Talent level at Northwestern w/o entry auditions

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>actor193, I am not questioning your observations or experience. I myself would never think any program is all good or perfect, no matter what the reputation. I mean, of course if you find nothing at all wrong with your program & everybody is insanely talented, & everyone gets parts based entirely on merit–well, that’s great, you’re very fortunate. But in the majority of situations, there are going to be flaws, even in top programs with auditions. Sometimes students are accepted who turn out to not be talented, or b/c frankly their parents are extremely wealthy, or whatever. That happens everywhere, and as I said, it will happen all your life, in nearly all fields.</p>

<p>Are you unhappy with your program itself, though? I wasn’t sure whether you meant, “Hey guys, NU isn’t the paradise some of you think” or if you actually meant, “NU isn’t the paradise <em>I</em> thought it would be.” If it’s the second, I hope you are still happy there, and I would encourage you again to really focus on what training you yourself will get and seize any opportunity that comes your way.</p>

<p>What I’m trying to say is try to make this as best an experience for yourself that you can make it. Don’t worry about less talented kids or kids who you feel got a part because they’re rich. Focus on yourself and maturing as an artist. There are tons of opportunities at NU–take advantage of those as much as you can. </p>

<p>As far as the professional community-- my younger son acts professionally and we’ve been fortunate to be in contact with B’way actors, directors, as well as very well respected regional actors. When my D was deciding where to go (she had several choices), we did ask these folks, and the reaction was uniform (I wish I could capture their tone): Northwestern is extremely well respected. </p>

<p>For a reason. You can get great training &, yes, forge great connections. I do know one very successful regional actress who graduated from NU without ever having landed a role in any non-student production. She got great training though and was in tons of student productions . She went to NYC, and found that listing NU on her resume really really opened doors. That was her experience, of course, but perhaps it makes you feel better.</p>

<p>Best of luck</p>

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<p>I just read through this thread and can see that a few things I said need clarification.</p>

<p>In my OP perhaps I should have capitalized the words “THE SERIOUS PERFORMERS”. Are all 125 kids in D’s class talented performers? Absolutely not! As I said, “talent” in theatre encompasses FAR more than performing. I also acknowledged that I have no inside track on NU’s admissions process, but I am quite sure they don’t try to admit 100 performers. Creating theatre requires talented promoters, producers, writers, stage managers, designers, teachers, etc., and NU’s program admits, developes and graduates all of the above. We know kids in all of the top BFA MT programs, and I strongly believe (and the school’s track record suggests) that the top 15 MT kids at NU compare favorably to any of them.</p>

<p>Since every Theatre student goes through the 3 year Acting track, I assume plenty of non-talented actors are in the cohorts. I attended a top acting conservatory, and if you think you can’t learn as much from watching bad acting as from strong acting I’d say you still have much to learn. I also think it’s awesome that every Theatre kid at NU, performer or not, gets access to top-notch acting training!</p>

<p>With over 60 student-produced shows each year, I assume that some are REALLY bad and know firsthand that some are great. In my opinion, if a student graduates from a Theatre program without having learned firsthand how to distinguish a talented production team from one apt to create a flop, they’ve missed one of the single most important skills a performer needs. I honestly pity kids in very small programs who don’t get to really hone this most-important skill until they hit the professional world. I saw parts of Assassins, the Freshman Musical, Amber Waves and WAA-Mu and would have paid to see any of them. Our son (who has seen amazing Theatre throughout the world) saw Autopsia and said it was amazing. It’s also worth noting that we’ve seen mediocre student-produced work in lots of top programs. I also think it’s great that with so much student work, even talented performers get opportunities to stretch far beyond their comfort zone.</p>

<p>NU’s main stage shows, where the “SERIOUS PERFORMERS” are featured, are (based on what we’ve seen) excellent.</p>

<p>In any diverse class there are no doubt some disappointed kids who feel they’d be happier elsewhere (true at EVERY MT program) but, as I’ve said, NU is a great fit for our D. She wanted much more than any other MT program offered and has found it all at Northwestern. This first year, even before starting the “official” MT program, she’s had great vocal training (both group and private, MT and classical) and dance every quarter. She’s worked with and/or performed for Barbara Cook, Andrew Lippa, Craig Carnelia, Jeanie Cunningham, Lari White, Paul Elliott and Jordan Mann in addition to many amazing Chicago talents. She’s performed in many student-directed and main stage works, as well as at various galas, recorded demos of various new works and sung the national anthem before an ESPN-televised basketball game… all in the company of her TALENTED NU classmates. PLUS she’s completed 20 out of 45 credits needed for graduation from one of the top universities in the world. Not a bad freshman year, and one she couldn’t have had anywhere else.</p>

