<p>Thanks, beenthereMTdad! I was looking at the program schedule online and it looks like a fun but busy two weeks! I am looking forward to it immensely.</p>
<p>Resurrecting this thread - Some Summer Program Auditions have finished, and some acceptances have already started to roll in.</p>
<p>My D auditioned for MPulse, Broadway Theater Project, The Performing Arts Project and Interlochen. She’ll be a rising Senior in HS this summer.</p>
<p>We got our first response tonight - accepted to BTP! </p>
<p>Anyone else?</p>
<p>I’m not sure if I just posted in the right place. I am trying to decide between a bunch of summer programs. I posted about them on the other thread about the Big List of Summer Programs. Do I need to repost about it here or was that the right place to post?</p>
<p>LIJRBFreak, I think this is the best place to discuss. You say you want a program that will “prepare you for college.” And you are trying to decide between Camp Broadway,
Future Stars Camp, NYCinLI and Stagedoor. I guess, in order to really answer your question, it would be helpful to know what you mean by “prepare you for college.” Do you mean you want help getting into a musical theater program in college? Or you want an experience that will help you get ahead for your upcoming college classes?</p>
<p>If it is the former (help you get into a college), I think you might be better off spending your money going to a college coach. There are several threads on this board discussing the various college coaches. </p>
<p>My D has gone to Stagedoor for 7 years…she LOVES it. Stagedoor did not prepare her for getting into college, but it certainly helped her learn how to put on full productions in a very short turnaround time, gave her the chance to work with directors, choreographers, and actors from Broadway, get seen by agents and casting directors, etc…and it was a fun summer camp experience. She also made fabulous connections, and it gave her a sense of her competitiveness in the MT field for college auditions. A couple of schools mentioned the fact that Stagedoor was on her resume during her auditions, but I certainly don’t think it helped her in any way during those auditions. Also, note that Stagedoor fills up in September the year before…so for this coming summer, Stagedoor is full and there is a waiting list. It’s easier to get off the waiting list if you are a boy, but you need to apply really, really early.</p>
<p>So my suggestion would be to think about what your goal is. As you probably are aware, getting into college MT programs is very, very competitive. If you want help with your song and monologue selection, dance, acting skills, school list, I think you need a coaching team who SPECIFICALLY works with you to get into college. It’s not a summer program, but you can start now and try to get ready for your audition season. My D used MTCA, and we loved them. Other people on this board used other coaches and had success. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>LIJRBFreak I am a Drama teacher and acting coach. I am going to assume that you mean that you want help preparing for your college auditions. If that is the case, then you are making a wise decision to ask about different programs and which ones would be most helpful in this endeavor. Too often students and their parents think they can do this on their own. After all they auditioned for plenty of shows and have gotten in. Auditioning for a college theater program is a whole different ball game. You really do need help in order to prepare for it.</p>
<p>Stagedoor Manor is a great theater camp but it is not the place to go in order to prepare for your college auditions. A reputable college coach is invaluable but can also be very expensive. It is worth looking into which ones are in your area and how much they charge.</p>
<p>The last program you asked about was NYCinLI. This is the sister program of NYCinMA which my son attended last summer. NYCinLI is being run out of Long Beach, LI and NYCinMA is being run out of Framingham, MA. My son really liked the program and learned so much about auditioning for college as well as for professional theaters. One of the big advantages of this program was that he got to work with NYC professional actors, dancers, choreographers, casting directors and agents. These were the people who taught the courses not college kids which you might find at a theater camp. </p>
<p>Another really good aspect of this program was the incredibly informative lectures given by these same professionals. They have a wonderful insight as to what it is like to be a professional actor.</p>
<p>Good luck in all your theatrical endeavors.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Just as a point of clarification, the classes and shows at Stagedoor Manor, a theater camp, are NOT taught by college kids whatsoever. They are all taught and directed by professionals in the field. </p>
