<p>Where are you applying too? Where are you now? What's your plan?</p>
<p>I'm still getting together my list completely (big problems in life in oct-dec, so I'm quite a bit behind), but so far Otterbien, Carnegie, Hartt (if they accept my late petition), CSUF, and UCLA. The UCLA audition is two weeks from today, eep!
Right now I'm at Occidental College, which is a great school in general, but has pretty much no musical theater. We only do one musical production every two years, and we have some bare bones dance classes and voice lessons. I came because when I was a senior in h.s. I wanted to get a liberal arts education, and the school had (and still has) an old catalogue online that listed a musical theater class offered every semester that I thought would be great....sadly I arrived at the school to find out that that class no longer exists. =(
My plan right now is just get all my applications in and set up auditions. I think I'm finally done picking my songs (Left Behind from Spring Awakening and Many A New Day from Oklahoma) but I'm still going back and forth on some monologues. I'm also getting some headshots done by a friend on Tuesday. Ahhhh, I sound like such a hack, hahah.</p>
<p>letscrshtheparty....Admittedly, I know nothing about you, but I would say this to anyone.....your list is very very chancy the way it is now. Otterbein and Carnegie Mellon take very very few transfers into the BFA in MT. CMU is like a very long shot even if not a transfer applicant and so the chances as a transfer are like a lottery. I am not saying not to try but I would consider it an 'extra' on the list and not as a primary possibility. Hartt is a good one to try for transfer. UCLA...I don't know the transfer odds but the school/program is very hard to get into as a freshman and so it has to be even harder as a transfer and so it is a very chancy prospect....worth a try but definitely can't count on it. </p>
<p>Have you looked into BFA in MT programs at Pace, Point Park, Webster, Roosevelt, Shenandoah, UArts, Marymount Manhattan? </p>
<p>Also, since your school barely has MT, and if you don't get into a BFA......what about BA schools for MT? Did you look at Santa Clara? What about American? James Madison? Irvine? Wagner? These would balance your list (am not sure the application deadline for transfers....you'd have to check).</p>
<p>soozievt, thanks for the suggestions! I forgot to mention that I'm also applying to a few schools that are 'safety schools' for my GPA (state schools and such) that don't require auditions, and if I don't get into these reach schools I'm ok at my current school for one more year, and then I'll graduate early and apply for grad programs when I'm a bit more ready.
I have looked a bit into the BFA programs you mentioned, but everything is so overwhelming right now that I'm trying to focus on just a few schools. I did apply to Santa Clara as a freshman and was accepted, I didn't even think about it for transferring though. Do they have a strong MT program? Although I'm not sure I could afford to go there either (part of the reason I'm transferring is because of cost, and unless I'm going to a really kick butt school I don't think I can pay the same rate as Oxy). I also wanted to avoid commuter schools like Irvine.
Thanks again for your suggestions!</p>
<p>Oh, and one more question, do you know if any of the schools that have really good BFA programs accept people applying who already have a BA? I might be looking at the wrong list, but from what I have seen very few schools have MFA programs in musical theater, and I honestly don't care whether I earn a BFA or a MFA, I just want a good education and preparation for the professional world.</p>
<p>I personally would advise against getting a BFA after completing a BA... even if a school would consider accepting you. That is a lot of money to spend for a degree that is not needed. There are other ways to get that training. </p>
<p>If you choose to complete the BA you could apply to the MFA programs that interest you (you are correct that there are not many that offer MFA in MT), and/ or look at a two year conservatory program that offers musical theatre (ex. AMDA, Circle in the Square), and/or simply move to a city that has a lot of MT opportunities for training and take specific classes, voice lessons, etc....</p>
<p>I also have a former student who chose to further her MT training at the Royal Scottish Academy master program, and loved it. There are most likely also masters level training programs in MT in England. There is someone from england who posts on this site -- JIJane, I think -- she may be able to suggest some places to look. </p>
<p>Just my opinion :)</p>
<p>letscrsh...