<p>Is NU perfect for everyone? Of course not! Viva la difference!</p>

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<p>MomCares, I’m so glad your D is so happy there and it’s such a good fit for her! I hope my own D finds it the same.</p>

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<p>My son turned down acceptance to the NW music program. For him it would have just been a stepping stone to get into the MT program, and he wanted a certain thing, and he wanted to start the MT right away. He did spend a couple of days at the university and checking out the MT department and it ranked right up there in his opinion except for the dearth of top level dance instruction, another thing that he was targetting. As for the music auditions, whew, they were very thorough, even more so than some conservatory applications. The NW applications required quite a bit in terms of resume, so what they lose in an audition in terms of the Theatre kids, they gain in terms of a thorough vetting of on paper credits. For music, the auditions were very thorough and required quite a bit of preparation. </p>

<p>You do lose a year of direct MT training going this route, however. My son was classically trained in music, and for him doing a year as a music performance major just was not for him. He wanted to go into the MT world immediately. How the department as a whole rates upon graduation, I don’t know, but they are only trained for MT three years. My son’s BFA in MT required 4 full years of dance, voice, drama, music and classes in MT specifically puliing it all together. That MT does this all in 3 years just as well … I don’t believe it.</p>

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<p>Even though you are not officially in the program until you pass the audition at the end of Freshman or Sophomore year I thought that you could still essentially take the classes. Most programs really don’t let Freshman do much and I’ve been in enough sub-par drama and musical theater things to know that the level of training and the level of time spent in class wasting time make comparisons time-wise pretty much irrelevant. I don’t know if I’ll apply here or not but this wouldn’t be a deal-breaker.</p>

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<p>cptofthehouse - You are correct that the dance portion of the program is the weak link and the school is working on that fairly quickly, changes will be made shortly. This did not seem to put my daughter at any disadvantage in any professional MT auditions as she has been cast very well, even with two roles that emphasized dance.</p>

<p>Most important to your comments though is that NU is a BA Theatre program, not BFA, and the MT program is not even a minor but a certificate program so it is not for kids looking for a BFA in MT. However, because of it’s trimester system students can and do take many more classes in the span of their four years than a student in a college with semesters. This allows for the program to accomplish things in fewer years than many other schools, but still, it is not a BFA degree.</p>

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<p>I can only speak for our D (and probably not even that well for her :wink: but I can say she has had a VERY full year of MT training even before auditioning for the MT program.</p>

<p>I agree with both cptofthehouse and amtc that dance is currently the weakest link at NU (D has had dance all freshman quarters), but have also heard it will be improved. This year additional MT voice teachers have apparently been added, although our D was able to study voice with professors her entire freshman year versus the grad students she would have studied with as a freshman in many BFA programs.</p>

<p>D decided during her time at MPulse that she wasn’t interested in a conservatory, and wanted more rigorous academics and a more diverse group of peers than most BFA programs offered. Given what she wanted the balance at NU offers many unique opportunities, but for someone who wants a more vocational approach to MT training, or is not interested in academic rigor, it’s probably not the best fit.</p>

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<p>While NU obviously doesn’t offer a BFA, many MT kids there did also consider BFA programs and most who auditioned were admitted to great schools including (off the top of my head) NYU, Syracuse, Elon, Pace, CCM, OCU, Emerson, Indiana, Wagner, OU, UArts, UNC and no doubt many others. </p>

<p>The program is not a BFA, but it’s also not a typical BA due to scheduling flexibility which allows for almost 80/20 focus on theatre for those who want that.</p>

<p>D had several BFAs in her list and would have auditioned for them had she not been admitted ED to NU, and I know many of her MT and straight acting friends there were in the same boat.</p>

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<p>Just saw this list (not up to date) of some NU Theatre alum, which was fun to look through.</p>

