<p>Hey all, its my first post...so bear with me</p>
<p>I've been searching for colleges that seem to fit me, (double major, great music/al theater, in a big city/near one) and I've narrowed down my choices to NYU and Northwestern. I wanted to know what people thought of both schools, and what they would recommend and the pros and cons of both schools. I'm needing all the advice I can get. Thanks so much,</p>
<p>Chris</p>
<p>We visited and were very impressed with both schools. They both are great academically and have very good theatre programs. We looked at them both from the theatre/drama side, and specific to musical theatre, but we did not visit the music dept. at Northwestern or Steinhardt at NYU. Others have written about both programs on this forum more from the music angle. You probably should search the forum for much more. </p>
<p>Our take - my son wants musical theatre - CAP 21 at NYU Tisch is the type of program he is looking for, and he would not do the other studios at NYU. He will audition there and also at a number of other MT programs. We LOVED our visit to Northwestern, but he does not plan to apply there. If he wanted straight drama, it would be a good choice. We were not very encouraged about getting into musical theatre at Northwestern. After being in the large theatre dept. (I believe 80 or 90 students in each class) for a year, one can audition for the musical theatre certification program. Many audition, but they only take 15 from drama and 15 from music each year. If one knows that MT is their choice, why spend a year waiting to see if you can get one of the few spots?</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>thanks, anyone else know anything?</p>
<p>What is interesting about these two schools is that you can double major/take alot of non-drama courses at both, but only one (NYU) is a conservatory. If I were you - someone who wanted great training AND a strong liberal arts base (or a second major) - I would choose NYU. The reason I say this is because although I'm sure you'll get great training at both, NYU has more of a professional training environment, being a BFA/conservatory program. So, I guess (in my opinion), NYU is really the epitome of the "best of both worlds," ability to double major PLUS BFA/conservatory-style training.</p>
<p>OK, well I must say your post is funny to me because this year my final choices for school came down to NYU and Northwestern. I researched them both and here is what I found.</p>
<p>NYU- Conservatory Program BFA, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday you are in class from 9 to 5. That is your basic singing, acting, dance courses ( strong dance program) LArge program, around 60 in CAP but they break u down into smaller classes ( randomly not by talent) at NYU performance is allowed after the freshman year if you are in god standing. Not a ton of performance opportunity compared to some places. Monday and Wendesday Liberal arts based classes. Freshman year is a pretty much set up for u academically. CAP is a 3 year program. Fourth year you can switch studios, by audition or pursue your double major or minor. If you would like to PM me with any more questions go for it, but thats the basic. Oh and if you are looking for college experience not exactly typical, but it has itsd strong points too. No sr shpwcase but they just added industry auditions for third years which i amnot exactly sure what it is but it sounds about the tsame as sr showcase and that is by audition only. </p>
<p>Northwestern- You get a BA or BS( your choice) in Communication with an emphasis in theater, possible to double major and you cpover a lot of coursework through the schoool of COm. anyways. First year although not officially a musical theater major you cna take courses in singing acting and dancing. Just talk t counselor be on top etc. Audition for musical theater sertificate program after frosh or soph year. Initially asbout 90 kids in the school of communication but about 20 opf them are a theater emphasis ( there are many emphsis in school of comm) for MT they accept about 30 a year about 15 from vocal music major and 15 from theater. Multiple performance opportunities, can perform from when u are a frosh. Evry mt strudent this year graduated with an equity card. Have a jpint sr howcase with CCM and Baldwin Wallace. U have to be on top of what your curriculum is at NU more than NYU but its possible. Normal college experience. Hard academic school. No auditon initially but I got a scholatrrship by sending in a tape of my work ( to be honest I think its helped mya dmissions as well ) but who cna know for sure. Also they just began the American Musical theater project. Profducing 5 original musicAL WORKSHOPS WITH directors such as tina landau, and com[osers such as schwartz and flaherty and you can pm me ofr more info on that if you would like. Hope this helps! </p>
<p>PS I chose Northwestern but boith are great schools just very different.</p>
<p>So are you going to Northwestern in the fall? </p>
<p>I feel strongly that the theatre major has many more than 20 in each class. Also, we know 2 people currently in the program - one has had many performance opportunities, the other had none her freshman year and only limited ones her soph. year. She also tried for MT after first year and did not get in. This girl is a wonderful actress from what we have seen here locally - her Anne Frank last summer here was great.</p>
<p>Lastly, I can't speak for CCM's MT program's showcase, but I know for a fact that BW's showcase was not with Northwestern. It was with CCM's drama (non-MT students), Otterbein, and I believe the 4th was PSU. I'm positive it was not Northwestern. I wasn't aware that Northwestern had a showcase, but they may.</p>
<p>I don't dispute their having equity cards. We often see Northwestern grad's listed in playbills, so they are definitely working.</p>
<p>Good luck, and thanks for sharing your thoughts.</p>
<p>Just to clarify: from 2001 through 2004, Northwestern's MT program did a joint showcase in early April with CCM's Drama program, BW's MT program, and Otterbein's combined MT and Acting program. NW's Acting program continued to be part of the League Showcase in May.</p>
<p>Last year, the NW faculty decided, partly because of the urging of their alumni, to showcase their MTs and ACTs together. They dropped the combined showcases and did a stand-alone. Otterbein, BW and CCM invited Penn State to replace NW. Both showcases went quite successfully.</p>
<p>bump...again</p>
<p>My son's a cherub at the NU summer pgm right now and loving it -- will definitely apply in fall. I was under the impression that NU does not give merit or talent scholarships at all, so I was excited to hear that you got one. Was it through the Communications Dept and/or specifically for Theatre, and did it even put a dent in the 45k+ tuition?</p>
<p>This is very encouraging for me to hear, and the first I've heard of anyone getting money for this at NU. I've heard of lots of full-ride athletes, but not for Theatre.</p>
<p>gail</p>
<p>Cadget, I'm not sure who your sources are, but you are slightly off on a couple of points with NYU.</p>
<p>First, CAP dance classes ARE broken down by ability so each student is learning at his/her level. In the Drama Department there are over 150 productions each year, I know of no other school with that amount of performance opportunities. CAP varies between 3 and 4 years depending on whether or not the third year students wish to continue, in which case fourth year is generally a practicum year. You can transfer studios after 2 years, not three. Also there are TWO showcases each year, one for acting and one for MT, not to mention each studio runs their own industry nights.</p>
<p>I will admit I am no authority on CAP 21 my only source is my current friends in the program I believe I posted the post you are referring to right after speaking to my friend who will be a third year and as she made very clear to me MANY changes are occuring in the CAP program and have been in the ast few years and upcoming years. Sorry for the dance thing, you are right they do put you by level I was referring to the acting, singing, vocal perf. classes, etc. Should have been more precise. I was referring to CAP specifically not Tisch as a whole when I was talking about performances per a year. And that information was taken exactly from my friend told me who told me that she was not able to perform till her junior year, either me being misinformed or something, sorry. And with showcase it is industry auditions not quite senior showcases ( how it has been explained to me by the same junior in CAP) so yeah sorry for any misinformation that is just what I was told I apologize.</p>
<p>I understand that you may only apply to one department at northwestern. I wonder........ if you applied Early Decision to the music department-voice (which requires an audition) and were rejected, because your voice might not be up to classical standards, or your musical theory wasn't that strong........ would it be possible to apply to the Drama department Regular Admission?</p>