Summer Programs - Discussion

<p>I am by no means an expert on this (or anything else, for that matter!) but I do write for a living, and I would say that your D would be safe in printing out her essay in 12 pt type (a clear font ... nothing fancy or too different ... perhaps Times Roman or Courier) and putting the spacing at, say, 1.25 or 1. 5. I may be wrong here, but double spacing seems to me like elementary school children using wide ruled paper to write compositions. (Come to think of it, most elementary school kids probably just write on the computer and print out their essays these days!:))</p>

<p>A question about college essays, as we are on the topic: do most kids write, say, 9 different essays for the 9 (or so) different schools to which they are applying? </p>

<p>LDE</p>

<p>My daughter used 12 pt Times New Roman, margins similar to above, generally double-spaced (helps with readability). Sometimes, to get something to fit on one page, she made the margins smaller.
In some instances, this is moot as the essays are entered online into a space. </p>

<p>How many essays one writes depends on how well you can use school 1's essay for school 2. Sometimes this is easy. For example, if you use the common app, it is a given. </p>

<p>As a writer yourself, you know how great the cut and paste feature is of word processing. My daughter has lots of versions of similar essays. The key is to make sure you address the question the particular school asks. This is easy when they say (as they sometimes do): write about anything you want. However, they may give you 250 words and the version you have is 500 words. In one instance we were given xxx number of characters.... To make it fit,a person named JoAnne became Anne and then Ann and then Jo. (Silly but necessary as this was an online app with a set space.)</p>

<p>Thanks, nytheatremom. That's helpful. And yes, cut and paste is an amazing invention. (So, for that matter, is the computer/word processor. I will reveal my age range when I say how much I envy today's high school and college students, who will never have to sit in front of a typewriter rolling the mechanism up and back in order to place the little numbers near footnotes in the right places!:) :) )</p>

<p>Spell checker is also a great bonus to have these days, though I always caution students that having spell check does not mean that they don't have to proofread carefully themselves. A word can be spelled right and used incorrectly, as we all know. </p>

<p>I recently receive correspondence from a public school system office that said "We are writing to resolve the matter of the tuition for you student." Of course, "you" is spelled correctly, but should have been "your."</p>

<p>LDE</p>

<p>Lisa,
My kids (and clients)' essays are usually single spaced, though often use a double space between paragraphs. Sometimes, margins or fonts are played with if it is a matter of making it all fit the page. Size 12 font is standard, yes. No fancy fonts. </p>

<p>As to how many essays were written....it depends if you are using the common application or each school's individual application. I prefer each school's application and that is what my kids did, as well as the majority of my clients. Schools will take either. My preference is that there is effort shown by answering the questions that each school designed for their own application and tailoring each application to each school rather than a one size fits all....showing interest, etc. </p>

<p>As others have indicated, often one essay can be used for several schools' prompts so most essays were used more than once and/or tweaked to fit another prompt or required length. That said, I'd say my kids wrote at least 10 different essays and then more but the more was variations of ones already written. They each applied to 8 schools and most schools require at least two essays....some applications have shorter essays, sometimes totaling four or five per application.<br>
Susan</p>

<p>Hi. Has anyone had a child attend BU's summer institute at Tanglewood? Looking for any information on the experience. Thanks.</p>

<p>Bumping to keep the threads together...</p>

<p>So has anyone settled on where they are going this coming summer?</p>

<p>My son will be graduating, and most of the programs are for kids younger than him. We are thinking about him auditioning for BTP this year but are not certain. His dance studio owner thinks it is a great program, and he wants to do it eventually. Hopefully in future summers he can be working summer stock and earning money!</p>

<p>D sent her application to CMU pre-college last Friday. Now she is eagerly waiting to hear! She wants to go soooo badly and is already making her packing list! A friend of hers is sending her application out this week but it is for the acting program only not MT.</p>

<p>kaysmom - My D will be applying to CMU also, but is waiting until Cats has started so she has more time to work on the essay. Good luck to your D! Keep us posted.
Harriet</p>

<p>Good luck to all the CMU pre college applicants. Some of you have contacted me privately with questions; others have not. All are welcome to do so. </p>

<p>BTW, I would not angst over the essay. This is NOT like the college essays, but just a short piece that can show your interest/passion for theater. </p>

<p>Also: the CMU office was always very nice about giving updates and even eventually was able to say admitted. Be aware that last year we did not hear anything until April. Clearly, the school was waiting to get its fall applicants done with before addressing the summer program. </p>

<p>And don't panic over a skinny envelope. They just send a letter with a web link for the handbook.</p>

<p>Ericsmom-
Perry-Mansfield six-week is for HS AND College students [The younger groups are very separate and held at different times, take different classes, shorter sessions, etc.]. There are actually quite a few college students attending. I was surprised as I assumed that most college students would be earning money during their summers. Working with college students already pursuing performing arts degrees was one of my D favorite parts.</p>

<p>I recently auditioned for and was accepted to the AADA Summer Program. There doesn't seem to be much on this board about AADA in general, so I was wondering if anyone has attended the program and how they liked it and what not. I'm going no matter what, but I just want to know what to expect. And I'm hoping that the program hasn't received the same bad repuation that AMDA has, or I'll feel like a real idiot. :(</p>

<p>BreakInto...I have no info for you but, what is AADA? Please spell it out for the old lady here :)</p>

<p>American Academy of Dramatic Arts
<a href="http://www.aada.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.aada.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Ahhhhhh, many thanks!</p>

<p>BreakIntoSong, I wasn't aware that AADA had a summer program but I can assure you that the school itself does not have the same negative reputation that AMDA does. No worries there. I know a few people who have studied at AADA, one, a family friend who is currently in The Producers, and I've heard good things about their training. When she attended, it was with a group who were not just out of h/s, but older, many with previous degrees. It's a fairly rigorous training regimen and you must be invited back for the second year of the program. I hope that someone else here may know something about the summer program for you!</p>

<p>I have a friend who is getting ready to start her 2nd semester and she loves it there so much. Not sure about the summer program, but like alwaysamom said...AADA does NOT have the same negative reputation as AMDA. My MT teacher also speaks very highly of the training received at AADA, even though its not mainly for MT.</p>

<p>Bumping up for someone...</p>

<p>Just a reminder that some of these program's deadlines for application are fast approaching. Perry-Mansfield is in February. Anyone else know other deadlines?</p>

<p>Okay everyone...I asked this on another thread and no one responded. Please quick question needing a short answer...My D is going to audition in March for the summer program MPulse at UMich. They are asked to perform a monologue from a full length play. Does that mean it can't be from a one act play? This one act has several scenes. Help?</p>