<p>I agree that Stagedoor Manor doesn’t prep one for the college audition process itself, though it is wonderful training otherwise. My kid went there for 8 summers before attending a BFA in MT program.</p>
<p>Thanks monkey13. What is MTCA? I also plan on working with a coach. It doesn’t sound like Stagedoor is what I’m looking for. I really want to be somewhere that I can work on my college audition material. It sounds like you know a lot about this. Do you know anything about the other programs?</p>
<p>TheaterMom18, I actually took a workshop with Jamibeth Margolis who is a casting director. She is going to be teaching at [url=<a href=“http://www.NYCinLI.com%5DNYCinLI%5B/url”>http://www.NYCinLI.com]NYCinLI[/url</a>] I guess. She’s the one who mentioned it to me to begin with. Is [url=<a href=“http://www.NYCinMA.com%5DNYCinMA%5B/url”>http://www.NYCinMA.com]NYCinMA[/url</a>] the same program then? Will I get a chance to work on audition material? Did your son get individual time to work with these people? I agree with monkey13 that what I really want is coaching. Looking at the website, it sounds like that’s what the program is mostly.</p>
<p>@LIJRBFreak - A couple of summer programs that focus specifically on college audition prep include:</p>
<p>Ithaca
[Introduction</a> to Musical Theater Performance - Summer College for High School Students - Ithaca College](<a href=“http://www.ithaca.edu/summercollege/threeweek/musicaltheater/]Introduction”>http://www.ithaca.edu/summercollege/threeweek/musicaltheater/)</p>
<p>ArtsBridge
[College</a> Audition Workshop - ArtsBridge Summer](<a href=“http://artsbridge.com/events/artsbridge-summer/]College”>ArtsBridge ArtsBridge Summer 2015: More Highlights of our Acting and Musical Theater Faculty! - ArtsBridge)</p>
<p>Two other very highly regarded programs that include an audition component and would really help with dance calls for college auditions include:</p>
<p>Broadway Theatre Project
[Broadway</a> Theatre Project](<a href=“http://broadwaytheatreproject.com/]Broadway”>http://broadwaytheatreproject.com/)</p>
<p>Performing Arts Project – Winston-Salem, NC
[The</a> Performing Arts Project](<a href=“http://www.performingartsproject.com/]The”>http://www.performingartsproject.com/)</p>
<p>Most college summer programs include an audition-prep component, sometimes taught by college faculty who conduct auditions. A partial list of college programs for high school students includes the following - many of these are listed and discussed in previous posts in this thread (note that not all of these are MT-focused), :</p>
<p>MPulse at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
[UM</a> School of Music, Theatre & Dance - Youth Programs - MPulse Summer Performing Arts Institutes - General Information](<a href=“http://www.music.umich.edu/special_programs/youth/mpulse/]UM”>http://www.music.umich.edu/special_programs/youth/mpulse/)</p>
<p>The National High School Institute at Northwestern University (Cherubs) – Evanston, IL
[Theatre</a> Arts: NHSI Theatre Arts - Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.northwestern.edu/nhsi/theatre_arts/index.html]Theatre”>http://www.northwestern.edu/nhsi/theatre_arts/index.html)</p>
<p>Pre-College Drama Program at Carnegie-Mellon – Pittsburgh, PA
[Drama</a> - Pre College - Carnegie Mellon](<a href=“http://www.cmu.edu/enrollment/pre-college/drama.html]Drama”>http://www.cmu.edu/enrollment/pre-college/drama.html)</p>
<p>Boston University Summer Theatre Institute (BUSTI) – Boston, MA
[BU</a> Summer Theatre Institute (BUSTI) » College of Fine Arts | Boston University](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/cfa/busti/]BU”>Boston University Summer Theatre Institute | College of Fine Arts)</p>
<p>Boston Conservatory Summer Intensives – Boston, MA
[High</a> School and Collegiate Intensive Programs | The Boston Conservatory](<a href=“http://www.bostonconservatory.edu/high-school-and-collegiate-intensive-programs]High”>Extension Programs)</p>
<p>Tisch School of the Arts Summer Drama Program for High School Students – New York, NY
[Drama:</a> Tisch School of the Arts at NYU](<a href=“Special Programs”>Special Programs)</p>
<p>High School Musical Theatre Program at Oklahoma City University – Oklahoma City, OK
[Oklahoma</a> City University : Music : Performing Arts Academy](<a href=“http://www2.okcu.edu/music/academy/hsmtp.aspx]Oklahoma”>http://www2.okcu.edu/music/academy/hsmtp.aspx)</p>
<p>Indiana University Midsummer Theatre Program – Bloomington, IN
[Midsummer</a> Theatre Program | Department of Theatre & Drama](<a href=“Indiana University Bloomington”>Indiana University Bloomington)</p>
<p>Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Prepartory Department High School Musical Theatre Workshop – Cincinnati, OH
