<p>I wonder if that creates competition within the class?</p>
<p>Yes, it does. We know a couple of kids in programs like this. It’s not all bad but there is definitely an added element of stress. For the survivors there are many positives.</p>
<p>My son says that at Ithaca they have to pass an evaluation every semester, that often most of them get put “on probation,” and he presumes some people are probably urged to reconsider their major. But it’s not a cut system, he tells me, because there’s not a quota or anything.</p>
<p>I think you would find that every school has a hurdle system which in could lead to being cut. If you don’t do the work, or can’t, you fail. But schools that deliberately set out cut to a certain number which might also mean eliminating people that are doing the work and can, are few in number. Are there any left?</p>
<p>I believe Emerson still does the quota thing, and CSU Fullerton…maybe U of Arizona…but I don’t know for sure.</p>
<p>I think every MT program (worth its salt) has a system in place to eliminate those who are not performing up to expectations. Whether or not the school overtly refers to it as a “cut system” is another matter. When my son auditioned last year, I asked every single program this question and got nearly an identical answer everywhere. Some schools (like Emerson) are very upfront with their information and say we will cut half at the end of the first year (a quota system that seems very unfair)…others simply say you must do the work and meet the expectations to stay in the program. My son is finishing his first semester and has had “juries” to pass for voice and dance, for instance. I would assume that all programs with any integrity have this evaluation/promotion process in place.</p>
<p>Emerson no longer has a cut system. It was eliminated as of this year.</p>
<p>Every program in every college has a cut/hurdle system…they are called grades.</p>
<p>That’s an interesting thought, ManVan, and of course you’re right about grades being “hurdles,” but it’s not the same thing as a predetermined number to which the class must be cut. Fortunately, most places seem to have eliminated that practice.</p>
<p>from doing the rounds last year it does seem as long as you are progressing and putting in the effort you will continue to advance. Most of the schools stated that the students that are asked to “find” another major are not surprised. The are evaluated all the time and are talked too long before they are"cut". Also many who are not prepared for the rigors of the BFA program decide by the end of freshman year to change.</p>
<p>Arizona may be the only major MT program left with a cut system. They are pretty upfront about it on their website:</p>
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<p>While these statements do not, on the surface, seem particularly draconian, there are several threads on the Arizona sub-forum that describe (at least to me), a fairly ruthless approach. The statements from the Faculty at Arizona are very interesting to read. The trouble with these sorts of approaches is the fundamental bias present in all of us through our basic human nature, it takes a considerable amount of objective oversight to ensure that rank-and-yank programs are conducted with fairness. The dreaded “F” word always seems to show up: favoritism. There always seems to be a bit of “Russian figure-skating judge” in the system.</p>
<p>However, faculty members transition with time, and things change, so it is always best to ask a program directly what their current system is. As noted above, Emerson has dropped their numerical-quota based cut system.</p>