<p>It's really not that competitive to get into CMU's precollege summer program as long as you get your application in early enough. Don't wait until the last minute: get it in and then send it registered mail so that you have proof they received it.</p>
<p>theater mom -- my D attended French Woods quite a few years ago, and I have a current student who goes there every summer. PM me if you want more details -- it's a great place, and they sometimes offer financial aid if you need it.</p>
<p>My D finished her CMU application about a week ago and, yes, I did sent with a return card so we know they got it. (I guess they've been known to lose them? Frightening thought.) Anyway, it's good to know it's not too competitive. It will make a big difference to my D who is convinced she can't get into the program because she doesn't have years of experience (in tech??? how many kids do have yrs of experience, I wonder??). </p>
<p>It's not easy to guess the competitiveness of conservatory tech programs in general. There are very few slots but nowhere near the number of applicants I imagine you find in the acting/MT programs. However, if this info is available anywhere, I haven't seen it.</p>
<p>Hah, my D also sent the CMU application for last summer very early (by mid-February) and with a return postal card. Also, all the required documents/rec letters, etc. were sent together in one big envelope. And still they managed to lose three separate items! We became concerned because people on this board were getting accepted and my D had not heard anything. A subsequent call to admissions revealed the missing items. So it is worth it to check up! (She ended up getting accepted weeks later but chose to go to the CAP21 audition program instead--and they enthusiastically responded within a few days of receiving her audition CD--quite a different experience!)</p>
<p>Is it just a camp problem? Or does the school function this way too?</p>
<p>I don't know but I will say that when we had to cancel our CMU college audition, we got our $80 audition fee credited promptly (and I was very pleasantly surprised given our prior "camp" problem). So maybe it is just the camp!!</p>
<p>These programs are just so expensive! how can a college student afford them? Are there any programs for college aged kids that are good with scholarship or anything? Particularly:</p>
<p>Circle in the square
NYU professional cap21 program
NYU steinhardt
Broadway theater project
American academy of dramatic arts</p>
<p>Krazi, as for me, I would not pay for a COLLEGE STUDENT to do a summer program. Not only could I not afford to do so, but I feel that is what I am paying tuition for during the school year to get this sort of training. I did pay for summer programs prior to college, but was not then paying tuition for college and my kid was not in a performing arts intensive during the year.</p>
<p>My college kids work in the summer, albeit IN their fields.</p>
<p>But I have a free ride to a school that does not have a theater program. It was either a free ride and try to do outside things to pursue theater or go into extreme debt doing a theater program. I applied for straw hats and I will try to audition for some other summerstock things. I usually end up teaching dance over the summer and doing community theater shows so this year I am trying to do something different. I want to apply to summer programs too because if I do not get into a show, I want to continue training so maybe I can next year.</p>
<p>Krazi, I was unaware of your situation and I understand your desire to get some theater training during the summer if you have none during the school year (or else to work in the theater during the summer). If you have a free ride to school (congrats!), then you are ahead of what most others have to do to go to college. I don't know if your parents are willing to help since they did not have to pay for college at all and may have needed to pay something had you not gotten a free ride and if that "something" could be put toward summer training which is still far less than paying for college. In other words, the savings of not paying for college, could be put toward a much smaller amount for one summer of training in your field of interest. If not, I don't know if you can work during the school year to save up for summer training. If it is financially not possible to do a summer intensive, perhaps you can take a class or some private lessons which is less expensive than a full program with housing and so forth. As well, working in theater is at least a very good experience for you.</p>
<p>One other idea.....you likely have about 3 1/2 months off for summer vacation. A summer theater intensive may be four to six weeks long. That leaves a chunk of summer where you could earn money to fund the summer program. You would ideally need to get a good paying job. There are ways to create a good paying job for yourself. I know that for two weeks for two summers, when my D was home briefly (summer after HS graduation and summer after soph year in college), she created and directed her own summer MT program for local youth and made a great deal of money in those two weeks. Something like that is going to yield you more funds than an hourly paycheck.</p>
