<p>I debated where I should put this but decided I like keeping OCU at the top so here goes. I thought I would share it with all my CC friends as many of us will soon be taking our kid off to college. I am sending it to all our family and friends with S's new address. (Sorry it loses all the italics and bolds.) Won't he be surprised at all his mail.</p>
<p>Dear Parents,</p>
<p>Freshman year can sometimes be humbling experience on egos that have peaked during senior years when many students reach super star status at their high school and within their community. In recognizing that freshman year can be very challenging with all the temptations and freedoms of college life. We are asking you to send, along with friends and family, a letter of support. </p>
<p>We find the letters that are most helpful are the ones where brave writers share their personal life lesson especially helpful are: painful life lessons, glad I stretched myself lessons and believe in yourself life lessons. Sharing your life stories can be a wonderfully cathartic experience as you contribute your stories you have the opportunity to benefit yourself as well as your student. Here are a few excerpts from the feedback we have gotten from this exercise.</p>
<p>I wrote about how I had lost a wonderful scholarship by thinking I didnt need to study and spending too much time partying. I told her I ended up having to drop out of college and how much loosing my dream had affected me. After writing this it occurred to me I could go back to school now. Im signed up for two classes this winter! Thanks for the opportunity to share this with my niece, I think it helped me more than it did her. </p>
<p>When I went to college everyone I know choose a roommate from high school but me. Of course I had heard all the horror stories of the weird roommate, but I figured what the heck maybe it would give me a funny story to tell. Move in day I walked into my room and there stood a very large black kid and a white kid. Being from a northern Wisconsin the only black people I had seen where on T.V. The black guy was my roommate; we ended up rooming together all four years. I have to thank you for this assignment, in writing this I realized how much I missed Ron and looked him up. About that time I lost my job and Ron was instrumental in getting me on with his company. Thanks for a great assignment.</p>
<p>I never thought I was smart /good enough etc. to make it in college, but I went ahead and studied my butt off. Not that I didnt have fun, I just limited my fun to a couple of nights a weekend and skipped the hang-over. I mean no drunk wakes up in the gutter and said, Gee I missed a couple of parties. I am glad I had a plan and I realize now I need to get back to setting some higher goals for myself. </p>
<p>Your letters do not have to arrive the first day, week or even month of the start of classes and even if all you do is send a note that says I believe in you you may be changing more than one life.</p>
<p>My d will be joining your s & d's as a member of the OCU class of '09. She is an entertainment business major. I've been following posts on CC for 2 yrs or so -- in fact, first read about OCU and began considering it as a possibility for my d because of the info from this forum! This is a wonderful resource for parents and students who are trying to wade through the plethora of pamphlets & advice being thrown at them in pursuit of the perfect university just for them! D has been involved in MT at least 10 yrs and dancing since she was 3. She's ready to make a bit of a change, yet still loves being involved in the entertainment world. We found the Entertainment Business degree at OCU to be unique and exciting. The possibilities are endless it seems -- and, as most of you have already mentioned, the faculty/staff at OCU are wonderful. Professor Jacquemain, head of the EB Dept., is incredible -- always willing to answer questions, ease concerns, and give encouragement! I'm sure my d has already met some of your sons & daughters through Facebook. What a wonderful resource to help students acclimate even before they set foot on campus! We were at Stars 101 in July where she met some lasting friends. Thanks to you all for sharing your experiences! Look forward to sharing the next 4 years with you! We're from Ft.Worth, by the way -- just about 3 1/2 hours south of OKC.</p>
<p>We are completing our endless packing...how many clothes does my d actually NEED????? We will be heading out by SUV early in the morning. We plan to stop over somewhere when we get too tired to drive (I-40 all the way) and will be checking into our hotel in Oklahoma City on Sunday afternoon. My d will be checking into her dorm on Monday the 15th with the Honors students...are any of your children doing the same? Best wishes for safe travel to all and we look forward to meeting you!!!</p>
<p>Best of luck to your daughter, Lexasmomkbj, and all the other OCU rising frosh. I still read all your "stories" to keep up on you as we have such fondness in our heart for OCU and Dr H and everyone there. D was sooooo close to being a freshman with you! (As I hear you heading out the door to take her to school, I'm grateful D doesn't leave for UMich until the last day of this month...we're not ready!)</p>
<p>I know your childrens' experience at OCU will be one where they will be nurtured with kindness and taught by outstanding professionals. We have experienced the gifts of OCU and know your children will have a great educational experience. Have fun enjoying the new building as it opens this school year....heaven!</p>
<p>Safe travels, friends....I, for one, look forward to hearing the tales from OCU!</p>
<p>musicalthtrmom,
Thanks for your good wishes. Best to your D, too. I am jealous of your last couple of weeks. We are not ready, but are going anyway.</p>
<p>You guys all seem the first to be leaving. I want to wish your kids the most wonderful time and fruitful experience at OCU. For all these kids, we have been through every stage here on this forum and so for this next one, we all want to hear how they settle in and also how they like it once they become immersed (as they will!) in these terrific programs. Keep posting! </p>
<p>Musicalthtrmom....I join you in not imagining leaving just yet...would NEVER be ready. My daughter's schedule for a while now has been where she is out all day and night except to sleep. While she is doing great things and earning lots of money all the while, there has not been a moment to do anything else. She is involved in two different shows today alone. We will have 12 days to get ready amongst other things and it should work out. For me, I have two kids going off and so besides the preparation, there is this extreme change in MY life about to happen (not to mention theirs!). So, in the coming weeks after these kids all fly the coop....we gotta share what's going on! </p>
<p>I guess it is starting with you OCU families! All the best........
