The List: Version 1

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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<p>Hi all, I'm back with the initial list of schools for my daughter. Brief background: average student, terrible standardized test taker, 504 for her ADD and math deficits. It took forever for her to "find" her place after being in her very academically gifted older sister's shadow. Finally, in freshman year of HS, she discovered theatre. (not that I hadn't been pushing it all along, but ....what does a mom know?) By the end of this upcoming senior year, she will have been a part of 18 shows. Most of them with her high school and some with our local (and actually pretty good) community theatre. </p>

<p>She is totally going the technical route. She did dabble a bit with performance early on, but quickly decided that behind the scenes is much more to her liking. She is leaning heavily toward stage management (somehow she manages to stay organized when doing a show despite her ADD), but she also has enjoyed lighting and sound. There is absolutely nothing else she wants to do besides theatre, thus she is wanting to go the BFA route and would love to find a conservatory or as close to a conservatory type school as possible. </p>

<p>We live in Georgia, but she is most definitely open to being outside the south. I know that merit aid will probably not be something she gets much of with only a 3.3-ish unweighted GPA. I'm a single mom (elementary teacher) with one income, so need based aid will be extremely important. Since she doesn't qualify for the highest level of HOPE and since Georgia isn't exactly the mecca for theatre schools, she only has a couple on her list-mostly safeties. </p>

<p>One final note, our family LOVES Disney. This will be an important fact with one of the colleges. My older daughter is finishing up the Disney College Program for the first time. I intend to retire from teaching, move to the Orlando area and work for the Mouse in retirement. The older daughter will finish up her college, do another program, hopefully get a Professional Internship and then go full time with the company. My theatre daughter is also very interested in pursuing avenues with them at some point down the line. </p>

<p>Now, on to the list. If you see anything we need to change or know anything we need to add, please let me know. Thank you all again for your help in this overwhelming matter!</p>

<p>In State:
Columbus State University (actually has a pretty good theatre program for this area)
Valdosta State University (the only non audition BFA on the list)
University of West GA (a total safety, commute, BA only...does NOT want to go here!)</p>

<p>Everywhere else:
UNCSA
Western Carolina (has a very good friend in the MT program now)
University of Central Florida (yes, this is the Disney connection)
Coastal Carolina
Point Park
University of the Arts
Webster
Evansville
Shenandoah
Virginia Commonwealth</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your input!</p>

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<p>Looks like a good list overall. I teach at JMU in VA, and am very familiar with VA schools. Shenandoah and VCU are likely very good fits for what your daughter is looking for… great schools…although very different. You may also want to look at Longwood in VA… maybe also UNCG in NC… not sure of the # of academic requirements there, though.</p>

<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>

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<p>Thanks. I’ll look at both of the schools you mentioned, KatMT. We’ve spent a lot of time pulling the suggested courses for each school. A lot of the schools we originally thought she might like got pulled from the list because of that. I appreciate your help.</p>

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<p>And I hope you are putting together a portfolio of your daughter’s technical work, including any prompt books from her stage managing work, so that you can show schools.</p>

<p>(I have severe ADD too, but like your daughter I can stay organizaed when directing or stage managing. One show where I was doing props prompted the other techies to say to me “We think you are Felix” (from “The Odd Couple”). I had to say, “If you saw my office or my apartment you wouldn’t think I was Felix!!!”)</p>

<p>KEVP</p>

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<p>If she is open to out of state, look at Cal State Fullerton. Their theatre department is quite good, and a number of students work for the Mouse on the Left Coast. Could work out and transfer to WDW after college.</p>

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<p>Yes, we have her portfolio but will be working on it more before she interviews. She has two prompt books right now and is stage managing Seussical with the local community theatre now. Her high school director doesn’t really let the kids “design” anything, though. He tells them what he wants and they do it. Really not much “design” at all, but she does have her scripts with lighting and/or sound written in them. </p>