<p>• Mara Brock Akil (B.A. 1992), creator and executive producer of Girlfriends and The Game, former supervising producer of The Jamie Foxx Show
• Claude Akins (B.S. 1949), actor (Inherit the Wind, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo)
• Ann-Margret (Olsson) (Class of 1963, never graduated), Academy Award-nominated actress (Tommy, Carnal Knowledge)
• Sharif Atkins (B.S. 1999), actor (ER)
• Jayne Atkinson (B.S. 1981), Tony Award-nominated actress (Enchanted April, The Rainmaker); currently portrays Karen Hayes on 24
• Jane Badler (B.S. 1976), actress (V)
• Kate Baldwin actress (1997 – theaterschool)
• Bonnie Bartlett (B.S. 1950), Emmy Award-winning actress (St. Elsewhere, Twins, Ghosts of Mississippi)
• Warren Beatty (Class of 1959, never graduated), Academy Award-winning actor/writer/director (Bonnie and Clyde, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Shampoo, Reds)
• Lee Phillip Bell (B.A. 1950) Emmy Award-winning co-creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful
• Rob Benedict (B.S. 1993), actor (Threshold, Felicity)
• Richard Benjamin (B.S. 1960), actor (Catch-22, Deconstructing Harry); director (Mermaids, Racing with the Moon)
• Edgar Bergen (attended, did not graduate), Academy Award-winning actor and ventriloquist (Charlie McCarthy)
• Greg Berlanti (B.S. 1994), screenwriter and producer (Dawson’s Creek); creator of Everwood and Jack & Bobby; writer/director of Broken Hearts Club
• Eric Bernt (B.S. 1986), screenwriter (Surviving the Game, Virtuosity, Romeo Must Die)
• Craig Bierko (B.S. 1986), actor (Cinderella Man, The Thirteenth Floor); Tony Award-nominee (The Music Man)
• Andrew Bird (B.S. 1996), musician, songwriter, whistler
• Karen Black (attended, never graduated), Academy Award-nominated actress (Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces)
• Jeff Blumenkrantz (B.S. 1986), Tony Award-nominated musical theatre composer/lyricist (Urban Cowboy)
• Robert Borden (B.S. 1989), executive producer/writer (George Lopez)
• Zach Braff (B.S. 1997), Emmy Award-nominated actor (Scrubs); writer/director (Garden State)
• Cary Brothers (B.S. 1995), Grammy-nominated musician (Garden State)
• Clancy Brown (B.S. 1981), actor (Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption)
• Charles Busch (B.S. 1976), Tony Award-nominated playwright (The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife)
• Frank Buxton (B.S. 1951), actor/writer/director
• Bruno Campos (B.S. 1995), actor (Nip/Tuck)
• Adam Chase (B.S. 1990), Emmy Award-nominated writer/executive producer (Friends)
• Josh Chetwynd, UK based baseball analyst and former player
• Janet Choi, cast member of The Real World: Seattle
• Cindy Chupack (B.S. 1987), Emmy Award-winning executive producer and writer (Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond)
• Jeanne Clemson (M.A.), theater director, stage actress and teacher, preserved the Fulton Opera House
• Stephen Colbert (B.S. 1987), Emmy Award-winning comedian (The Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart)
• Jack Clay, acting teacher/director/actor
• Claire Coffee, actress (General Hospital)
• Kate Collins, actress (All My Children)
• Robert Conrad (B.S. 1955), actor (The Wild Wild West, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hawaiian Eye)
• Steven Conrad (B.A. 1991), screenwriter (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Weather Man)
• Cindy Crawford (attended, never graduated), model
• Jan Crull Jr.(attended, never graduated),filmmaker, Native American Rights Activist, Attorney
• Jane Curtin (attended, never graduated), original cast member of Saturday Night Live; Emmy Award-nominated actress (Kate & Allie, 3rd Rock from the Sun)
• Stephanie D’Abruzzo (B.S. 1993), Tony Award-nominated actress and puppeteer (Avenue Q)
• William Daniels (B.S. 1950), Emmy Award-winning actor (St. Elsewhere, Boy Meets World); former president of the Screen Actors Guild
• Zooey Deschanel (attended, never graduated), actress (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Elf, Almost Famous, Winter Passing)
• Lydia R. Diamond (B.S. 1992), playwright
• Matt Doherty (B.S. 1999), actor (So I Married an Axe Murderer, The Mighty Ducks films)
• Anne Dudek, actress (House, Psych, Law and Order: CI, Desperate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother, Mad Men, White Chicks, The Human Stain)
• Teddy Dunn (B.S. 2003), actor (Veronica Mars)
• Nancy Dussault (B.A. 1957), actress (Too Close for Comfort); two-time Tony Award nominee (Do Re Mi, Bajour)
• Gregg Edelman (B.S. 1980), Tony Award-nominated actor (City of Angels, Into the Woods)
• Jennie Eisenhower (B.S. 2000), actress; granddaughter of Richard Nixon and the great-granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Craig Erwich (B.A. 1989) former Executive Vice President of Programming at Fox TV
