College of Santa Fe

artsymom · 08-22-2005, 11:38 AM

Just got back to Maryland last night after moving our D (only child!!) into College of Santa Fe for MT. The whole orientation program went wonderfully, and she couldn't be more excited. Despite my participation in the move-in and our big good-bye, I think I haven't quite yet realized that she's not just gone for a few days...though her room at home IS suspiciously neat and clean! It's gonna be tough...but I'm so happy for her.

If anyone wants to find out more about CSF -- very small college, arts-heavy with highly regarded programs in various arts fields (MT, acting, design/tech, film, photo, studio art, creative writing), lots of personal attention, students who love being there, and located in one of the most beautiful and arts-oriented locations one could imagine -- please let me know. I'll keep you updated on the feedback and anecdotes I get from my D!

believersmom · 08-22-2005, 03:13 PM

Oh yes...

D is very interested in this one. We would love an upclose & personal take on it. Please keep us posted.

On a personal note, hang in there and try not to be too lonely. I can't imagine how you must feel. I have a couple years yet to go and I'm already getting teary, when the time comes I'm sure to be a mess...

artsymom · 08-24-2005, 03:22 PM

Believersmom, I'm happy to hear your D is interested in CSF! It's definitely not (or not yet) on many people's radar, and it's not in the geographical swath of the country that contains most of the schools that are generally listed as "top" for MT. But it's DEFINITELY not in a cultural backwater! And based on how my D's reaction and that of other freshmen there, as well as the opinions of some upperclassmen, I feel confident in saying that for those kids for whom it's a "fit," it's a great fit. Several kids we met had had the option of going to better-known MT or acting programs but had chosen CSF because it felt right to them.

A little story: We made our first visit to CSF (our first visit to Santa Fe, for that matter) last summer. Knowing that we were coming out there from Maryland, the theatre faculty invited my D to audition while we were there. (Nice, huh? I know that other kids auditioned at unifieds.) The night before the audition, we went to a restaurant called La Casa Sena Cantina, where the wait staff sings Broadway tunes. Our 30-something waitress had been on Broadway (I'm sorry to say I don't remember what shows) but had ultimately decided to settle in Santa Fe, raise a family and be a realtor...but of course she still HAD to sing, so she also works at the Cantina. We told her that my D was auditioning, and after all the other customers had left, she sat down at the piano and helped her with her audition songs. It was wonderful. Last week in Santa Fe we happened to bump into her, and she was very pleased to hear that my D is going to CSF. "It's a great school," she said. (We went back to the Cantina, too, but she wasn't working that night.)

My D's feedback -- limited, of course -- is almost entirely wildly positive. CSF has an interesting approach to core courses, and my D loves hers. (I'll describe it in another post if you're interested -- right now I'm on a borrowed computer because my internet's down, and I can't stay on long.) She has so far also raved about her adviser (a theatre faculty member), her dance teacher and the other students she's been getting to know. There is one red flag at this point: she didn't like the one session she's had with her private voice teacher. But she was confident that she could work things out, even if that meant working with her adviser to switch teachers.

Please let me know what else you'd like to find out!

5pants · 10-09-2005, 06:09 PM

DG,

Artysmom began this thread awhile back. I am bumping it for you, perhaps our moderator could join the two so we don't have two of the same threads?

DG-I am certain artsymom would be more than happy to answer any questions for you if you email her. Her d is a freshman at Santa Fe and loves it there.

Sue aka 5pants

artsymom · 10-09-2005, 10:04 PM

In the hope that DefyingGravity04 -- and anyone else interested in College of Santa Fe -- will check this thread, I'm cobbling together some things I posted on other threads.

Yes, my D is an MT freshman at CSF. It's a long way from home -- we live in Maryland -- and we found out about the school completely by chance at a college fair. We visited last summer, she loved it and was able to audition while we were there, and she got accepted quite soon afterward. She subsequently thought she preferred other programs but, as the chips fell, she wound up at CSF......and now it seems like one of those things where the stars just aligned themselves properly. Ask her now, and she'll tell you she wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

CSF is a VERY small college, arts-heavy with highly regarded programs in various arts fields (MT, acting, design/tech, film, photo, studio art, contemporary music, creative writing), lots of personal attention, students who love being there, and located in one of the most beautiful and arts-oriented locations one could imagine. It doesn’t have the traditional rah-rah atmosphere that some people really want at college, so it's not for everyone -- but the kids it suits, it suits very well. We were just out there for Family Weekend and had a fantastic time.

As for MT specifically -- CSF doesn't generally make the so-called "MT Ivy" list, but it's certainly a very well-respected program, and my D's absolutely loving it. She already feels that she's growing tremendously in her MT studies. I could already hear evidence of that in her singing -- it's stronger, richer, more open, more rounded. She went to CSF with 7 years of private voice lessons that her CSF voice teacher has deemed "beautiful training," but even with that the strides she's made were noticeable. I didn't get to see anything of her dance or acting, but she's excited about those, too. She's definitely working hard...but of course it's things she's passionate about. (I'm sure I don't have to explain!!) The toughest course for her is costuming -- the girl has zero experience with a sewing machine, and now she's having to learn! Also, btw, she loves the non-MT interdisciplinary core course that she's taking.

DG04, please PM or email me with any questions, etc., and I can also put you in touch with my D. She can certainlyl tell you in more detail about the school in general and MT in particular, and you can count on her to be honest about anything she doesn’t like as well as about all the things she likes.

DefyingGravity04 · 10-10-2005, 11:38 AM

thank you so much artsymom. I will most definitly take you up on that. You mentioned your D. inital choices were more of the known MT schools. Which ones if I may ask, and what made ehr change her mind? Also what is the curriculum like? I was looking at the site and it looks very intersting, plus I come from NYC and I HATE cold weather so being in a warm climate is a huge plus for me though ironcilly most of the schools im intersted in are in places like Ohio and Ok.

artsymom · 10-10-2005, 10:47 PM

DefyingGravity04 -- I sent you a PM.

momofthreeboys · 12-19-2005, 07:08 PM

Just found this thread. My son is interested in this college and I'm just now piecing a March quick trip together. We fortunately have very good friends who moved to Santa Fe last year and have been begging my husband and I to visit. We are in Michigan and visited some CA schools over Thanksgiving, but this school hit my son's hot button - at least on the web. He loves history, loves writing, loves design, loves humanities...the documentary program got him excited.

lynnm · 12-19-2005, 08:50 PM

pm artsymom - she can help you with information (and she's just the nicest person)!

fluffqueen01@aol.com · 02-09-2006, 10:09 AM

My daughter auditioned as a walk-in at the Chicago Unifieds and felt very good. The chair gave her his card and told her to get online and apply immediately, which we are doing.

What do you know about their dance classes? She is a fairly advanced dancer and doesn't want to lose those skills. The teacher at the Boston Conservatory dance audition asked her to consider applying for the dance program.

She's not that into a ballet focus and loves the combination of all three things. If anyone has any knowledge, let me know.

travellinghopefully · 04-05-2006, 10:59 PM

So how is your D liking CSF?Mine will apply this fall for 2007 in acting. We know Santa Fe well and love it.

Kamaro · 06-10-2006, 04:32 AM

Do you know anything about the visual arts at CSF? I'm considering applying there.

artfamily · 06-11-2006, 08:42 AM

What type of visual arts are you interested in? My son is beginning in CSF's Moving Image Arts (MOV) program in the fall. VERY good program with outstanding resources and facilities. MOV is basically film studies. Check the link: http://www.csf.edu/csf/academics/mov/index.html

Kamaro · 06-13-2006, 12:46 AM

I'm interested mostly in painting, but I want to be able to take a variety of classes.

BE_Kaz · 11-18-2006, 03:20 PM

Hey I have a problem. I'm doing all of my college applications and SF was on my college list and while going through and researching more. I found out that SF does not offer jazz dancing classes for musical theater or at all, only ballet and tap. I think I may have to take SF off of my college list.

DO you know if students go off and take jazz classes? bc i dont see how they can get enough training since jazz is the dance style of musical theater.