<p>What would YOU consider to be the pros and cons of each? I know that it is my decision to make, but from what you have read, heard, and seen, what ideas do you have? </p>
<p>MT is what I want, but I know that being in New York is a big plus when it comes to taking dance and voice on my accord. </p>
<p>I am stuck...</p>
<p>I don’t know either program but I would suggest UArts BFA MT if MT is what you want. Trying to take classes outside your college is difficult and takes a lot of dedication and juggling. My daughter, a Northwestern junior, is very into Improv and has been taking classes regularly at one of the big Improv studios in Chicago since freshman year. Semesters don’t match, vacations don’t match, classes conflict especially when she’s in a show, etc. Plus getting your MT degree will be a much more cohesive route than doing parts “on your own.” Being in NY means next to nothing as an undergrad.</p>
<p>U Arts has a much better rep than MMC.</p>
<p>It’s an easy, easy 2 hour trip from Philadelphia to NYC if you have time to run up there for workshops, performances, or auditions. Train, MegaBus, etc. So if you are in Phil, you are in a great location. And it’s only another 2 hours the other way to DC, a very big theatre town, I’m told only 2nd to NYC.</p>
<p>If you want MT, and all else is equal, I’d go to the school where you were accepted for MT. Admittedly, it’s an ongoing frustration for me when programs bump people down to acting since I do not see it as the lesser of the three disciplines. We know people in both programs although neither of them had choices and pretty much went to their only option they seem happy there. Not sure if taking outside classes is realistic and it will certainly be expensive. Is money an issue?</p>
<p>Having visited both of these schools over the past two weeks (with my junior D) I liked each of them for different reasons.
I am confused though – were you not accepted into the musical theater minor that accompanies the acting BFA or acting BA at MMC?
It seemed that the MT minor, when combined with either BA or BFA was a very well-rounded and intense program with tremendous opportunities for growth.</p>
<p>Hopesmom, my understanding (others can correct me if I am wrong) is that at MMC, the MT Minor is rarely combined with the BFA in Acting. Those who get into the MT Minor at MMC tend to be admitted for a BA.</p>
<p>My friend at Marymount is BA theater arts with MT minor. I think there are or have been some BFA acting MT’s but it’s rare. He likes it but the program doesn’t seem very intense to me based on the level of free time of the students and I’ve heard the academics here are ridiculously weak. Most online reviews are not good.</p>
<p>It was explained to me that one could actually do the BFA acting and still minor in MT, but it is rare. One thing I did learn though is that the senior showcase at MMC has been eliminated.</p>
<p>My D is in her sophomore year at MMC in the BA performance, MT minor. She is extremely busy and seeks out all opportunities she can to audition and perform. She knows a couple of people who are doing the BFA acting with the MT minor. They are not doing the senior showcase this year at MMC, but this was not a reason my D picked this school.</p>
<p>The academics are again what people make of them. My D is learning so much not only at school, but living the life of an actor in NYC. MMC has been a great choice for her. She is dancing everyday, has a wonderful private voice teacher, is in an intense acting class this year as well as a voice, speech and movement class she has learned so much in.</p>
<p>Is doing the combination BFA acting and MT minor just an infrequent choice or something they don’t usually allow? Also, is she finding performance opportunities outside of school because that’s another complaint I regularly here about MMC. I know the students do a lot of auditioning in the city and exploring and having fun but that just makes we wonder why they have so much down time.</p>
<p>CAoliverMT, UArts MT program has a very strong bias towards acting. MT students and acting BFA majors take core acting studio classes together for 7 semesters. In addition, many of the MT performance classes focus on acting the song. In addition, there is a half hour (or a bit more) private voice lesson and a half hour (or a bit more) private vocal coaching lesson each week plus group MT vocal performing classes. While the required curriculum for MT dance is not as time intensive as acting or vocal work, students can take additional dance classes including classes through the the school of dance. UArts has a New York show case and there are many former UArts students living, auditioning and working in NYC. I offer all of this for your consideration in evaluating which program is the best fit for you.</p>
<p>I just went to MMC on Saturday for admitted students day (I was accepted academically, still waiting on the theatre dpt) and from what I heard the Senior Showcase has NOT been eliminated. Also, I was told at MMC students are required to audition for all productions. I was also told that the BFA and MT combo is rarely given, and when it is it is usually given to students who have many of their gen eds taken out of the way by APs because it is difficult to fulfill all the credit requirements in four years. All of this info was given to me at the Theatre Arts info session during my audition and at the open house I went to. If you really want to do MT I would say go to UArts though. Like many have said, Philly is only 2 hours away on the bus, and a megabus ticket is about 20 dollars so it is very easy to travel between UArts and NYC. UArts is more of a conservatory type training, while at MMC it is very heavy on liberal arts and gen ed classes. The BFA major only requires 60 credits from theatre and the rest must be from academic classes. I do like the fact that if you are cast in a show at MMC as a BFA you receive credits because they count rehearsals for that show as a class.</p>
<p>I’m not sure why being near NYC is important. Are you wanting to audition for professional work while you are in school? For some people I know that’s a reality but I was told by a casting director that one of the biggest mistakes new performers make is auditioning before being properly trained and really ready. Of course, she also slammed a bunch of programs and said very few are worthwhile and that she sees way too many inadequately prepared hopefuls. Confused.</p>
<p>actor12, I’m not the OP and can’t answer for her/him about being in NYC for college. I’m a proponent of going to the best fit college or program and that being in NYC is not important in that decision. One can move to NYC after college graduation. The number of successful graduates who went to college outside of NYC is huge. </p>
<p>My D did go to college in NYC for MT. She went to NYU/Tisch. But she did NOT audition for work that would take her out of college and highly valued her education and training and so would not risk being cast where she’d have to leave school. But that said, there have been many advantages and benefits to her years in NYC as a theater student. Seeing lots of theater was one of them. I won’t list all the benefits but will say that a really big one has been how networked she is in NYC. She’s 23. Not a week goes by where she is not performing with or being contacted by Broadway and Off Broadway performers, producers, directors, composers, etc. She rarely auditions but is always working in her field and being offered this and that opportunity and is just very well connected from her time in NYC so far.</p>