• Mary Frann (B.S. 1965), actress (Newhart, Days of our Lives)
• Temi Epstein (B.S. 1996), child actress (North and South)
• Joe Flynn, actor (McHale’s Navy)
• Penny Fuller (B.S. 1959), Emmy Award-winning actress (The Elephant Man); Tony Award nominee (The Dinner Party)
• Gerald Freedman (B.S. 1949, M.A. 1950), theatre director (The Gay Life, The Robber Bridegroom, The Grand Tour)
• David T. Friendly (B.S. 1978), Academy Award-nominated producer (Little Miss Sunshine)
• George Furth (B.S. 1955), Tony Award-winning playwright (Company); actor (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid)
• Aimee Garcia (B.S. 2000), actress (George Lopez)
• Daniele Gaither (B.S. 1993), actress, comic (MADtv)
• Barbara Gaines (B.S. 1968), founder and artistic director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
• Frank Galati (B.A. 1965), Tony Award-winning director (The Grapes of Wrath), Academy Award-nominated screenwriter (The Accidental Tourist)
• Ana Gasteyer (B.S. 1989), actress (Mean Girls, Wicked); former cast member of Saturday Night Live
• Ileen Getz (B.S. 1985), actress (3rd Rock from the Sun)
• Zach Gilford (B.S. 2004), actor (Friday Night Lights)
• Eric Gilliland (B.S. 1984), writer/producer (Rosanne, My Boys)
• Ira Glass (attended, transferred), radio and TV personality
• Jonathan Glassner, TV writer/producer, most known for developing Stargate SG-1.
• Virginia Graham (M.S.J.), former daytime TV talk show host
• Michael Greif (B.S. 1981), Tony Award-nominated director of Rent and Grey Gardens
• Mamie Gummer (B.S. 2005), actress (Evening), daughter of Meryl Streep
• Anna Gunn (B.S. 1990), actress (Deadwood)
• Kathryn Hahn (B.S. 1995), actress (Crossing Jordan)
• Brad Hall (B.S. 1990), former cast member of (Saturday Night Live); creator of (The Single Guy, Watching Ellie)
• Samantha Harris (B.S. 1996), Emmy Award-nominated co-host of Dancing with the Stars
• Bill Hayes (M.M. 1949), Daytime Emmy Award-nominated actor (Days of our Lives)
• Heather Headley (B.S. 1997), Tony Award-winning actress and singer (Aida, The Lion King); Grammy Award-nominated R&B vocalist
• Kyle T. Heffner, actor Flashdance
• Marg Helgenberger (B.S. 1982), Emmy Award-winning actress (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, China Beach, Erin Brockovich)
• Charlton Heston (B.S. 1945), Academy Award-winning actor (Ben-Hur), National Rifle Association President
• Michael Hitchcock (B.S. 1980), writer, co-executive producer (MADTv); actor (Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, Serenity )
• Ron Holgate (B.S. 1959), Tony Award-winning actor (1776, The Grand Tour)
• David Hollander (B.S. 1990), creator, screenwriter, and executive producer of The Guardian
• David Horowitz (M.S. 1961), former host of Fight Back! With David Horowitz
• Jeffrey Hunter (B.A. 1949), actor (The Searchers, The Last Hurrah, King of Kings, The Longest Day)
• Lew Hunter (M.S. 1956), Emmy Award-nominated screenwriter (Fallen Angel); Chairman Emeritus and Professor of Screenwriting, UCLA School of Theater Film and Television
• Ron Husmann (B.S. 1959), Tony Award-nominated actor (Tenderloin)
• Martha Hyer (B.S. 1945), Academy Award-nominated actress (Some Came Running, Houseboat, The Sons of Katie Elder, Bikini Beach)
• Rex Ingram, actor (Cabin in the Sky, The Thief of Baghdad, Sahara, Green Pastures)
• Laura Innes (B.S. 1979), Emmy Award-nominated actress (ER); Emmy Award-nominated director (The West Wing)
• Robin Irwin, noted Broadway actress (“Titanic (musical)”), and (“Dance of the Vampires”) She currently teaches at New York University
• David Ives (B.A. 1971), playwright, (All in the Timing)
• Brian d’Arcy James (B.S. 1990), Tony Award-nominated actor (Sweet Smell of Success: The Musical)
• Tim Johnson (B.A. 1983), director (Antz, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas)
• Jennifer Jones, Academy Award-winning actress (The Song of Bernadette, Since You Went Away, Love Letters, Duel in the Sun, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing)
• Peter Kapetan, (B.A. 1978), Broadway actor, singer, dancer 1956–2008[1]
• Spencer Kayden (B.S. 1990), former cast member of MADTv; Tony Award-nominee for Urinetown
• James Keach (B.S. 1970), actor (The Long Riders); producer (Walk the Line); director (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman)
• Stacy Keach, Sr. (B.S. 1935), actor (Get Smart); director (Tales of the Texas Rangers)
• Clinton Kelly (M.S. 1993), co-host of (What Not to Wear)
• Peter Keramidas (B.S. 1987, M.B.A 1991), former Executive Vice President of Programming at Showtime Networks
• Richard Kind (B.S. 1978), actor (Mad About You, Spin City)
• Richard Kline (M.A. 1967), actor (Three’s Company)
• Robert Knepper (attended, never graduated), actor (Prison Break, Hostage, Carniv</p>

