<p>Well, I just heard back from Fordham...unfortunately, another rejection letter. I wish I had auditioned in person...anyway. I guess the wait list for Purchase is my only shot now. Now I just have to hope that people who got accepted got into another school they'd also like to go to...</p>
<p>I have an audition for Central Washington next week, but I don't know...just west coast...I'm so sick of Oregon, already. </p>
<p>I wish I had auditioned for more acting majors and less musical theatre, as I was really sick the week of my auditions. I just don't know what I'll do without theatre.</p>
<p>Granuaile, sorry Fordham didn't work out. You have more options than you think at this point. There are some great resources and very good info on these boards about acting/MT majors. My son too was rejected from most of his choices but still has a few good options at this point. Like many have said on CC, things turn out like they do for a reason. My son was so sick at Chicago unifieds but did not want to reschedule. Maybe it had nothing to do with the outcome in any event the rejections were disappointing. He had to get over it and within a few days he did.He has a completely different outlook and if anything, he is more determined and more passionate about training in this field.</p>
<p>Although it is not impossible, we are not counting on a spot to open up at Purchase. The odds are not strong. In all honesty, we are still hopeful but...Our plan B will soon become our Plan A. Should Purchase come through, great. If not, my son will be in a space well beyond where his "heart and mind" were several weeks ago. He is actually beginning to get more psyched for Plan B. </p>
<p>I would highly recommend going back to some of the Musical Theatre and Theatre threads that discuss various options if you are not accepted, and/or waitlisted or have limited choices. You can even search many of "Soozievt" posts. She posts tons of good info that is relevent to our situation.</p>
<p>Take a deep breath. Things will work out. You will have a plan.</p>
<p>ProudDadFL-- Well, my only options right now is that I was accepted to Ithaca and Penn State (York), both as an English major--and while I like English and all, I just don't think I like it enough to major in it. </p>
<p>Yes, I do believe things happen for a reason. I don't think I would have gotten a lead (not to mention a dream role) in my high school's musical this year if I hadn't faced so much rejection beforehand--and ended up growing so much just from that. I do believe you have to pay your dues--but, you know, the process of that is difficult. But I know in the end if I get there--it'll be so completely worth it, just as it always has been. </p>
<p>I don't have to go to the best school--or even a highly intensive program. I believe a program is what you make of it--and even the best theatre can become the worst if you don't want it enough. All I know is I want to act--and maybe Purchase sees my resume sorely lacking in straight plays, or even big roles in general--but acting really IS very new to me in experience, even though it doesn't feel like it. </p>
<p>Honestly...I don't know what I'm going to do. Thanks for the advice, I will definitely check out those threads. I think I was just so focused on getting apps and auditions done, I never let myself think about decisions. </p>
<p>If you don't mind me asking, what is your son's plan B?</p>
<p>From all I've learned about Purchase the past few years you should be quite flattered to have been wait listed if your background has been mostly musical theatre. You're still in a very elite percentile, as they audition a tremendous number of applicants[I know my daughter's year it was nearly 1000-and this is the biggest pool so far nationwide so probably for Purchase as well].<br>
I hope all students who had callbacks and/or were waitlisted realize that is very validating and they should not be discouraged.
I would like to mention to those who missed out on their first choices that there are options other than 4 yr colleges. Though the U.S. does not have a tradition of acting conservatories like England, there are a few. I myself went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NY-about 100yrs ago-and it is probably an even better school now, with very professional training. In fact now one can go on to a degree as they've collaborated with St. John's University downtown on a BA program. And they have rolling admissions.</p>
<p>I just found this site and joined the group but I have read all of your adventures from your previous posts. My s and i have been on the same journey for the past 7 mos. I wish I had found this earlier. he has narrowed down to three schools to which he was accepted for BFA acting- NCSA, BU and Ithaca. Any advice? The clock is ticking...</p>
<p>Very different schools, hampton. Have you visited all three? NCSA is pure conservatory: would he be happy surrounded only by other artists and not taking many liberal arts courses? Some kids thrive in that environment and some do not. On the other extreme is BU: a huge, comprehensive university in an urban environment. Ithaca is a tiny LAC with very well respected BFA programs which is NOT urban, though the town of Ithaca is nice, especially if you like a more crunchy granola vibe. :) I don't think your son will go wrong at any of those vis a vis training, so if I were in your shoes, I would make sure to visit (if I have not) and then weigh other factors, such as $$ (which program gave him the most merit money or financial aid), etc. etc.</p>
<p>Thanks NotMamaRose. We are visiting Ncsa this week. The others we briefly visited but didnt see any classes. It is my conclusion that he wouldnt get much academics at any of them because they are all conservatories. Ive heard that ithaca and Boston are more rigid and that Ithaca cuts you with little provocation. Got good money from Boston, less from Ithaca and havnt heard from NCSA, but it is cheaper to begin with. Reputation-wise, which is more highly thought of and which graduates do better or is that too hard to assess?</p>
<p>4Ever, an email is on its way! I was happy to hear from you.</p>