<p>Well I am using that money that i don't spend for college for classes at Steps/Broadway dance center. I also use it for voice lessons and starting later this year, hopefully acting classes at HB Studios. PLus the transportation to and from NY a few times a week costs a ton of money in itself. I think my parents would put out SOME money for a summer program but definitely not the whole amount. I have a relatively good paying job (for a college student anyway) as a dance teacher in NY for mentally challenged children. I am going to try to save up and you are right, I could work during the rest of the summer to pay for the program. The school I teach at isn't open during the summer so I'll have to find something else to do. Thank you for the advice! </p>
<p>I am so nervous to try out for the these programs..."real auditions!" I hope some give at least a little bit of aid. I am considering trying out for Broadway theater project this weekend which with airfare would case in the upwards of $3500 which is a lot of money. I guess I'll go try and see what happens!</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about the YouthTheatreInstitutes summer program in New York City. It notes that the students are housed in Mary Willson Residence Hall at Julliard. I believe it is clear that they are not sponsored by Julliard, but I am wondering what anybody knows about this program. </p>
<p>My other question is any ideas about which program that were listed back a while ago, for a daughter with dyslexia, who is an A student in English, but not so much in Science and Math, and will be a Junior in the 2009-2010 school year, would be best to consider, and whether they accept high school juniors. I just mentioned her age and not her grade in school. My oldest daughter has also looked into the summer acting program at Strasberg, but I have not heard about that program either. Any info or suggestions would be much appreciated as we are up against the wire for applications.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>My D is applying for the program for this summer. She is a strong student and will have good essays, a high GPA and great teacher recs. However, she didn't take the PSAT this year and probably won't take the ACT until later this spring. Will she be penalized for not sending any standardized test scores?</p>
<p>My son has been accepted to both Broadway Theater Project and Perry-Mansfield for this summer. He is inclined to go to Perry-Mansfield because it is a longer program and he knows someone who attended last year and loved it. He also has the idea that he will get more training at Perry-Mansfield. Does anyone have any thoughts about which of the two programs is better for training and more impressive on your resume for college?</p>
<p>aktorsmom, sorry I don't have an answer to your question, but I do have a question of my own: when did your son send in his application to BTP and when did he receive his acceptance?</p>
<p>My D auditioned for BTP on January 25 and was notified, via email, the following week that she was accepted.</p>
<p>aktorsmom - this is a tough question to answer, and I am sure that some people here may chime in and say to not pick a program just because it looks more impressive on your resume for the college application process. </p>
<p>I would venture to say that both programs have a lot to offer. One thing I can contribute is that my D attended BTP as an upcoming junior, and during her college audition process many auditors wanted to talk to her about her summer experiences. The next year (as a rising senior) she was fortunate enough to be accepted into NYU's CAP21 summer program. She chose that over BTP that year, because she felt she could use some more "acting training" before her college auditions.</p>
<p>Not knowing your son, I don't know what his strength is, but going by your screen name he may be a talented actor. If he is applying for a BFA in MT, he may want to consider some intensive dance training, which is something BTP offers. If he is only interested in straight acting perhaps Perry Mansfield is more in line with what he would enjoy.</p>
<p>As you can see there is really no "better choice". Much will depend upon your son's present set of skills, and what he wants to improve upon.</p>
<p>Hope this helps a little :D.</p>
<p>He auditioned at his school February 3 and submitted the application then. We received an email February 13th with notification of acceptance.</p>
<p>MTgrlsmom, thanks for sharing your thoughts. My S wants to work on both acting and dance this summer, and it looks like both programs offer classes in both areas. I see a good bit of discussion about BTP, but nothing about Perry-Mansfield, and I'm wondering why that is. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>aktorsmom,
Sorry I don't have any firsthand experience with Perry-Mansfield which is the program you are really trying to find out more about. But my daughter did attend BTP before her senior year in high school (3 to 4 years ago) and loved it. It is very intense training and a mix of high school and college students. She got alot out of it. If you have any specific questions about it feel free to ask. Good luck with your decision.</p>