<p>before you suggest it, i did a search and didn't come up with much. any info regarding these two schools? i've looked at their websites and know they are non-audition. anyone attending there or have any insight? the prompt for this interest is location. i know they are not top tier but we do like the location. so.......any help?</p>
<p>NKU and WKU feel very different from each other. NKU is located in a suburb of Cincinnati, a large metropolitan area. It has large numbers of non-traditional students, i.e. older students. It is very much a commuter school. Most students come from the greater Cincinnati/Northern KY area. As you said, NKU is a non-audition school. Auditions are held for talent scholarships only. The theatre program is pretty well regarded, but it is certainly not in the same league as CCM, which is just across the Ohio River. There is not actually a MT major, rather it is a concentration. NKU has turned out a handful of very talented performers in recent years. Most of them chose NKU for financial reasons. My impression is that the majority of students at NKU are not top tier talents. If you are interested in NKU, or any school for that matter, as a safety, take a careful look at the curriculum and see if it meets your needs.</p>
<p>Western Kentucky University is in Bowling Green, a rather small city. WKU has for many years attracted KY students who were active in H.S. speech and drama competitions. I believe that the MT program began just last year. I truly do not know anything about it. I remember looking at their website last year because I had heard that they were starting a MT program. I don't recall gleaning much info. WKU has more of a traditional college feel than NKU. A majority of the students are of traditional college age. Most are Kentuckians, but unlike NKU, students come from all over the state. </p>
<p>I believe that the feel of the two campuses are quite different. Living in Bowling Green vs Northern KY is also quite different. A student at NKU could make trips to the Cincinnati Symphony, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, Playhouse in the Park (which won a regional Tony award last year), Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, Ensemble Theatre, the Broadway in Cincinnati series, productions at CCM, major league football and baseball, etc. Life in Bowling Green is much quieter. There are no major arts organizations there. Social life for a WKU student would revolve around campus activities. </p>
<p>Hope this helps.
Kathy</p>
<p>kathy, thanks a bunch. that helps a great deal. our main interest in those particular schools was their location in kentucky. but, it sounds like it would not be a great choice as far as the mt field.</p>
<p>Razorback1,</p>
<p>Yep, I agree with your assessment. NKU and WKU are not in the same league as most of the schools discussed on this forum. I do believe that NKU could be a viable choice for a safety school.</p>
<p>Anyone lurking that attended these or is applying???</p>
<p>I am accepted in NKU for fall 2011! If everything goes right, I would be joining the university.
My intended major however is Physics!</p>
<p>Hi fznfire - Congrats on your acceptance! </p>
<p>You might want to post it on a different forum - this one is for Musical Theatre majors.</p>
<p>Anyone with current opinions/thoughts about the musical theatre programs at NKU and WKU? Would be interested in hearing some opinions about quality of acting and dance instruction as well as which school would be preferred for MT.</p>
<p>Forgot to ask: Is the vocal training required every semester for both schools?</p>
<p>NKU is audition for their BFA program. WKU is non audition BFA but you audition middle of sophomore year to stay on the BFA track. NKU is not a safety school because it’s an audition school for BFA. WKU has had MT for a number of years. </p>
<p>I think that saying that any audition school is not in the same league as other schools on this forum is rather rude to students accepted and attending.</p>
<p>I agree with Walker1194…no school is a safety school if an audition is involved. I also think that every school is a perfect school for any number of students. Success has a lot to do with what a student is determined to get out of the program…and how long and hard they want to work at success after graduation. And success doesn’t equal “Broadway” for every student.</p>
<p>^^^ and there is a WKU kid off broadway right now. I think she would completely disagree that she went to a “school that is not in the same league.” I also personally know someone who went to NKU and is a working actor. Your ability to work has as much to do with your talent, gumption and networking as what school you go to. Work hard and you will be successful.</p>
<p>If you’ll notice, dancersmom made those comments in 2005, and at that time, her account of the schools was likely accurate. She was very familiar with the schools in the area and wasn’t the only one who had that opinion. It’s possible that things have changed in the intervening years. When you revive an eight year old thread, you have to expect that the comments may not reflect how things are today! :)</p>
<p>My D audition and was accepted to the BFA in MT at NKU. They said they take very few freshmen into the program. There is a BA non-audition track too. The director that took over not too long ago (several years though), is really making positive changes to the program. It was D’s first acceptance so she was relieved to have one, but with other choices coming in, NKU has dropped to the bottom of her accepted list. We saw a production of Grease in the fall, the actors sang well, but the choreography was a little different then we expected and the acting was over the top. It appeared that the director was trying to make it more comical then usual. We did like the idea that it was so close to Cincinnati which is a big arts oriented city.</p>
<p>Alwaysamom,</p>
<p>Thanks for defending me. I don’t read CC every day like I did when my D was still in school - it’s been nearly 5 years since she graduated - but I did happen to check in today. (Time sure does fly!) I was a little surprised to see that I managed to offend someone 7 1/2 years after posting comments! I do believe that what I wrote was accurate in 2005.</p>
<p>Walker1194,</p>
<p>I am sorry that you felt I was rude to students accepted to and/or attending NKU, WKU, or any other auditioned MT program. At the time I posted my remarks SEVEN and a HALF years ago, NKU was a non-auditioned program. Students working on a theatre degree could emphasize MT, but MT was not a major. I think that my comments were fair. NKU’s program has come a long way in the intervening years. Auditions are now required and I believe that the level of talent in the program is now higher than in the past. The school’s reputation is on the upswing. They have an excellent faculty and a very good physical plant. I’ve seen quite a few very talented kids come out of the program.</p>
<p>I certainly agree with you that “your ability to work has as much to do with talent, gumption, and networking as what school you go to.” As many other CCers will tell you, the name of the school on one’s resume only helps for the first couple of years post-graduation. After that, it’s defintely talent, skill, reputation, connections, making smart choices, and a big pinch of luck :).</p>
<p>Best of luck to your son or daughter.</p>