bet you will hear similar (and equally valid) comments about THAT program.</p>
<p>No doubt they’re all life-changing to someone. That’s why I included a link to a thread that has plenty of detail on the one we’re familiar with. Soozie made some good points about the differences. Good luck!</p>
<p>My D also thought Cherubs was life-changing. We were a little apprehensive having her go to a program where she would only work on MT for two weeks. However, she was one of the ones Soozie talked about who got SO much out of the incredible acting training. I think the experience is life-changing because Cherubs forces the kids to reach deep inside themselves. She loved learning the different techniques and even began to appreciate the reasoning behind the dress code. She made AMAZING friends who she is still in contact with despite many going to different colleges. There are, however, about 20-25 kids from her Cherub class at NU.</p>
<p>Does anyone know exactly when they let the “regular decision” kids know? My D has been accepted for the Tisch CAP 21 program but is slightly torn about where she would go if she was accepted into both. We have to send in half the fee (and it’s hefty) by April 24 so she knows if Cherubs sends out their responses after that she will attend CAP 21. She is thrilled to be doing either program, just wondered if anyone knew anything more than “late April.”</p>
<p>Hi all I am brand new to this. My S is interested in pursuing MT and I really like the way that NU allows the kids a wide selection of classes in conjunction with their MT classes. I would like to look into the Summer program for rising seniors. I know there as been talk about the program but what I am wondering is the proceedure involved for my S to apply for Summer 2010. Any help?</p>
<p>The application process is not difficult but you do need to get materials in on time! The information about applying is on their website and the due dates are in spring. Getting an audition tape or DVD ready is the main challenge so plan ahead for this part, if your son is applying for the MT extension (2 weeks in addition to the larger acting program for 5 weeks). The program is definitely worth doing, as indicated by posters here. S attended in 2006 and was among the fairly large number of Cherubs accepted at Carnegie Mellon in the entering class of 2007. Cherubs was not the deciding factor in those decisions but it was a positive factor.</p>