<p>Sue and Susan,
Isn't wonderful when your child glows with happiness? S was home for fall break and that's all people said about him, "he radiates happiness". Nearly everyday he calls to share something exciting. A few nights ago he woke me to tell me about the great sword he will carry in Pirates. Today he called to have me listen to the piano piece he has chosen for his semester final. When people ask me if I am lonely, I say it makes it so much easier when you know how happy your child is doing what they have dreamed of for so long.</p>
<p>Hi Jenifer...it is so great to hear from you and about how your son is liking his program so far. I know just what you mean. I do miss my kids and my life has changed by not having them home but the good news is how happy I am for them to be so happy where they are. Like your son, my D who is a freshman in a BFA calls home at times and says (like last night!), "Guess what???" and has some new bits of news of something she is experiencing. She is overly enthused. And my other D is the same at Brown. it is her second year but from the beginning, she has loved it. I have observed when she is home and people ask how she likes college, she is bubbling over in enhusiasm as one happy camper. I have no complaints in this area. </p>
<p>Actually, come to think of it, you likely would relate to yesterday's little "guess what I just did" phone call from my D who went to the same summer program as your son. She had just come from taking a tap class at Steps on Broadway with guest teacher, Jacob Brent who had contacted her and invited her to come for the class. She loves him and I imagine your son knows him too. He was a director at camp (he directed my D in Cinderella) but also he taught dance (she just took Dance Master Class from him this summer) and he played Mister Mistofelles in the OBC of CATS and when my D first met him, she was in awe because as a little girl, she was really infatuated with that show. Every day there is some little "burst" of guess what today sort of thing. Sounds like your son is having a similar experience. I think iit is cute that your son called to have you listen to his piano piece on the phone! My daughter has mentioned songs she has done and some techniques she has learned where she has improved her soprano and it is not like she gave me "samples"~! She is always in a rush, lol. </p>
<p>Keep letting us know how he is doing plus it sheds light on each program for others too, Also, some of these kids I have followed on here for a few years and so I always want to hear how it is going now that they are at the colleges. Seems like your son made the perfect chioce for him.
Susan</p>
<p>Jenifer and Susan- Yes, it's so good hear those wonderful "bursts" of "Mom!! Wait until you hear this!!" Or the IM screen popping up with some great bit of news. It is exciting, but there are times too when they have growing pains or bouts of frustration...but those are all good too, because it tells me they care and want it to be just right.</p>
<p>Thankfully this year they are doing Pilates and Yoga and they say that those two have been their saving grace for relaxation.</p>
<p>I don't think one can truly enter this field successfully with just the expectation that it is going to be "fun". Performing is hard work...it requires brains, stamina, a thick skin, positive attitude, motivation, and lots of bravery. If you are in it just because you think it would be "fun" or do it for only the applause and recognition, then you have another thing coming once you enter a good conservatory.</p>
<p>Sorry for the random thoughts....but I just wanted to chime in here on the tail end of 2 refreshing "mom" posts....there isn't a day that I don't wake up and wonder what fun thing they are going to share! ;)</p>
<p>I was wondering if we could make a list of which Musical Theatre Programs had a cut policies..... if anyone knows and could start this that would be excellent! </p>
<p>I was especially curious about Syracuse and Ithaca.....</p>
<p>I see you are new to the forum. Welcome. A good thing to do is to read back pages and pages of old threads. You will find out a lot. Also, if there is a topic that interests you, such as cut policies, or anything else, do a search of this forum and a lot of topics have been thoroughly discussed. It is a good way to start. </p>
<p>I have just merged WickedOne's new thread on "cut policy" with an old existing discussion on this same topic. Hope this helps you, WickedOne. We like to keep all discussions on a topic to one thread. If you are new and interested in a topic, do a search first to see if an existing thread on that topic has already been ongoing and then try to add onto it. Welcome to the Musical Theater Forum and I hope to see you participating in the future.
