<p>My son applied to Webster and was accepted academically. A nice scholarship offer came yesterday, which surprised us. He won't audition until next weekend and it will be in Atlanta. (Im happy that it is his last audition ;). I've searched the threads today and didn't find much on their acting BFA. I did find a lot on the MT BFA (why don't we list schools separately like they do on the MT board?). Anyway, I would love some input from someone attending, just graduated, or even who has visited campus. My son is in a show that opens tonight and runs through march 3rd, and then has his hs musical, so we just don't have anytime to travel out there. Thanks in advance for any input!</p>
<p>Ok, I posted this right when everyone was headed to NY and Chicago, so I thought I would comment again to move it to the top to see if I get any responses. Thanks!</p>
<p>Sorry I don’t have anything to add except to say I too scoured these threads for information on Webster and really came up with almost nothing of note one way or the other. It is interesting how some schools get so much discussion and others are just sort of black hole. We ultimately did not apply to Webster as I just could not find anything to help my daughter make it a yes or a no. </p>
<p>My daugther is auditioning at Syracuse this weekend and that is another school with very little info on CC. About the only threads related to whether the food was any good.</p>
<p>Then it is up to the two of you to heighten the profile of Webster University here on College Confidential! I’d urge you to post a more detailed account of any visits and auditions. It will be helpful for the next group of parents and students to come along.</p>
<p>I think people here do a great job of keeping lots of schools in people’s consciousness. I’ve seen over the past several years that certain schools come in and out of the radar, mostly depending on the interest of the year’s current applicants and the schools that the returning posters’ kids attend.</p>
<p>It is a quirk of CC how schools get their own listing at the top of the board. There has to be a minimum number of threads specifically on that school - as you can see, this forum is small enough that no school has its own spot at the top of the page. </p>
<p>It helps everyone if people give details about any school here - we read about Webster in our college search, too, and it looks like a great program. My D had specific reasons why she didn’t end up applying, but not because we’d heard anything negative.</p>
<p>I do remember reading some very positive posts by a current Webster student last year. (Webster is on my radar because I taught there years ago in the late 80s and have some friends who still teach there- not in the acting conservatory.) I did have some actors as students. At the time, it did not really occurs to me that I might end up having a child who would go on to become an actor.</p>
<p>ActingDad - a friend of my son’s went to Syracuse for a tour one weekend in the fall and LOVED it. Unfortunately for her, it is more of a conservatory and she is looking for more of a LAC experience, but the mom - very hard to impress - thought it was a wonderful program. As a matter of fact, the mom called me to tell me to have my son go there. (Yes - we have people in town who have called me to say where they think my son should go to school, including one woman who cornered me at a party to tell me that under no circumstances should I send my son to a LAC for theatre. Imagine?)</p>
<p>Thanks Marbleheader – and more of a conservatory is a good thing!</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the info here and in the PMs. I do know that in the end if he gets an acceptance that somehow we will have to get a visit in. I really think that’s the only way to see what’s right for him! And it is odd how some schools just don’t really seem to be on anyone’s radar and yet kids are absolutely in love with it and think its the ONE Perfect School. One thing about the postings for the schools like they have on MT - I think that’s a forum thing, not a popularity thing. Just think of how many time Carnegie, Julliard, and NYU are discussed here. I emailed the admin and asked how we can get a list of schools, but never heard back. Maybe if we ALL emailed, that would help ;)</p>
<p>Dramamamaof4, I think it’s a volume thing, too. The MT forum has much more activity than this one, and the sections for the individual schools serve to keep things organized.</p>
<p>Okay. Just wishful thinking on my part I guess ;).</p>
<p>My D also has an interview with Webster tomorrow. From our high school, we’ve had two students go to Webster. One I know (male) was an acting major. The other (a girl) one may have been acting, too. She actually just graduated from Webster a semester early, too. Currently, my D has two friends at Webster, both freshmen. One is definitely MT, but the other may be acting. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about the Webster program. We, too, will have to fit in a visit if she is artistically accepted. I’m hoping for good results from this interview!</p>
<p>My D auditioned for Webster earlier this week at the Chicago Unifieds. The experience went well enough that the school managed to work its way from the bottom of her list to the middle. The people were very friendly and helpful. My own research of Webster’s acting program has produced mostly very positive information, but this is, of course, my D’s choice in the final analysis. Our hope is that she indeed does have a choice. The waiting has begun!</p>