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<p>A quick note; some of my posts on CC are written from the perspective of someone who gets tired of insinuations that MT kids at Northwestern (or really at any non-audition BA program) automatically have less talent than kids at audition BFAs, when that simply is not the case. I do believe that NU has ways of evaluating talent (including talents other than performing) on paper. Are they perfect? ABSOLUTELY NOT, but neither are 5 minute auditions. Does NU’s method result in missing out on many talented applicants, or sometimes admitting someone with less talent than someone who was denied a spot? Absolutely – just as happens with 5 minute auditions.</p>

<p>My SIL has been a college counselor for 30+ years, and she always says that at any school with admissions below 25% it is a crapshoot even for qualified kids. NU admits fewer than 15% of applicants, so I absolutely take it for granted that MANY extremely talented kids do not win the lottery. I personally know many extremely talented kids who were denied admission to every top school I can think of, including NU. </p>

<p>So while I do think NU admits a lot of amazing talent, I also know they miss out on talented kids they might have found through auditions.</p>

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<p>Northwestern has always had an excellent reputation for having talented grads. Anyone who doubts that is uninformed! Such fun reading through that list momcares, thanks for sharing. They should add Meg Chambers Steedle to the list. She’s doing some terrific work on Boardwalk Empire this season.</p>

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<p>@alwaysamom - I’ve also heard good things about Meg Chambers Streedle in Boardwalk Empire but haven’t seen her yet.</p>

<p>Don’t know how this will be, but here’s yet another NU grad getting decent work.</p>

<p>Emily Owens, M.D. (lead character played by Mamie Gummer, Meryl Streep’s D, NU class of 2005) is an upcoming American medical drama television series created by Jennie Snyder Urman. It was picked up by The CW on May 11, 2012, and is scheduled to premiere this fall on Tuesdays 9:00/8:00c.</p>

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<p>I guess I’m resurrecting this thread and I hope some current students can respond. My son is a sophomore and beginning to consider colleges for acting. Academically, Northwestern would fit although we know it’s very competitive. And I have to say that while I am familiar with strong Northwestern’s theatre reputation, I continue to have concerns about the level of talent that is accepted without an audition. My concerns would be assuaged by earlier comments except for this scenario: A student from his HS was accepted this year whose talent is best described as “okay” and “novice”. She is a stellar student and fits Northwestern academically. But after reading about all these students in prior years with great experience and demonstrated passion for acting, well, she doesn’t have that, and we are baffled as to why she was accepted. She has done 9 plays at our high school (3 leads) and that’s it. (And it’s an average theatre program.) She has no outside theatre experience (not community, not professional, nothing all summer), no acting classes anywhere despite their availability in a nearby city. She has much dance experience but is a very weak singer. We don’t understand and, well, it’s making us wonder about the standards at Northwestern. Can anyone shed some light? </p>

