<p>I have seen on CC how it is much more competitive to apply to NU as a theatre major due to the 50/50 cap. I was wondering if anyone had any specific statistics. (Like average theatre major acts, acceptance percentages, etc)
I also have heard that being a Cherub gives you an advantage. I was wondering to what extent. Out of the 160 Cherubs, tons of us applied ED and there is obviously no way they can accept all of us.</p>
<p>Also, has anyone heard anything from the office of admissions about the ED class this year. Since 25% more applicants applied, I am really hoping they accept more than usual!</p>
<p>DD got the happy letter for NU ED this year. She didn’t do Cherubs, but did have strong grades and test scores, plus a very strong MT resume including UMich summer program (MPulse) and several national MT awards.</p>
<p>When we visited Northwestern they did mention that the Theatre program is the most competitive part of the Communications school as there are so many applicants for the 100 total slots. But I also noticed several other NU Theatre ED acceptances among CC folks on the Northwestern ED thread, so clearly CC folks are up to the challenge!</p>
<p>Don’t be shy about applying to the fabulous NU theatre program. What have you got to lose by trying? And good luck to all who have already applied!!</p>
<p>My scores/grades were pretty good. 33 on ACT, u/w GPA was 3.89. I wasn’t a Cherub either. I’m now a ptm student and I mentioned nothing about my technical theater experience, especially since the majority of my experience was in acting back in high school. I was accepted but decided to go to a conservatory program instead.</p>
<p>May I ask you folks about your essays? It seems to me that the only way NU can assess what you might bring to the theatre dept is by what you say there, besides a list of ECs. I’m not asking what exactly did you write, but did you make it a priority to speak frankly and emphatically about your desire to study theatre and to study it there? Was there any other element that you used to help you stand out? </p>
<p>My D has slightly lower GPA and test scores, but definitely within NU’s standards. We know it’s a big reach for her, but I’m wondering about the the best way of showing them an attractive theatre student.</p>
<p>EmmyBet, I had a MT student get into Northwestern ED this month and another get in RD in the recent past. As far as showing the theater stuff, it was all on their activity resume that they submitted to all schools (not the same as a theater resume). In their Why Northwestern essay, they surely talked about why they wanted NU’s theater/MT program. One of their common app essays may have dealt with something theater related. They also had supplemental artistic recommendations on top of the academic ones. Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Thanks, Soozie. My D definitely has theatre prominently in her EC list, and will work hard on the essay. She has some people lined up for artistic recommendations as well. I definitely hope all of that helps!</p>
<p>Yeah! My Common App essay was about my favorite musical and my love for it. My Northwestern essay was about how I really liked the campus when I visited it, how my interest was piqued by my chorus teacher, who had just graduated, how I liked everything they had to offer, how I want to try everything and learn as much as I can, and how I would like to double major. </p>
<p>I hadn’t actually looked at the essay since I turned it in, and I know I’m biased, but I think it’s a pretty good essay. My guess as to why I was rejected is that I received two Cs junior year, in BC Calculus and IB Physics (though I made them into Bs the next semester). Those grades were that low because I was trying really hard, but I was also very committed to my too many extracurriculars that semester. That combined with my handful of Bs I guess was enough to keep me from being admitted there and many other places. However, USC accepted me, and now I am so happy! But that’s a story for another time & place. I submitted recs from my math/computer science teacher (he loves me. And he did not teach BC Calc), my junior year English teacher (she loves me and knows about my passion for theatre), my guidance counselor (she doesn’t really know me), and for Northwestern, my chorus teacher (she likes me and started teaching at our school right after she graduated). I don’t remember who all required a rec from my drama teacher. We have an… interesting? relationship, so I didn’t ask her for a lot of recs. </p>
<p>Best of luck to your daughter! Northwestern is a great school. :)</p>
<p>does northwestern’s theatre program really have a 50/50 cap? and what is a cherub? i was planning on applying into theatre at northwestern, but now i’m wondering if i should apply into performance studies or something a little less competitive.</p>
<p>@sberryfields… Were all 17 Cherubs admitted in theatre, or does that include other fields as well? I wonder how many of the 100 theatre slots were filled ED?</p>
<p>I know of at least one in another major in Communications, not theatre.
