<p>Hi again everyone - my D threw me for a loop yesterday saying maybe she’d rather go to CA than NY/NJ to look at schools spring break. Help! Any of you west coasters, I’d really appreciate hearing about some match or good safety schools for her (3.5/projected mid 20s ACT). </p>
<p>She’s solid on majoring in theatre, so we’ll look at the schools from the theatre thread - probably UCLA, USC, maybe CalArts - in the BFA line, but we’re also needing the good schools for BA in theatre that she can feel confident getting into. The theatre thread lists Chapman, UC Irvine, etc.</p>
<p>I think we’ll go to the LA area, unless someone has a better idea …</p>
<p>I’ll post this on the theatre thread, too, but my request from you all is from the B+ perspective.</p>
<p>emmybet you may know this, but if you click on the 12-part archived thread at the top of the theater forum, Part 8 has a list of BFA schools, by state. Old as it is it’s surprisingly complete, and that might be a good place to start. (And the MT forum has the great list of MT BFA’s at the top).</p>
<p>I too am very interested in B+ thoughts for theater students…especially non-auditioned safeties. Theater forum hasn’t been great at that and if anyone here has any good ideas (esp. in the east, for us) I’d love to hear about them.</p>
<p>Yes, this is exactly the advice I’m hoping for, thank you. We can get the theater-focused information, but I’m so unfamiliar with the other college info in that area. Most schools have a theater major, and we can look at the characteristics and find students to talk to about them, it’s just knowing where to look at all! And especially there’s the filter of the B+/only OK scores that we need to deal with. In addition, from starting to look at it, I see that the OOS tuitions for CA publics is basically equal to any private tuition (and who knows where it will go in the next few years), so using publics as safeties doesn’t give you the financial bonus it does in other states. And there’s a jillion of them out there. </p>
<p>I think there’s a high likelihood that she would choose a good non-auditioned BA in theater over a BFA at a school that doesn’t give the “full” college experience (eg a conservatory or one where they mostly do the business/education/health care career track). So if she falls in love with CA she’s going to need some nice schools she can get into, as well as the hot theater programs. I’m hoping we can visit at least one regular BA program and drive by a couple more, to make the trip worth it.</p>
<p>I can understand the lure of LA during the Winter.
Pepperdine is in Malibu, where many movie stars live on the ocean. I have heard that CA schools are expesnive OOS and, with the state’s issues, doubt that will go down or that aid will be much.</p>
<p>You might want to stay in Santa Monica, which is close to the airport, has some fun things to do and might be cheaper than downtown hotels (Doubletree Suites is there).</p>
<p>Her thoughts on vibe and fit will be interesting. </p>
<p>I know this throws a wrench in your careful plan. Hang in there! If she does not like them, at least you get an interesting trip out of it!</p>
<p>San Diego is not far, but I do not know if UCSD is an option.</p>
<p>Thanks, yabe. As for my “careful plan,” I have learned with this child never to have any real expectations! She’s a dreamer, and our task has always been to help her figure out how to make at least some of the million dreams a possibility. I certainly don’t mind a trip to CA, and from WI it’s about the same cost as to NY, so I’m cool with it. I just feel a little out of my element, since I’m so familiar with the East coast. </p>
<p>Thanks for the travel tips. Luckily I have a friend who teaches at UCLA and know other people familiar with CA, so I’m not feeling completely blind! But I really don’t know the schools at all. I know the CCers will help me!</p>
<p>Occidental’s website looked great, and I perused Pitzer as well. We’ll see what she comes up with, too. I think it will be greatly educational to go out there. Or maybe she’ll switch gears on me again! It’s OK - she knows when to settle into a plan, isn’t a flake so much as a broad thinker … and it’s her life, anyway.</p>
<p>Gwen - I see you’re from MA, so maybe none of this is news to you, but I will share with you our BA ideas for theater majors, on the east coast. All are possible for B+ students, although some are reachier than others:</p>
<p>Bard College
Skidmore College
Sarah Lawrence College
SUNY New Paltz (I think auditioned, but maybe not as tight as others)
Drew University
Muhlenberg College
Manhattanville College
Wheaton College
Clark University (not known for theater, but it has a dept and is a great school without having to kill to get into)
Northeastern University - haven’t looked fully into this, but worth checking</p>
<p>My D wasn’t excited by the 5 colleges near Amherst, but they’re worth looking at. She found Hampshire too loose for her taste, but could see why the right people really love it. It was a great test of just how artsy/off-beat she is. She realized she wanted more of a regular college. </p>
<p>Thankyou, Emmybet! I hope you get some good responses for the West. People talk about Cornish (in WA?) but I don’t know anything about that region…your friend at UCLA should be able to help–people think the world of that program.</p>
<p>Yeah, 'cept she’s a scientist. But at least she’s a local and can give us some tips about dealing with the University. </p>
<p>My D has always been interested in the Northwest, too, even Canada. The world has always been a smorgasbord for her … until it’s time to do the grunt work. Unfortunately I’m the type who will take on a project and run with it, and I’ve had to learn to hold back. Not only is it good for her to make things happen (she begs me to let her do this herself), but so often it turns out something she says in passing is simply yesterday’s news. </p>
