So I’ve very recently (today) absolutely fallen in love with Temple. I’m a bit nervous about applying, though, because my GPA falls a bit short of their mark, but I think everything else is on par with what they look for.
College Prep Private high school, unsure if we rank or not, class size 95.
GPA Weighted 85, which I believe is around a 3.1 or 3.2. Didn't take school that seriously as a freshman and sophomore, which I regret; I remember passing French 3 with a 65. But I've since turned that around, scoring 85-92 in most of my classes last quarter.
SAT 1790 (Reading 620, Math 570, Writing 600), waiting on another SAT score that'll probably bring that up into the 1800's
Considering SAT Subject tests (I only have a few more days to decide this; should I go for it? Will probably take US History, Literature, and something else)
Classes: 4 years of English, 4 years of Math, 4 years of lab Science, 4 years of Social Studies, 4 years of Performing Arts, 3 years of Foreign Language (HS level French 1 taken in middle school), and other things that my school specifically requires, like 2 years of Business credits and 4 semesters of Religion credits
AP Classes; Music Theory, English Literature, considering self-study Psychology and/or US Government (my school doesn't offer either)
Honors Classes: Social Studies 9-12, English 9, Biology 9
Extracurricular: Vice President of Music Club (Member 10-12, VP 11-12), Drama Club (9-12), Gospel Choir (9-12), Science Olympiad (10-12), Yearbook (12), Prom Committee (12), and, best for last, Theater productions outside of school (11-12); I spend anywhere from 6 to 12 hours a week for over half the school year and most of the summer doing musical productions.
I want to double major if I’m accepted, and I’m very interested in their Theater B.A. program, with the Musical Theater concentration. I do have some questions, if anyone knows anything about their Theater department.
How many opportunities do students have, preferably on campus but perhaps in community theaters near campus in the city, if they exist, to perform in musicals? Not plays, musicals specifically.
Is it doable to double major in Theater and something not related to Theater? I want to pursue my passion in a big way while also coming out of college undoubtedly employable, which is why I’m interested in a double major.
I guess those are the only two burning questions; I’ll probably bring up these questions to admissions people as well but wanted to ask here first. Thanks so much if you read this far!
i will tackle theatre questions later. Ask theatre dept too. MT concentration is very competitive just so you know, and yes, there are options and connections to be in theatre throughout city.
But back to theatre dept, my son intended to major in theatre, he changed his mind his senior year in high school for reasons unrealetd to Temple’s theatre dept, But at any rate, due to him being a prospective theatre student, i can vouch the theatre profs are very approachable, they respond to emails, and they will gladly answer many questions you have. if you ask, i suspect they will get you in touch with theatre students too. Good luck!
Is there any way that you know of that I could contact some of their theater teachers? and is there any number on how competitive it is; how many audition and how many get in?
mt is very very competiive. contact professor peter reynolds. get on temple theatre website to learn who profs are and you can fidn their emails frmo there. i think, Reynolds was and lilkely still in in charge of mt but he oversees other aspects of theatre too. Very nice guy.
i think mt may have sevral hundred applicants for less than 20 spots but i could be wrong on both counts, there may be even be more than 1k applicants, but please ask Prof Reynolds directly. more girls apply than guys.
in teh past, theatre(not MT, just plain theatre) was BA only. no audition to get in but at some point, you have to audition to take higher level classes. if i follwed professor reynolds correctly, even without an audition you might be able to take those classes but needed permission from a prof to do so. When my son applied 2 years ago, he was admitted to theatre BA program at same time he was admitted to Temple, i think the BA is fairily or maybe very open on admissions. however, that was 2 years ago so things may have changed.
im back, your scholastics are in range to get into Temple, not a slam dunk admit but you are in the range.
As i noted above, MT is very competitive so don’t hold your breath on an admit for that. By all means audition, though, with 4 years of performing arts, it;s likely you’ve done a lot of acting and musicals already. if you are admitted to MT concentration, i believe you may have chance to perform on campus. not sure how that totally works out but that is my impression.
i missread one of your questions. there are a lot of theaters in philly and some are easy to take subway to and from Temple. i don;t know ratio of who does plays and musicals though.
From what i remember, it would be very hard to double major with MT concentration. i believe most of the double majors just go for the theatre BA to pull that off. Still, i imagine it could be doable with a very well planned course study, Also, consider the MT concentration but just taking classes in your other field of interest, not enough to get a double major but at least some background in that field. That may be doable.
i think there is a Temple musical theatre thread in MT section on college confidential. i don;t think there are many posts there but have not looked at in awhile so maybe there are some updated posts i dont know about. Temple is a good place to study theatre due to several options: the MT concentration you are looking at, a MFA program. and the BA in theatre but not MT. These 3 combos give you a chance to meet a lot of people passionate about theatre and make those connections. i have heard good things about many of the profs.
