<p>Hello all! These are the schools I am considering applying to for Musical theatre. However, I'm also applying to quite a number of schools for vocal performance so I would really like help narrowing this list down to maybe two or three.</p>
<p>University of Southern California
CCM
CMU
Northwestern
Penn State
NYU (strong maybe due to their EXTREME stinginess with finaid)</p>
<p>If I can get student's firsthand experience with these or maybe just someone who is familiar with the way these schools run/audition/what they "look" for, etc.</p>
<p>How many opportunities are there for talent to be showcased?
Is it possible to transfer into any of these programs? If so, how difficult?
Any reservations I should have about applying (other than selectivity)?
Any tips for auditioning/applying for a selective program?</p>
<p>FYI, these schools are extremely competitive. Be sure to find a safety school.</p>
<p>Thank you, Shaun, but I also addressed that in my question already.</p>
<p>As far as CMU goes - you don’t audition for main stage shows until your junior year so your performance opportunities are in the classroom and student directed. </p>
<p>I’m sure you know this but the main thing as far as tips for auditioning for selective or any other program is to be yourself and be prepared. Our tour guide on a visit to CMU said he applied to 5 schools and had just received 3 rejections before going to his audition there and decided he wasn’t going to give them what he thought they wanted he was just going in and having fun! He graduated from CMU last year and is the lead in Newsies. </p>
<p>It only takes one yes and if you show them you and are prepared you will get to where your suppose to be!</p>
<p>I would suggest adding Baldwin Wallace. mainly because it offers a BM and adds more music heavy classes such as theory, musicianship, choir, harmony, etc. Roosevelt University has a great vocal performance program and they just added a voice emphasis option to their Musical Theatre degree. </p>
<p>I am a Sophomore Musical Theatre major at Webster University and I consider myself to be a Singer/Actor and I am very happy with the vocal coaching, Musical Theatre coaching, and musicianship classes I have received thus far. I would suggest adding Webster as well. Just like Carnegie they are very strong and specific with the acting training as well.</p>
<p>FMAyodele, you are going to let your list dictate whether you go to school for MT or Vocal Performance. Instead of narrowing this list down, why not audtition at a broader range of MT programs? That way you have a better chance to have options in front of you when you decide whether you want to major in MT or vocal performance. I’m curious as to why you have decided to only audition for two or three of the six schools you list, and if you want to study MT, why is it only at one of these programs?</p>
<p>At CMU, if you transfer in, you start as a freshman, no matter what, not sure about the others on your list.</p>
<p>broadway95, we had the same tour guide at CMU. What a great kid. Had his equity card by junior year at CMU from doing ensemble work in Pittsburgh CLO shows in the summers. He graduated, and a few weeks later was hired as an understudy for the lead in Newsies, and a few weeks after that, the lead got a role on Smash, so he stepped in. Incredible. His story is unique, even for a CMU grad.</p>
<p>CollegeSearchDad,
In the end, there isn’t really just one reason why I chose to have fewer MT schools, and why I chose the ones I did.
I thought long and hard about what career/life path I wanted after college, and I decided that I would be happy with whatever path either major leads me down. I feel much “safer” with my singing than my acting (even though I DO feel I am a good actor…eh, it’s kind of a long story), so the majority of the places I am applying to are vocal performance, which is why I only wanted two or three MT places.
Also, even if after going down the VP path and wishing I could have done MT, it would be much easier to switch than doing the reverse.
This is also one of the reasons I picked such selective programs. I figure, hey, if I’m REALLY going to do this (MT) without any reservations, I might as well go to the best!
And the list goes on. </p>
<p>Yes, I did hear that about CMU, but even if I’m starting as a freshman, I think the value of the program would make it worth it. Not to mention I’m young for my grade, so I’ll fit right in!</p>
<p>USC does not have a Musical Theater major. They do offer it as a minor in the School of Music. UCLA has a Musical Theater major- could that be what you were thinking of? </p>
<p>My daughter just graduated from MT at Penn State. She transferred in as a sophomore- she had enough units to go in as a junior but they required her to start as a sophomore. She loved the program and felt it was very well rounded in all areas of voice, dance and acting. The dance was very challenging and there were plenty of levels offered to satisfy any student. She felt the voice training was superb and that the acting classes were also challenging and offered plenty of training opportunities for any student at any level. Because class size is so small, there is a lot of one on one time with instructors and they really got to know the kids. I don’t know that they have anything in particular they look for in audition, but that they are looking for talent, both raw and more developed. Her class included kids who had a lot of professional experience as well as others who had very limited experience- some only shows in high school. Because classes are very small-12 to 14- there is a lot of opportunity to be showcased throughout the program. Students get in-depth training in the 3 areas, as well as a lot of background training in the business end of MT. It is a very small program within a very large university in a college town- she loved that about it. Her class was very close and spent a lot of time together, but there were plenty of other opportunities to meet people not involved in theater if you are looking for some diversity.</p>