Susan</p>
<p>Susan....
My D's schedule of late sounds like yours. Though my D's show closed last night so hopefully she can get some pre-college organizing done next week. (This weekend she's out-of-town with a friend.) I cannot imagine you packing up both girls to send them both off. I still have one more at home for 3 years. We've warned her how much attention she'll get from mom and dad now! (She just rolls her eyes and groans!)
Enjoy the next few weeks!</p>
<p>My son is possibly going to audition at OCU but dance MUST BE a BIG part of their program and I remember reading somewhere that unless you are a dance major, you may not be able to either fit in a dance class daily or the dance classes may be filled by dance majors. As you guys start your semester, can you let me know how much dance can be fit in the schedule. This may help in decision making this month! Thanks.</p>
<p>I'm a MT student at OCU and happy to answer your question.</p>
<p>I don't know who told you that dance is not a big part of the MT semester at Oklahoma City University. I take a least two dance courses every semester. And I know that my fellow students do as well.</p>
<p>One of the most import things to remember about OCU's program is that the dance classes that are taken by MT students are the same classes that are taken by the OCU dance majors. There are no "easier" or "lighter" dance classes just because you are a MT major. You have the same instructors and you take the exact same classes as the dance majors. In fact, you will be in leveled dance classes with OCU dance student. You will be in classes with people who have studied dance all their lives. OCU dance profesors do not give MT students breaks just because they are not dance majors. Every MT student must meet and abide by the rules and regulations of the OCU Dance School..which I'll tell you are very strict.</p>
<p>Now..fitting your academic schedule into the leveled dance classes is another thing. You may have to take an acting class when Jazz 2 is being offered. I know Mt majors who take more dance classes outside of the required class load (yes..they do pay extra). </p>
<p>As you might know, Oklahoma City University has a very respected dance school with a huge national reputation. To receive this high caliber of training in a MT program is amazing.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, please feel free to email me!</p>
<p>looks like i'm the first back online since we had our lunch. what a delight it was to put faces to online names. we had a wonderful time enjoying great pizza and sharing our lives. funny, not one person from oklahoma. we represented minnesota, texas, new york, arizona and north carolina. it sure was hard to leave today. a very sad good-bye. best of luck to all the rest of you as that time rolls around. it's not any easier than you think it will be.</p>
<p>It really was great to meet all you yesterday and to put names and faces to screen names. Very few parents have expereinced what we have in terms of the audtion process, etc etc. It really has been invaluable to have this forum and other parents to go through it together. Thank you.</p>
<p>Leaving my daughter was so hard, but I left feeling she was with a wonderful group of kids in a great program. It is really hard to believe they are in college!!!</p>
<p>We FINALLY made it back home...and you are so right it was hard to leave...I shed a few tears, but I, too, felt very comfortable leaving my d with the wonderful CC friends she has already made and in such a great college environment.</p>
<p>CC Luncheon...
My family and I really enjoyed meeting all of you that I have been so "obsessed" with talking to during the unique MT process. I hope you all have/had safe travels home and look forward to seeing you again at some OCU shows!!!!