<p>I’ll mention Cal State Fullerton to her. I’m not sure if she wants to go to California, but I’ll ask. She has made initial contact with all of the schools on the list, and I have to say that VCU has sent her quite a few emails with a lot of good information. I’m impressed with the level of interaction. Plus, our own Columbus State has been very helpful. I realize it is technically summer break, so we didn’t expect much communication, but I’ve been pleased with what she has received thus far.</p>

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<p>You might want to consider adding a couple of more reaches to your list that still fit your financial requriements given that technical applicants don’t face the same competitive landscape as the acting kids. Purchase and Rutgers are two schools we visited that appeared to have great technical programs that might be affordable. Purchase in particular has an out of state price tag that is not much different than what Rutgers would cost us an in state.</p>

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<p>ActingDad, I haven’t looked at either school, but I will now. Thanks for the suggestion.</p>

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<p>By the way, UGADog99, my son received an Artist’s Grant at UArts with a considerably lower GPA than your daughter’s.</p>

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<p>StageMum, did (does) your son like UArts? At this moment, my daughter would put Point Park at the very top of her list, but I want to make sure we are exploring all the options. </p>

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

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<p>UGADog - My son is entering UArts as a Freshman this year. It wasn’t his top choice, by a long shot, but we’re satisfied that it is the best fit we could hope for, and he’s excited about it. We like everything we’ve seen so far. They seem to have a great, collaborative, creative community, and to be deeply invested in the Philadelphia arts scene. Philly is much more affordable than NYC, LA, or even Boston, and so struggling young artists can survive there. I never visited Point Park, but I know that the Merriam Theatre is a magnificent landmark which UArts students have the opportunity to work in. I think that tech students have opportunities beyond the annual UArts student productions at the Merriam (UArts owns it, but leases it out to traveling productions for most of the year). There are some other, excellent repertory theaters in the Philly area, where students are able to work as interns or apprentices. I don’t know much about the caliber of UArts’s tech faculty and instruction, but I have to assume that they can draw from strong resources in visual arts and other media design programs.</p>

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<p>You might also think about Florida State. Grads are very active in florida. I don’t know much about the tech side of the BFA program but tuition is probably very reasonable and if you plan to move to FL then instate tuition is verry cheap. Also, as a back-up plan, Florida State College at Jacksonville has a very comprehensive theater program (used to be a community college) and many students use it as a jumping off spot to get into UCF or FSU by completing those pesky gen ed requirements.</p>

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<p>Thanks, abtsmom. FSU would definitely be a consideration, but their tech program is BA not BFA. We’ve looked at their required courses, and it is more general academic than she wants. I haven’t heard of Florda State College, but I’ll look into it. Thanks!</p>

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<p>I’m a rising sophomore Acting major at UArts, if you have any questions about the program! Stagemum is correct with mostly everything she is saying about the school, program, city, etc. One thing to point out though is that under most circumstances, students are not allowed to work professionally during the school year, until senior year. You can do whatever you want during school breaks, but that is it. Their reasoning behind that is that you will be too busy during the school year anyways, and someone who hasn’t gone through the program might not represent the school as well as they should (seeing as they haven’t finished the training). But you will be working a LOT during the school year inside the school itself, with the school’s productions, student-run production and companies, directing students, etc. It all depends on how much you push yourself to work, I have one friend who I believed worked on 6 shows (I’m guessing with that number) just last semester as a second semester freshman.</p>

<p>While I know there are probably other “better” or more selective programs than UArts, I can definitely say they produce working theatre artists. One stage management major I worked with this year started working with a professional opera company I believe just 3 days after graduation. I personally haven’t done the research on the technical theatre side with colleges, but from what I can tell we seem to have a very good program. One plus is that you can specialize your “DPP” major (Directing, Playwriting, and Production) with a lot of the classes you want to take, and can take Lighting, Sound, Directing, etc classes. If you are interested in them, I think the only problem you might have taking them is making sure you can fit them into your busy schedule.</p>

<p>If you have any questions, I’d love to try to answer them for you, or ask some of my stage management friends for you!</p>

