<p>bgb,</p>
<p>I don't know anything specifically about their theatre program...I do know however that they have incredibly gifted music students and that their campus is very beautiful. It's a highly selective college....academically. Best known for their medical program.</p>
<p>SUE aka 5pants</p>
<p>info about the MT program?</p>
<p>bump for tothestage</p>
<p>Look to 5pants and Sissy.
They both have children in the MT program at Webster.
One is a former student of mine and I know she is extremely happy.
They can give you more details.</p>
<p>Good luck,
xx,Mary Anna</p>
<p>P.S. I was just in St. Louis yesterday and it is a great city.</p>
<p>My S and I attended the Performing and Visual Arts College Fair at UCLA this afternoon. Many of the top tier theater and MT programs were not at the event. Our list of schools to visit was a bit short, but we did get to Webster. </p>
<p>After a lengthy discussion with the school represesntative, we were both quite interested in further exploration with Webster. The distinguishing features of the program as well as post-degree employment were articulately communicated to us. </p>
<p>It's nice to know there are personal connections to Webster via CC that my S can tap into.</p>
<p>If you PM me, I can put you in touch with them. I just had dinner with my former student two nights ago, she is in Dallas for Fall break. </p>
<p>I can't tell you how impressed we all are with the program. It is a conservatory styled virtual boot camp for freshmen and mucho intense. In fact, there was a freshman (who was also accepted at CCM) who has already bowed out. The program proved to be too tough for her.</p>
<p>My student was one of 6 girls taken into the MT program, so it's much more selective than some of the other big name schools. I suppose it's not for the faint of heart.</p>
<p>Let me know if you want to get in touch with them.</p>
<p>xxx,Mary Anna</p>
<p>I'm glad you are talking about Webster as it sounds like a wonderful program. </p>
<p>You comment: "My student was one of 6 girls taken into the MT program, so it's much more selective than some of the other big name schools." The number of kids taken is not what determines selectivity. Rather it is the acceptance rate. Even if a program has 20 kids or 50 kids, it can be just as selective as a program with 12 kids if each of these programs has an acceptance rate of 5% (just an example of the acceptance rate at several "big name" schools). In determining selectivity, one can't go by how many they took but what percentage they took of those who auditioned.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Thank you. I still think of Webster as selective</p>
<p>Yes, it DEFINITELY is. I did not mean to imply that it is not selective. It very much is selective. I meant that it is not MORE selective necessarily than a "big name" school due to only having six freshmen girls. It might be equal in selectivity to a school with more girls where more also auditioned. That was all I meant. Certainly Webster is a school worth looking into as a demanding wonderful selective program.</p>
<p>There are actually two parameters to consider about selectivity:
- How many people auditioned vs. how many excepted - but also, what lengths does the school go to in recruiting, advertising, audition tours, etc so they have large numbers auditioning - as well as - what is the quality of the auditioners.
- The real litmus test is - of the schools top-rated auditioners - what percentage of the top picks then actually attended that school - of course, only the schools themselves know that statistic.</p>
<p>Aside from that - another large consideration is does the school has a de-selection process at the end of the second year - such schools accept many more students than they expect to graduate - they plan on reduceing their ranks as they progress. Other schools do their selection with incoming freshmen - and they expect that the students the accept will be the ones they graduate.</p>
<p>In the end - it is the over-all college experience and training the students recieve - not the selectivity that matters</p>
<p>I am bumping this for Elliottsmom. I have Ss who both attend Webster for MT. If you would like a mom's or students' perspectives feel fee to PM me.</p>
<p>Webster does not select a certain number of students it takes year to year....it varies from 25-35 (combined acting and MT students) over the last two years.</p>
<p>SUE</p>
<p>mtdog71-</p>
<p>You wrote: "In the end - it is the over-all college experience and training the students recieve - not the selectivity that matters"</p>
<p>I couldn't agree more!! AND to you all prospective students out there trying to absorb good perspective that is truly what matters!!</p>
<p>I hate to see two Webster Threads taking up valuable space....any chance CollegeMom could integrate the two?</p>
<p>SUE</p>
<p>Maybe the moderator can combine the two Webster threads.</p>
<p>As to what mtdog says. THANK YOU! It is so true of course that the training is the important thing. I couldn't agree more. I wish more students and parents would remember that! They seem to get wrapped up in the name recognition of the schools and loose sight of that. I am battling that every year with student and parents.</p>
