<p>I’ve been recently admitted to Viterbo’s musical theatre program and was wondering if anyone had any information…how many auditioned? how may accepted? any notable alumni? things of that nature…I feel like the attention would be very individualized, which is something I am looking for. I need to make a choice between Boco, Viterbo, and possibly NYU. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Hey. I am like 89% sure I will be attending Viterbo next year. Musical Theatre accepts 8 people (4 of each sex) and Acting accepts 12 (6 of each) I will be an Acting major with MT minor. </p>
<p>According to Janet McClean, there have been Viterbo alum working consistently sense the program started in the 1970s. Recently, Arbender Robinson is a supporting role in Little Mermaid and understudy for the Prince. </p>
<p>If I remember correctly, you are the person who also is transferring from CSUF? I am too. Another advantage to Viterbo I found was that almost all of our credits transfer, so unlike BoCo and NYU, you likely will only have a few more years instead of starting all over. </p>
<p>Any other questions, I suggest e-mailing Janet McClean or Rick Walters. They are both so nice and have been very nice to answer all my questions as I am sure they will be for you.</p>
<p>WOW the school you both currently attend must really suck. Viterbo is a small family atmosphere, the people are really nice and it's inexpensive. If you believe that it's all about the schools reputation then you are better off at Boco or NYU. Personally, I think it's all about how hard you are willing to work. The MT Dept chair is retiring so I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing. Liz, have you heard who the replacement is? </p>
<p>Philosophically, (no offense to you two)I have an issue with the fact that they would take a transfer student into their MT program when they only have 4 spots. Apparently they are looking for top talent more than someone with great potential they feel they could train. Many schools like to take their freshman, rid them of all their bad habits and train them their way. They usually don't let them perform in any mainstage productions and want them to get acclimated to the program and being away from home. These are just two very different philosophies, makes me wonder what their plan is.</p>
<p>Just because Viterbo accepts transfer students doesn't mean that they are any less reputable. I like that they don't have the "train them thier way" philosophy, it leaves for a more open performer. I don't think it is "apparent" that they go for talent and not potential, I think they accept the people who will benefit from their school.</p>
<p>Maybe they are accepting the transfers as sophomores (or juniors) to replace sophomores or juniors that have left the program for some reason, and still taking the full freshman class. Just an idea...</p>
<p>Maybe. But I don't know. I don't think accepting transfers is a bad thing.</p>
<p>LizMT - Yes I did attend CSUF a couple years ago (wasn't the right program for me). Thanks for all the info! Do you know how many people auditioned for the musical theatre program?</p>
<p>MTDad777 - CSUF is actually noted as 16th in the nation for musical theatre, so I wouldn't say it "sucks" - I just didn't find the challenge and progression I was looking for there. As far as MT transfers...most of my credits are general education anyway so, in a sense, I would be starting "fresh" musical theatre training. Both talent and ability for potential are very important factors when choosing a select few to attend a prestigious MT program. There's an immense amount of competition in today's day and age.</p>
<p>MTDad, I have to agree with Fitch that BFA programs are looking for BOTH talent and potential and not simply potential. Lots and lots of kids have potential. I think it would be a false assumption for someone to apply to BFA programs and think that only potential counts. While they are not looking for polished performers, talent/skills do matter and they are also looking for potential for training. Given the immense competition and high selectivity at these programs, one must have some talent and ability to be admitted and potential alone is not going to get one in. </p>
<p>I think it is unfair to say that the program these students are transferring out of "sucks." I think they have maturely discussed on this thread and others on the MT Forum why their program was not a good fit for what they were looking for. I think it is great that they are able to successfully transfer and have the talent and potential required for BFA programs.</p>
<p>I am not familiar with Viterbo but it could be that these students are not entering as freshmen either. Schools take transfers if there is room for transfers and sometimes students have left their programs which leaves openings for transfers. I would NOT assume that these transfer admits took the place of admitting a freshman such as your daughter who applied.</p>
<p>Okay, I used a poor choice of words so let me restate - I am suprised that two students from the same school wanted out of the same program. I'm also not saying that Viterbo should not take transfer students. Let me explain where I am coming from. We visited over the summer and they told us they had 12 MT spots. When we got there for an early audition after the audition we were told there would only be 4 MT spots for girls. I am further disappointed that those 4 spots were up for grabs from any college student that auditioned (i.e. transfer students). This is because the program was a bit overloaded with MT students (I talked to the MT chair in person so yes Soozie I can make this assumption) So my D audition for BFA Theatre Performance as a backup while we were there. There is certainly the possibilty that there is some attrition from the upperclassman but it sounded like they were trying to reduce their numbers.
