<p>Hello all, long time no post, been gone for a while but now I am baaaaaack-LOL. Anyhow, D just finished another summer at Perry-Mansfield PA School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; her first as a HS/College student[6 wk], and I wanted to weigh in on the discussion regarding connection between attending the various summer programs and college admissions.</p>
<p>Since she is my first kid approaching college I am new at this[prior to finding this forum I NO idea how to go about helping and guiding her through MT program admissions either] and my take is a little different. She is a social kid with a wide variety of interests besides MT, who just loves the summer program experience, period. When she attended P-M as a Jr/Intermediate [two 4-wk programs offered each summer], while it was intense [classes 8:30-5 M-F and rehearsals M-F nights with occassional Sunday rehearsals for either a dance or muscial production at the end], this year as a HS/College session student was a whole 'nother story. This summer was a turning point for her on many levels, and it was a turning point that would not have occurred[she believes] were it not for her P-M experience. Here are HER reasons why, obvioulsy you all can decide whether any of this makes sense for your Ss or Ds based upon what you know about your kid.</p>
<p>Here is why I think a good summer program can only help not hurt or have no effect on MT college admissions:
1-Auditions: There are three at P-M...one for admission, one for class placements, and one for productions [This summer there were 4 HS/College productions: An Evening of Dance, 2 straight Theatre Dramas, and a Musical]. I think it was Soozievt that said something about the more audition experience the better, I totally agree.
Additionally, there were two audition technique classes taught at P-M this year, taught by instructors and department heads from MT programs at several colleges who have & do work themselves in MT productions on Broadway & off-broadway as directors, choreographers & performers. D said if her MT Audition Technique class was the only one she had all summer it would have been worth the price of school alone.
2-The professionals who teach: D had instructors and directors from a variety of schools and companies including but not limited to: Stella Adler, Pace, Syracuse, Hartt, Julliard, Alvin Aily. Additionally, on the last day of school, a panel of the instructors who are getting ready to go back to their theatre & MT programs at this variety of schools gave the parents & HS students a three hour Q & A about going to & getting into drama programs for college.
3-Exposure to collge students who are already in school. Because at P-M HS & collge students are in classes together, my D met a great many students who are in a wide variety of programs across the country. This gave her realistic insights to different programs & paths.
4-BA vs. BFA, the big question-After attending a six-week summer intensive, many of the students know whether a conservatory program is for them or not.
5-College Credit-I don't know if this is a given at all of the summer programs we discuss here on CC, but at P-M, D was able to get 5 college credits this summer in Dance and Theatre, from the University of Colorado Denver & Boulder. While they may or may not transfer, having 5 college credits on her transcripts before entering her sophmore year of HS I would hope wouldn't hurt her collge application process.
6-In the element-since D attends a plain old public HS, to be around others for the summer who are like-interested and be immersed, again, gives a taste of what attending a MT program for four years of college might be kind of like.
7-Master Classes-Five or six times over the summer, prominent professionals come for 1-2 days and do an intense mini-class, usually at least one "famous" person teaches this [for example Stephen Schwartz came last year and participated in the school's New Noises Festival as well].</p>
<p>So while making the argument that a student must attend a summer program to get into a college program would probably be hard to make; and while there is no "ranking" of summer programs, in my my never-be-it-humble opinion, it is better to have them in a program than not. I believe too that if your kid looks for a program that has some of the seven elements I listed, the ones that make sense for what THEY need, then that program will help them with the admission process if in no other way than it might give them confidence that they are not coming late to the table when their junior year of high school approaches.</p>
<p>Now for my out right plug for Perry-Mansfield [or was I already doing that-LOL-:o]:
The school is in it's 93rd year, located in the northwest corner of Colorado on 75 acres. Most of the buildings are rustic log, with the various studios and practice halls constructed of post and beam with walls that slide or lift open to give the feeling one is rehearsing among the aspens and pines.<br>
Students stay in cabins of varying size.
The days are largely sunny and 75-90 degrees with zero humidity and the nights get down into the 50s for sweater wearing and comfortable sleeping. The instructors are all professional performers who either are working in professional companies and productions or teaching at colleges and universities across the country during the rest of the year.
Additionally, at the beginning of each summer, the school holds their New Noises Festival where accepted professional playwrites, composers & choreographers are invited to come for 12 days and mount completely new works that cumminate in a weekend of read-throughs and performances.
The website is <a href="http://www.perry-mansfield.org%5B/url%5D">www.perry-mansfield.org</a> or anyone can contact me via e-mail too.</p>