<p>I apologize if this question has already been answered on a previous thread. I did some searching and didn't find it, but didn't go back through the years and years of amazing threads on this board!</p>
<p>As we do campus visits for my rising senior (instrumental music), we will overlap some of the schools that my younger MT daughter has on her (very) preliminary list. We'd like to take advantage of being there to visit the MT departments. We have some faculty visits lined up as well.</p>
<p>What should we be sure to ask while we're there, and while we have the ear briefly of faculty or department chairs? We can get <em>so</em> much valuable info here on CC, but what should we ask that we can only get from the departments themselves...?</p>
<p>Thank you so much!</p>
<p>Here’s a link to one of MichaelNKat’s posts about this. We referenced this when my D was thinking about those “what to ask” questions and found it very helpful:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5590325-post8.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/5590325-post8.html</a></p>
<p>Here’s a list of questions garnered 3 years ago from a post here on CC:
- What kind of degree is offered? BFA? BA? (These 2 degrees are philosophically quite different.) Is the BFA designed specifically for MT, or just for theatre in general?
- How large is the program? Where do the students come from? What is the make-up of the student body? Does the size of the university have an impact on the program?
- What is the response of current students? Is the environment at the school supportive, creative, stimulating? Do casting policies for productions seem fair and ethical? (It is particularly useful to speak with seniors and graduates.) Does the program have a philosophical approach to education/training which is clearly stated to the students?
- Where are the graduates working?
- How large are the classes, especially those which are performance related?
- What is the faculty/student relationship? Ratio? Do the students primarily have faculty members as teachers, or graduate assistants?
- How many musicals are presented each year? What are the casting policies? How are the shows chosen? What are examples of past productions?
- Does the school promote new works?
- Do the students have opportunities to be in plays as well as musicals? What about opera, dance concerts, films, and recitals?
- Do the students have the opportunity to perform in theatres of differing sizes (opera house to “black box”) and differing styles (proscenium to in-the-round)?
- Are the students taught specifically about the field as a profession, and how to go about making a living after they graduate? (Equity, agents, casting directors, audition techniques, commercial and non-profit theatres, etc.)
- How well do the music department and the theatre department cooperate? Dowes the school have a dance department? (Almost always, the real success of a musical theatre program lies at the core of the inter-disciplinary relationship of these three areas.)
- Does the faculty work professionally away from the school?
- How often does the school bring in professionals to work with or speak to the students?
- Does the school have a cut or review policy? What are the standards a student must maintain in order to remain in the program, and how is this monitored?
- How complete is the school’s library of musical theatre resource materials? (Songs, scores, scripts, vocal books, etc., are often rare, unpublished, or out-of-print.)
- Is the program of department firmly established? How long has it been in existence? How is it regarded by people in the profession, such as casting directors and agents?</p>
<p>I would also suggest that you look here on CC or on Facebook and see if you can meet, take out to eat or for coffee, some of the students at the colleges you are visiting. You can get the inside scoop from them, not only on their college choice but on experiences they had during the audition process. If you are looking at NYU Steinhardt during ths school year or this year after August 20, my daughter would be happy to meet with you!</p>
<p>Thank you so much, Austinmtmom and Christie2 – You have been immensely helpful. And how kind of you, Christie2, to offer a connection w/ your daughter. I wish we were going to be in NY to take advantage of it! This particular trip is constrained by where my older son needs to go, and he already did his NYU trip last year… but I’m sure we will be headed back that way a year or so from now!</p>
<p>Thank you!!</p>
<p>My daughter will be a sophomore this upcoming year, so will most likely still be there when you go. Keep in touch and I’m sure she’d be happy to show you around. I have a feeling I’ll be lurking here for a while . . . too much learned during the process to not share it. Also, feel free to pm or email me at any time!</p>
<p>mtandbassmom, Christie2’s D met with my D and her friend (both seniors now and looking at MT schools) in NYC, and was extremely generous with her time and knowledge! It really helps to have an unedited/unscripted talk with a current student in one of the programs…I recommend it highly. The people you meet on this MT thread have been so helpful. My D is applying to the school Christie2’s D attends, and it’s so nice to know that she has someone there to ask questions or for advice.</p>