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<p>i hope some current students chime in, but in the mean time here’s the perspective of a mom with a current Junior…</p>

<p>The one constant at NU is that every student is exceptionally bright. My impression is that there is a very broad range of performing talent in each incoming Theatre class, as you’d expect with no initial audition. Of course the auditioned MT cohort is more select, but the key is that over 4 years the class naturally segments into serious performers (both MT and straight theatre), directors, writers, producers, designers, choreographers, etc. An indication of the ratio of serious performers is that -25 of the 100 will ultimately participate in the NY Showcase.</p>

<p>In each class there seems to be a very strong group of performers who will graduate and work at the very highest levels, but other grads will make their mark in other aspects of the industry and can become invaluable contacts.</p>

<p>Northwestern’s admissions system is unique. If your S wants a small program in which all classes are taken with a small similarly-talented group of performers for 4 years he may prefer a different program. But if your only concern is whether he will find a group of talented peers at NU in my experience you needn’t worry. The school has a very deep talent pool, and no one kid will ever be the biggest fish in that pond.</p>

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<p>There are many people who say the same thing about audition admitted students - they’re nothing special, must have had an amazing audition because they’ve not done anything great in high school, etc. Who knows.</p>

<p>I can say that at NU there are usually about 10 kids who switch majors by the end of their sophomore year and probably about 10 kids who continue in Theatre but really do the bare minimum and concentrate on either another major or a minor. The level of talent is very high for a good number of the kids but not all. As MomCares said, the school has a very deep talent pool, and no one kid will ever be the biggest fish in that pond. Find something more realistic to worry about (believe me, in this major there are lots of other things to worry about!).</p>

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<p>For example, I read an interview with John Logan, who said he entered NU as a not-so-talented aspiring actor, but graduated as an award-winning playwrite/screenwriter… Or Stephen Colbert and many others shift toward comedy. </p>

<p>I think most important figures in the Theatre world started out as aspiring actors, and the NU program has a track record of producing leaders in all aspects of both stage and screen, in addition to many great actors.</p>

<p>I was thrilled that our D chose a program that would support her no matter how her interests evolved over 4 years.</p>

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I want to provide a brief update to this thread as our D completes her time at NU. In the future hopefully parents of current students, or the students themselves, can chime in and share their impressions and experiences.

Probably the biggest single thing I’ve learned about Northwestern during our D’s time there is the extent to which every single student in the program is able to receive a highly-customized education. Even in D’s small MT cohort, the ranges of experiences - educational, professional, travel, performance, etc. - have been far wider than I ever could have imagined, and I’d venture to say wider than in virtually any other program one could find. Designing and building a custom education is not only allowed, it is actively encouraged. Various members of her MT cohort will graduate with Equity cards, others with pre-med training, every imaginable form of internship, at least one is on hold for a Broadway lead, some have earned multiple majors, lots of Circus training, extensive travel, TYA expertise, extensive composition portfolios, significant choreography credits, completed manuscripts… you name it! The breadth of accomplishments and training is staggering. Each person is graduating with skills (gained both on campus and in a wide range of Chicago-area studios and theatres) tailor-made for their unique interests and talents, and it will be very exciting to see where they all land.

If there is one thing I can say with complete confidence, it’s that each individual student enters and leaves with wholly unique talents, and if there is one thing no one could never call NU grads it would be cookie-cutter MTs.

The second thing I can say from personal experience is that D is leaving the program having already begun a successful year-long professional launch even before graduation, an unexpected perk of her involvement with the program and of living near the thriving Chicago theatre community.

D will be very sorry to leave this campus and community of talented artists, and we look forward to hearing the adventures of future WildCats.

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@MomCares‌ I really appreciate your posting. This information is very helpful. My D has been accepted to Northwestern and is quite excited about it! She also has been accepted to several BFA MT programs, BFA acting programs, and BA Acting as well. The options are quite different, so she has a lot of thinking about what she REALLY wants from a program. I’d love to PM you for more information, but I don’t think I have the minimum amount of posts yet to be able to do that… I will keep posting, then send you something.

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Congratulations, @gigismom, and I look forward to hearing from you. It was a very tough admissions year, so whatever she decides she can feel very proud of her accomplishments to-date!! Also - if you have general questions feel free to start new threads and maybe others can also offer their thoughts. :slight_smile: