<p>The Director at BU' s summer theater worksop this year told students 50-50 (audion-stats). I too have read on CC that CMU has devalued the SAT when the talent was there. My sense is that a good audition trumps stats for nonresident students trying to get into public universities that are tough to get into for nonresidents. For those looking at LACs (I asked a number of theater faculty about this), someone who shows promise in contributing to the theater major/productions may be treated like an athlete in regards to stats.</p>
<p>One thing that bothers me about the SAT and GPA at schools where numbers are high, if the student has to take the normal load of general education requirements, which you do at colleges like Syracuse, they will be in classes which academically are over their head. As we all know, theatre is extremely demanding in time, and I know my son will put all his efforts into that and I am concerned that his classes outside the department, especially at a school where he will be mixed in with kids with 3.5-4.0 and high sat's, he will not be able to "make the grade." He only took the sat once, his score close to 1600. His gpa only 2.9 - but he also chose to take honors courses in history, english, chemistry, and now is in english ap. And the complaint I hear from teachers - he does not spend the time to get higher than a C - and he is very capable of doing that, obviously or he would not be in those classes. We tried to convince him to take regular courses which would have been less demanding but he did not want to do that because he felt the classes were not challenging. But like I said, all his time and energy go into theatre and music. Even though they have to take some general ed courses in a conservatory type of program, it's usually only one per semester and likely not as demanding as at a school like Syracuse. Well, that's just my input on this whole thing. I have read somewhere on cc that DePaul has adjusted their "cut" decisions - any news on that? I too have heard Arizona is tough on that, although also read somewhere that the students they cut were not living up to their potential.</p>
<p>briansteffy,</p>
<p>I see you are an early riser like me!</p>
<p>Would love to hear more about the DePaul rumor. hcpss: I know that this sounds simplistic, but being well-schooled, by which I mean high GPA, does not mean that S/D is interesting and bright, and being bright does not mean that you get good grades. I see lots of kids who were at the top in HS sink fast in college and HS slackers blossom once they find the right college. Why do we have to academically blossom between ages 15-17?
RE: the issue of theater productions and grades, but as it pertains to some LAC theater programs. At my institution theater majors get a raw deal because they work their butts off on productions for no credit, or perhaps half a credit, and the general requirements are very intense; five hours sleep a night. So-so GPAs. I assume/hope that MFA programs appreciate the work that some of these LAC kids do, as they try to duplicate as best as possible a conservatory-like experience, while sitting in science classes with pre-med students.
Until this year, my S played football and did theater at the same time. He had to be at school at 6AM to lift and run sprints, and then he was at play practice till 8PM. Then he was supposed to eat, study, and have his private time? Its a Catholic school, so when he nodded off during class he got detention. Not any teacher's pet. Since he gave up FB for acting this past year (starter for two years with a team that went to States), he has been at the top of his classes, but his GPA was bad in the 9th grade and so-so in 10th grade.
hcpss: tell your S not to worry about taking classes with the best in college. I have the worst academic credentials at my college (I was also in the lower fifth of my HS class) and work with loads of Ivy undergrads/ PhDs. I am not impressed. I just get sick of them telling their undergrad Ivy stories ---and I think, well, after the military, SUNY-Utica gave me my undergrad degree, and then I worked my butt off to sit at this table, and my life sounds like it has been far more interesting.</p>
<p>hcpss: no indication that DePaul has changed its policy. Its web page seems up to date and it states that they accept around 47 and cut it down, whether due to natural attrition or via forced exit, at the end of the first year.</p>
<p>Hello, I have a unified question as well. Sorry if it has ben asked...but are you ale to audition at multiple schools during Unified Auditions or only one? Thank you!</p>
<p>Multiple schools. This is why many decide to go to Unifieds. It gives them the opportunity to audition for many schools on one trip.</p>
<p>Just wondering if anyone that was at Unifieds in NY last year could comment on the auditions for the following schools:</p>
<p>CCM
Hartt
Ithaca
Otterbein
Point Park
PSU</p>
<p>I am going to call the schools about how much time they will take but I thought it would also be a good idea to ask someone who has experienced it first hand. These are all the schools that are left after we set up some on campus auditions. I wanted to see if it was feasible to do the majority of these schools at Unifieds. I saw that Ithaca is there an extra day. I have also read some threads that said their audition was long but that PSU and Otterbein were pretty quick. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. I can still get to some of these on campus if I set them up now but if I can limit the travel that would be great. My daughter is currently in 3 shows and 2 choirs so it's tough. I know that alot of you have the same problem so I thought I would ask.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>I talked to Ithaca and they want kids to set aside about four hours at Unifieds for the audition. Otterbein's audition (singing, dancing and acting) takes about 15 minutes. There is no big "dance call" for Otterbein; a musical theater student is on hand to teach the auditioner a few combinations, and the entire proceeding is videotaped for doctorjohn to take back to Westerville. Wish I knew more, but this is all I have to offer! :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the response. Confirms what I read in other posts. If I get any further info from the other schools themselves I will post it back here.</p>
<p>kimoki -- pm me if you have any specific questions about the Hartt, PSU, or Otterbein auditions.</p>
<p>bump for Reisen</p>
<p>My son will be at the Chicago Unified to present his portfolio for Stage Management in Feb. Does anyone know if the Palmer House gives group rates for those staying there for the Unifieds? The quote from the reservation desk at the hotel was $170 per night.
Also is there anyone else out there applying for technical theatre? I would love to connect with those people.</p>
<p>Judy- I am sorry that I can't answer your question, but have a tip for finding cheap hotel rates. I have recently started using yahoo farechase for both flights and hotels and have been impressed. They search multiple travel sites to find the best rate, including expedia, travelocity etc.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>JudyL -- as far as applying for Techinical Theatre you may want to post on the "Arts Major" board if you have not already.</p>
<p>Kate</p>
<p>Anyone know of a decent (clean) place to stay in NY?</p>
<p>4 hours for Ithaca?!</p>
<p>That seems like a lot when your trying to get 5 or 6 schools' auditions into 2 days :/</p>
<p>Anyone know about how long Point Park's audition at Uni's should last? Mine is at 10:00 on Saturday and I have UArts at 10:40. Should I reschedule one of them?</p>
<p>JudyL,
When we went to the unifieds in 2006 the Palmer House did have a rate for the Unifieds. So try back and ask about the Unified audition rate. It seems like it was $109 or $119. We paid extra for concierge floor which was nice because you could always run up there and get snacks, water, fruit, etc. Most times there was not time for lunch. But even if you don't stay on the concierge floor it is worth it to stay at The Palmer House. Or at least we thought so.</p>
<p>Wow, that's a bargain compared with the rate for the Crowne Plaza in New York, where NY Unifieds are held. Even with the discount, it's easily twice that.</p>
<p>I have stayed at the Park79 Hotel in NYC. It is reasonably priced... clean... nice bedding...comfortable... the rooms are small, but nice.</p>
<p>Some rooms have shared bathrooms, but most have bathrooms in the room... I would suggest asking for a room with a bathroom.</p>
<p>In NYC you basically have to get used to the fact that the rooms will be smaller than you are used to in most American hotels, and the prices will be higher than you would pay for a much swanker room outside of NYC.</p>