What is the general impression of this program here on CC, and what it offers students? There isn’t much discussion about Minnesota despite its frequent listing among the top BFA programs. I’ve seen it top10 and even top5, according to some media coverage. Full disclosure… D has been accepted into the Freshman Company this fall.
I think it is a FANTASTIC program. It’s a good tip to remember that a lot of “buzz” about a school on CC is not a real indicator … we are a small subset of the population. D knows 3 kids who have gone there - and they have loved it.
@toowonderful That’s great to hear. She is beyond excited. Do you know anything about the experience your D’s friends have had? What year are/were they? I’m curious about the intensity and if she’ll still feel a part of the full university.
The info I have is all second hand- but of the kids I have known - 2 graduate this past May, and 1 is a junior currently. The junior is the one I know best- she is really really happy there - and she is a naturally intense person. She and my D happened to bump into each other at the National theater in London- they were both studying abroad at the same time. There was apparently a long debate on the relative merits of Ibsen vs Chekov that they participated in :).
As for being a part of the university - I have zero 1sr hand knowledge… but I can say I am FB friends with 2 of the 3, and their posts tend to be theater related rather than “college” related. Idk if that helps
It does @toowonderful. Thank you for the input and taking the time to respond. It helps a lot. D is definitely into the classics and a Shakespeare buff, so this seems to be a great spot for her. I’m curious how the interface with the Guthrie is for the students, and what that experience will be like. And, how much interaction each of the four companies and the BA students have amongst one another.
@ThenSheSaidIt Congratulations! My D is on the waitlist and she had an amazing memorable time at the call back weekend!
@ThenSheSaidIt we know several kids in the program (all different years) and kids who have graduated. All have atayed or are staying although one almost transferred after freshman year. I have heard first semester isn’t what is always expected but if you stick it out “it all makes sense” in the end.
From what they have said there is very little to no overlap with the BA kids. Each year (freshman, sophomores, etc) in the BFA is its own company so most of the work is with them. Sounds like most shows are cast that way too. Seems the Guthrie connection is a huge plus for all we have talked to and grows deeper each year. A true highlight of the program. Several grads work there.
As for the intensity, it sounds like most BFA programs in that you are busy with major classes the majority of your day and then may have rehearsal after. While they do require academics it is not a huge amount especially if you come in with AP or transfer credits. The drama Dept is on a different side of the river than most of the campus and the dorm many kids live in is there too. I’m sure kids can get involved in general university activities but how much time they have for that is another question.
Congrats on the acceptance. It is a reputable program especially for regional theater.
Congrats to your D! My D applied and was not called back, but it was my own first choice for her among the 11 BFA programs she auditioned for. Not sure what other BFA options your D may also be considering, but I hope she seriously considers the Guthrie program.
My D auditioned in NYC and there was a recent grad there checking the applicants in, in the little room outside the audition studio. He offered to answer any questions to the 3 families that were there and once we got him started he simply could not seem to stop. He clearly loved the program and declared it to be without a doubt the best BFA training in the country. His enthusiam for the school was a bit contagious. He also was extremely well-spoken and had one of those deep voices that would have him hired to do radio in a heartbeat. He represented the school extremely well and while ‘bragging’ about his school, he managed to still sound like a genuinely nice kid. He didn’t put down any other programs, he just kept talking about the various wonderful aspects of the Guthrie program as he expereinced it.
I susepct if your D had the opportunity to listen to that graduate, she would be very excited to attend UMinn in the fall!
Maybe suggest to your D that she call the school and ask to be put in touch with a current student who might be willing to text or Skype with her to discuss what it’s really like, including things like dorm life and any social life that the BFA kids might have time for.
Best of luck with the decision!
My daughter is a junior and U of Minn is her number one choice … could you describe the audition process … fortunately she is 4.0 with honors and AP she Is likely to be admitted but wonder how many people are auditioning for so few slots
@Mom2E With those stats, she will not only be admitted to the school academically, but she will get very good scholarship money. My son did, although he was not admitted to the program through the audition process.
