thegreatargos

hey guys ive been reading this forum for almost a year now, but today is my first day posting... for good reason!

I was one of the many students inexplicably cut from the University of Arizona program last year... but I am happy to say that today, after a year of not knowing what was going to happen to me, I got a letter of acceptance from The Theatre School at DePaul... and also a call from Barbara MacKenzie at Carnegie Mellon, an acceptance to the BFA Acting Program! Things really do happen for a reason! Don't lose hope!!! Im a male actor, entering the class next year as a freshman...

sha22

Thanks so much lrolfescin and tell your daughter congrats!

ElliottsMom

Can we assume that you'll accept the CMU offer (since DePaul has an extensive cut system)?? Congrats to you and thanks for letting us know the outcome.

thegreatargos

the cut system is scary yes, but I believe that hard work and talent will pay off anywhere you go. DePaul is also offering me a talent scholarship, which is excellent.

However, yes I do plan on visiting Carnegie Mellon soon, and from the reputation of the program, I do not forsee myself declining their acceptance.

briansteffy

For those of us new to this process, I would like to hear about programs that cut for reasons other than poor grades, poor attendence, non-contribution to expected crew assignments, poor attitude. I have read the web sites of many programs and have noted those programs that require the student to re-audition at the end of the first, and perhaps at the end of the second, even third year. I understand this, but, as a consumer, I would like to know which programs have PARTICULARLY BAD reputations for cutting. DePaul and Arizona have been named. Are there others? As a consumer, as a teacher, and as an active CC participant, I think that there is nothing wrong with 'naming names'.

NotMamaRose

thegreatargos, does this mean you have to begin all over again as a freshman? I recall someone posting on the MT forum that CMU does not take transfers are transfers ... that students who are already in college and audition must begin as freshmen. Of course, it would definitely be worth it, I would think, to get an education at CMU. Congratulations!

thegreatargos

yes mam.

they are being very kind and trying to transfer as many of my gen-ed credits as possible, but its just not possible to bring any of my BFA/BA credits from the U of Arizona because of the differences in training and the conservatory style, which I have understood fully throughout the process.

All four schools that I had applied to would have required me to start over as a freshman (DePaul and CMU included), which is actually how I wanted to do it, I didn't want to miss out on the conservatory experience just because of my bad experience at the u of a.

FollowYourDreams

Wow, all this talk about CMU is getting me nervous! It was strange...someone from another thread said that they had called the CMU admissions office and the administrator said that NOBODY (which was capitilized) would know until close to April 1st...well, I guess this wkend is what they meant by "close." In any case, I think about 3-4 people from the MT thread have heard about acceptances by phone (either they themselves or a friend). I have not received anything from CMU except a "financial aid" flyer in the mail...

On a brighter side, so far I've been accepted into U Evansville, U Michigan, SMU, and NYU (just got the unofficial letter for Tisch today!).
I was also waitlisted for DePaul and deferred for Otterbein.

Right now I'm in the middle of very intense, meticulous research regarding which one is the best fit for me (and it isn't easy since I respect all of them!) -any suggestions based on rep/training???

Also, the only mail I've received from USC is the Open House invitation which "does not constitute admission" and a card saying "Thank you for taking the time to audition for us" -did anybody else get a card like that? Does USC send it to everyone who auditioned?

Thanks 4 reading and good luck to EVERYONE!!!

MotherMoo

FollowYourDreams,

My D received the invitation for the Open House and few days later she got her acceptance. D didn't audition, she wants to double major so she applied for the BA - Theatre. There is another mom on the forum whose D auditioned for BFA Theatre -Acting; they received the thank you note and the invitation to the Open House. They also received the acceptance letter few days after.

accept

Followyourdreams I posted this on MT also, my daughter received the invite and the note and acceptance to the USC BFA! Woo Hoo! So now she does the research on the different programs and waits to hear from 5 more. Would love to hear the info you gather if you are willing to share. Thanks and a big CONGRATULATIONS to all these talented, dedicated students!

eloisel

Received thank you note from USC about a week ago, but nothing since. Did your note come before invite?

accept

Yes, my daughter was accepted first to the school of theatre, and then to the BFA program.

pennmom

Hi, I'm another mother who has been lurking here for quite a while. I appreciate all the information I found and the stories people shared. It saved me from bugging my son with my worries more than need be.
Anyway, he now has the good fortune to be accepted to his two top theater schools - CMU and SUNY Purchase. Any thoughts on the difference between these two programs, other than the obvious one of cost?

NotMamaRose

Yikes, pennmom, what a wonderful dilemma to have! Both are fabulous programs at the tippy top of the "prestige" scale. If I were you, I would make the decision based on fit, from the curriculum to which place feels right to your son. You are lucky to have this decision to make.

alwaysamom

pennmom, congratulations to your son! I think that other than the obvious difference of cost, you should be looking at a few different comparisons, if you haven't already done so. First, the curriculum offered at each. If possible, check it for ALL four years, not just freshman year. Ask if every course is offered every year, and whether courses have been added or eliminated in each year recently. One issue with SUNYs, in general, is, concerns with funding which have definitely affected some campuses, including Purchase, but I'm not certain whether or not the Acting program has felt those concerns.

Secondly, in conjunction with that curriculum research, I would realistically see where your son might feel a better fit, keeping in mind that CMU is generally a more selective school academically than Purchase. One comment I've heard over the years from kids we know who have gone to Purchase is that there is not the uniformity of strong academic students. This is anecdotal, I admit, but I have never heard that kind of comment from the kids we know who have gone to CMU.

Location is likely to be a point of discussion here between the two and Purchase may look more attractive due to its closer proximity to NYC. I guess each student has to determine if that really is an important factor, and how often they'd be visiting the city, and also, for what purpose.

Both have an impressive list of alumni. Personally, if money isn't a major consideration, I'd go with CMU.