LizMT - I did not say that they are not reputable, My D would not have auditioned there if I didn't think it was a great place.
Fitch21 - you said "CSUF is actually noted as 16th in the nation for musical theatre" were did you get that list? I'd like to see 1-50 if you could post. Seems like everyone on these threads is looking for rankings.
I wish you both the best where ever you end up.</p>
<p>MTDad.....are the transfers at Viterbo entering as FRESHMEN (taking the place of new students like your D who auditioned) or are they entering with some credits and taking an open slot as sophomores? </p>
<p>Also, the fact that two kids are transferring out of a program is NOT unusual at all. It happens at many programs. Also, at their particular program, they are not even yet IN the BFA and so they are basically transferring out of a university, not a program per se. Every college has students who leave, some more than others. </p>
<p>By the way, several college theater programs make claims like "ranked third" when there is no reputable ranking for college theater programs and it is a lot of marketing PR. I believe in CSFullerton's case, it is from a college directory (not a theater directory) that mentions colleges with "Great College Theater" and it is not based on BFA programs or not necessarily their departments but theater in general (could even include extracurricularly).....just like they rate best party school, best college newspapers, best food, best town/gown relations. So, for instance, schools like College of the Ozarks, Hendrix and Knox are listed under "great college theater" but are not well known for their theater programs/departments per se. Example, CMU, CCM, UMich are not on that list. This is NOT a rating of BFA programs, nor in MT.</p>
<p>Just to clarify my post above, the examples of schools I listed under "Great College Theater" were from the Princeton Review college directory and I think they are referring heavily to the theater scene on campus and not a major/department. However, Cal State Fullerton's claim is from a different list.....the list of Most Highly Recommended Drama Programs in the ARCO Performing Arts Majors Guide. That list is surely not a ranking (no criteria for any ranking is provided and it is just a list of recommended schools). Example: CMU is not on the first tier of recommended programs. Rutgers isn't on the list and nor is NCSA.....which are all under "Other noteworthy programs". Anyone familiar with BFA in Acting/Drama would clearly have schools like CMU, NCSA, Rutgers, UMiin/Guthrie, etc. on a list of the most selective or highly regarded BFA in acting programs, rather than some schools listed such as San Francisco State, Catholic University or Indiana all of which are also GREAT programs but the ones I mentioned previously would typically be on a "top acting BFA program list" before these others. Cal State Fullerton is then claiming, "top 16 theater programs" and alas, that is not very accurate at all and it is not from any ranking but THEY (this college) refer to it as a "ranking". Also it is a list of recommended DRAMA programs, not MT.</p>
<p>PS....I don't have the latest edition of the ARCO guide and am going by the edition I own.</p>
<p>Soozie - Since my D would be a freshman I didn't specifically ask about the transfer students but LizMT is at least going to be a sophomore (would be a transfer student) and they told her that they had 4 spots (post #2). SO I think the answer to your question is No. Also, not sure if you knew but my D did get in, just not into MT which is what she wanted, same as Liz. It's a nice outcome since there are only a total (8 MT, 12 Acting) but they seem to be real flexible about BFA acting majors taking voice lessons and dance lessons. Where as another school my D got into UIC is all about acting and we had to get a special permission for her to receive voice lessons in the Music Dept. We are kind of shocked that UIC has never been mentioned on this board other than my posts. If you get a chance, look at their faculity, it is quite impressive and I believe it will be a rising star. Weird that they've been doing theatre for 60 yrs and are not found on CC for Theatre.</p>
<p>I'm sorta confused then. If the answer is NO, these transfer students at Viterbo are NOT entering as freshmen, then I don't understand what is of concern about admitting transfers as they are presumably taking the slot in a class that is not the freshman class and thus not taking one of the BFA in MT slots that are up for audition for new freshmen. Right? I believe you said in an earlier post that you had a problem with them taking a transfer. That is where my confusion lies. Yes, I knew that your D got in for Theater Performance (congrats to her) but we were talking about the MT program and slots available and if they were taken up by transfer students or not, yes? Musicmom also mentioned the same point as I am making that the transfer students may not have taken slots in the MT freshman class. </p>
<p>As far as University of Illinois Chicago getting not getting mention on this forum.....please remember this is a MT Forum and not all acting/drama/theater programs are discussed here. </p>
