<p>I am a freshman theatre major at Loyola Marymount University, in Los Angeles. I love the beautiful campus, the religious aspect (I'm in the church choir), the friends I've made, my roommate/RA/dorm mates, and the classes are definitely teaching me a lot. However, I was under the impression it would be much easier to form my own major. The program is stricly acting, not musical theatre as I love, but I figured I could take dance classes and vocal lessons as electives. Because I was given work study, I have to work a certain number of hours a week so I can have money for shampoo, groceries, etc. I have been unable to take the classes I'd like relating to musical theatre, and besides, the music program (although very good), is strictly classical. There is only one musical every other year, and this year I audtioned and was not cast. It ended up being almost entirely the cast from their previous musical two year ago.
I came to college with a rather long list of training and a pretty impressive resume for a 17 year old. I've repeatedly gotten leading and supporting roles in youth, community, high school, and semi-professional theatres, and I've had the amazing experience of performing with two professional companies near my house. I have been dancing since I was three (specializing in tap) and taking voice lessons since I was nine. Musical theatre is my life and I absolutely love every moment of it. I auditioned for difficult programs as a senior last year (UMichigan, UCLA, Carnegie Mellon, Syracuse, NYU, and others) and did not get accepted to a single one. I know that they are extremely difficult programs to be in but I was truly heartbroken that
I would not get to study my passion in college. I would like to try and transfer as either a sophomore or junior but I would like advice, comments, and opinions from the amazing CC community that has had similar experiences. I know there are many people who only get into a program after they audition a second or a third time, so I hope I have a chance.
I want to transfer ASAP, but I know most programs are junior transfer only.
I am thinking about UCLA, Elon University, and Syracuse at this point. Are there any other programs that are transfer-friendly? I was accepted to Elon's theatre department as a senior in high school but was not able to attend the musical theatre auditions, and declined to attend the school because I did not want to go, love the school, audition again this year, and then not get in. I will defintiely re-evaluate my audition material and try to keep working and improving, but is there anything I should know as a transfer? Are there any parents of students that can share their experiences as transfers, or even as freshman in the programs?
Thank you so much for your help!</p>
<p>BoCo is definately transfer friendly. They take sophmore transfers and they just took a mid-year freshman transfer.</p>
<p>My daughter has a similar background, similar experiences, and also auditioned to programs last year and did not get into a single one. She is presently in a BA musical theater program which has its pluses and minuses. She did one of the student musical productions this fall, quite a positive experience, and the feedback she has received from her theater peers has been wonderful--however, in the mainstage musical, she was "cast" as a swing. At first that sounded great, right? But it actually means she will understudy all the ensemble parts but is NOT actually in the ensemble, although there were several others, including a couple of freshmen, who made the ensemble who are clearly not as good as she is.</p>
<p>She has taken all of this remarkably well, I think, although it sure frustrates me! She is using the rejections as a way to examine thoroughly what her priorities are. And she is definitely considering transfer. She also would prefer to be closer to home (Philadelphia-New York area), and has applied to UArts, Wagner, and Montclair State. UArts is definitely transfer-friendly; don't know about the other two, but we'll just wait and see. She is also reevaluating her audition material, which I do think will be key. </p>
<p>I have no knowledge whatsoever of programs out west. Look carefully at the wealth of information on here, including about transfers. Many of the programs will make you start all over as a freshman. Mostly, though, my message is: Do not lose heart. I think getting into these programs is a crapshoot for women. Five times as many women audition as men, and if they already have plenty of your "type," then your odds are even worse. Whether or not you--or my daughter, or any other talented folks who haven't been accepted to these programs--get in or not does NOT PREDICT YOUR FUTURE! </p>
<p>Hang in there.</p>
