<p>theatremomma, Emsdad is correct - doctorjohn’s post gives excellent insight into the mission of the department at Otterbein. As for my son’s experience, I believe he would say it was excellent. Otterbein is a small school in Westerville, a suburb of Columbus, and a beautiful quaint town considered one of the best American towns in the US. Knowing he would be attending a small school, my son wanted somewhere beyond the campus to go, and there is no shortage of antique shops, coffee shops, restaurants, taverns, etc. There is also the nearby Easton Shopping district which has just about any retailer a college student could imagine. The small faculty/student ratio means that attention to the student is intense and teachers quickly understand students’ areas for development. Faculty have a presence in the surrounding area and so students are open to opportunities in Columbus and other parts of Ohio. Our son was fortunate enough to be in student directed plays, straight plays (including Shakespeare), three musicals (once with a leading role) and two dance concerts. He definitely grew substantially as an artist especially in acting and dance. Students bond pretty quickly and understand the cooperative attitude towards their training at this school. Because the numbers are so small, freshmen wind up in productions with all classes including seniors. Our son is a firm believer that strong competition can challenge you to train even harder. Dorms are average or better, nothing is too far from any campus building. They have traditional dorms, apartments, and additional campus housing off the traditional campus which the school has purchased. Most options are very nice. There are times when the school might feel a bit too small to some students, but that feeling is far outweighed by the level of training and nurturing environment. Plus, they get to spread their wings a bit when they intern in NY during their senior year. Our son knew his preference was for a more intimate environment and Otterbein fit the bill. He has had 5 long term paying jobs since graduating in June 2010 including regional theatre from Philly to Florida, Shakespeare, and most recently the national tour of Beauty and the Beast where he performed with a fellow Otterbein alum. We finally have him back in his home town, where he now has his own apartment. He continues to audition and see where it leads - he feels quite prepared to succeed in the industry. Finally, I would certainly suggest you read the sub forum for Otterbein. Good luck as you continue your search!</p>