<p>Hello!</p>
<p>I've been accepted into both UARts and Point Park as an acting major- and was wondering which school offers better training. I'm planning on MT minoring at both schools my sophomore year, if that effects anything. I've heard great and notsogood things about both schools- any opinions?</p>
<p>Rather than get into a discussion about which school is “better”, perhaps you can pose some specific questions about each, including what you’ve heard that is negative, so that you can get specific responses that will enable you to do your own comparison and reach your own conclusions about which school is a better match to your needs and desires. My daughter is a senior in the MT program and many of her friends are in the Acting program (MT and Acting students take the same core acting studio classes together); I would be pleased to answer questions about UArts. As a general matter, I can tell you that the acting program at UArts is very strong and I have observed tremendous growth in students as actors from their freshman year to their senior year. The MT minor for Acting majors is tailored to give the student good exposure to voice, dance and MT repertoire and Acting students can audition (and often do) for all the musicals.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestion:</p>
<p>I’ve heard that Point Park has a great up and coming Acting program, but it’s just okay. Their MT and dance programs are great, but there isn’t anything special about their Acting. I want to go somewhere that challenges me, and I’m worried that Point Park won’t. However, I know Point Park is a great school to have on your resume.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I’ve heard that UArts is looked down upon in the “real world” and that you don’t get taken seriously if you went there, is that true as well?</p>
<p>Is there kind of a division or stigma agains the acting majors from the MT majors? At Point Park, it seemed like “O, hai. I’m a MT major and better than the actors” whereas at UArts, everyone seemed to get along.</p>
<p>At Point Park, are you able to take music theory and private voice your freshman year?</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
<p>At UArts, there is a close connection between the Acting and MT programs. Acting and MT majors take the same core Acting Studio classes together and both Acting and MT students audition together for all the shows - straight dramas and musicals. Acting and MT students regularly interact with each other whether it be as scene partners in class or or on stage. As a result, there is little condescension, if any, between the students in the 2 programs and far more collaborative partnering.</p>
<p>As to UArts being “looked down upon” in the “real world”, I would view such comments with a high degree of incredulity. Simply put, I would strongly suspect that anyone making that comment is not really in a position to know how UArts is viewed or is basing the opinion on misinformation. When my daughter was auditioning for schools, part of the due diligence in which I engaged was to question executive and artistic directors of a variety of performing arts companies in Philadelphia (with whom I deal professionally) about UArts’ quality and credibility in the performing community. I also spoke to a number of professional performers who knew the school and to a couple of New York based producers. The responses I received were uniform in crediting UArts as providing excellent training and enjoying a very positive reputation for turning out accomplished performers. UArts has turned out many successful graduates who work both regionally and in New York. There are graduates working in film and television as well as on stage. There are UArts graduates who have formed their own theater companies that have achieved critical acclaim. While there are those who probably have an opinion of UArts based on its early days up into the 1980’s, when the School of Theater was still in its formative years, those days are a far cry from the reality of today in which UArts has a very solid reputation.</p>
<p>I also would be extremely skeptical of comments such as “X college is looked down upon in the ‘real world’.” An applicant needs to talk to students and faculty in a program, as well as alum. Comments such as the one quoted here would not hold much water for me if I heard them (and I have heard them about other programs too). Often these comments are made by those who are not truly “in the know” about the program.</p>
<p>This is an interesting discussion. . .Living in Pittsburgh, knowing a number of students in the acting and MT programs, having seen many shows at Point Park (and around town, where students and faculty perform), and having had two kids apply to Point Park, I think I can BEGIN to address the “question” of training at that school, at least from the perspective of an outside observer. In sum: While it is not a Juilliard or CMU in terms of reputation, it seems to be getting better and better all the time! Considering the admission stats quoted three years ago and this year, it seems that PPU is more competitive to get in. The students we know there are happy, feel they are getting great training and opportunities, feel supported by the faculty, and get along across the disciplines (acting/MT/dance/film/etc.). They share classes, and they both audition for all shows. The student shows are quite professionally done, and there are opportunities for students to perform in the professional arm of the theater offerings. PPU students, faculty, and alums are frequently cast in productions and are repeatedly given rave reviews by theater critics in the region. Students do showcases on both coasts, and alums are working in the field, so they are competitive.</p>
