Technical Theater

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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<p>I've told this story elsewhere on CC, so forgive me if you‘ve already read it (I’m a little tired of it myself but it’s on point): the head of admissions at the UCLA Theater/Film/Television school tells prospective students that they don‘t need to match the avg. UCLA freshman GPA (over 4.0) because the T/F/T school is looking for the best THEATER students who are oftentimes too busy with theater to earn a 4+ GPA. </p>

<p>As far as CMU goes, well, I know someone who was accepted into the Drama-Design/PTM program with only a 3.5 GPA and (as Momof3 noted) it‘s unlikely she ever would have been admitted into the school at large with this GPA. She did have really impressive theater design experience, though. </p>

<p>Every year, the college counselors at my D‘s high school tell the students that they should choose electives based on what they want to learn and not what they think will get them into the top schools. They say if you have to give up what you really want to do to fit the profile of a top school, it‘s probably not the right school for you. I’m hoping they’re right.</p>

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<p>Thank you theater mom -- I think the answer for us is to somehow find the balance between what she really wants to do (which is take the APs AND do theatre outside of her school!) and what will keep her happy and balanced while putting her in a good position for admission. Thanks again everyone --</p>

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<p>Hi-</p>

<p>My daughter was looking at several schools. Because we live in Georgia, we always through she'd go to a GA school, which means NO TUITION with the hope scholarship, but there are no stage management degrees here. So the costs are a bit of a surprise for us, as we had not planned for this!</p>

<p>Here are some good schools that are reasonably priced: </p>

<p>*North Carolina School of the Arts has a really good program. It's a conservatory type program and really impressive. We visited the school, and liked it alot. The stage management program is amazing.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Suny Purchase in New York also has an SM program and has reasonable costs for out-of-staters,and it's a quick train ride into NYC.</p></li>
<li><p>University of OKlahoma, where tuition is $17,400 out of state, which is only a little more than Penn State's in-state tuition. </p></li>
</ul>

<p>My daughter had applied to all three, but fell in love with OU for a couple of reasons. First, it's a regular college campus, and I am hoping she will get a minor. Second, it was the only school on her list that also has musical theater and she wants to stage manage musicals. Once she interviewed there, and saw the department put on "Chicago", she decided not to even interview at the other schools. </p>

<p>I know people talk a lot about CMU, Emerson, etc and they are some amazing schools out there, but if your budget is a consideration, you can't go wrong with these three.</p>

<p>Also, since your daughter is a Junior in high school, it'd be a really good idea for her to try to intern or volunteer at a professional theatre. Last summer, my daughter interned at the Virginia Shakespeare Festival at the College of William and Mary. (Her dad lives 20 minutes from there, so it was easy for her to pull off.) She ended up being an ASM on one of their shows, made lots of connections and received an awesome recommendation letter from the director.</p>

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<p>Thanks, Pattikaye. CC has been amazing resource for bringing to my attention a wide variety of schools that I don't think I would have heard of any other way. Anyway, yours is a story with a great ending. It sounds like your D found (and was accepted at) just the right place. </p>

<p>About half of our list is affordable. At this moment (middle of junior year), NCSA is on the list, as is Cornish (similar to NCSA, but does teach MT, but MUCH further from NYC), as well as three UC campuses. The other half includes CMU and Emerson and others to whom we will have to apply for aid. </p>

<p>My D's HS allows an off-campus internship in senior year and many students from her school have interned with local repertory companies. She is hoping to do the same. With any luck, she will have as good an experience as your D did.</p>

<p>Good luck to your D and thanks again.</p>

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<p>Theater mom -- which UCs is your daughter looking at? We moved to So Cal about two years ago from the burbs of NYC and mine desperately wants to go "home" for college. But because we live in Cal, she has to look at some UC and CSU programs. She's only a sophomore so we are just beginning to get started, but if you're willing to share your research on the UC and CSU schools, I'd really appreciate it.</p>

<p>This thread has already been so helpful -- thanks everyone.</p>

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<p>Sure, hughesmove. I wouldn’t call it research, though, and we’ve only looked at UCs.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>UCLA. As should be clear by now, I really like the T/F/T school at UCLA. It has the resources, contacts, and students of a top theater school at half the price (for CA residents only, this year). Recruiting video is heavily weighted to the film industry.</p></li>
<li><p>UCSD. The graduate school has a good reputation but the undergrad program, as described on the department website, is unremarkable. There is no design/tech concentration. (When I asked for more info at the department, I was told everything about the program is on the website. They were snippy about it, too.) The school is very competitive (freshmen average 4+ GPA) and undergrads do not apply directly to departments so admission is 100% academics, 0% talent, some attention to extra-curriculars but only if you’re already in the zone academically.</p></li>
<li><p>UCI. The program described on the theater department website looks good with some of the features of a conservatory. If you like Orange County, you’ll probably like UCI, but even so the OC is not an exciting place to study theater. Internships for the theater department are generally in the LA area. </p></li>
<li><p>UCSC. The theater program is not even listed in the Directory of Theatre Training Programs but a lot of N. Californians like the school. It’s relaxed, beautiful, and largely for undergraduates. This would probably be my D’s first choice if she were not interested in theater.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>One last point to keep in mind. I’ve also been told that W. Coast theater schools may train students for the theater but, at the end of the day, they serve largely as feeder schools for the film and television industries.</p>

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<p>Hey everyone-
I just wanted to add a note about my current program: Theatre Managment and Production and University of the Arts (UARTS) in Philadelphia. </p>

