@bearlife Back to the question of how/why my D ultimately chose CMU - I think this sums it up. She wanted to be in an intense, technology-rich, cutting-edge environment. So, at the end of the day, this was the deciding factor.
http://www.cfa.cmu.edu/pages/intersection-of-arts-technology
@upstate13 That is something we have discussed as well, especially since when we started looking at colleges a year ago, she was actually interested in animation. She decided she didn’t see herself at a computer all day long. Having knowledge in other areas is very useful I’m sure. I’ve been reading interviews with current set designers, and some are afraid of CGI overtaking the industry. Some don’t like what the special effects people do to their sets in postproduction since by then the set designers are long gone from the set. I suppose this is less of a concern if your interest is primarily in theatre, not film.
Hello all,
I just read this ENTIRE thread and it is wonderful and I want to join the conversation.
My daughter is a junior who wants to do costume design. She is looking at many of the same schools you all mentioned: UNSCA, CCM, Purchase, BU, Emerson, Syracuse, Carnegie Mellon, DePaul, (possibly – it’s the farthest from us) etc.
My question is about whether any of these schools allow kids to have any kind of life.
We visited Purchase, and one of the students told my daughter she is in class all day 9-3, then mandatory production crew all evening til 9 or 10, then homework, bed, and they get up and do it all over again. Same thing at UNSCA…we were told it was “boot camp,” and a friend of mine with a son who goes there said it’s even more intense than she thought it would be…he sleeps about four hours a night. Several people at UNSCA mentioned to us that the kids just drink Red Bull to keep up.
You know, as much as my daughter loves costumes, and is very talented, she is saying to me, “Mom, I want to have at least SOMEthing of a life in college.” She wants to go to parties, take a day trip, whatever. I don’t blame her.
And yet my daughter wants a BFA in Costumes or as close to that as she can get.
So far, Syracuse seemed the only school that might offer the depth in theater/costumes she wants, without making her a slave to the theater. Emerson maybe too.
We may be visiting UConn and Penn State to see if they fit the bill as well.
Anyone out there – especially current students/moms in DT programs – have any insight on this? Are there some conservatory-type schools who give the kids some free time/downtime, or are they all “boot camps.”?
Thanks!
Also, I visited almost all the schools I just mentioned, so if anyone has questions of me, feel free. We live in the NYC area.
^^We just went to my son’s production at BU a week ago. The Quarter 4 productions (BU splits their productions into 4 quarters throughout the year) were all happening at different theaters within BU’s network. As we were waiting for our son to come out after the Sunday 2pm performance, the design and production crew were waiting eagerly to get into the theatre, a few with hammers in hand, to gather up the props, costumes, and dismantle the set so that they could get to another 7pm performance after which they will do the same thing, then get back to study for finals. It was exhausting just to hear them talk about it!!! I think any BFA program will be similar. End of quarter productions seem to fall at the same time as papers due (and these kids have plenty of homework, papers to complete), midterms, or finals. But they all seemed to LOVE it!
Purchase mom–yup, boot camp pretty much describes it. I feel bad for my son as I do think he misses the college experience that his sisters have had.
@pamik27 My daughter will be starting a BFA in Costume Design at DePaul this fall. I had a couple of great conversations with kids at the school during Unifieds and they were very straight about the work load. One girl, a scenic design major, absolutely loved it. She said that yes, they work a lot, but they also break it up with their regular school work as they have to matriculate 45 quarter credits by the end of their 4 years. They DO have late schedules but they also seem to add fun into their days. At DePaul they can take quarters off to intern and the school supports it, even letting their students skype in to classes and complete classwork elsewhere.
We looked into many different schools and she ended up to applying to an array of them in straight costume and in technical design. All of the schools that she ended up applying to seemed to be pretty intense with a big work load-Emerson, Pace, CalArts, Purchase, CMU, DePaul. (She applied to CU Boulder close by for a safety) Her first year will be straight production and all of the freshman will be involved in areas of production (including their major) to see how the other disciplines are used and also so they can have the experience. DePaul’s program is very intense as they only take 4-6 students per year in all areas of their production/design programs. I think that the only program where they take more than that is acting (up to 25 I believe?). If you are interested in the process, portfolio info, etc. please feel free to send me a pm here. She applied to 7 schools and was accepted to all but CMU where she was wait listed. I’d be happy to help. It’s a crazy journey but worth it.
I think that any of the BFA programs will be intense. If you want a more typical college experience I would look into BA Programs that have a good reputation. My son applied to a Tech BA at Western Carolina University that, although still requires a portfolio review, would have given him more of a typical college experience. In the end he decided to go to UNCSA in the Scenic Technology Program and is going into it understanding the level of intensity and hours that will be required. He really loves it though and it does not seem like work to him.
@Marbleheader How does your son feel about the theater being off-campus? And how was it during all that snow this past winter? What is his area of specialization?
I agree @cjenny2 . I really think that when it’s your passion, it isn’t work. I really think that my girl will love it, even if it’s difficult. She’s prepared for that.
@craspedia - my son is an acting major. The BU theatre is on Huntington, and it has a studio theatre and a main stage. Easily accessible via the Green line subway (altho the green line is mostly above ground!). The School of Theatre has two more black box theaters right in its on building (on Mass Ave). A few blocks up is the Boston Playwright Theatre. The Calderwood theatre complex is actually closer to Emerson, I think, and that one is a little bit of a trip (again, by subway). The snow was horrendous for the kids, but that was a winter for the ages - far from the norm (we live just 20 minutes north of Boston). Lots of cancelled classes, and it all had to be made up - even with the already packed schedule!
What is CCM? These acronyms are driving me crazy 
College Conservatory of Music - Cincinnati
D is beginning the application process and I’m trying to get an idea of how much travel might be involved for interviews. I know it’s only August and some schools don’t have their interview schedules posted yet. Yet it seems some only go to Unifieds to look for Acting/MT candidates.
I’m curious, which schools did you interview for at Unifieds? And which schools required you to come to campus?
We went to Unifieds in Chicago and NYC. You could probably interview in Chicago or NYC exclusively if you want. My daughter wanted to actually interview at two of her top schools-DePaul and Pace. Check to see if your city is on the list of places that certain schools might be venturing to as well. I know that SF, Seattle, LA can be on lists. My daughter is studying costume design not acting. However, the Unifieds in Chicago were pretty cool to see. They had floors of MT auditions only. It seemed like a lot of fun. NYC auditions seems much more stressful to my daughter.
@vogelpitts Which schools did she interview with at Unifieds?