<p>I don't know what to think of this school. Some reviews rave about the opportunities that they were given, and rave about how much faculty helps them, and how great the academics are, and then others are quite less optimistic. Some even warn explicitly NOT to go there. I would love to attend this school basing off what I've seen, but those negative reviews are still in the back of my head. So what is Columbia's reputation in the theatre world, and will I regret wasting four years of my life once I get out? Because I don't want to drain thousands of dollars away for a sub-par education.</p>
<p>Personally, I have only heard excellent things on the program. One of my good friends who went to Walden Theatre with me currently is a senior there and she loves it. It is a little less traditional, but they do have GREAT networking opportunities. I have been accepted into the program for Fall 2013. I am waiting on that though. I’d prefer to go a more traditional route with a BFA with a more liberal arts academic setting. Columbia Chicago does offer a diverse student body and unique way of running things, which attracts me to the school, but it isn’t right for everybody. I hope you are able to decide what is best for you specifically.
Good Luck!</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID RAZR using CC</p>
<p>I graduated from CCC in 1998, with a BA in Theatre Directing. (My information may be out of date)</p>
<p>I chose the CCC program because at the time it was the only undergraduate program I could find in Theatre Directing, and also because of their “hands on” approach to teaching, which is how I learn. That’s not for everyone. One of my fellow students once said to me “I didn’t know it would be like this–I didn’t know we would be required to direct plays, I thought we would sit in a classroom and someone would tell us how to direct plays!” He was in the wrong program!</p>
<p>CCC is very low on the “snob appeal” list. Because they have an open admissions policy, they pretty much take anyone with a high school diploma. Also there is a prejudice that people like me who are “hands on” learners are somehow stupid (not true of me at least, I have a MENSA level IQ). There are some students who go to Columbia just to take some courses, and who are not interested in completing a degree.</p>
<p>For a long time it was considered a “desperation” school that people only applied to when they couldn’t get in anywhere else. But that was beginning to change when I was a student there (it was my first choice). I think it has continued to change since I graduated, and more and more is becoming a first choice arts school.</p>
<p>Remember that all of the faculty in each major are working artists in their field. So all of the theatre faculty are theatre professionals. It is very much a Chicago theatre school, so the training is grounded in the approach of Viola Spolin, pretty much the approach of the “Chicago” style of acting.</p>
<p>I noticed that a lot of people transferred to CCC from DePaul, but I never heard of anyone choosing to transfer to DePaul from CCC.</p>
<p>The approach at CCC a lot more laid back and informal (although there is a strict attendance policy). Students are pretty much expected to discipline themselves to study their subject, which some people can’t handle.</p>
<p>Remember that in the acting world nobody really cares where you went to college, as long as you have the skills they are looking for. And CCC is as good a place as any to pick up those skills. (and many people are able to pick up these skills without even going to college at all)</p>
<p>I’m interested in going into stage directing, so I can’t really get a job based on talent. Bottom line, will I be able to get some sort of job in technical theatre after graduating. My plan is to get a BFA in directing, and then just kind of hop from city to city, finding jobs/internships in theatre and then going into an MFA directing program. That’s my final goal.</p>
<p>Okay, “Bottom Line”.</p>
<p>CCC Technical Theatre graduates find themselves in high demand when they graduate, and are certainly able to find work.</p>
<p>However, neither Acting nor Directing are “Technical Theatre”. Actors and Directors are both people who rely on talent and networking to get their jobs. I would not assume that you are going to get offered jobs simply because you have a BFA in Theatre Directing, no matter where you got your degree from.</p>
<p>I know I sound like a broken record, but the advice I keep giving people is to identify folks who currently have your “dream job”, the people who are now doing the work that you want to someday do. Then research what paths they followed to get where they are.</p>
<p>(Does CCC still offer a BFA?)</p>
<p>Here is a list of the degrees they offer: [Columbia</a> College Chicago : Academics](<a href=“Page Not Found - Columbia College Chicago”>Page Not Found - Columbia College Chicago).</p>
<p>As with any school, some find true success at CCC and others do not. I hate the snobbery around schools as those who react with such drama usually do not know anything about the program, the instructors or the alumni. Every student needs to determine for themselves if a program suits their needs.</p>