Can anyone comment on the SUNY schools for MT? I remember reading a thread before I think on them but can’t find it now… Are some more selective then others academically as well as artistically etc…?
For MT, SUNY Fredonia has a program, and for straight acting SUNY Purchase has an excellent reputation. Other SUNY school may have added programs, but those are the ones I know of. Good Luck!
SUNY Geneseo, Buffalo, New Paltz, and Cortland also have MT programs.
Fredonia and Buffalo are the schools with BFA’s and Geneseo, Cortland and Oswego have BA.
Buffalo MT can be in the honors program
Last year Buffalo MT was at the same time and place as the NYC Unifieds.
My daughter was just in summer stock with a boy from SUNY Cortland and he was SUPER talented!!!
Ok sorry what is SUNY? Thanks!
@Mel2421, it means “State University of New York.” It’s New York State’s public university system, so people who live in New York get very low tuition for those schools.
Oh gotcha! So does the MT program offer in state tuition to their out of state recruits? Some schools do.
Sadly, no. But here’s a thread about state schools that do: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1892161-list-of-state-schools-offering-in-state-tuition-or-tuition-breaks-for-out-of-state-bfa-students-p1.html
Honestly, most kids I know who went this route ended up transferring to other programs for MT.
@uskoolfish do you mean most kids you know who went to SUNYs for MT transferred to other programs?
Buffalo does offer scholarships to out of state students. Academic based and a few talent based.
Yes. I know of several kids who started in SUNY’s for MT and were disappointed and transferred to other programs. I While the SUNY’s are strong for many things, I would not say that MT is a strength. M D’s knew kids at Buffalo and Fredonia. They were in-state students whose parents wanted to take advantage of the low tuition and who wanted to see whether MT was indeed the right path for them before committing more money. But they felt the programs were isolated and not of the caliber they thought would advance their skills. I hesitate to write these kinds of posts and perhaps some of these programs have changed, but with a general lack of funding, I’m not sure that is the case. Part of the issue may have been the high caliber of our local (Long Island) high school theatre program, access to amazing teachers nearby and in the city and in general a highly trained student body.
Thanks for the clarification @uskoolfish ! (I’m also a LIer but unfortunately, our HS theater doesn’t offer educational programming 
). Where did those kids transfer? If you feel uncomfortable mentioning specific schools, what types of schools (BFA, private, out of state, ‘top ten list regulars,’ etc…)? And can you talk about how difficult that was for them—I’ve heard that BFA programs want you there the whole four years, so are they on a five or six year plan with a transfer? And last question–about how many kids do you know who transferred out of those schools? Thanks!
The student I feel I can speak about the best–I have first hand knowledge based on conversations with the student–was a boy who transferred out of Buffalo and went to Pace. He transferred after a year, and graduated on time. The Pace program was still new. He was even able to star in an Off-Broadway show his final semester as a p/t student.
Thanks @uskoolfish , so for that one student you mention, what was it about Buffalo that wasn’t working for him? I’ve heard that dance there is good. Many years ago there was a discussion here about the quality/quantity of their vocal training, but that was a while ago. I wonder if that has changed.
May have changed, this was several years ago. This boy was a lead in some of our musicals, a great dancer, took private voice on Long Island and felt that the program wasn’t pushing him to learn more.
Overall, most of the students I know who have pursued MT did not go to SUNY’s because they felt the programs weren’t strong enough. And these were families who sent siblings to SUNY schools. I do know of music majors who attended Fredonia and Postdam and were very happy.
Thanks for your answers @uskoolfish --helpful to have details.