I’m wondering the same! I’m applying RD, so hopefully not too too many!</p>
<p>And just to clarify my last post: that’s speaking on behalf of theatre Cherubs only, I’m sure other journalism/film/etc. Cherubs got in to Northwestern ED too!</p>
<p>Hi I had no idea how much influence being a Cherub/EDing mattered in NU Theatre admissions…I’m starting to doubt whether or not I should apply. I’m definitely going to apply to Northwestern, but I’m debating whether to apply into Theatre or Performance Studies. Does anyone know the main differences between these two majors? Also would anyone be willing to offer me chances of getting into NU Theatre? Academically, I have a GPA of 3.86 (UW) and ACT of 33. I’m out-of-state. I have a lot of EC’s, both in performing arts and in other areas/leadership. Currently, I intern with a renowned regional actor. Among my credits are numerous theatrical productions, 2 regional film credits, and awards (1st place in State for Improv, Musical Theatre adjudications, etc.) I’m really worried about my chances of admission into Theatre. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>The head of the Performance Studies is a great guy; it’s a small program that actually grows each year - meaning that kids transfer in sophomore and junior year. I suggest you call him (I forget his name right now) and ask him any questions you might have, he’ll be very happy to discuss the program with you and explain the differences between Theatre and PS.</p>
<p>BTW - Cherub is not a significant influence in admissions.</p>
<p>It would be my guess that the NU theatre department would want to strike a balance between students who are clearly interested in pursuing the MT certificate and those who are more interested in acting and other areas of theatre. </p>
<p>Therefore if one’s essay and ECs reflect a single-minded passion for MT, one might be facing stiffer admissions competition, from Cherubs or whomever. Just a conjecture!</p>
<p>goldtortoise, you sound like an appropriate candidate and should not hesitate to apply. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t do Cherubs. And you should not change the major to “help” your “odds.” Apply for what you truly want to apply to. </p>
<p>My student who just got into Northwestern for theater (hopefully MT) ED did not do Cherubs, though did pre college programs elsewhere. I had a student get in RD another year for theater/MT (and who now attends) who had done Cherubs. I had another student who had done Cherubs who did not get in. </p>
<p>Sure, at any of these colleges, there are some students who attended that college’s pre-college program. My own kid went to NYU/Tisch and there were surely a number of kids in her class who had done the pre-college there but she wasn’t one of them and didn’t do pre-college anywhere. </p>
<p>If you have the qualifications, and good recs, experiences, achievements, essays and all that jazz, then you will be a contender for admissions, regardless of whether you did pre-college at that school. That should never be a deterrent. Good luck.</p>
<p>PS, one thing I can guarantee…if you do not apply, you can’t get in. :D</p>
<p>actually, i’m most interested in pursuing a career in improvisational/stand-up comedy, not MT, though a few of my ECs are MT related. thanks for all of the advice, though!</p>
<p>goldtortoise, Northwestern is very strong in theater/acting, not simply MT and so go for it. There are many other schools where you could hone those skills. Some of these schools also have extracurricular improv groups. For example, I don’t know if you are applying to NYU, but they have a great group for you called Hammerkanz. Chicago would also be a great place to be for someone like you, as well as NYC, just for other performance opportunities in improv and stand up comedy. </p>
<p>My own kid is into musical theater. However, since graduating college, she is involved in a comedic cabaret troupe that performs weekly in NYC and it is a mix of sketch comedy and music, all original written by those in the group. Many in the group are sketch comedians, though that is not her career aspiration, even though she is very involved in it on a weekly basis as a writer/composer/performer. </p>
<p>In any case, look into the extracurricular opportunities at each school on your list for improv and sketch comedy troupes.</p>
<p>My S is a freshman in the NU Theatre major and he was a Cherub. He told me that a little more than 20 former Cherubs are in his class this year, if I remember correctly, and the same is true for the class of 2013. I’m not sure if being a Cherub is insignificant in admissions. </p>
<p>goldtortoise-your 33 ACT is a good score, and you seem to have the EC’s to back up you interest. NU has a great improv group, so I agree with soozievt that you won’t get in if you don’t apply. Let them know in your essay where your interests lie, and what you can bring to the campus.</p>
Let them know in your essay where your interests lie, and what you can bring to the campus.</p>