[High</a> School Musical Theatre Workshop, University of Cincinnati](<a href=“http://ccm.uc.edu/prep/summer2013/Immersion2013/musictheatreworkshop.html]High”>http://ccm.uc.edu/prep/summer2013/Immersion2013/musictheatreworkshop.html)</p>
<p>Yale Summer Conservatory for Actors – New Haven, CT
[Summer</a> Conservatory for Actors | summer.yale.edu](<a href=“http://summer.yale.edu/find-your-program/drama/summer-conservatory-actors]Summer”>Summer Drama Program | Yale Summer Session)</p>
<p>University of North Carolina School of the Arts Summer Intensive: Drama - Winston-Salem, NC
[Summer</a> Session| Drama](<a href=“http://www.uncsa.edu/summersession/drama.htm]Summer”>http://www.uncsa.edu/summersession/drama.htm)</p>
<p>USC Summer Theatre Conservatories – Los Angeles, CA
[Summer@USC</a> ? USC Summer Programs for high school students](<a href=“http://summer.usc.edu/general/summer_seminars_musictheatre.shtml]Summer@USC”>http://summer.usc.edu/general/summer_seminars_musictheatre.shtml)</p>
<p>University of Minnesota Stage Elements Summer Theatre Institute – Minneapolis, MN
<a href=“https://theatre.umn.edu/theatre/elements[/url]”>https://theatre.umn.edu/theatre/elements</a></p>
<p>The University of the Arts Summer Institute – Philadelphia, PA
[Summer</a> Institute : Theater | The University of the Arts](<a href=“http://uarts.edu/academics/pre-college-programs/summer-institute-theater]Summer”>Summer Institute Theater | University of the Arts)</p>
<p>Rutgers University Summer Acting Conservatory – New Brunswick, NJ
[Rutgers</a> Summer Acting Conservatory | Mason Gross School of the Arts](<a href=“http://www.masongross.rutgers.edu/extension-division/summer-theater-conservatory]Rutgers”>http://www.masongross.rutgers.edu/extension-division/summer-theater-conservatory)</p>
<p>The UCLA Acting and Performance Institute – Los Angeles, CA
[Summer</a> Acting and Performance Institute | UCLA School of TFT](<a href=“http://www.tft.ucla.edu/programs/summer-programs/summer-acting-and-performance-institute-2/]Summer”>http://www.tft.ucla.edu/programs/summer-programs/summer-acting-and-performance-institute-2/)</p>
<p>Syracuse University Summer College for High School Students, Acting and Musical Theatre – Syracuse, NY
[Acting</a> & Musical Theater Syracuse University Summer College | Syracuse University Summer College - For High School Students](<a href=“Home - Pre-College Programs for High School Students – Syracuse University”>Home - Pre-College Programs for High School Students – Syracuse University)</p>
<p>Emerson College Pre-College Acting, Musical Theatre, and Stage Design Studios – Boston, MA
[Pre-College</a> Studio Programs | Emerson College](<a href=“http://www.emerson.edu/academics/professional-studies/programs-high-school-students/pre-college-studio-programs]Pre-College”>Pre-College Programs | Emerson College)</p>
<p>The Powerhouse Theatre Apprentice Program at Vassar College – Poughkeepsie, NY
[About</a> - Powerhouse Theater - Vassar College](<a href=“http://powerhouse.vassar.edu/apprentices/index.html]About”>http://powerhouse.vassar.edu/apprentices/index.html)</p>
<p>Brown University Pre-College TheatreBridge Program – Providence, RI
[TheatreBridge</a> & Playwrights Workshop | Brown University](<a href=“http://www.brown.edu/ce/pre-college/theatrebridge/]TheatreBridge”>http://www.brown.edu/ce/pre-college/theatrebridge/)</p>
<p>Summer High School Music Theater Workshop at Westminster College of the Arts – Lawrenceville, NJ
[High</a> School Music Theatre Workshop | Rider University](<a href=“http://www.rider.edu/academics/colleges-schools/wca/woce/summer-camps/music-theater-workshop]High”>http://www.rider.edu/academics/colleges-schools/wca/woce/summer-camps/music-theater-workshop)</p>
<p>Texas Musical Theatre Workshop – Austin, TX
[Texas</a> Musical Theatre Workshop](<a href=“http://www.texasmusicaltheatreworkshop.com/]Texas”>http://www.texasmusicaltheatreworkshop.com/)</p>
<p>TCU Musical Theatre Performing Arts Camp (US Performing Arts) – Fort Worth, TX
[Texas</a> Christian University Musical Theater Camp](<a href=“http://www.usperformingarts.com/tcu-musicalcamp.php]Texas”>http://www.usperformingarts.com/tcu-musicalcamp.php)</p>
<p>Summer camps with college audition components and/or very intensive training include:</p>
<p>Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp – Steamboat Springs, CO
[Homepage</a> | Perry-Mansfield](<a href=“http://perry-mansfield.org/]Homepage”>http://perry-mansfield.org/)</p>
<p>Interlochen Center for the Arts High School Summer Theatre Programs
[High</a> School Theatre Summer Programs | Interlochen Summer Arts Camp](<a href=“http://camp.interlochen.org/high-school-theatre-summer-programs]High”>http://camp.interlochen.org/high-school-theatre-summer-programs)</p>
<p>There are more listed in the Summer Program Big List.</p>
<p>Ok wow- thanks EmsDad. That’s a really big list. I guess there’s a lot out there and everyone has a different opinion. I’ll start looking through this list. Do any of those other programs have auditions? NYCinLI auditions are on March 23rd, so if I’m interested I need to sign up. There aren’t auditions for getting into the other programs I had on my list. </p>
