Shenandoah vs OCU

<p>We are just starting the college search. My D is a jr this yr and is hoping to pursue MT at college. Shenandoah and OCU keep coming up on the radar as high contenders. Has anyone auditioned for both?
Any thoughts to share on how they compare to one another. They are both small private liberal arts colleges run by the Methodist Church. Both have strong performing arts programs.
I would appreciate any comments.
Thanks!</p>

<p>KTJRMOM-</p>

<p>I am a student at Shenandoah so my opinion may be biased, but I can at least tell you about the school a little bit.</p>

<p>The program has been fully re-vamped! The curriculum for Music Theatre is on another thread on the page. It now includes classes like Script Analysis, Movement for the Actor, Acting Through Song in the Sophomore and Senior Year, Business for the Actor, new dance classes such as Music Theatre Technique and Music Theatre Styles, and more! </p>

<p>Also, the program has a cap of 24 students for the Music Theatre program. </p>

<p>We have also added a spring musical that’s in April that is for a blackbox type setting. Last years show was AMOUR and this year is I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE. So with the April musical, we have 4 MUSICALS A YEAR! There is also a play, an opera, a Lab theatre show, and 2 Theatre for Youth shows. Everything can be auditioned by Music Theatre Majors as well. There are many student directed shows as well which many students audition for also.</p>

<p>Also, there is going to be a new Endowed Chair in Music Theatre position that is now opened and will be filled next year. We will be having candidates through the year and work-shopping them. </p>

<p>One huge benefit by going to Shenandoah is that we have a summer stock theatre, SHENANDOAH SUMMER MUSIC THEATRE that presents 4 main stage musicals every summer. The cast is primarily Shenandoah Students because they have first priority in casting. There are usually around 6 or 7 performances each week (Wednesday-Sunday) and the shows have equity members as well through a Guest Equity Contract. </p>

<p>Hope this helps!! :)</p>

<p>Hi…Can anyone tell me about the music program. I understand that the MT is hot but My D is deciding between JMU, BOCO and SU for vocal performance. Any feedback about the vocal program would really be appreciated. How is the social life on campus? I am hearing that it is a commuter campus on the weekend, is that true? I am looking for anybody in the know. Everything we are hearing are from other colleges and not from SU students. Thanks.</p>

<p>Your daughter is a junior in hs and you are trying to decide between OCU, SU and BOCO?
My advise is, don’t decide between them, apply to all three and they will decide for you! They are all fine programs and very competitive.
To my knowledge Shenandoah and OCU are not run by the Methodist Church, they are affiliated which is different.</p>

<p>I misread OCU but maybe you apply there also,(strong vocals).</p>