Hi there my name is Miranda. I've posted a few times before and received a lot of helpful advice in deciding what I want from college so I'm hoping for some more help, haha.
Of the colleges I applied I was accepted to SUNY Fredonia and Le Moyne College while I was waitlisted at Muhlenberg College.
Muhlenberg is my dream school and in the chance I should get off the waitlist I won't hesitate to enroll. But time is dragging on, it's June and I'm still on the waitlist. So in the meantime I want to decide between Fredonia and Le Moyne. So let's have a run down of information, shall we?
I want to study Theatre for a BA degree. Essentially I would like to study for Musical Theatre but I'm thinking I could study Theatre and then add the dance and voice lessons on the side.
I also want to have equal focuses on performing AND costume design. Both those aspects of theatre are very important to me.
I'm having thoughts of double majoring my Theatre studies with English (possibly a creative writing focus) and I'd like to have a History minor.
All my friends say I should attend Le Moyne but I feel they're only giving that answer because it seems "more prestigious" than a SUNY school. I just want to attend the school where I can receive the best training for the things I want.
I am surprised you still have the ability to enroll at both schools considering many schools have deadlines of May 1, but that's great for you. Have you thoroughly explored the websites yet? Both that of the school and the departments? Have you visited? Find the course catalog to review the classes required for each major and minor at each school to see if the courses interest you. If you can't meet in person, prepare a list of questions, concerns and things that interest you about each school, then call the heads of the departments and tell them you are having a hard time deciding between their school and another. Ask what sets them apart. Call admissions and ask for the name of a current student you can call to ask general questions about the school, and ask for a current student in your possible majors to call. Do as much research as you can, then make your decision. And pay attention to what your gut is telling you.
Well I live in the Syracuse area and saw a very good performance at Lemoyne College this year. There is a wonderful dance studio near the school you could attend for classes and some great voice teachers in the area that I could hook you up with if you choose to do so. I am not sure where you live in proximity to either school though. You can PM for any info. I do know a few students attending SUNY Fredonia for Music ed but not MT.
I would suggest you find someone in the program, probably the department head, and ask them about studying both design and performance in their program. While almost every program gives at least a smattering of every aspect of theater to everyone regardless of emphasis, sometimes it's as little as one or two classes of design for a performance major or the opposite for a design major - and there isn't really enough time or there are other obstacles against simply adding more classes, and those schools will tell you that you really need to pick one or the other.
Other schools are set up so that it is much easier to have two areas of emphasis.
My daughter felt much the same way but the school that would have allowed her to major and minor in theater ended up not being affordable so she chose a school with a very good BA rather than a BFA because there was more flexibility even though they didn't really offer a major and minor option in theater. You are wise to look at BA programs because they are usually more flexible but even so they vary a great deal from school to school.
So I would suggest you explore that aspect of each school in depth and you might find it much clearer which you think is better for you.
I am a SUNY Fredonia student so I can answer all and any questions on the program here! I'm actually a BA with a creative writing minor, so I know what I'm talking about.
If you want my honest unbiased answer...choosing a school because it's "more prestigious" is the bull***** way to do it. Perhaps they've appear to be more successful but will they help you be successful? Pick the school that you think you will do your best at, which ever one that may be. Visit the schools if you can, look at what each program offers and talk to people who go there. I can be your Fredonia friend if you need one!
^^^ agree.^^^ Prestige is not the same thing as quality and fit. Sometimes prestige is on account of quality, but not always, and fit is the most important factor IMO.