<p>I think maybe the best thing would be for me to talk to some people who were actually in the programs themselves. Then they can tell me what the programs were like for them. This is getting confusing! lol</p>
<p>@LIJRBFreak - yes, there are lots of great programs out there. Some require auditions, and for some the deadlines are rapidly approaching (and some may be past deadlines for this summer). The programs vary in duration, from 2-6 weeks and in cost, some are very expensive. The locations range across the country. So, some of the first things you may want to consider include: (1) what dates work; (2) what you can afford; (3) do you want mostly audition prep or a program that includes a balance of several training elements - do you want a program that includes lots of dance or some Shakespeare or whatever; (4) what locations would work; (5) what campuses you might be interested in - these are great opportunities to get first-hand experience at these schools; and so on and so forth.</p>
<p>For example, my daughter gets lots of MT training during the year so last summer she attended a Shakespeare Festival program at a major university where she was able to actually be in the festival performances and work alongside Equity and non-Equity performers every night in front of thousands of people. They did lots of work on classical audition material which is critical for some straight acting programs and did mock auditions in front of the festival pros, some of whom were college faculty. Her work in classical material actually improved her work on modern material. For someone else, a dance-heavy program might be the right fit or perhaps a program like Ithaca where you work primarily on the MT audition process.</p>
<p>If you look through the program web pages, you will find all sorts of exciting opportunities of all types.</p>
<p>MTCA is Musical Theater College Auditions - they are based in NYC. There are other ones…Mary Anna Dennard (in Texas) has a coaching business, and there is a relatively new one in the Boston area called MCA.</p>
<p>EmsDad gave you a great list of summer programs. I’m not sure how many of them are already full for the summer, but I suspect many deadlines have passed for this coming summer. </p>
<p>I would strongly urge you to investigate each program closely and ask lots of questions. One thing we have found is that there are many. many great programs, camps, and coaches out there, but auditioning for college is a completely different ballgame. Make sure you find a program or coaches who have experience preparing kids for college auditions SPECIFICALLY. Is the program for kids and adults of all ages, or is it geared towards juniors and seniors in high school? For example, Stagedoor takes kids ages 10 to 18…while it may help kids get used to auditioning in general, and teach them a lot, it is not geared towards preparing you for your college auditions. It looks like NYCinMA is for people of ALL ages, from children to adults…again, find out how much of the program is geared towards COLLEGE auditions, and which college MT program directors or professors , if any, teach classes. Maybe they are going to separate out the high school juniors and seniors and have special college sessions for them…I don’t know. But you should ask! </p>
<p>Also keep in mind that working with Broadway stars and agents does not necessarily prepare you for college auditions. Programs like Artsbridge and coaches like MTCA will have you work with the directors and professors of college MT programs. These are the people you want to work with. Casting directors, agents, and Broadway actors do not necessarily know the ins and outs of what you need to do to prepare fully for college auditions. </p>
<p>If you have missed the deadlines for these programs that are geared towards college audition prep, or if you decide to use your money in a different way, look into the various college coaches I mentioned. Other CC members may have other suggestions. Again, we loved MTCA. We used them year round (my D started when she was a junior in high school), and they helped her pick her audition songs, her monologues, worked with her on what college audition dance calls were like, offered master classes with college directors and professors, coached her on acting and acting her songs, and helped us develop her list of schools. And they have great mock auditions that teach the kids what college auditions are like! Since we do not live in NYC, we did many of her sessions via Skype and went in to the city for special master classes. </p>
