<p>I should say they are</p>
<p>Juilliard
Purchase
NCSA
Boston
Minnesota
CMU
Rutgers</p>
<p>OCU has recently upgraded their Theatre Department to a School of Theatre. The famed performing art school will now have the famous Wanda L. Bass School of Music which cranked out the likes of Kelli Ohara and Kristin Chenowith, the Anne Lacy School of Dance headed by the renowned Jo Rowan, and now the School of Theatre guided by D. Lance Marsh. It truly is a phenomenal school to study at. They have a new BFA Acting program with training that is truly unmatched, however they only accept 30 new students a year.</p>
<p>That's great news that OCU added a BFA in Acting program and thanks for letting others know about it. </p>
<p>I am curious how a "new" BFA Acting program has training that is "truly unmatched." I am sure the training is good but I don't get the claim that it is unmatched as it is new. There are many well established and reknown BFA in Acting programs and I am not sure I would call any of them "unmatched" training. But I would be even less apt to call an unproven program unmatched at the outset.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the curriculum for the degree program? Requiring over 230 hours of specific theatre training taught by professors from all over the world, professional actors, and with studios in New York, Los Angeles and Moscow... thats pretty unmatched to me. But to each their own opinion.</p>
<p>mdub, I am not doubting the quality of the acting program at OCU whatsoever. I don't see it as unmatched, however. </p>
<p>Many very well regarded programs have professional actors from all over. I know my daughter's program does at Tisch, for example (and I still would not say her program, which is more well established than OCU's, is unmatched). Studios in NY? Her program is made up of studios in NY, for example. These things are not unique to OCU's program. OCU likely has an excellent program. It is new. By virture of its newness, I don't see how one can claim it is unmatched. Even for well established programs with excellent reputations with a proven track record....I'm not sure I would claim those to be unmatched either. Right now, for those who are seeking BFA Acting programs, they should look into OCU. But you should know that when people discuss the top Acting programs in the country, at this point in time, OCU is not mentioned. It has yet to come to the forefront and it is nearly impossible for it to have done so as it is new. I venture to say that acting programs such as NCSA, Purchase, Julliard, Tisch, BU, CMU, etc. come to mine for acting before OCU, even though OCU may now be offering a high quality program. </p>
<p>In any case, I am glad you like your program and that OCU is now offering such a program for acting training.</p>
<p>any second tier suggestions that aren't so competitive to get into talent or grade wise?</p>
<p>Oh, I do not attend OCU, I am pursuing an MFA in Acting from Yale. The only reason I posted on OCU is because that is the undergraduate school that all my professors recommend and discuss. I wrote in response to the question to help the asker. If you think that your daughters program at NYU is better, than by all means think that. I however have a high respect for my professors opinions and guide my own by theirs.</p>
<p>I do not think, nor ever stated, that my daughter's program is "better." To the contrary, I mentioned that even more established programs would be hard pressed to say they are "unmatched." OCU's program is likely very good but it is hard to imagine any brand new program claiming to be unmatched. </p>
<p>I'd be the first to tell you, as well, that I do not have the opinion that my daughter's BFA Drama program is the "best" or even "better than" another. She happens to love it and that is all that matters to me in that regard. I was mentioning that some of the facets that you mentioned about OCU's BFA in Acting are not unique to that program and gave an example. </p>
<p>You're a grad student at Yale? I have my doubts. Where did you go to undergrad? Further, I do not think the MFA program at Yale would be waxing poetic about this one undergrad program that is brand new since it is not like they would have had students who have attended since the program is new. Why would your graduate school professors be recommending an undergrad program anyway? I am assuming you were born in 1989 and are an undergrad student at OCU. How do you know that OCU only accepts 30 new students per year? A grad professor isn't going to be imparting undergrad admissions stats to their grad students, in my opinion. </p>
<p>I think it is far better to espouse a program you know well and its positive aspects, without claiming it to be "unmatched."</p>
<p>hi, soozievt! I had to re-register to post, but here's what I can tell you after my D's 5 1/2 semesters at OCU in the MT program (and may I say that she would love to be with your D at CAP 21!).
Her year (class of 2010) was really selective in auditions (OCU was her 2nd choice for school and 1st choice for vocal training). I think that the classes before and after hers are larger.
