Transferring in to NYU etc?

angstridden · 07-17-2005, 09:08 AM

One of the girls that went to D.'s high school applied and was not accepted to NYU for MT. She went to American and then applied as a transfer her sophomore year to NYU and got in (though I am not sure if it was for MT or another major)
I was curious if they do take transfers in the MT program and if it is easier to transfer in than to get in as a freshman?
I am wondering about this for all schools as I think my D. is interested in several very hard to get into schools in CA...though she does not know what her major will be yet...it will be in the performance area.

wct · 07-17-2005, 12:00 PM

You can transfer into a BA program but I have not heard of anyone being able to transfer into a BFA program without starting at freshman standing.

For example I know someone who went to a junior college for 2 years and then transfered to USC (for theater). They would not let him transfer him into the BFA program at junior standing. He would have to start as a freshman. He decided he didn't want to give up his junior standing and is now a BA theater major at USC.

soozievt · 07-17-2005, 01:15 PM

I do not have all the answers to your questions on this, Angst. But I know you can transfer into Tisch. If you visit their webpages, it does mention transfers who also go through the artistic review.

One of my D's good friends and prior roomie at SDM, who just finished her freshman year at Tisch in Lee Strasburg Studio, has an older sister who transferred into Tisch (I think is also in Lee Strasburg Studio) from Tufts University. I cannot say whether you can transfer into CAP21 studio which is the only MT studio in Tisch. I have this gut feeling that you can't. The reason for my "feeling" is cause at Tisch Drama, for regular students (not talking transfers now), after two years, you can switch studios (they have 8 studios, but only one is for MT, the others are for acting). But at the presentation on the audition day, they said you could not switch INTO CAP21 after two years if you are in another studio. You can switch out of CAP21 into another studio after two years (my D just spent the night in NYC with a girl that did that and just graduated). So, if current students can't switch into CAP21 from an acting studio, I can't imagine letting in transfers to the CAP21 studio. But as I said, they DO allow transfers into Tisch Drama but I only know the girl who transferred from Tufts into Lee Strasburg Studio (acting). My D's friend (the younger sister of the transfer) who just finishsed her first year in Strasburg Studio, really wanted to switch to CAP21 and was not allowed to. So, I do not have the definitive answer for you if CAP21 will take transfers but they don't let kids switch from other studios into CAP21 after two years like they do allow other studio switching with the other studios after two years.....and as I said, you can TRANSFER into Tisch Drama itself, just not sure about the MT studio.

I would look for a college that your D loves and can get into without the thought of transferring. Find the match from the start.

Also, I doubt that it is easier to get in as a transfer than as a freshman because the standards are the same. They still audition on the same audition dates at Tisch. A transfer is vying for far less open slots than a freshman is. There are 60 slots for CAP21 freshmen and even that is hard to get one so I can't imagine the acceptance rate for a transfer when there must be very few open slots due to students having left the program early. So, I would not use that as a strategy. If anything, the chance of admission is even LESS as a transfer. Given that the odds are so difficult as a freshman, I can't imagine making them more difficult. I would instead go for it as a freshman and also find several other programs of interest.

Also, I would not apply to a theater program unless I wanted to immerse myself in theater. I know your D is interested in pop vocal performance and while a kid who goes to a theater program can also do that kind of stuff (I know a girl from SDM who goes to CAP but is also in a band), it is not aimed at vocal performance or contemporary music. I would seek at a program that is aimed at training in vocal performance in contemporary music such as Berklee. I once did the research for you on schools that offer that area in NYC or LA (your child's preference) and I would start with those. That is, unless she has decided she wants to focus on theater and not pop music. If theater is it, then Tisch is one of many excellent choices.
Susan

angstridden · 07-17-2005, 02:20 PM

She is not sure what she is going to major in except it will be performance related. I do not think she will major in MT, as a pop/acting career is her goal. She does want to go to school in CA or NY. And the schools she is interested in are very difficult to get into. UCLA and USC are two for example. These are in the location she wants to be.
I know your thought is to choose the program not the location but she feels strongly that she wants to go where she will be in a place where she may be able to start getting her career off the ground. And I see her point.
She would like to try to meet people, perhaps go to auditions etc and get her face out there while she is in college. So that will involve a move for her and I know she has always wanted to live in CA or NY.
She is a good student with mostly A's and a few B's and has good recs, awards etc. BUT I know that USC and UCLA are super hard to get into.

soozievt · 07-17-2005, 02:52 PM

Angst, a long while back on the Parent Forum, I had researched for you whatever programs I could find that had your D's interest and were located in NYC or LA areas. I would start with that list and come up with reach, match and safeties. I would not have her look into BFA in MT Programs because it is not worth being immersed in such intense programs like those unless her desire truly is MT. That is why I did a bit of research for you on programs that had music performance that included contemporary music (not just classical). I'd start there.

