Reach, match, safety? How many is too many?

<p>Hello All!</p>

<p>My D (the junior who wanted to go early to college - without a diploma - but who has now decided to stay and graudate) is asking "how many schools?" </p>

<p>Now she has a short(ened) list but I know that we should be looking at reach,match and safety(wow where were these terms 25 years ago - I never considered that when I was looking at colleges)to help us decide. I cant seem to find out how to apply that 'formula' to MT programs. (it may be here but searches havent uncovered it for me!:) And I want to narrow the list!</p>

<p>Stats are: Junior in Performing Arts school- Vocal Music concentration, 3.9 GPA, 1480 SAT(taken as Soph, retaking again Dec), strong acting and voice, dancing is so-so(sorry honey), prefers music-focus programs due to strong passion for music, competitive but would probably prefer small school feel(and it sounds like most MT programs fit this bill) </p>

<p>Any help is greatly appreciated as we embark on this journey!</p>

<p>MikksMom</p>

<p>Still hoping for a pearl of wisdom!</p>

<p>'Too many' in my opinion is only limited by how much time and money you have to fill out apps and fly out to auditions. If I had as much time and money as I'd wish, I could easily apply and audition at 10-12 schools, but realistically I'll probably only apply 3 or 4: 2 or 3 of which will be auditioned. That's only because I'm in college already, with little money and the limited ability to take time off. If I were back in high school again maybe 5 or 6 would better suit me.
It really is dependent on the particular family though.. If your D has 8 schools she absolutely must apply to, and you have the time and money to do so, why not?
Good luck with the process! I know how frustrating it can be.</p>

<p>It might help if you clarified your question. What are you asking us? See the "big list". It shows all the schools that are highly competitive for MT. Go for as many as you want, but I believe most of them accept less than 10% of the students who audition. My opinion is that you must find at least one non-audition program as a "safety".</p>

<p>Well, I guess my real question is : Can you really separate MT programs into reach/match/safety? </p>

<p>I have looked at "the big list" and it would appear the differentiator is audition or not. The categories for MT might then be: audition/not too competitive audition/non audition. DO they equal reach/match/safety? Is that how we should start our categories? </p>

<p>Thanks to all for any help and to all who sent me PM's as well. It's the engineer who needs to understand it all more coming out I think.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>don't foregt about academics as a criteria. It could be the difference in a safety, or a fit or a reach</p>

<p>How I interpret the big list - Here is the key copied over:</p>

<p>KEY: </p>

<p>A + next to a school indicates that they are especially selective (that they admit only a small number of applicants). </p>

<p>A ~ next to a school indicates that they are non-audition (that they do not require an audition to major in musical theater). </p>

<p>I believe that the schools with "+" beside them are the ones that accept anywhere from 2% to 10% of the auditionees, depending on the school. I believe that all schools with NOTHING marked beside them require auditions but have a better percentage chance of acceptance based on the audition. The safeties have "~" marked beside them.</p>

<p>Mikksmom,</p>

<p>My d is also a junior and will be going through this process next year as well. I think the only true safety school is a non-audition school where you meet the academic criteria (which is sounds like your daughter will have no problem with!!)</p>

<p>Many of the MT Ivey's as they refer to them on this site: NYU, CMU, CCM, Michigan, Emerson, Boco have to be considered a reach for everyone. It has said quite a few times on this site and there are kids who will get into some of the "Top" MT schools but then don't get into a lesser considered one. Or ones that get into some programs or no programs. It's all relative. When you are talking about such a small percentage of acceptances it could come down to how many blondes they need, sopranos, taller girls, whatever. Any school is not going to accept 10 blonde sopranos. They mix it up. </p>

<p>You also said your daughter wanted a smaller school feel. Most of these Top schools are rather large,...but the MT departments are small. NYU might not be something she would be interested in if she is really looking for a small school feel. Visits help. Just to give you an idea. </p>

<p>As of right now (this can certainly change) my d is planning to audition for about 8 or 9 schools. She has one non-audition one in there as a safety. She isn't really considering anything else a match....all a reach. She has started hunting for songs and monologues already and just know that she will give all she can and hope that she may get an acceptance or even a few to have some choice....that would be her dream.</p>

<p>I think part of the number issue is how satisfied she'd be if she ended up at her safety school. With her test scores she'll get into most colleges and if they don't audition but have an MT program, she'll get into that. But assuming she wouldn't be satisfied with that, and knowing that excellent poeple can easily be turned down by numerous Ivies, my suggestion is 1 non-audition, 3 or 4 audition but not as selective as the Ivies, and 3-4 Ivies. If you can fit more in, including working out the dates for the auditions, I wouldn't discourage it. I'd try to do some of the early auditions before Christmas so you can have the experience and some results back to know where to go from there before the February audutuin crunch.</p>