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<p>theatreguy - I’ve wondered about the restrictions on working outside of UArts. I presume they do not apply to summer internships. What about short-term opportunities, such as appearing as an extra in a film (provided there is no conflict with obligations at school), or participating in a reading somewhere? I’m sure we’ll get answers in August, but I thought some prospective students might also be interested in the policy.</p>

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<p>ugadog99, i thought I’d mention that UCF has rolling admissions so its best to apply early if your d is thinking of going there. I think the last 2 years, they have notified hs guidance counselors that they stopped considering applicants in early/mid October. (They then consider those that applied after that date when students decline once FSU sends out their first wave of acceptances at Thanksgiving). Last year the academic application was posted on July 1 which is right around the corner. I think they might have an academic application separate from theater application.</p>

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<p>Wow, thanks so much abtsmom. I didn’t know that information. We will actually be in WDW when the apps go up, but as soon as we return she will get going on it. I had no idea that October might be a deadline for UCF. Thanks so much!</p>

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<p>Hi, ugadog99 - First of all, I want to say that you’re doing a really good job. This is a long and challenging road for anyone, with or without a LD, and your daughter is lucky to have you in her corner.</p>

<p>I agree with one of the other posters that you might consider adding some more reach schools to your list. I wasn’t able to go through all your posts to find out if she had any standardized test results yet, but if they are respectable that will help. And, at the risk of repeating something if it’s already been said elsewhere, and as the mom of a very bright girl w/ADD, do take the steps to get her extra time of these tests, if you haven’t already done so.</p>

<p>Best,
Lucy</p>

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<p>I want to thank everyone for all the help and suggestions. We are taking it all in and trying to make decisions on where to apply. I know we need to narrow the list some, and that is our objective right now. </p>

<p>My daughter spent time talking to her friend who is at Western Carolina. Our biggest obstacle with that one is just location. Cullowhee is beautiful, but my daughter isn’t exactly the outdoorsy, nature girl. She would be much better suited in a more urban area. Additionally, Western doesn’t offer a BFA in anything technical. It’s a BA in Stage and Screen. Coupled with the fact that they don’t do as many shows as most of her other choices, I think Western may be off the list. It makes me sad, but I understand, too. </p>

<p>University of the Arts is sliding off the list, too. The COA is just so incredibly high that I’m not sure it’s possible at all. </p>

<p>OneToughMommy, she took the ACT in June and is awaiting scores. This first go round we went without mentioning her 504. I wanted to see what she could score on her on with no changes. I do have a strong feeling that will be making changes for the next testing, though. </p>

<p>Thanks again to everyone. I did start another thread about possible reach schools. I wasn’t sure how many people would come back and read this one, so I thought a new one would be okay.</p>

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<p>Stagemum - Summer internships are perfectly fine! I’m actually doing an internship this summer with a talent agency in Chicago, and the faculty completely support that. As for being an extra or being in a reading…if it takes place during the time school is in session, you really “should” get it cleared by the faculty, just to be safe. But I’d imagine if it’s just a quick little thing, they will probably approve it. You just wouldn’t want the faculty to somehow find out and think you were trying to “get away with it”. But there are lots of student films and student written works (with readings/workshops/etc) that are encouraged, and you don’t need permission to do those. I did a short film (and actually got called back for 4 others short films, but couldn’t do them for various reasons) with Temple University last year, and as long as it doesn’t create any conflicts with your commitment to your classwork you are definitely allowed to do it. I didn’t even have to fill out the formal paperwork, but I went and verbally checked it with some members of the faculty just to be safe. They had no problem with it.</p>

<p>ugadog - If COA is the only thing holding you back from UArts, I would still encourage you to apply/audition. I don’t think I know a single person who doesn’t get some sort of scholarship from them. And there is some connection in the arts with LD’s, and they support that a lot. I don’t know if that makes sense, but I remember the admissions people talking about how having an LD is taken into account, and will not hold you back on your admissions/financial aid/scholarships.</p>