<p>My daughter is a current MT at Webster, but because the two programs are so tightly connected, i can likely answer a lot of questions for anyone who may have them, about acting as well…or can connect you with my daughter. feel free to PM me!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input, everyone! My s had a great audition experience on Sunday and we think we may have found one weekend to visit and to revisit one other school at the same time. Now we wait…and wait…and wait!</p>
<p>My D also had a great interview at ThesCon and on Sunday. She really liked the people she spoke with. Like the others, we wait…</p>
<p>My D auditioned for Webster in Chicago last week. She felt like it went so well–and she enjoyed it–that Webster is really on her list now–whereas, it was last before. She has already received an academic scholarship from them, but is waiting on the letter for the BFA, of course. I don’t know why–but I’m still not sure about this conservatory. It’s so easy to be swayed by names that are on lists or get so much hype. I do everything I can to research for my D (she simply doesn’t have the time). I watch senior recitals on Youtube from the schools, performances, interviews, etc. It’s so tough. If acceptances arrive, then she’ll have to visit those schools, watch a performance, and hopefully attend a class or two. And I think most people (my D and I!) are so swayed by attractive websites and photos. Good advertising works, it’s true! If we didn’t live in Minnesota and know that the U of Minnesota Guthrie program has a fabulous reputation and that the many of the graduates are acting on the Guthrie stage, we wouldn’t feel confident based on their website. Not much there. At all.</p>
<p>We made a visit to Webster this week.</p>
<p>The campus is definitely odd–a mix of old and new buildings and houses, too. The English department is in a big old house in the neighborhood, as is another department. I could live with it (but I won’t have to!), but my D really liked it. She has some funky tastes in things. The campus reminds me of her outfits! LOL. </p>
<p>The Rep Theatre of St. Louis shares the theatre building with Webster Conservatory–very, cool. Conservatory students can attend the Rep theatre shows for free, too, and work on those shows and audition for them! It’s a very nice facility. This close connection with a professional theatre reminds me somewhat of the opportunities of the Minnesota/Guthrie program.</p>
<p>We met with the dept head, Bruce Longworth. He struck us as smart, honest, professional. They had their senior showcase in NYC last week and one actress is going back next week–call for The Color Purple. He said it’s not typical for that to happen–but it does happen sometimes. He talked a lot about the process of auditioning after graduation, which was enlightening. My D had lots of questions: what does he hope students will be doing after they graduate, why is he here, what styles of acting do they teach, is the school academically challenging, can she take dance and voice, what’s their connection with the St. Louis Repertory Theatre, who chooses their plays, when do they choose, etc.<br>
Students also get a voice in the choosing of the plays, which is awesome. About a dozen people sit down and discuss and talk it over, which he said is a ton of work. We were bummed that we couldn’t be there for a show.</p>
<p>My D attended a 2nd year acting class. Here’s an example of the odd campus–the acting classes are mostly held in space in a strip mall a block down from campus. None of this phases my D. She really does focus on the training and the people and is somewhat oblivious to her surroundings, which I have to realize is a very positive thing. I guess it helps that the space here at home for theatre is a run-down building that floods when it rains and everyone has to bail out the water.</p>
<p>She said the teacher was incredibly interested in the students and had prepared tons of notes to work with them on their Ibsen scenes. The students were friendly in a “middle of the road” way that made her comfortable: not obnoxiously welcoming and not stand-offish. They approached her and introduced themselves by name and shook hands and were very welcoming. (We had theatre students approach us when we were on our tour, too). D said they seemed a bit more mature than a few other schools she’s visited. She asked them how they felt about the program and they expressed lots of love.</p>
<p>I can see how this conservatory–especially the rehearsal/class space wouldn’t be for everyone. They were unapologetic about that, which is good, I think. They do have three stages/theaters that are very nice. The teachers have very humble office spaces, too, but choose to work here among (paraphrase) “students who are eager to learn” and “staff who are wonderful to work with.” Webster felt professional, smart, and unpretentious. </p>
<p>Their last auditions are this weekend on campus, and we’ll hear April 1, I think. My D can see herself there. I can see her there, too. I think students may be missing out on a very good program since it hasn’t gotten much exposure on this forum.</p>
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<p>I meant Chekov scenes.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for writing about your visit to Webster! Very helpful!</p>