Santa Clara would have more for you in terms of MT than Occidental. Santa Clara has a Theatre Major and a MT Minor. So, I feel it is a very good BA choice. They also stage musicals. The fact that you were able to be accepted before implies you have what it takes to get in.</p>
<p>I think it is really important to have the RIGHT list. You say you have safety state schools but I am not sure the point in transferring into them since they don't have more MT training than Oxy, right? Unless you don't like Oxy. I just think if you want a BFA, your BFA list is NOT balanced. Then, there are very good BA options for MT (you'd have to check deadlines) and I mentioned some of them. In these scenarios, you might get in either a BFA or a BA where you can concentrate on MT. Your current list seems like very slim odds of that happening, when I add in the transfer odds. I'm not even suggesting more schools but more appropriate ones when it comes to the odds. If you can't apply to a lot of schools, then pick ones with better odds. I feel that CMU, UCLA, and Otterbein (as a transfer) are very very low odds. You either need other ones to add or to sub. Have you looked at Chapman? It is not a degree in MT, but it is an audition-based BA and then after two years, you can audition into the BFA in Theater/Acting and they do have MT opportunities there and it isn't all straight theater stuff. Also, plenty of dance.</p>
<p>No, I have not heard of being able to enter a BFA degree program following earning a BA. I don't think that is possible. Even if it were, it doesn't seem like a wise thing to do. As Kat said, why would you pay for 8 years of schooling when that is not necessary (and you said cost is a factor)? Also, a BA and a BFA have overlap as undergraduate degrees. You can just earn one undergraduate degree. So, if you do a BA now, you could apply to MFAs but you are correct that very few MFAs are in MT and most are for Acting/Theater (though there are a few for MT). I agree with Kat that after your BA, you could do a two year program such as Circle in the Square Theater School (NYC) to train in MT. It is a certificate program and many in it have an undergraduate degree already. As well, you could go to NYC and take classes in voice, dance, and acting and train that way after college.</p>
<p>Just wanted to second Soozie's recommendation for UC-Irvine. We have several friends in the theatre program there who love it - and they are not commuters. Not sure about that assessment of it as a commuter school -? From what we've heard, their MT program is getting better and better. Several of their faculty members recently left UCLA's MT program to go to Irvine.</p>
<p>I also think if she is applying to Fullerton, I can't imagine not applying to Irvine. Irvine is even a more selective college overall and she could do MT there. I know someone who is very talented in MT who went to Irvine (since graduated).....entered at a young age as well (early graduate).</p>
<p>Thanks for all your feedback! I can't actually apply to Irvine because the UC application date has passed. I petitioned for late application to UCLA (and they gave me permission to audition, yay!), I'm not sure if I can do the same with Irvine, but I will look into it and call their admissions office.</p>
<p>Hey to all,</p>
<p>I think I am going to be weird this audition season and audition for half MT schools and have voice schools, just to give myself more options. The MT schools I have tentatively so far are: Point PArk (since it's like 10 mins from my house,) Ithaca, U Arts, and if possible, maybe another school. (like Hartt, but not sure.) I started off in voice at Tulane but I also took two acting classes which were loads of fun but good to get back in the groove of things! (hadn't been in acting since 9th grade--schedule was eh.) </p>
<p>Does this sound chancy too? haha,</p>
<p>Haha! It's funny, I had been thinking of transferring, and reading this topic just helped a lot with narrowing down my list. Goodbye, CMU...not like I'd get in, anyway.</p>
<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I heard UCLA being thrown back and forth on here, and just to let you know the theater major admission rate is 6.06% as stated on their transfer profile website. The UCLA theater major encompasses all concentrations though, so that statistic has MT, Acting, Directing, and Technical Theater applicants added together. Here is the website: UCLA</a> Undergrad Admissions: Profile of Admitted Transfer Students by Major, Fall 2005</p>
<p>Also, I attend Santa Clara University as a theater major, musical theatre minor. Not to bash my current school, BUT the musical theatre minor is NOT something I would recommend for anyone SERIOUS about this as a profession(MT). Santa Clara only offers ONE musical EVERY OTHER YEAR. Enough of that my head is hurting. </p>