@Mom2E My D auditioned at NY Unifieds. It was a fairly short audition…appointments were scheduled in 8 minute increments. I have no idea how many kids auditioned this season. They do a call back weekend though…so keep that in mind. They do accept a video if your child definitely can’t make it to the call back weekend. My D get a callback and travelled from NJ to MN by herself. They picked the kids up and housed and fed them for the weekend. They took class and saw shows…she had a very memorable weekend. She got waitlisted and we still haven’t heard back at this point. The cold scared me silly though so I’m ok with it!
@Mom2E Well, D is now an official member of the UofM/Guthrie Freshman Company, Class of 2021. (Yay!) The audition process was as expected, but with her own spin on it. Audition was at Rarig Center on campus mid-January. She had her three monologues prepared working with one of her teachers at school with whom she took Shakespeare as an elective. She also was prepared to sing even though they did not require it.
They ask for a prepared piece older than 100 years, an age appropriate piece from the last 100 years and a stretch piece for a character you would love to play but for which you would never be cast. It can be anything, any gender… literally anything. Naturally one piece was Shakespeare.
We live in the area, so no travel was involved. Leaving the house, she comes downstairs in jeans and a flannel shirt. “Sure ya wanna wear that?” Says the wise mother. “Mom, they said be comfortable. This is me.” Okay, no argument. This is her deal; I’m just the driver. Off we go. Sure enough we check in and other kids are dressed… not fancy but in slacks, some dresses and a sweater, etc. I figure, she’s comfortable and that’s the most important thing. Who cares what she’s wearing.
We were at the end of the day and they were behind (naturally). We watched as others were called in, then escorted out by one of the auditors, a little chitchat, thanks for coming. Routine. Done. She found a quiet spot on the floor to spread out, and we waited… About 40 minutes after her time she’s called in for a total of 9 minutes. No escort out of the audition. Pretty typical.
She said they were very nice, genuine and thoughtful during the interview portion. She did her three monologues. They asked if she had another Shakespeare piece prepared. She had another piece but not Shakespeare (darn!) She sang (singing has always been a strong suit but she is not so much interested in MT). She told me they both stopped writing when she was doing her Shakespeare selection and looked up to watch her. Who knows what that meant but she was glad to have their attention. That was about it. She then waited until the NYC, LA and Chicago auditions were complete mid February before getting her callback. Callback weekend was a great experience and, well, here we are.
I could go into details about callbacks, but that’s more her story to tell. Hope this helps.
To @marg928 's point we heard they saw over 1100 this year for the 20 spots. Callback weekend is held on campus from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon with people flying in from all over. She loved it. “These are my people, Mom.”
That was a lot of info… maybe too much. Let me know if I can help in any other way.
@ThenSheSaidIt My D was also at callback weekend…it was @Mom2E who was asking. And I did forget to mention about the third monologue. They require a “miscast” piece and they were the only school who wanted something like that so it was an extra monologue that my D had to learn just for that audition.
The stretch piece was my D’s favorite part of the Minn Guthrie audition - I think she spent longer picking that than any of her other monologues- b/c there were so many fascinating options when you don’t have to consider type
My D’s piece wasn’t too big of a stretch in my opinion but her coach chose it so I trusted him. It was a Latina role and she is blond/blue eyed. She ended up liking that one a lot too.
My D also loved her stretch piece - she did a monologue as a different race/age/size and said it was quite freeing. She keeps it with her in her book just in case!
The stretch piece does require some extra prep, but I think it’s a great and unique feature. I think we had the same experience you are all describing. The extra effort turned out to be really fun and a favorite part of the process.
@marg928 Didn’t mean to imply that. I was just referencing what you said for @Mom2E 's benefit. All good. Thanks for clarifying. I absolutely remember that your D was there too and you wrote such a nice review of it after the weekend. 
Thanks for some insight!