<p>I will say that she’s getting herself very organized for a good second semester. First went pretty well, but she saw where she got caught up in some time management problems and distracted by social stuff. One reason why she needs some college visits right now is they help her set a bar for herself - she’s tickled when she finds out she’s on track with her grades and activities, and she’s motivated when a school she likes says “we’d like this or that.” It’s so much better than Mom or Dad telling her what she should be doing.</p>
<p>Yes, I’ve noticed too that the best motivation comes from outside-- and I can understand it too. I do know several graduates of UC San Diego-- who clearly got some great training there. Doing research on theater schools is SO frustrating-- websites only tell so much, one really almost HAS to visit, or at least get direct info from people who know. (theater board is not as forthcoming as it might be, alas) If your D has contacts in community theater there, that might be a good place to start looking for info…</p>
<p>People have been recommending Hofstra, Adelphi and Temple for theatre; what do you all think about them in terms of academics, student life, general vibe? Not sure if anyone here has someone applying or going. From what I read there’s a “suitcase school” rep for Hofstra and Adelphi, and maybe kind of too full of locals? For a big school, Temple looks kind of nice.</p>
<p>My daughter’s friend goes to Adelphi and she does say that the campus empties out on weekends. (She goes home too, but would probably stay if there were more activity.)</p>
<p>debrockman… I had to chuckle when I read your post:-)) My S is so similar, except"XBOX is WAY more fun" change to " hiking, mountaineering, backpacking, climbing, is WAY more fun". My S will likely be NM… 2000 on SAT’s in 8th grade. Sadly he is a B+ student at best. Can get B’s without ANY studying so “why should I study harder??” It is frustrating… and I should say puzzling, as to why he doesn’t get A’s, especially when I see kids in his class who are not as bright but getting on honor role every semester. I do think he is a GREAT kid and wouldn’t want to change him, but come college admission time it is going to be slim pickens I think. It’s sad that colleges can’t see what a great balanced kid he is and choose the highly stressed, no life kids at his school over him. ALL of his teacher’s absolutely love him and love having him in class because he is there for the right reason… to LEARN, grades are secondary. Teacher’s always LOVE this type of kid. I’m hoping for great LOR’s to maybe shed some light to his applications:))</p>
<p>You are on the right thread! We are all about colleges that see the real kid beyond the numbers! Congrats on a happy, well-rounded person. I’ve had one that got all of the grades, scores and awards. Guess where they are? In the closet. I’m much prouder of my kids in terms of maturity, compassion, dedication, and just plain fun. You’ll get there - there are lots of wonderful, exciting, even prestigious schools for your son and all of our kids!</p>
<p>Thanks EmmyBet for the post!! I think I have found my people. My S is only a Sophmore so he still has a way to go but I’m not seeing him deviate too far from his stats now. Maybe a few AP’s in the next few years will help his GPA a little. I think he will end up getting B’s in AP’s as well. I’m only letting him take a few because I worry he will get overwhelmed with the amount of studying and it will lead to a collapse. Don’t need that Junior year. </p>
<p>Anyway, I’m from San Diego. There are some great schools here in the Southwest!! My S won’t even look at any schools in CA so I will pass on what I’ve heard at my S school. Pitzer looks great for a B+ student. You also have the opportunity to take classes at the 5 other schools in the cluster. The kids coming LOVE it there. Pomona is there too but VERY selective. Also look at Occidental, Pepperdine, University of S.D., UCSC, and University of Redlands.( although this is somewhat of a suitcase school.) All of these schools are great options for B+ kids. Let me know if you need any advice about your Socal visit.</p>
<p>About the AP route - my D is likely to get a B in any class for a variety of reasons: boring kids, weird relationship with teacher, being sick/distracted/whatever. So my feeling is that she might as well take the AP and get the B. She’ll be less bored, and have a weighted grade and a better transcript. She sometimes gets a confidence hit because she ends up in the middle of the pack and of course the studing and test anxiety is a little rough sometimes, but on the other hand she HATES being at the top of a dumb class! Unfortunately all of these strong opinions and emotions run very close to the surface with her, so she’s not beloved by teachers - except when they get her, they really GET her, and she’s had some wonderful relationships.</p>
<p>I’m pleased when she says she’s going to take the challenging classes. I’ve always been a little nervous that the day will come when she’ll pigeonhole herself as a “non-achiever,” but she’s always kept on truckin’.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the CA info! I know you guys over there get a little ignored sometimes, and it’s great to hear from you.</p>
<p>I will concur about Redlands being a tad of a suitcase school. A friend of ours son went there and has had a very difficult time because the campus empties on the weekend and there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of public transportation. Being from the midwest, he has neither a home to go to closeby or a car on campus. I believe he is set to transfer for next year.</p>
<p>mom2009… Haven’t heard a lot about Chapman other than it is a school for kids interested in theatre and film. There a few kids from my S’s school that have gone there but haven’t heard much back. It is in Orange County, a place that the kids seem to like tough. I think it is pretty easy to get into.</p>
<p>LOL. My kid also gets a B+ or an A-, regardless…make the class really tough or a piece of cake. It doesn’t matter. He will find the path to the respectable, but not punishing performance (eye roll here).</p>