CCPA @ Roosevelt University - Page 3

chrism · 11-15-2005, 09:04 PM

Wow, CoachC, thanks again as ALWAYS - I had really NO idea of this at all. And I've been reading and listening for two years. Your post explains a lot. I am so grateful for the time you spent to explain it!!! Many many thanks.

CoachC · 11-15-2005, 09:08 PM

You're welcome, Chris -

I want to emphasize, though, that I explained GENERALITIES - and there ARE exceptions to every "rule." A friend from CC has a good friend who won a Tony for what I believe was her FIRST musical, as an older character actress, after graduating from Juilliard with an acting degree and working in television! As this friend said, there are "many paths to the light"...

mtmommy · 11-15-2005, 09:45 PM

Ericsmom--If you don't go see Ana Gasteyer in Wicked you will be doing yourself the greatest WRONG! Did I not tell you how absolutely fantastic she is as Elphaba???

Ccpassoulman probably hasn't seen this one, but we saw Menopause the Musical in Chicago. I don't know if it's still there, but we laughed every single second of the show.

dramama · 11-15-2005, 11:58 PM

A very talented young man that took voice from the same teacher as my D is a current freshman at CCPA, and I know he auditioned at many of the schools that are frequently discussed on this board.

Having worked for many years in Chicago in my previous life (BC — before children!) I can see why a young person would be attracted to a life in Chicago, a wonderful city with a thriving arts scene. It's undeniable that certain programs benefit from longstanding reputations, but sometimes the campus visit just seals the deal for a student.

I never realized that CCPA was connected to Roosevelt. It's great to get a new perspective here on the forum and I'm looking forward to finding out more about this school!

CoachC · 11-16-2005, 12:04 AM

Dramama -

Amen to the campus visit! I have had MANY a student who was already accepted at one of the "top" schools I discussed go with their "gut" love of a DIFFERENT school - and of course, I encourage them to FOLLOW their gut as long as they are fully informed of the REALITIES of each program, including national and regional rep. The "informed gut" is the best and an idea we actually live by in my Voice Therapy grad program: once we are fully educated on a topic, we follow our "clinical gut" for each case we see, even if our gut CONTRADICTS conventional wisdom or sometimes even "proven" data.

My long post earlier was designed simply to lay out the reputations of top schools as a counterpoint to other programs who claim such reputations. These claims, in many cases, are just false advertising to a very vulnerable population - and that's why I feel strongly enough to post about this several times tonight, when I SHOULD be writing clinical reports...Ahhh, CC procrastination!

ccpasoulman · 11-16-2005, 11:18 AM

dramama what freshmen is it that goes here and took lessons with the same voice teacher? if you dont mind sharing.

all the kids in CCPA are required to live in the dorms their first two years unless they are 21 or get some kind of note from a doctor that says they cant live in the dorms, in which they would find an apt. the school might not count the new dorm which is called University Center and is shared with students from columbia and depaul. the dorm is HUGE and very nice. but its a block away.

i haven't seen menopause the musical, for reasons i wont discuss, no offense. lol but there are many many shows playing here in chicago. i would check out soem chicago theatres like second city and steppenwoolf, or the goodman, or go see 25th annual putnam county spelling bee at Drury Lane. so many great shows to see.

mtdog71 · 11-17-2005, 11:39 AM

There seems to be a lot of discussion about rankings and statistics.

Stats - I've had several post grad stats classes as I got an MBA, as well as an MS in Counseling.

You know what a really great statist would be - not that schools would willingly provide such a stat.

"What percentage of persons you admit into your MT freshman class end up making a professional life in the theatre?"

This would answer several very salient questions. It is salient to incoming freshmen because it would more accurately reflect the true success rate of persons in their current position - and schools that accept far more persons than they intend to graduate (those that have adjudication policies) would not fare as well in this sort of statistic.

Ranking - I am unaware of any "official rankings" - and as several have mentioned throughout these posts - I would be interested to know how anyone's "official rankings" were derived. Even if such a list existed one has to look at relative value - everyone would agree that a law degree from Harvard or Yale is impressive - yet there are legions of successful, even influencial, lawyers who went to Penn State, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and seventy other law schools.