Susan

alwaysamom · 07-17-2005, 03:45 PM

Angst, transferring into Tisch does happen but very infrequently. It will depend on available openings which, frankly, don't happen often. If someone transfers from another college, they will have to start in freshman year of studio, regardless of their year at their previous college. Transfer admission is more difficult than freshman admission to these very selective programs. Not saying it's impossible, but it's very rare and definitely not something to count on. Then there's also the issue of starting over again, which more than likely will delay graduation, and in a program with costs nearing $50,000 a year, this isn't a viable option for a lot of students.

Susan, I'm not sure why they told you that students from other studios cannot transfer into CAP21 after two years in primary studio, unless they are changing their policy starting next year. My D has two friends who have done this and knows of several others through the years, from some of the other acting studios at Tisch. Those wishing to transfer after one year of studio, will be placed in freshman year at CAP21, if they get in, and those who have completed two years of primary studio, will be placed in second year of CAP21.

soozievt · 07-17-2005, 04:59 PM

AlwaysaMom, actually the details about switching studios within Tisch was EXTREMELY confusing and contradictory at the audition day presentation. The two women who ran it, as well as judged the auditions were not from CAP. One was a costume faculty and one was a faculty person in ETW. This question came up in the session (not from us). They talked about changing studios after two years. My understanding BEFORE we went to the auditions, was precisely what you stated in your post...that after two years, you could switch studios, either direction, into CAP, out of CAP and amongst all 8 studios. But when someone asked the exact question about if they did not get admitted to CAP but got another studio, if after two years, was it possible to switch INTO CAP and they said NO. I think someone even asked for clarification because it was not the understanding of many there including ourselves. I remember thinking, wow, this is different. Well, I guess it WAS different because it is what you said above which was what I thought before that day too! The audition day set up was not the greatest in my opinion and I have posted on another thread about that. But this particular day being the dance option day where every single one of the kids there was vying to get into CAP, there were NO CAP faculty, administrators, or students present. The auditions were not judged by voice faculty either. Getting information specific to CAP was difficult. There were no opportunities to chat with current CAP students (or any Tisch students) as there was at other BFA auditions.

Anyway, I agree with everything in your post with regard to transferring.

Susan

soozievt · 07-17-2005, 05:41 PM

AlwaysAMom, just to followup on my post above, my daughter came home for a brief moment to have dinner after an all day rehearsal before she now leaves for the next thing. I asked her about her recollection of what they said that day at the audition about this just so I knew I was not nuts (I pretty vividly recalled this because it became a topic of conversation that day because it conflicted with prior information we had had). Anyway, she concurred with me that upon questions from those in the meeting, that the faculty person said you could not switch INTO CAP from a different studio. My D, however, thinks that they said this for a reason. She feels that they were worried that kids would apply to Tisch and get into a studio besides CAP (but have wanted CAP) with the notion that they could eventually switch into CAP and they wanted to discourage this because it is not something they can let lots of people do. In fact, since everyone there that day for the audition wanted CAP (it was the optional dance audition day), they made a STRONG urging to everyone to stipulate a second and third choice studio because the odds to get into CAP were the lowest of all the studios. My D did give a second choice (Playwrights) and a third choice (Stella Adler) but seriously only wanted musical theater. At some other schools, you could check off if you'd accept Acting if you did not get MT, and she had written NO. But for NYU, she left that open. For CMU, you could not say no to Acting and are considered for either even though she auditioned for MT. She ended up waitlisted, however, for Acting there. Her passion lies in musical theater so I am glad she was not admitted to acting there because she liked CMU a lot but I know she really wanted to pursue MT and the waitlist made it so that she did not have to entertain that difficult choice but was a nice little affirmation of acting. In any case, it did seem odd that day at NYU that the faculty person said no to switching INTO CAP.

The older sister of my D's friend (who just finished first year in Strasburg), the one who transferred from Tufts to Tisch, just graduated Tisch and I don't think she started over there as a freshman after transferring from Tufts.

Susan

Wonderand · 08-24-2005, 09:36 AM

The definitive word is this:

You can audition to transfer into CAP21 from another studio after completing 2 years at a primary studio. CAP accepts only a handful of transfers each year depending on that year's class size. It would not be a good idea to go into another studio as a way into the backdoor of CAP, as each year many Tisch students will audition to transfer in, but only 5-8 are accepted. I'm not sure who told you that you cannot transfer into CAP, but unfortunately they had the wrong information.

soozievt · 08-24-2005, 10:00 AM

Yes, I know you can transfer into CAP from another Tisch studio. It was VERY odd on the audition day when this question was posed of the two auditors at the info. meeting and they talked about transferring from one studio to another after two years. They said you could transfer out of CAP (I know some who have) but not INTO CAP. People questioned this for clarification because it went against even what we have heard and read. Obviously it was incorrect (they were not CAP faculty) but perhaps they were discouraging kids from thinking if they got into an Acting Studio, it was a backdoor way into CAP. There are not that many slots to allow kids to transfer from an Acting Studio into CAP after two years (as you have also written) so it is nothing to count on. Actually, while I have always believed you had to wait two years to do this switch, my D has a very good friend who just finished one year at Strasberg studio and is switched into second year CAP this fall. It is pretty unusual I think. I guess individual situations are looked at and she did have to audition to do this. As far as the OP's question, you can transfer into Tisch from another university and NOT start over as a freshman BFA.....I know the older sister of this same girl I just mentioned transferred into Tisch (Strasberg) from Tufts and just graduated. She did not start over as a freshman.