<p>Webster is such a perfect example of a not so recognizable school with a high selectivity rating. I am sure mtdog was not implying anything about Webster in his/her comments, but just to clarify and because this thread is entitiled Webster, let me say that Peter Sargeant is a very active recruiter. He sees about 250 students alone in Dallas every year. Then goes to all 5 cities of the UNIFIEDS and also to Atlanta and maybe other cities. This is in addition to the auditions they hold on campus. </p>
<p>I was told, and this is not official, that Webster auditioned over 500 students for MT and Theatre combined last year. Although I don't know the total number of offers, it is enough for me to know that my student is one of 6 freshmen girls attending in MT. That is selective in my book. And she is getting what I believe to be excellent training with select other students who are of the highest caliber. </p>
<p>Some of the more well known schools may auditon more students but they take so many more. As mtdog says, what matters is the training. This other ratio figuring is all just a math lesson as far as I am concerned and unimportant in the grand scheme.</p>
<p>Where Webster does bend a little is in academics. But because of the conservatory styled training, I think that is appropriate.</p>
<p>xxx,Mary Anna</p>
<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I just wanted to clarify - my remarks on selectivity and what does it really mean were generic - not about Webster. I know more than the average bear about MT schools - however, I do not really know Webster - I've only known one student to attend there - and he was a very talanted young man. I am new to this posting thing - I am only offering opinions and occasionally - if I am familiar with an issue some advice.</p>
<p>I just merged the two threads we have on Webster into one so all information is in one spot. When threads are merged, the posts fall into sequential order so please realize when reading more recent posts that they may feel out of sequence as the posts are meshed with posts from a second discussion. </p>
<p>CollegeMom</p>
<p>Thank you CollegeMom!! Your willingness to keep us all organized is greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>SUE</p>
<p>For those of you interested in Webster I thought it might be nice to post their theatre reviews FYI. I will post as available, but here is the most recent (" The Memory of Water") and two archived reviews from this 2005-2006 season.</p>
<p>The Memory of Water <a href="http://www.kdhx.org/reviews/memory_of_water.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.kdhx.org/reviews/memory_of_water.html</a></p>
<p>Bye Bye Birdie <a href="http://www.kdhx.org/reviews/bye_bye_birdie_0511.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.kdhx.org/reviews/bye_bye_birdie_0511.html</a></p>
<p>Our Country's Good <a href="http://www.kdhx.org/reviews/our_countrys_good_0510.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.kdhx.org/reviews/our_countrys_good_0510.html</a></p>
<p>Im looking up schools with MT departments and Webster is one that I'm interested in. I was wondering if anyone can tell me the difficulty and the actual requirements for auditioning. What strengths are most importants to the judges for getting in?</p>
<p>BE_Kaz,</p>
<p>I think it is safe to say that Webster is an acting heavy school. Definitely let your acting shine through when you sing your songs.</p>
<p>Requirements for auditioning can be found at this link: <a href="http://www.webster.edu/depts/finearts/theatre/Assets/conservepages/howtoaudition.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.webster.edu/depts/finearts/theatre/Assets/conservepages/howtoaudition.html</a>
There is no dance audition required, but if you have a dance background, I would certainly mention it in your interview with those that are watching your audition. Many students who are in the program have extensive dance backgrounds.</p>
<p>Also, if you haven't done so, I would do as much homework on the Webster Conservatory program as possible, just as you should do with all schools you are auditioning for. I think it is always good to be able to <em>sincerely</em> share things that you have learned about through researching their school. Not only is it good for you to learn these things but it is also flattering to them that you took the time.</p>
<p>Break a leg!!</p>
<p>Is there a higher ratio girls to boys?
How much experience is really important to the school? (So far as a junior i've been in choir for 3 years, voice lessons of 5 years, school production of IRENE (soph yr), and I'm in Theater Arts as a junior. I'll be auditioning for St.Louis Childrens Choir Jan 5 and for the school production of Hello Dolly in late Jan too.)
As you can probably tell that I dont have to much experience in acting b/c I was always the shy kid growing up, but now I love acting! I actually hate performing as myself like at choir performances, but when I'm a different person in a performance it feels almost more natural and a lot less stressful!
Whats the competition like for getting in?
Do they have a lot of strong male voices there?
(Singing is def. my strong point. I'm a baritone/tenor II.)
Also I dont have much dancing background, but in IRENE I was a in the chorus and i was and upperclass young man. I learned that I pick up dance fairly quick. I had to learn a Ragtime dance, Foxtrot, and a waltz.</p>