CollegeMom</p>
<p>i have an honest question...i do not mean this to be antagonistic...</p>
<p>how can a program have NO cut policy? given that a student may just audition for 2 minutes and then be accepted...how can a program not protect itself at all? what if that student is disruptive, not diverse in their talents, or...simply...doesn't show a desire to learn? wouldn't that be horribly disruptive to those students who are in small studio classes attempting to gain from the experience?</p>
<p>Goldy, if you read the older discussions of cut policies, esp the discussion/ clarification by DoctorJohn, you might get more insight into this topic. I think it's on the FAQ page.</p>
<p>"That old approach, which is what I mean by a "cut" system, has almost disappeared. CMU abandoned it years ago, as I said, and so did SMU, which is where I taught in the 70's. It is painful, nearly impossible to administer, destructive of morale, and finally detrimental to the goals of training."</p>
<p>Most of the good programs will cut you if you fall way behind, show a bad attitude, or become a distraction. However, I know of none besides the recent revelations about Arizona and possibly DePaul that cut people for things like this
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One of my best friends was cut from the program years ago and upon asking the faculty 'why' he was told that he was very gifted and they felt like his voice/look was more suited for film than the classical stage.
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you are made aware FROM DAY ONE that cuts happen in may and that you could be cut simply because of numbers...and that it does not necessarily have to be the result of some mistake that you've made.
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you are also told to prepare for each year as if you WILL be cut...that way you can audition for other programs/apply to other schools in plenty of time just in case you do get cut.
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from the beginning of your training at arizona...the faculty tells you (on a one to one basis) to prepare AS IF YOU WILL NOT BE RETAINED.
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arizona starts with a maximum number of spots...and they fill them with the most talented kids who audition (be they current students, BA students, or transfer students). this year, unfortunately, the incumbent freshman class got cut down greatly.
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they do it for the best interest of the program. and, as someone said many posts back....the proof is in the pudding.
<p>look...obviously there are people who just don't like programs that make cuts. that is your prerogative.</p>
<p>UA's program worked for me. i loved it. my friends and peers loved it. we had a blast. the program is in good shape...it is starting to get more and more recognition on a national level.</p>
<p>i hope they don't change. but i understand why others wish they would.</p>
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You want pudding? How about a bowl of this? None of the Tony nominees that graduated from wherever they trained in the last ten years came from a cut school and not one of the schools with five or more Tony nominees in the last ten years has a numbers-based cut policy. Also, NONE of the UK academies which are represented in those numbers in amazing proportions considering that so few of their graduates ever come to the U.S. have or have ever had cut policies or attrition rates that even approach that of the top tier American conservatories. Theres your pudding. Enjoy! :)</p>
<p>I think these cut policies are based purely on blood money and those who believe they are in place with the students best interests in mind are deluding themselves. Since so many of those who are cut will suffer the burden of having their federally subsidized student loans come due once they are no longer in school, I believe schools that engage in this insidious and unnecessary practice should have all their federal funding cut. Those who feel the same should join me in writing their congressmen about it.</p>
<p>Well, I will put my two cents in on this one. While visiting schools last summer one question that we asked all of them was if they had a cut or not. My feeling is that the competition to just be accepted to most of these programs was incredibly against the odds...and then to be told that there will be a cut at the end of the freshman or soph year...ha! Most of the schools that we looked at did not have a cut...only one that I can think of said that they did. (not a top choice) Now, do not get me wrong. All of the schools said that if you did not progress, missed classes, seemed unhappy they would "re direct" you, but you would know if this was a concern. (Aren't all college majors like that? Whether your major is business, biology or music??!!)I did not want my d to ever be "surprised" by a cut!!! These kids have such a passion, desire and LOVE for this life that it is really hard for me to picture a slacker in this field! Especially if they just went through the "audition year"!!! If a school cannot handle the numbers, do not accept high numbers to begin with!!</p>
<p>Most schools do redirect and this is being confused with a "true" cut program. A "true" cut program is like one at DePaul which say they need to slash their numbers down at a certain time. That is why when you ask the schools if they have a cut policy they can honestly answer no as it isn't their interpretation of "cut"....as at DePaul. It is much like, "What is the meaning of the word is?", so infamously asked by former President Clinton.</p>
<p>You are right. Most other professions have this same redirecting. A good example is the girlfirend of one my Ss. She was just notified last night that she will be advancing to 2nd level Architecture at her university. She had to present a portfolio at the end of her sophomore year and she spent many overnighters burning the midnight oil to get this far. Had she not advanced it she would have had to change majors.</p>