<p>If I had to do it all over again, I would hire them again. My D has been accepted to 2 of her top choice schools, and we are still waiting to hear from many more. She went into her college auditions as prepared as she could have possibly been due to her work with MTCA. Again, I’m sure the other coaches out there are great as well, and there are other threads that discuss these other coaches. </p>
<p>(P.S. I second what soozievt said…Stagedoor does NOT have college kids teaching and directing, etc. They do use college kids as counselors…but the counselors aren’t teaching or directing, etc. There are professionals doing that. The counselors live in the dorms with the kids and keep control, solve problems, etc. I’m not sure which camp TheaterMom18 was referring to that has college kids teach courses, but it sure isn’t Stagedoor!)</p>
<p>You can google Musical Theater College Auditions and it should come up near the top of the list and also mention MTCA in their name. Or, you can pm me and I can give you the contact info. My daughter also used them for 1 and 1/2 years to prepare her for summer program auditions and for college auditions, using skype mainly for instruction, although we also made 2 visits to NYC in that period, and she attended their college audition mocks in NYC, although they are now offered in other places as well, west coast, etc. You will find that unlike some other programs, they charge by the hour and you choose how much you want to use them and what for: monologue and song choices, coaching on those, preparing college app lists, dance instruction or eval, getting prepared song accompaniment tapes, incredible voice lessons in classical or belt/mix . . . we would use them again in a minute, and I recommend them to everyone! They saved us hours and hours of stress, and it is due to them that my daughter isnow a sophomore program in one of her top choices in NYC.</p>
<p>Wow- everyone seems really defensive and obsessed with Stagedoor. I talked to some friends on mine who are in MT college programs about Stagedoor, and apparently its kind of a joke once you get to college. They said the people who went to Stagedoor and Frenchwoods kind of walk in thinking they are the best and get torn down. I don’t think that’s what I want.</p>
<p>I decided that I would email some of the programs directly to ask about getting into colleges to see what they have to say. I will let you know what I hear back.</p>
<p>We’re not defensive about Stagedoor…just correcting misinformation on the board. Someone posted that theater camps have college kids teaching. This is a sweeping generalization, and we were correcting the statement, at least as it has to do with the camp we are familiar with. And, for you to say that the people who went to Stagedoor and Frenchwoods “think they are the best,” and that Stagedoor is “kind of a joke” is your opinion based on hearsay, not fact. We were trying to answer your question and help you make an informed decision on which program would be good for you. You asked us to comment on these programs, but it is apparent that you have already made up your mind.</p>
<p>Monkey13-</p>
<p>I haven’t made up my mind, but as I said much earlier- based on what you had told me, I wasn’t interested in Stagedoor anymore, yet it still kept coming up. I heard that from more than one friend from more than one school. This isn’t a court, this is a message board. I am looking for information about all of the different programs so I can make an informed decision, but the conversation kept going back to Stagedoor.</p>
<p>I didn’t think that stagedoor had college students teaching. I don’t see where anyone said that. I posted what my friends told me, and now I’m apparently not looking for help? I think that’s very unfair. I appreciate the information that has been given, and that list that I got from EmsDad. Geez!</p>
<p>My D attended Stagedoor Manor and MPulse. Both were valuable experiences. She did not go into college with an attitude that she was better than others. If you are a standout at any program, you will probably be pretty successful in college. As Em’s dad stated, each person should choose the summer program based on cost, location, dates and focus.</p>
<p>LIJRBFreak it does seem that we have gotten a little off point. I think it is important to remember that people are speaking purely from their children’s experiences in these programs. I am assuming that none of the parents who have posted to you have actually attended these programs themselves. If that is not correct, then I apologize in advance. The only program I can speak to directly is NYCinLI as my son attended its sister program NYCinMA last year. It is my understanding from your previous posts that this is one of the programs you had researched and were interested in. My son got a lot out of the program and I, as a theater teacher and acting coach, was very impressed with the knowledge and caliber of the teachers. I was lucky enough to get to audit some of the dance classes and to attended some of the lectures and workshops so I am speaking from firsthand knowledge. As evidenced by the extensive list that Ems Dad posted, there are many great programs out there. As monkey13 stated, you should definitely do your research and see which program best fits your needs, finances and location constraints. I hope that this has been helpful. I am happy to answer any other specific questions you may have about the program or I can put you in touch with the founder.</p>