That gets us to reality.

There are several reality issues here:
- Being admitted as a freshman to some (in no order and omitting many) great schools like Boston Conservatory, CCM, Ithica, NYU, OCU, Point Park, SU, or any school does not guarantee you will work in ths business. I know many would like an assurance like that - but it simply does not work that way.
- Unless your Uncle Shelly knows the producer - a lot of casting that goes on has to do with your audition. How you audition has, often, to do with how well you have prepared/been prepared by your training. I admit, having graduated from a well recognized program can be helpful - especially if the casting director, perhaps, graduated from the same institution. But there is far less unanimity as to which the "hot" programs are then has been implied at times. Again, this is a what have you done for me lately business - and some of the newer programs are getting a lot of play.
- It is true that a great program that has existed for 36 years will have more sucessful grads than a great program that has existed for 6 years.
- The name of the institution you trained at will have diminishing (rapidly diminishing) value in your casting after your first "break" - after that, your talent, attitude, work ethic, positive connections you make - basically your "rep" will have far more to do with whether you are cast the next time. Also, when it comes down to it another "rep" - your professional representation (agent) will also profoundly impact your career - but that is a post-graduate discussion.
- Does everyone in this group have unlimited financial resources? There is a question of bang for your buck in some households. This could be a reason some might be looking for a solid, strong MT program, with successful alumni where the tuition is under 20k a year.

As always, and I think everyone agrees - it comes down to the "fit" for each student.

ccpasoulman · 12-01-2005, 02:09 PM

Hey everyone! just wanted to let all of those auditiong for CCPA @ Roosevelt university know that i will be working as a student helper for the Musical Theatre and Acting auditions. I will be so glad to show you around and chat. best wishes for all!

musicalthtrmom · 01-30-2006, 11:38 AM

Does anyone know how soon auditioners are notified of results? D's friend auditioned this past week for BFA acting....I'm wondering when he might hear about results. Thanks!

ckp · 02-25-2006, 05:40 PM

I just auditioned for Acting at CCPA today and it was a really great experiance! I decided that CCPA was going to be the only school I was going to audition to because I want to stay in Chicago next year no matter(at DePaul now) what to give myself some sense of security.

The auditioner (auditor?) was very nice and curious as to why I was trying out, and I told the truth about the cut and that I will do what is the best for me after this year I will be able to decide what that will be, and he really appreciated that. He was very nice and we talked about how I might not be accepted as a sophomore and I said I was okay with that. It was strange cause he was kinda selling the school to me, but not in a over-the-top way. He saud I was very talented and gave me his email so that I we could stay in contact because if I get in, we will have to work through some things that have to do with credits and transfering and such, and he also said that he would get some freshman students to contact me so we could get to know eachother and talk about the school and such since I live an l ride away. Also, it would help me get to know the class in case I was acccepted as a sophomore.

Well we talked for about 20 minutes and it was pleasent and natural and very imformative. I think I showed my personality well, and he seemed a little more at ease maybe because he knew that I've been through this and am more comfertable with college theatre than some (like me last year!).

It was fun, I'm looking forward to finding out, and also the rest of my amazing year here!

akmom · 03-13-2006, 01:47 PM

Does anyone know when we're going to find out if we got in for MT?

ckp · 03-13-2006, 02:11 PM

It should be withen 2 weeks, usually mid to late march, at the latest early april, but that is usually only MFAa that take that long, so it should be this this week or next! Good Luck!

kelsee422 · 03-14-2006, 11:18 PM

definitely soon.....keep an eye on your mailbox, they send out all their stuff (yes/no/waitlist) in pretty close succession.

Best of luck!

BTW, I notice you are from Indiana! Me too! what part?

takehomeazak06 · 07-31-2006, 03:26 PM

So i noticed that on almost every single thread i read the conversations evolve from the original topic of the thread to the overly discussed topic of the top ranked musical theatre schools. People need to get a grip on reality. It is really disheartening.

takehomeazak06 · 07-31-2006, 03:28 PM

^ although now the conversation is tamed. this comment was left more in reguards to pages 1 and 2 well most of this thread haha.