<p>Although our program is well knows for its MT and Acting program, the TMP program is strong and growing. I am only a freshman, and am in love with the school and program already. Although I am a stage manager, I wasnt ready to tie myself down to a limiting major quite yet. The BFA in TMP program lets you dabble, then declare a concentration in either directing, stage management, playwriting, or dramaturgy. </p>

<p>The</a> University of the Arts <------that is the site where you can find admission info, audition info, and course listings. </p>

<p>Another reason that lead me to UArts is the musical theatre minor, which is open to production students as well! Just as an FYI- I applied and was accepted into Point Park's SM program, and Marymount Manhattans as well, but chose to live in this great city, and attend such a colorful, high paced, university. </p>

<p>Email me with any questions you might have about the university, (I work in the theatre office, and as a professors asst, so I usually can answer them)</p>

<p>Good luck!!</p>

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<p>Hughesmove, re those AP classes.....my son is an actor who was recently accepted at NYU/Tisch, and he took a bunch of APs his junior year while doing lots of theatre outside school (often rehearsing two shows at a time while performing in another, etc). Frankly, he could do this because he is the type of student who is lucky enough to be able to do well academically without excessive sweat (as your daughter well may be too), although I'll admit there were intense moments during that year.</p>

<p>Senior year, he decided to cut back on APs....not take calculus, not take the AP physics his peers were taking......thereby relinquishing his chance to be salutatorian. Senior year just gets too crazy because you are adding college applications, college auditions/interviews and all that into the school/theatre mix.</p>

<p>I'd say if your daughter really wants to take the AP classes and is confident she can handle everything, then she should go for it. She will get more out of them than regular classes, in addition to their later helping her meet college requirements. Kids who know they will be in college programs that are heavy on specialized training and light on regular academics should try to get the as much, academically, out of high school as they can possibly can.</p>

<p>Just my two cents. :-)</p>

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<p>Hi,</p>

<p>My son has been accepted at DePaul, Penn State, and Webster for Sound Design. He likes all three and is in the process of making a decision. He presented his portfolio at DePaul and Penn State on-campus and at the Unifieds for Webster.</p>

<p>He's seen a production at both DePaul and Penn State. He's met or communicated with professors and students from all 3 schools. He has a pretty good feel for the curriculum, venues, facilities, and campus setting.</p>

<p>From your experiences and knowledge, what do you see as the major differences between the programs and schools that he should consider? Below are some considerations, but please add more if you think they are important! Any and all comments welcome.</p>

<p>Technical theatre reputation with potential employers and MFA programs
Available contacts and alumni network to help with employment
Internships and other summer professional employment opportunities
Opportunities to branch off into video, recording arts and production, etc.</p>

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<p>cclew, I sent you a PM (or maybe two - wasn't sure if the first one went through!)</p>

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<p>My son has been accepted at CMU. DePaul, Syracuse, Cal Arts, Millikin, and Emerson. We are try to see what is the best fit for him. Any information regarding the programs, atmosphere, city surrounding the college, job success after graduation would be much appreciated. Still waiting for financial aid letters which will also help in the decision making process.</p>

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<p>I’m in the same boat as MHETTmom’s son… I’ve been accepted at Tisch and CMU, for the Tech Track and PTM, respectively… I’m having a really hard time making the decision… Any help is appreciated.</p>

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<p>MHETTmom & Zeppo58: </p>

<p>Forgive me if you’ve already done it, but have you looked at the catalogs? Most are available on line. How many liberal arts classes does each school require and in what subjects? Do they look challenging? How many classes in Theater Arts in such areas as acting/movement or literature? How many classes in crafts not your own? Are internships part of the curriculum? Do you do a senior project? </p>

<p>I found looking at the catalog gave me an idea of the school’s philosophy. My D is interested in stage management and there the curriculum varies dramatically. I guess this means that you can approach it in a variety of ways so it comes down to waht my D wants to study.</p>

<p>For the surrounding area, try looking at the schools from the Street View of a Google map. It’s no substitute for a visit, I know, but it’s a fast, cheap way to get a look or maybe remind you of what it looked like. Many school sites also have virtual tours.</p>

<p>Best of luck. You have some great choices. I do hope my D does as well.</p>

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<p>Does Smith College have a good technical theater program?</p>

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<p>I would love to know where all the techie seniors are going and why. If you have a moment, it will help all of us who will be following in your footsteps next year.</p>

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<p>d deciding between BU, UNCSA and SUNY - Purchase. Any thoughts would be great!</p>

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<p>Technical Mom – Forgive my ignorance – what is UNCSA? As the parent of a 10th grader, we are still in “information collecting mode”! Will be interested in reading any replies – Good Luck!</p>

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<p>hughesmove: It took me months to get all the acronyms straight. </p>

<p>UNCSA = University of North Carolina School of the Arts</p>

<p>TechnicalMom: What is your D’s concentration? Those are great choices but very different. Would love to get your thoughts on visits/interviews.</p>

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<p>My niece, MsArtsypants ;), has clicked “will attend” to …<drumroll> …Boston University. Turned down Tisch/Drew/Wagner/Pace Honors/Fordham. She knows she wants the technical side of theater but wants to explore all that is “behind the scenes” before declaring a specialty.</drumroll></p>

<p>Deciding factors:

  1. Crap FA at NYU (no surprise there)
  2. Study abroad
  3. Huntingdon Theatre
  4. Ease of taking courses in her other passion - Genocide/Holocaust Studies</p>

<p>I think she made the right choice for her. She will build a phenomenal 4 years of enrichment activities (summers/breaks) and still graduate with 1/4th the debt she and my sister would have after NYU.</p>

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<p>curmudgeon: So, she got a GOOD FA offer from BU, right? This is nice to know.</p>