<p>This is a discussion and many people are reading it and gleaning information besides the OP. It did come up that summer camps often have college kids teaching and directing and since Stagedoor is being referred to as a “camp” here, some of us simply clarified that at Stagedoor (a program in the original post) does NOT have college kids teaching, directing, etc. but merely uses them as counselors such as in the living areas and such. </p>
<p>Nobody is saying Stagedoor Manor is the best. Picking a summer program is an individual thing as to what the student wants. My kid loved Stagedoor for 8 summers and went on to a BFA in MT program and is now working professionally in the field, as are many of her former Stagedoor peers. My other kid enjoyed French Woods for four summers (but did not pursue theater in college). </p>
<p>Stagedoor does not prepare you specifically for college auditions, but it is excellent training, as well as high level performance experience. My kid didn’t choose a summer program to prepare her specifically for auditions (though training itself prepares you generally speaking). She worked with her voice teacher and a monologue coach at home when preparing for college auditions. I think that no matter what summer program one attends, doing one to one coaching for college auditions is a good idea. </p>
<p>I think it is a sweeping generalization to talk about SDM and FWF alum as thinking they are the best. I know my kid doesn’t think that way having gone to this summer theater program. The program had a huge impact on her life and her connection to those who attended continues to this day in her professional life in NYC. SDM is well thought of. It is not for everyone. And it is too late to contemplate it for this coming summer anyway as it fills up in early fall. There are many fine summer programs to consider and Stagedoor is just one of them. It is not a joke. In fact, many in the industry, such as at professional auditions, or at college auditions, often comment to my D about her being a Stagedoor alum. Most of all, my kid loved it and her years there significantly impacted her life as an artist.</p>
<p>PS, I cross posted with the post above mine. Yes, all of us, including you, are parents of students who were happy with the programs they attended. Like you, many of us have observed first hand what goes on at our kids’ programs. I have visited my D’s program (Stagedoor Manor) 25 times (and no, I am not exaggerating) and seen what is done there.</p>
<p>Again, I am simply speaking about the one program I have first hand knowledge of. Yes, I am a parent of a child who attended a summer program but my perspective is a bit different then some other parents as I also have theatrical and educational training and experience. I believe if you look back through my posts you will find that I never disparaged or said anything negative about Stagedoor Manor or any other program. If people took a comment I wrote in a negative way, I sincerely apologize for that.</p>
<p>My kid is a Stagedoor Manor disciple. She loves it more than any place on earth. It is a good place run by really good people. Hard-core theater kids go there and meet other kids like themselves and never look back. Yes it is expensive and unfortunately not available to everyone who could benefit from going, but it is an amazing training experience, not a rich kids’ playground. Some parents work extra jobs to send their kids there; some KIDS work extra jobs to get themselves there. My daughter’s life has been changed by Stagedoor Manor. The people who run the place are the most hard-working, caring people on earth. They totally GET theater kids. It’s just a downright awesome place. BUT if you are specifically looking for college audition prep, look elsewhere. Stagedoor is a CAMP and the kids have FUN. College audition prep, on the other hand, is very serious business. The competition is brutal. You can’t just be talented; you have to be prepared prepared prepared. Get a coach or go to a summer audition program like ArtsBridge. My daughter did ArtBridge for 2 summers and found it invaluable. She also used MTCA. Yes, it’s expensive, but these people know the ropes and are invested in getting you in. At the very least, get help from SOMEONE who has experience with/knowledge of the college audition process, and RECENT knowledge, since the field has exploded in the past several years.</p>