<p>CC doesn't have a listing of theater programs. For MT, even the list at the top of this forum of MT schools is NOT a comprehensive list AT ALL but merely a list of MT schools that have their own sub forums to organize existing threads. There are other MT programs and if you consult what is referred to as "The Big List" which has a link provided in one of the sticky threads at the top of this forum, that lists most MT programs in the country. There is no such list of Theater Programs on CC.</p>
<p>Why shouldn't transfers get the same opportunities get admitted if they accept for people? I don't think I will be "taking" anyones spot. I applied, I auditioned, the same as everyone else. I was open to coming as a freshman but they are taking me at a sophomore level. I don't see why we should not get spots.</p>
<p>Liz, I have to agree with you. A student is a student. For one thing, you did not take a freshman slot. But even if you had, you auditioned like anyone else. I hardly see much difference. </p>
<p>The only time I would object is what happened at UArizona where they cut students who were BFA freshman in the program and replaced their OWN students (not ones who voluntarily left) with transfers they liked better or BA students in the school whom they preferred. </p>
<p>Based on what is described here, I don't understand the criticism of Viterbo accepting transfer students. Nothing sounds unfair about it to me.I also do not quite get the assumption that since they took transfers, they were more interested in talent than potential. Transfers may not be any more talented than an incoming freshman. Again, most quality programs accept based on BOTH talent and potential and potential alone will not get you in when it is this competitive.</p>
<p>Ew. I knew UofA cut but I didn't they replace people??? </p>
<p>how weird.</p>
<p>If you read the U of A threads on this forum, you will read the saga of BFA freshmen who were cut (a lot were that particular year) and their slots were filled by auditioning transfers and their BA students whom they preferred over some of their own BFA students. I do not agree with the practices they employed but you can read about it on that thread/subforum.</p>
<p>Please, please, I do not have a problem with them taking transfer students, in and of itself. What I have a problem with is when we went there over the summer for a visit we were with high school juniors. Each Dept was represented at this recruiting seminar (or whatever you call it). They said that they had 12 MT spots for incoming freshman and the story completely changed while my D was there auditioning. Apparently they changed it to only 8 MT spots (4 G and 4 B) for anyone that auditions and not 12 for the freshman class like we were told. The school has the right to do what they want but I'm not sure we would have wasted the time and money to audition for a chance at 1 of 4 spots. We did send several e-mails back and forth prior to the audition and none of this was mentioned. Furthermore, the transfer students have had a year or more college training not to mention the experience of auditioning for colleges. I'm disappointed that it appears they auditioned to fill the program and not to put together a freshman class. I was under the impression that each school was auditioning so they could put together a freshman class and that some but not all schools allow transfers to audition but the transfers would be with their peers if they made the program. I would think that if a sophomore auditions that they expect them to be better than a high school senior and that if they are accepted to the program they would go in as a junior.</p>
<p>Admission to viterbo's MT program is equally competitive for transfers as well as freshman. An associate professor there recently informed me they take 8 to 10 students a year for MT. You are admitted to sophomore or junior standing based upon the credits you are transferring in. You are then placed in certain MT courses based on your credits and level of talent. With all this said....Viterbo's MT program isn't really that difficult to get into. I was informed around 60 auditioned this year on campus and through unifieds. This gives students roughly around a 13% chance of acceptance...compared to other more familiar programs, this isn't so bad. For instance, Boco had about a 6% chance of acceptance. I wish your D luck in whatever career path she chooses to pursue!</p>
<p>Fitch- She got into a much better program (in my opinion) and is waitlisted at 2 other highly competitive programs for MT. She got into the acting program at everywhere she auditioned that will take MT students into acting. Viterbo has little to no scholarship money so she would have gone with the full-ride BFA acting scholarship at another school even if she'd been offered MT there. The fact that they changed the number of spots after we wasted our time really soured us.
Regarding the 60 who auditioned, I think a guy with lesser talent can make a program as there is more competition between the girls. It was her first audition and the accompaniment was awful. She actually learned a lot from that audition especially how to mark her music. I also think that it was a disadvantage to audition early as Virtebo does not have rolling admissions. All lessons learned. To my earlier point if you are competing with transfers with the experience like you and Liz then it is even that much harder for an incoming freshman.
Did you or Liz decide yet?</p>