She has had fabulous vocal training; the MT majors get the top voice profs along with the VP majors. Everybody else gets adjuncts, but most of them are good, too. MT majors also have the option of vocal coaching, which has been a wonderful support. A classical Jr recital is required before the MT senior recital; each student must pass a jury each semester as well. Eight semesters of voice AND 8 semesters of chorus are required for graduation. Students audition for ranked choirs; one is found for everyone in the program. I remember a post by Dr. Herendeen saying that OCU students can belt as well as sing lyrically, and that is pretty much true. I'm not sure what the BFA students are required to do vocally, but if vocal training is among your needs, by all means consider OCU. Of course, there's more to the program...
The dance department is serious: students (girls, anyway) must wear make-up to class! Students are leveled, though, so success is possible. Be aware that a letter is docked for absences, so if there's an audition or a funeral you want to attend, your transcript will pay. The exception is contageous illness with a doctor's note. Twelve classes are required for graduation in MT, so you will need to take 2 or 3 for several semesters. I would say that that's a good thing, except for the absence policy which makes it hard to audition out of town, if you have a Friday class. If you pick OCU, take 3 dance classes each semester your freshman year, when off-campus auditions are not so important to your future.
There are six required OMT acting classes (opera & music theatre). I think these are being phased out and that MT students in the future will take "regular" acting. That is a good thing, if it happens; the OMT classes are 2 hrs each, while the straight acting classes are 3 hrs. My D has taken two "regular" acting classes and has raved about them - she learned so much! On a campus visit (a 16-hr drive, so a rare occurance) I was able to sit in on a class taught by Lance Marsh, and I thought he was a wizard. I dunno about "unmatched," but he was certainly a great communicator and was able to take his kids to new places in their art. If he remains in charge of the BFA, I think it will be a fabulous program - maybe not "unmatched" but certainly "ranked."
A final note in this too-long post: My D's friends who were not accepted into the MT program and therefore "had" to settle for straight theatre or the BFA are very happy! They are able to opt for semesters at Disney or abroad, or other internships which are not available to MT's because of the insane requirements (91 hrs PLUS core!). They are also supported in off-campus auditions: Dr. H requires that students state a "possible" conflict on audition forms in case he wants to use them. When the OK Lyric auditioned for Footloose, not a single MT major was cast, but the BA or BFA kids were. As my D says, "everybody here is amazing," so the directors at OCU had plenty to choose from without the Footloose crowd. So - again I dunno about "unmatched," but the theatre department is certainly supportive, creative, innovative, etc., etc.
I think students who need more acting training would do well to audition while the program is still new and not as competitive as I think it will become pretty quickly. If I were giving my D advice for this year's freshman class, I think I would encourage her to be happier in the BFA program and maybe work on her singing on her own. Her voice professor is in fact "unmatched," (a small bit of humor - I'm sure that someone, somewhere is as good)and she wouldn't have him if she were a BFA candidate, but there's more to life and to the college experience than good singing.</p>
<p>S1 goes to Catawba in Salisbury NC. It's consistently in the top 10 theatre colleges on the Princeton Review, which is how we found out about it. Great acting and musical theatre program!</p>
<p>My daughter has applied to several BFA acting programs and is starting to get responses. At Julliard, which was her first choice, she made the first two cuts (putting her in a group of 7 out of 90) but not the third. At Purchase she made the cut to get to a group of 2 out of 15 and is waiting to hear. At this point Purchase would be her first choice. </p>
<p>She has just been accepted to University of the Arts and I think she is likely to be accepted to Emerson, Manhattan Marymount College ("MMC"), Muhlenberg and Pace. She has also been accepted to Hofstra but that was really a safe school. She also applied to NYU/Tisch but her SAT's might keep her out; plus, she really didn't feel comfortable there as it seemed too massive and they farm you out to the acting studios your first two years (apparently without giving you any input into the choice of which one).</p>
<p>I tried to read the incredibly long thread about acting schools but if I read the whole thing I will have to quit work, and then who willl pay for college? Also, from what I have seen it seems like the various reputations change with time, especially since most of the acting BFA programs are relatively new. One good reputation that I don't understand is BU; we visited the theatre school, such as it is, and were extremely unimpressed; it seems like an afterthought at that school.</p>
<p>She (and I) were impressed with the BFA acting program at MMC (which of course has the advantage of being in Manhattan) even though the school otherwise isn't much. We also liked Emerson (although have heard mixed reviews) and U/Arts. If she is choosing between those three, what do you think?</p>
<p>MK's Dad -- May I ask a couple of questions:</p>
<p>Why is Hofstra considered a "safe" school? Because it doesn't require an audition until the end of the freshman year?</p>