<p>It is the nature of the beast sorry to say and it happens in more than one field of study and profession.</p>
<p>One more comment. There are indeed slackers even in this field. Many kids change once they get to college. Some get all caught up in their social lives. The catalysts to making one slack or burned out are numerous and varied......it does happen even to some of the very best. One NEVER knows.</p>
<p>So true that there are slackers in every program...even "our" musical theater <em>gasp</em>! But, those are the students that SHOULD be redirected for their own sake as well as the other students in the program. These kids will do a lot of growing and changing, especially the first year! I am sure there are some that realize that this may not be the road for them....I changed my major after my freshman year! But, to be asked to leave because we have too many and need to cut numbers, well, that is where I say, do not accept as many.<br>
My advise to those just starting this adventure is to ask...and find out about the cut policy of the schools. Also, ask numbers...recent numbers of each class size...(fresh, soph, jr, sr). That will tell you a lot. If they cut half (give or take) of the freshman/soph class, well, that was a little bit of a warning sign. If the school of your dreams does a cut, then have a plan b in your pocket for the first few years. The school that my d is attending in the fall told us that they will encourage students to another field if they do not seem to be doing well, but they absolutely do not have a numbers cut...(and the stats proved that). They will do this by going through steps of guidance, it is pretty much a mutual decision and the process is over a period of time. My husband always asked how many do you accept for the freshman class, and how many graduate? Numbers will dwindle, but there really should not be a drastic difference...if there is, ask questions! I know one of the schools we looked at did a major cut...the students that we spoke to were convinced it was a good thing...but they were jrs and made it through, as they called it, the sophomore slaughter!!!! Hmm...those words spoke very loudly to us!!!!
There will always be people on both sides of the fence with this issue. I feel if you go in knowing there is a cut, then that is your decision, and be prepared.</p>
<p>I couldn't agree with you more. Cutting for the sake of numbers is outrageous. </p>
<p>Regarding redirection: I think that one's perspective is tweeked a bit once students along with their parents get a couple years under the belt in an MT/Acting program. It's difficult to be a scene partner with someone who has lost interest in their direction or who is unwilling to take chances. Once your D or S has encountered this you see things from a much different point of view.</p>
<p>There is no way that MT college auditors can predict who is going to have a difficult time adjusting to new found independence, a possible eating disorder or substance abuse, or problem/upsetting occurrance back at home. There are LOTS of factors, unfortunately it isn't as simple as black and white.</p>
<p>Ive changed my mind somewhat on this cut thing after discussing it in detail on another thread at least when it comes to some newer programs. Remember that not all schools currently have the ability attract large numbers of blue chip students like the Ivies and pick and choose which ones will be the best fits for their programs. I think with some, it might well be a growing stage that will eventually be phased out as their reputation grows though Im not sure its necessarily the wisest possible path since it will take a long time for them to shake off the bloody image itll get them once they find it no longer necessary. I do think that perhaps some of these newer programs should take a long look at whats been done with the acting program at Minnesota. Theyve been around five years and dont cut, but I dont think theres anyone who will dispute the high quality of the students theyve been attracting. In fact, theyre pretty much stealing blue chippers from more established programs all over the country without even offering particularly extravagant scholarship packages! I think this is probably a case of excellent recruitment combined with them having replaced a well-respected and long-standing MFA with a BFA that pretty much amounts to a four year apprenticeship with one of the top regional theatres in the country. I suppose some of the other newer programs might not have that option, but its worth a look to see if they can get creative with something besides these awful, soul-killing (even for the survivors) cut systems.</p>
<p>When my d auditioned at Unifieds in Chicago, CMU held an impressive introductory meeting for all students and their parents right before the auditions began. Quite a few of the faculty members were in attendance and each spoke for a few minuites. </p>
<p>As a parent, I was particulary impressed when they addressed an audience question concerning cut policies. Their answer? Since they are the oldest drama degree granting program in the U.S., they have been auditioning for many, many years, and by now feel they know exactly what they're looking for in an applicant. Thus, THEY ARE COMMITTED TO THE STUDENTS THAT THEY ACCEPT. </p>
<p>Just by looking at the numbers admitted, it would seem obvious there is no cut policy. (And I would think this would be a good indicator at other schools as well.) If you only have a handful to begin with, how can you cut and then be able to produce quality productions? CMU typically accepts 10 -12 MTs and 22-25 acting majors. My d's MT class was 5 girls and 6 boys out of the 1,000+ who auditioned. </p>
<p>Now, some students later decide that they really do not want an acting career, while others (i.e. Sutton Foster, Ethan Hawke, Josh Groban) drop out to pursue a theatrical career before graduation. But, THOSE CHOICES WERE MADE BY THE STUDENT, NOT THE SCHOOL.</p>