<p>hampton, at Ithaca, the kids DO have to take a pretty darned good amount of academics. I also do not believe that kids are cut at Ithaca in the sense that they are kicked out of the program. It is my understanding that (and I hope I have this right) sophomore year, kids at Ithaca have juries and those who pass those juries continue on in the BFA track and those who do not are routed into the BA track, which has more academics. They do this at Syracuse, as well. I think there also is an option at Boston where kids can move from acting to something called (and I am not sure if I am remembering correctly here) theater performance, which involves more playwriting, directing and liberal arts courses. I think it is difficult, if not impossible, to compare these programs as far as which grads are most successful. It's really more a matter of your kid's taste ... where he thinks he can feel the most at home and do his best work. A number of graduates of my D's arts high school have gone to NCSA and the few who have come back sto speak eemed to spend a lot of time complaining about how it's located in the middle of nowhere (guys, please don't jump on me ... just repeating what they said) and that the program did not spend much time preparing them for the business of the business. But that was only a few people's opinion. I am sure many other kids are happy there.</p>
<p>Hi. New member checkbookmom here. I have been reading this thread a while and I am really amazed at the insights! I have a question. My son is waitlisted at Purchase (I see another parent in the thread sharing that too!) and from his other acceptances likes Marymount Manhattan. They seem to have a fabulous under-the-radar BFA acting program. Any insights?</p>
<p>NotMamaRose: I'm curious - how do you differentiate between the cut at Depaul that bothers you and the ones at programs such as Ithaca and Syracuse that apparently do not? (I am going by what you said - I have no knowledge of those programs). Kids cut from the BFA at Depaul can also proceed into the BA program, which is what it sounds like the kids that don't pass their juries do at Ithaca and/or Sycracuse, etc. This is not meant to be argumentative - I truly am curious what the difference is.</p>
<p>DePaul actually accepts more kids than it plans to graduate, which to me, at least, is different from programs such as those at Ithaca or Syracuse. DePaul, unless they have changed their policy, accepts something like 52 freshmen and cuts that class in half routinely. (This is the first time, by the way, that I have heard that kids cut from the BFA can stay and pursue a BA, and I am truly glad to hear it, as I know two very very talented kids there right now and I would hate to think of them being out in the cold if they were cut, though I cannot imagine that happening. So thanks for telling me about that. It makes me feel better! :)) Ithaca accepts about 15 for MT and hopes to hang onto them all; Syracuse apparently accepts about 35 for MT (I don't know the acting numbers) and also hopes to hang onto them all. Neither school, to my knowledge, deliberately accepts twice as many kids as it plans to graduate in the BFA, so to my mind, that is the BIG difference. Please note that I have nothing but respect for the quality of training at DePaul and as long as those who enroll there are cognizant of the cuts before they go in, more power to them. It just wasn't what my own kid chose to do. She did get accepted at Ithaca and was waitlisted at Syracuse, but has chosen (for that and a number of other reasons) to enroll at NYU/Tisch, which has no cuts of any kind. (Yes, I recognize that there are no doubt kids who flunk out for various reasons. That's not what I am talking about.) Again, to me, the difference is that DePaul deliberately takes twice as many kids as they plan to graduate and then cuts half.</p>
<p>My daughter just finished her last audition at Marymount. She really liked the "vibe" and enjoyed the audition. She will not know if she is accepted for several days, but if she is accepted it will be her top choice. I would love to hear from current students (BA theatre performance or BFA), accepted students who have made MMC their final choice, or anyone with information about the acting program.</p>
<p>Hi Holly06. I posted a couple days ago on Marymount Manhattan too. My son has finally chosen it (pending SUNY) from several other acceptances.<br>
The factors we weighed were: is a conservatory a good fit or is a more liberal education (MMC) better for this particular person? (We decided on MMC's approach.) Are the profs working in the field (MMC yes); is the overall quality good? (Seems to be, but see my inquiry) and is the environment conducive to this kid's growth as an actor and as a person? Ultimately, we decided that MMC was the place. If he gets into SUNY off the wait-list, we will have to revisit it all.<br>
I hope the best for your daughter!
Anyone else out there have more info?</p>
<p>I wish I had info on Marymount and am glad to hear their program sounds promising as I often counsel these kids on where to apply and am anxious to broaden my knowledge of programs. I do however, know a girl who is just about to graduate from MMC in dance and her training and segue to the pro world have been excellent-has already been accepted into a dance company and had auditions for Bwy musicals. One would hope the theatre program is able to do equally well.</p>
<p>I couldn't agree more-you always hit the nail on the head! I am not bothered by cuts per se-in fact there can be very good reasons for it- it's the fact that they only take 26 students the second year. How can they make that number so inflexible? That's the problem right there-is there ever a class with 27 talented students? Or more? They have managed to sustain a very good reputation despite this forbidding policy but I would love to hear their justification.</p>
As a current DePaul theatre student, I would just like to clarify that DePaul does NOT offer a BA Acting major for kids who get cut. There are only BFAs at DePaul. However, you may pursue a BFA in Theatre Studies or another theatre department. But there is no BA in theatre at all at DePaul.</p>
<p>As a side note, it is getting progressively more difficult to get into DePaul. Apparently, the admissions office is trying to slowly rid themselves of the cut program and thus accepting less students every year. For the 2007-2008 school year, they accepted 52 and will cut 26. In 2008-2009 they are accepting 47 (not sure how many will get cut but it is less than 26 obviously).</p>