Theatre/Drama Colleges Part 8

<p>I go to the Theatre School @ DePaul (I'm on this site because I'm transferring to a prelaw program because I'm just not passionate about theatre anymore, through no fault of The School) and here's what I have to say about the cut. Generally 15 people drop out (the required 22 credits/quarter can take its toll), 5 people are idiot slackers and everyone sees it coming for them which leaves 6 that are more surprising. If you work hard, take risks, show up to class and take Crew seriously you'll be okay.</p>

<p>The location in Lincoln Park is amazing. The Purple, Red and Brown lines stop right by the freshman dorms and Steppenwolf is one stop away. We get great theatre discounts because our alumni work on just about every production in the city. The neighborhood is well lit and Campus Safety is amazing.</p>

<p>Theatre School teachers are brilliant, well connected and genuinely on your side. DePaul LAS teachers can be another story. Some are great, others are idiots. There is an idea among LAS profs that Theatre School students have an attitude and don't take non-theatre classes seriously so they don't take us seriously. For Quantitative Reasoning and Comp and Rhet you're in a section that is only theatre kids and the prof doesn't really hide the fact that he absolutely hates teaching you.</p>

<p>A lot of people come here with reservations about it being a Catholic school. If you choose to be part of a Catholic community there is a great one here but if you don't, especially at TTS, you won't even notice it.</p>

<p>As for the building, The Theatre School building has character. The oldest part was built around the turn of the last century and added onto numerous times in ways that don't really make sense, so you have to go upstairs and downstairs and upstairs again to get anywhere, don't ever really expect to know where you are but the building is safe wioth awesome design studios and movement rooms. Don't let the building be a turn off.</p>

<p>Are there any current students, alumni or parents thereof who can give their opinions/experiences with this program? Or anybody who has visited/evaluated it? It looks good on paper, but I hardly ever see it mentioned here. </p>

<p>Thank you,</p>

<p>MWparent</p>

<p>The Guthrie is certainly quite reputable and well thought of. The association with the univeristy is not a strong and mature one, but there is a relationship there.
I had a student get accepted last year but she chose USC. I do remember that there had been a change in faculty/administration that year and that gave my student pause. But who knows what has happened since then. That's all I know.</p>

<p>Sorting Out Talent and School Selection Strategy:</p>

<p>I've been lurking on the CC forums for Theater and MT during the summer and have read just tons of posts. What a fabulous resource!! </p>

<p>My S is a junior in a public high school. He has decided he wants to major in Theater/Acting at a college in the Northeast or Midwest. We live in S. Calif (very close to Idyllwild Arts Academy). His performance experience is limited to high school productions. </p>

<p>At this point, my challenge in researching potential schools for him to look at is that I am clueless as to the type of schools we should be considering based on his experience and "talent". I don't think he's top-tier material, yet wonder if he should pursue audition-based programs at all, versus a good liberal arts school with a theater program. </p>

<p>In several weeks I'll be meeting with his drama teacher to discuss my S's college direction and to get some feedback on his talent. Have also thought of sending him to a good summer pre-college program to expose him to the talent pool out there, to get feedback, and to immerse him in the intensity of a BFA program. </p>

<p>Some of the schools that look interesting early on include:</p>

<p>Butler Univ.
Drew Univ.
Goucher College
Ithaca College
Muhlenberg College
Wesleyan Univ.
Univ. of Evansville </p>

<p>Some of these may be unrealistic as well, but I just don't know. Any recommendations for how to proceed would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Acting is a very funny profession because until you actually start getting parts, you're basically stuck having to pay people to listen to you recite lines and rehearse scenes, etc., etc.. I would say, unless S is at the point where he has an agent and needs to stay close to home in order to keep his hand in the industry, there's no reason to pay all that tuition for just acting lessons. A good LAC will offer all kinds of experience in the theater AND a well-rounded academic experience which will come in handy no matter what he does for a living.</p>

<p>does anyone have an opinion about Pace?</p>

<p>johnwesley:</p>

<p>Thanks for your perspective. As you can see from our tentative list, my S does have an affinity for the small-medium sized LAC's. As parents, we also are preaching the "back-up plan" for our S in case his pursuit of acting/theater doesn't put food on the table. For that reason, we've suggested the four-year college route as opposed non-collegiate options.</p>