Kim J</p>
<p>It was great meeting all of the OCU CC'ers. What a great bunch of kids and parents. Meeting Shauna was especially fun. I'm sure we'll all be seeing more of each other over the coming four years. A close look at the performance schedule tells me that we'll be back up there about every five weeks! The biggest challenge now is dealing with the empty nest syndrome. While it's hard for dads to say goodbye, it's NOTHING compared to what you moms go through. Best of luck to all.</p>
<p>And yes, let's keep this thread going with updates. It will be interesting to hear everyones perspective on future events.</p>
<p>I, too, want to say that it was great to meet all of you. Saying goodbye was very hard, but I am so excited for what the kids will be experiencing. I see what you mean, OCUMTinfo, by "get ready for the ride of your life". The orientation process if great for the students and also for the parents. It really reinforced for me that this is the place that my son needs to be and makes this quiet house a little easier to deal with.</p>
<p>I'm glad you all had a good time in Oklahoma City. I'm sure many of you will be back up during the school year to see your talented students in our shows.</p>
<p>And, Chrisr, you're right.... the ride has begun! Starting today, the students are going through piano leveling, theory leveling, dance leveling, and choir placement auditions. And school doesn't even start till MONDAY!! Then , of course, we have auditions for "Guys and Dolls" Monday and Tuesday with our director (who directed the amazing "Sussical" last spring) flying in for call backs on Thursday and casting done by Friday and rehearsals starting Friday night.</p>
<p>Whew!</p>
<p>Also, as we found during our great summer muscial theater camp, don't be suprised if you don't hear from your kids for the next several days. Their adventure has just begun and there's many more ahead. But be assured that OCU will take care of them and start them on their way. And, if all fails and you can't reach them, drop me an email and I'll FIND them! :)</p>
<p>Hi, I'm new to this thread. (I assume everyone means Oklahoma City University) I haven't been accepted to OCU though; in fact, I haven't even applied yet. I'll be a senior this year and OCU is near the top of my list for MT schools because I want a school that is really vocally oriented. I know that OCU requires an art/classical song for the audition and I haven't studied classical voice at all and in fact know little about it. Since you have all successfully been though the audition process at OCU; will my lack of classical experience significantly hurt my chances at admission; should I even apply? Also, what are your thoughts on the Musical Theatre program at The University of Oklahoma? Do you know anything about it? Specifically how its program differs from OCU.
Thank you</p>
<p>I'm glad you're interested in Oklahoma City University. To answer your question....every OCU MT auditioner must include an art song/opera aria in their audition. Not everyne has one, but it's not too late to learn one! For MT auditions, you do not have to sing in a foreign language (as you do for the Vocal Performance degree). If you're in choir, you probably have already sung some art/classical rep and you already know the words. Look at those songs. Also, any pre-musical theater era works (Gilbert & Sullivan, operettas) also qualify as an art/classical song. There are several books out there that can help you. One is "The First Book of (voice part) Solos" by Joan Frey-Boytim (published by Schrimer) that has numerous songs and you can buy one that has a CD accompainment (but remember...you must use sheet music for your OCU auditions...no CDs).</p>
<p>Finding a song is not as intimidating as it sounds. You will need to work on one with your voice teacher/coach. And it is an important song for your acceptance audition. The techers are not looking to see that you've got every eighth note correct or used perfect French...they want to see that you can master this kind of material as you will be thrown even harder stuff at OCU in your next four years. I know several MT auditioners who hardly worked on their art/classical song and that effected their acceptance (they wern't!).</p>
<p>"I know several MT auditioners who hardly worked on their art/classical song and that effected their acceptance (they wern't!)."</p>
<p>I would "second" this information. We, too, know MT auditioners who didn't put much effort into their art/classical song. While they are fine actors, and fine "belters," they were not accepted. I truly believe the art/classical song element is EXTREMELY important to acceptance at OCU. </p>
<p>Hi musicalthrmom..you're absolutely right! Oklahoma City University does want to see that a student is comfortable and knowledgable in both the MT rep and the classical rep.</p>
<p>I just got a PM from a concerned mother who asked why OCU wants a classical song since NYU doesn't. Here's what I answered.</p>
<p>I'm sure NYU doesn't ask for a classically song and that tells you the difference between the two programs. Oklahoma City University is a classical based MT theater school. Meaning that you will have the same voice teachers and do the same exercises as those who are opera/vocal performance. OCU belives (and quite correctly) that legit voice training is a necessity for MT. Does this mean you will sound like an opera singer when you sing "Rent"? No. What it does mean is that you will have the correct training that allows you to sing the pop MT stuff AND be able to do so without hurting yourself AND you will be able to do it for eight shows a week (which is a prob with "Rent" since they often hire those with little to no vocal training).</p>
<p>Just look at two of Broadway's current leading ladies of musical theater..Chenoweth and Kelli O'Hara..both OCU grads and both who studied in the classical field. Studying legit singing certainly hasn't hurt their careers or the careers of other numerous OCU grads who are doing MT.</p>
<p>An OCU MT student will have classcial songs in their required semester rep of songs. No one expects a MT student to do the Act 3 aria from "Lucia". However, we have many that have. As mentioned, classical rep for a MT student can also include Gilbert & Sullivan, operettas, Victor Herbert, songs from the 20 Italian Songs book, etc. If you just want to sing MT songs all the time, then you will have a problem at OCU. Legit training is an important factor in the development of a singer and, in my opinion, the only kind of voice training for MT.</p>