My opinion with regard to the OP is that having a college plan to start elsewhere and eventually transfer to Tisch is not a great one because there are MUCH fewer transfer slots than freshman slots and even those are very difficult to get with an acceptance rate in the single digits.

At the audition day, unfortunately, there were no auditors or reps from CAP, though every person auditioning that day was trying to get into CAP as it was the optional advanced dance audition day. I have a kid entering CAP in a few days and I have truly never heard any info. session specific to CAP yet, though have been at Tisch ones. I'm sure they will get plenty of info. when they begin!

Are you a student there? My daughter cannot wait to begin.

Susan

Wonderand · 08-24-2005, 10:10 AM

Susan,

I absolutely agree that going to another school with the intention of getting into Tisch would not be the best idea, as they accept only 80 or so transfers per year in the department. I do sympathize with you that its tough not having CAP faculty at the audition itself. One of the main reasons this is difficult is that Tisch runs all of the auditions, but CAP21 faculty are employed through CAP, not Tisch. I'm a graduate of CAP and now work in the drama department so if you have any questions you feel weren't answered I'd be happy to talk with you. Congratulations on your daughters acceptance!

Randy

soozievt · 08-24-2005, 11:01 AM

Wow, Wonderand...you are a GREAT resource on this board!!! Someone who has gone through one of the MT programs discussed often on here! This board is full of hopefuls and then there are some who are in the programs but not many. I hope you will keep contributing!

Yes, my D is very excited to be going to CAP21, a program she has been interested in since she was much younger. I can't believe we are finally at this juncture. I think she will start some packing today but has a piano recital (with some voice) tonight so is preparing now for that. Actually, I can think of one question, if you do not mind.....I know there are placement auditions the first day or two at CAP for all the dance disciplines (am happy about that as she is a dancer and I realize that not all students have prior dance as it was not required at auditions) and then they have to sing two songs and do a monologue (our understanding is that those are not placed in ability groups but they are getting to know each kid, as they did not see them at admissions auditions and then attempt to place them into "balanced" groups....are there three groups of 20 or four groups of 15? btw). She mentioned to me yesterday that there is a music theory placement test too. She seemed to think that based on that, you are either grouped or can place out of basic theory? I know some schools like UMich, that is the case (she had to do a piano placement at that audition that placed her into the fifth level of courses at that dept. and thus out of the theory/piano requirement there). It would be great if there was placement or placing out if someone has studied extensive music theory or is accomplished on piano because their learning needs differ from someone learning to read music or understand music theory. Can you shed any light on that? One other question....it says on an info. sheet about coming to CAP that they would like you to get a little keyboard.....is that for practising at home or in class? I ask because we did not purchase one as my D just bought an 88 key digital piano/keyboard to take to college as she did not want to be without a piano as she is a pianist. So, if the suggested $20-$30 "keyboard" was just to practice or use for theory work, she does not need one, right? If it is for class, different story.

Thank so much. I hope my D meets you at some point. She has friends either your age or slightly younger who have gone to CAP (and to the other studios) and likely knows some of the same people.

Susan

rossji · 08-24-2005, 02:29 PM

Hello! You will be sorry you offered advice to us! I also have a daughter entering CAP in the fall. We haven't gotten a keyboard yet; I can't imagine where you'd find one in the $15-20 range (Walmart? I really don't know!! lol). Also, the vocal pieces they need to perform; are they planning on grouping by voice type (eg soprano/alto/etc.)? or do they just want to get to "know" the students? I'm sure I'll have a billion more questions. Thanks for all your help!

Wonderand · 08-24-2005, 03:33 PM

rossji and soozievt,

I'm more than happy to answer anything I can, although after the students come back next week I'll probably have less time to post. The keyboard is for home practice, and the students will not need to bring it to class. I had a similar problem finding a cheap keyboard. I'd check Kmart, WalMart, Target...the usual suspects. It doesn't really need to be anything fancy. For music theory, students will take the placement test and can test out or get into advanced theory, but need to retake the placement test each semester.
For the vocal pieces, there are several reasons the students will perform. The studio is looking to get to know the students as performers, they are also trying to get a cohesive ensemble in the grouping, and to match students with instructors who will be the best fit. There will be students of varying ability in each group. Feel free to ask me any other questions you have.
Randy

soozievt · 08-24-2005, 04:24 PM

Thank you so much. That was helpful. We figured the inexpensive mini keyboard was for practice and not necessary to buy if she already has her own piano but wanted to make sure. We already told her roomie not to buy one as she can use the piano too. The audition makes perfect sense. I'm sure my D will be happy to hear about music theory placement or testing out, because of the wide variety of backgrounds in that area, understandably. I appreciate the time you have taken to help the newbies.

Susan