<p>Check out these very strong BA programs in acting</p>

<p>Indiana
UNC
Cal State Fullerton
U Alabama
Arizona State
U of Nebraska
UC Irvine
Fordham
C of Charleston
Kenyon
Catholic U
Brandeis </p>

<p>Good luck!
xxx,Mary Anna</p>

<p>P.S I can give you an additional list if your SAT and GPA are superior</p>

<p>Mary Anna:</p>

<p>Thanks for those recommendations. The SAT/GPA situation is not at the superior level. In fact after visiting Kenyon last April, we definitely got the impression that it was more academic than the stats revealed and probably not a good fit for either of our S's. On-the-otherhand, if I were 18 again I'd apply there in a heartbeat!!</p>

<p>Northwestern has sent me a bunch of information but I'd like an outside opinion. I have heard that their program has declined over the years. BFA or BA?</p>

<p>Any school who requires you gain admission to the University BEFORE considering you for the BFA program is going to compromise the artistic quality of thier students. Especially when the academic standard is that of Northwestern.</p>

<p>Northwestern is a BA program.</p>

<p>Does anyone know of some BFA schools where you can transfer from another BFA school after freshman year and graduate on time without losing your class standing? I have NYU and Emerson so far. Any others?</p>

<p>Yes, Northwestern is a BA. Sorry</p>

<p>It is extremely difficult to transfer into a BFA program without loosing your status. Most reputable programs want to start you at the beginning. Not to mention, you are applying for limited number of slots left only by attrition.</p>

<p>Hi, I'm a first year acting major at DePaul and I absolutly love it. The program here is amazing and I really hope that I make the cut (from 52 to 26). I do, however want to be prepared in case I don't. I was wondering what schools I should look into applying to again for next year and what factors they will look into.</p>

<p>I really don't know how they will judge my academic records because I only have 2 class that get grades that aren't "R". Will they take my high school grades (3.8, 27)? Also does anyone know how credits transfer because at the end of the year I will have 66 credits here.</p>

<p>One last thing, how should I handle the auditions? Should I tell the other schools that I love the one I'm at and that I will only transfer if I get cut...will they even want me if I get cut here? </p>

<p>I don't want to loose a year doing nothing and from the time I have been here I know that acting is what I want to do forever, nothing else. I love it and would appreciate any advice that I can get...Thanks!!!</p>

<p>take your post to the musical theatre thread. There are most experts over there who can help you. You are asking difficult questions.
Good luck,
xxx,Mary Anna</p>

<p>We are in the midst of the college selection / application process. We live in Northern CA, and at this point my daughter is applying to theater programs on the East Coast and Northwest, but I am suggesting she apply to a California school or two. With Her grades and SAT scores she will probably not qualify for UCLA or the USC program. We have heard good things about the theater program at UC Santa Cruz. She is applying to mainly private schools - Emerson, BU, Fordham etc and it would be nice to have a low cost alternative just in case. Has anyone out there heard much about the theater program at UC Santa Cruz?</p>

<p>What about Mary Anna's recommendation in post #148?? There she listed a few West Coast schools.</p>

<p>If she would call USA and UCLA a reach, then probably UC Irvine would be also. </p>

<p>UC Santa Cruz is a logical place. It has the lightest academic load of the UC system schools and has an ok theatre department.</p>

<p>Look into the Cal State system. Fullerton and Northridge are excellent.
Also, Occidential, and Cal Arts are superior.</p>

<p>Good luck,
xxx,Mary Anna</p>

<p>Hello! I wouldn't mind a light academic program ;) but I had a meeting with my college counselor today and she suggested I look into: </p>

<p>LMU
Chapman
Sonoma State
University of Redlands
Gonzaga University
Seattle University
Hofstra University</p>

<p>as my likelys. I'm thinking about LMU as a definite addition to my applications because I've heard many wonderful things about the theater program. I think it was even mentioned on this board as a "gem". What do you think about these schools for their theater department?</p>