<p>There are no doubt things that should be considered when choosing a school, such as location, whether one enters as a BA or BFA, class size, who the teachers are, facilities, opportunities to learn related skills (or minor in something), etc. If there are specific questions that related to the Point Park experience, I would suggest you get in touch with the program itself or some students who are currently in it.</p>
<p>Thank you for all of your input!</p>
<p>I have talked to alumni and students from both schools who both swear theirs is the best- but I mean, that’s biased. Right now, I’m leaning Point Park, but the one thing I’m worried about is how challenging their curriculum is, does anyone know what type of classes acting majors take seperate from MT? I haven’t gotten very specific answers, and can’t find anything online…</p>
<p>I was also accepted to UArts for this coming year for acting! I was also wondering…how intensive is the MT minor that they have there? And how is that program set up (do you take dance classes with MT majors, the “dance for non-majors” classes, or entirely different dance classes…with the same thing going for the music classes)? Do the MT majors look down on the MT minors at all? Also any imput on the program in general would be appreciated! Such as, what are the performance opportunities, and chances to make it into shows (including the MT shows in the case of a MT minor), for the Acting majors? Another quick one – how well does the school work out getting their students summer internships? Even if they are out of town (I live near Chicago, so after freshman year I’d probably go for an internship there, and after that maybe NYC, LA, Philadelphia, or all three). </p>
<p>Thanks…I know that’s sort of a lot of questions at once! =)</p>
<p>@theatre guy:</p>
<p>I was talking to a girl who was a Freshman acting major at my audition, and she said that she (and other acting majors) can sometimes audit- I think that was the word she used- dance classes, which means you can take the class, but it won’t count as one of your credits, and I thought that was a pretty good way to learn without having to pay extra money for extra credits.</p>
<p>Why don’t you call the school and ask them to send, email, or fax you a sheet that lists the coursework and requirements?</p>
<p>Theatreguy, I will try to answer your questions about UArts. First, here is a link to the acting curriculum: [Program:</a> Acting - Bachelor of Fine Arts - The University of the Arts - acalog ACMS?](<a href=“Program: Acting - Bachelor of Fine Arts - The University of the Arts - Acalog ACMS™”>Program: Acting - Bachelor of Fine Arts - The University of the Arts - Acalog ACMS™)</p>
<p>Here is the link for the MT minor curriculum for acting majors: [Program:</a> Musical Theater Minor - The University of the Arts - acalog ACMS?](<a href=“Program: Musical Theater Minor - The University of the Arts - Acalog ACMS™”>Program: Musical Theater Minor - The University of the Arts - Acalog ACMS™)
As you scroll down the page, you will see that the MT minor curriculum is tailored to a student’s major.</p>
<p>As to your specific questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The Acting and MT programs are closely aligned. All Acting and MT students take the same core acting studio classes together for all 3 1/2 years that MT students have a core acting studio. Acting and MT students audition for the same shows for all 4 years and casting in straight dramas and musicals frequently crosses majors. Acting and MT students partner for scenes in acting studio, are on stage together and are collaborators. There is no “looking down the nose” at each other.</p></li>
<li><p>Dance classes are through the School of Dance. They are Dance for Non-majors classes but students routinely audit additional dance classes.</p></li>
<li><p>There are 7-8 shows each semester plus student directed shows and scenes. There are also opportunities for outside shows as well a a multitude of internship opportunities at local professional theatres. During the summer, there are many internship and performing opportunities at area theatres.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hope this is helpful.</p>
<p>As a point of clarification, it is the dance classes for the MT minor that are the “dance for non-majors” through the School of Dance. MT majors have dance classes that are through the School of Theater that are open to all School of Theater students with MT students given priority for registration.</p>
<p>Thank you very much!</p>