<p>Momsinger, since your D seems to be looking to transfer to the NY/PA area...and I realize she has 2 BFAs on her list, but Wagner is a BA. If she is willing to transfer to another BA program in MT and you want that general location....look into Muhlenberg, Susquehanna, Manhattanville, and Seton Hill. If you widen it a bit, American U has a BA by audition and it is about 3 hours from Philly. I don't know if Penn State (BFA) takes transfers but it is a very good program. Also try Marymount Manhattan or Pace for a BFA program. Hartt is also not that much farther than NY from you. While these programs are quite selective, the odds are a little better than at the "elite BFAs" so to speak in terms of the applicant pool and these might be worth a serious look. When it comes to BFAs, it is harder to be choosy about location because there are a finite number of BFAs in the first place and as you know they are difficult to get into, and so if you want to increase the odds you might have to look beyond the PA/NY area. I don't know if you have explored the schools I am mentioning, but I thought I would put them out there.</p>
<p>Thanks for your input. Seton Hill is near Pittsburgh--not close to Philly at all! I will have her take a look at the others you mentioned (we had ruled out Muhlenberg for other, personal, reasons).<br>
The good part about this is that she is establishing ties at Madison, which is not a bad place by any means! And she is smart about not burning any bridges. I think no matter what happens with these auditions this year, she'll be okay. And of course she has a LOT more information now about what she's actually looking at and for than she did last year. All to the good. </p>
<p>A lot of what she needs, actually, has to do with finding a voice teacher wherever she is that can handle a crossover voice--neither straight MT nor straight classical. As a professional singer myself, I know that this is a tricky business. It's also tricky in terms of what you present in an audition, and most of all, whether it jives with what the auditioners are looking for. Which is why I say, as above, that these talented young people should hang in there and not lose heart. As has been said many times on this forum, there are many different paths.</p>
<p>Yes, I know that Seton Hill is near Pittsburgh which is not near Philly (I am from outside of Philly myself). Because there are a limited number of BFA in MT and BA in MT options and you were limiting the search to the NY or Phila. areas and because it helps to have more choices given the difficult odds of admission, let alone for a transfer, as well as the right "fit"....I widened the suggestions to American in DC and Seton Hill and Susquehanna in western PA and Hartt a little further north than NYC. Just thought I would put them out there. Closer to you are the suggestions of Marymount Manhattan, Pace, Penn State, and Manhattanville, on top of the ones you already have: Wagner, UArts, and Montclair State. Good luck with everything.</p>
<p>PSU DOES take transfers.</p>
<p>When my d was looking into transfer options last year, we went to Syracuse. The people we spoke with indicated that transfer spots became open if they didn't feel the class from the pool of high school senior applicants. It seemed pretty unlikely, given the number of applicants they had (I thought upwards of 800)... They were very nice and it was a good experience, but my impression was that transferring in was a bit of a challenge....</p>
<p>It may have changed, but when I was at Syracuse we had quite a few transfer students in our class. However, I don't believe that they had quite as many auditionees then.</p>
<p>Startobee...since you are here in CA, I suggest you look at Cal State Fullerton, and UCI. Both programs don't start their formal training in the first year, so you are not playing catch up. There is lots of info about Fullerton's program, at the top of the main MT page click on the link that stays Cal State Fullerton.</p>
<p>My D has several friends who are at LMU. I'm sorry it hasn't offered you what you desire.</p>
<p>I agree with the CA suggestions of Cal State Fullerton and UCI. I don't know your academic record but there are programs in this field at USC and UCLA. Also, a BA in MT program that you may wish to look at (no audition) is Santa Clara University.</p>
<p>startobee- are you planning on auditioning this year?</p>
<p>I am originally from Northern CA (minutes from Santa Clara), which is one reason I am not considering SCU. Being a junior transfer to UCLA would be perfect but I'm not going to get my hopes up. I am pretty particular about location, I'd like to stay on either the West or East coasts. I am going to audition for Elon, Tisch, and BoCo this year and see what happens. If I don't get in, fine, I'll stay at LMU for another year. Again, I love every aspect of LMU except the major. And even then, the acting department is quite satisfactory... it's just not musical theatre! If I'm here sophomore year, I'll audition for the aforementioned again as well as UCLA and Carnegie Mellon. I was not a fan of UCI when I visited so that one's out on my list.
Thank you everyone for all your feedback!!</p>