<p>We took our daughter, who is a junior, to a Performing Arts College Fair at the Kennedy Center in D.C. last Sunday. Overall, it was an informative experience. It was interesting to me however, having been a "lurker" on this board for several months, that the admissions officers at several of the "ivies" were minimizing the admissions requirements as far academics goes. We spoke to UM twice, and she ended up saying that although they do indeed look at the academic side initially, since they know that the applicant is interested in MT, they think more in terms of 3.0 GPA and "1000" SAT. I assume that she was referring to the old SAT, but I don't know. It made my D feel better, since she is worried about the new SAT in particular. She takes it for the first time this Saturday!! CCM was also very encouraging along these lines as was Hartt. They stressed, particularly UM, the difficulty and competitiveness of the audition process much more than academics. I know that this is the case, but I still felt somewhat relieved. It seems to me, that choosing the "match" schools is almost more of a challenge than the Reach and the Safety (if there is such a thing!). Also, has anyone heard anything about or considered a two year program such as American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA)?? My husband is particularly intrigued by it because it has many very successful graduates, and we did speak to them at the Fair. They have locations in NY and LA. My husband spoke to an agent on the phone who said that they "recruit" heavily from there, but BOCO and all of the others of course on Sunday said that their Senior Showcases produce many calls from agents, etc.</p>

<p>I'll jump in here.</p>

<p>The college fairs, especially the Perfroming Arts College Fairs are very encouraging to most all students. That's why they are there, to sell their school.
I hate to throw cold water on the encouragement, but be wary.
The Fine Arts depts. are hoping the admissions doesn't weigh academics too heavily. They want all the brightest talents, of course!! And they want you to apply!</p>

<p>At these fairs, the reps are spin doctors to a certain degree.
I have said it before. High grades and tests score will always give you an edge. </p>

<p>Also, AMDA is not up there at the top on any of my lists. It has gotten mixed reviews from professionals in the business who I have talked to. But that was several years ago. Maybe I need to renew.
However, I have seen some of their graduates perform and was not blown away. It is one of a few choices for a 2 year MT program. And if you want NY, it's certainly a viable option and worth investigating.</p>

<p>I think there is a thread on here somewhere about 2 year
MT options</p>

<p>xxxx,Mary Anna</p>

<p>dancermom, welcome! I sent you a PM with my thoughts on AMDA.</p>

<p>Well, I can't find the thread, Maybe I dreamed it.</p>

<p>All I can remember off the top of my head is:</p>

<p>Circle In The Square has a 2 year MT program, non degree granting</p>

<p>AMDA offer an Associate of Applied Arts degree in MT after 2 years</p>

<p>KD Studio in Dallas offers the same degree AAA in MT after 18 months </p>

<p>I am sure others will post more info.</p>

<p>AMDA has come up many times on CC, and almost always it's been that it isn't looked at well by professionals. Many of us have read Playbills with AMDA printed after several names. I love facts and haven't seen a lot of facts printed on here about AMDA. Does anyone have any real information, anecdotes, statistics, anything at all to share about AMDA? And if it's so bad, why are so many graduates in national tours, for example? Or is that a way to "lie with statistics"?? Do they accept 5 bazillion people? I think it's interesting that there has been so much information shared about different programs, but not about AMDA (probably since the majority of CC-ers are interested in colleges, not two year programs, this makes some sense). I think a poster named Mallory went to AMDA this year or last; I wish she'd come on here and give an insider's view of AMDA!</p>

<p>As I posted before, AMDA is NOT well-regarded among NYC casting people, although I know talented people who have gone there. I don't really know many specifics about why this reputation exists, except that they do seem to accept nearly everyone who "auditions." And as I also posted before, many actors who are in their late early 30's and up who went there when it was more well-regarded often purposely remove any trace of AMDA training from their resumes because it is such a target of derision - as its nickname "Scamda" conntes.</p>

<p>My friend's daughter, who was a dancer in 42nd St on Broadway went to AMDA, probably 10 years ago, and was happy with it. If I see my friend, I will see if I can get more info. I know she had gone to a performing arts high school in NYC prior to attending AMDA.</p>

<p>Hi Dancermom,</p>

<p>Welcome to the forum. I'm always happy when a former lurker decides to become a poster. I have to smile at your name. I have a feeling people are going to have trouble remembering which of us is which. </p>

<p>I can't offer you any info on AMDA, however, I will restate what has been said many times on this forum. At virtually all of the auditioned MT programs, the audition is far more important than a student's grades and SAT scores. However, there are some schools - notably NYU and Michigan - that place a lot of importance on academics. When my D and I visited U.M., the School of Music Admissions Director, Laura Strozesky, stressed the importance of doing well in high school. My D got the message that grades were considered very important. Students who want to audition for U.M. must pass an academic review before getting the green light to schedule an audition. </p>

<p>Tell your D to break a leg this Saturday!</p>

<p>Yes, hi Dancersmom - I've been one of the "dancemoms" at my D's studio for so long (she is on a competitive team - is your D?) that the screen name seemed appropriate - I agree, there is definitely the possibility of confusion! Anyway, thanks so much to all for the prompt and insightful replies. They accomplished two purposes. One is to disabuse my husband of the validity of the AMDA educational option - they certainly talk a good story! Two is to make my daughter realistic about her chances in the schools which are more academically difficult. She is very impressed with lots of others also, and we are just beginning. This will keep her focused on her schoolwork and her SAT scores. Anybody know whether Hartt School CCM and BOCO are that stringent on their academic review? Thanks again. Cathy</p>