<p>Graduate MT programs, as previously stated, are scarce. Here are some according to the Big List (<a href="http://www.geocities.com/musicaltheatercolleges/biglist.html):%5B/url%5D">http://www.geocities.com/musicaltheatercolleges/biglist.html):</a> </p>
<p>Arizona State University (MM)
Boston Conservatory (MM)
New York University: Steinhardt (MA Vocal Performance w/ MT concentration)
Oklahoma City University (MM)
San Diego State University (MFA)
University of Central Florida (MFA)
University of Montana (MM) </p>
<p>Note: The University of Nevada is also listed, but it offers a MFA in Performance, which has MT training, but not enough to merit critical preparation for the profession, IMO. </p>
<p>Anyways, you are probably wondering why I am even here now. Well, I am applying to NYU and the University of Michigan this year for transfer. I know these schools are competitive, but I have seen my fair share of rejection. So, no big if I don't get in. </p>
<p>I will most likely go to community college if I don't get into them. Save me some money! </p>
<p>oh and acsh, don't let what this site says dictate what schools you apply to!</p>
<p>good luck everyone!</p>
<p>Hey everyone. I need some help please. I went to a state school that I will not name this year as a theater major. I realized pretty quickly that it is not what I want at all. I finished the semester though and got good grades. For the spring semester I changed my major so I could just take a bunch of general ed with the hopes of transfering. My mom seems to think that this was a bad idea, and it will look bad that I am no longer a theater major. I thought this was the right thing to do, as my acting classes would not transfer.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Why change major? Most universities allow you to take classes outside the major - particularly core classes. That is, unless you are in a conservatory</p></li>
<li><p>Most universities won't care if you are a major or not. They will ask you to explain, and you can tell them the truth. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>letscrshtheparty I'm glad I "stalked" your threads. My D has applied to both Oxy and Santa Clara with on interest in musical theatre, albeit only a "recreational" one (at least if I have to pay for it!) Do either of these schools satisfy the musical theatre "hobbyist"?</p>
<p>Me again; This time I am responding to these two posts</p>
<p>Santa Clara would have more for you in terms of MT than Occidental. Santa Clara has a Theatre Major and a MT Minor. So, I feel it is a very good BA choice. They also stage musicals. The fact that you were able to be accepted before implies you have what it takes to get in.</p>
<p>and</p>
<p>I attend Santa Clara University as a theater major, musical theatre minor. Not to bash my current school, BUT the musical theatre minor is NOT something I would recommend for anyone SERIOUS about this as a profession(MT). Santa Clara only offers ONE musical EVERY OTHER YEAR. Enough of that my head is hurting. </p>
<p>as a mom who is quite naive about the musical theatre thing. Forgive me if I say something inappropriate. What if you (or the person paying the bills) is NOT so serious about musical theatre, but thinks its a wonderful avocation. Any comments about Santa Clara?</p>
<p>shrinkrap,
I would say Occidental would satisfy someone who is only doing it for fun, private and group voice lessons are available (I know private has an additional fee, I'm not sure about group) and if you don't mind spending extensive time scheduling each semester, you can fit in 2 days of beginning ballet, 2 days advanced, and two days jazz and tap, as well as some modern and other styles. My main problem with the dance classes is that sometimes it gets hard to take the classes you need for core and still take these classes. However, I am trying to take up to 6 days of dance since I am working toward getting en pointe in ballet. For someone who just wants to have fun, fitting in the classes a couple days a week shouldn't be too much of a problem.
In terms of performance, there is only one musical every two years, but there are a good number of vocal groups on campus (a men's and women's acapella group which are both really good and really fun) and then our 'world-famous' Glee Club. They went to Australia last year...I can't explain how jealous I am. Also, sometimes for senior comps musicals are put on, a senior directed The Last 5 Years two fall semesters ago. I was in the last musical in the spring, The Mikado, and it was alot of fun. We had a professional music director, and a fantastic accompanist. Most of the musicians in the orchestra were also professionals, but there were some students. They were also extremely talented too. Sorry for how long this post is, but I would say if your daughter is interested in it as a hobby, Oxy would provide enough for her, but if she wants it as a career, she might want to look elsewhere.</p>
<p>I PMed you Shrinkrap.</p>
<p>Got it, Thanks! Back atcha...</p>