<p>Would you mind sharing your D's stats for comparision purposes? My son is a HS Junior and we are currently going through the "discovery" process and visiting the schools on your list (e.g. last week we saw Adelphi, Hofstra and LIU-C.W. Post. Next week we're visiting BU).</p>
<p>Do you mind sharing your/her impressions of the schools you mention? Thanks.</p>
<p>Mk'sDad,</p>
<p>I don't think anyone can tell you which school your D should choose. :) If she's visited all of them, compared the curricula, spoken to current students and profs, then she should have a good idea of what it would be like to attend. If she's fortunate enough to have the choice of several acceptances, and she hasn't done all those things I mentioned, then doing so might assist her in her choice. </p>
<p>I would like to comment on what you said about Tisch. Although it definitely isn't the school for every student, I wouldn't let a feeling that it's "too massive" influence your decision, unless, of course, you're talking about the college itself. If your D doesn't want a large college, then NYU obviously wouldn't fit but Tisch drama itself shouldn't be looked at as massive. Each studio breaks their entering class down into small classes of about 15-16. The studio system at Tisch can be one of its best features, but I suppose not everyone looks at it like that. My D never felt that she was being 'farmed out'! Best of luck to your D.</p>
<p>We just visited UCLA and it looked like very exciting. Princeton Review ranks the Film, Theater and Television school at UCLA first out of 500 nationally. MT is one of several "areas of interest." The others are acting, design/production, directing, general theater, playwriting, and teaching. It’s a BA program and UCLA’s academics are well respected, too. Obviously, there is a bias toward the film industry and if you or your S or D’s dream is to be on stage and nothing else, it’s probably not the right place. We thought it was a great department in a great school.</p>
<p>One word of advice for those just starting out on this journey, don't place too much importance on rankings for theatre programs. There are no official or definitive rankings of colleges which offer degrees in theatre. Each ranking uses a different set of criteria, and some of them are based on something as simple as student surveys. One ranking I have seen mentioned here on CC several times over the years that indicates a school is in a particular ranking for 'college theatre', on closer inspection actually was an opinion of the shows produced at the particular college. So, in other words, if more participants ranked a show great at that particular school than ranked a show great at another school, then the first school ranked higher. This is not a good way to go about finding the right school for your student. Read the rankings for a general overview of what schools offer theatre programs, but use it as a starting point in your research process, and not for much more.</p>
<p>MK'sDad said of NYU/Tisch "they farm you out to the acting studios your first two years (apparently without giving you any input into the choice of which one)."</p>
<p>Just wanted to ask what you mean by "they farm you out" to acting studios? The various studios (Meisner, Adler, Atlantic, ETW, Playwright's, etc.) ARE the actor training programs at Tisch. It's not as if the school sends you out to learn something at a lesser place for the first two years and then you come back to Tisch.</p>
<p>My D is a freshman at Tisch/CAP21 and doesn't feel "farmed out" in any way, shape or form. She absolutely loves the fact that she is training at a professional actor training program/MT program that works with the larger university to provide this training. </p>
<p>That said, I agree that NYU/Tisch is not, by any stretch of the imagination, for every student. Some students, especially college freshmen, might find the pace and bustle of New York (and the size!) overwhelming. But for the right student, it really is an amazing experience. My D cannot imagine being anywhere else.</p>
<p>ALWAYS A MOM: I agree, ranking systems are not necessarily meaningful. I didn't mean to highlight it so much. (It was a quick post.) Of course, nothing is necessarily meaningful. I could give you my impression of UCLA but I'm just one person and you don't even know me. And even the story of an student actually at the school is conditioned by the student. Here are a few OBJECTIVE comments. This is a BA degree but the school offers a professional curriculum. Students are admitted by the school through audition/interview so you have a chance at the school even if you don't have the kind of grades/test scores expected by the university. Actors have a chance to act in student plays AND films. Film, Theater and TV (FTTV) school has two theaters plus dozens of practice rooms and a huge shop as well as film and broadcasting facilities. The school maintains an industry database for internships.</p>
<p>Question: I was just reading some posts, and I don't understand why the schools cut people. You just pay all that money, and then to be cut. You are left without a degree and didn't get your 4 yrs of training. You get rejected all the time at auditions, but to me it wouldn't even be worth taking the chance at college. I wouldn't want to start all over at a new school. I do take chances all the time, but this time it's with money.</p>
<p>early_college-
I agree whole heartedly with you. While we all know that if you do not make the grades or keep up on the requirements, then you may be asked to leave no matter what your major is. When we were going through this with d, we were amazed at the schools that did a large cut after a year or two! This issue was d's deciding factor on where she chose to go.</p>
<p>I know notfromme. I think it's ridiculus. I hope your daughter is happy with her decision.</p>