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University of Tampa BFA in MT?
DramaLove2020
192 replies5 threads Junior Member
DramaLove2020
192 replies5 threads Junior Member
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Replies to: University of Tampa BFA in MT?
Seems like such a cutthroat industry I worry about the “ friends” competing against each other for roles but it seems like everything is friendlier in Florida !!
As for Tampa, the school is adjacent to the downtown. That was a big selling point to my daughter as high school states for Florida is held in downtown Tampa, and she must have been there 12 times while in high school if not more (she was part of the planning as a district representative). Both my daughters have always really liked Tampa (we live about 4 hours South). As with any downtown, you do have to be careful and I would never walk there alone, but there are a lot of places to walk to and a lot of good restaurants. There's Straz Center as mentioned, plus Tampa Theatre, and there's an aquarium and other touristy places. They have a big riverwalk, and there are always events along the river (music, things for dogs, etc.). There are sports on campus (but no football) and a lot of Tampa teams (my daughter isn't a sports fan, but some students love all the options). They are also a long walk or a short Uber ride to Hyde Park, another trendy area with shops and restaurants, and the new Sparkmans Wharf (same idea). They are not too far from the beach. Apartments are expensive as the closest ones are basically in a downtown area, and most people end up moving off-campus by junior year (dorms are first assigned to the sophomores and freshmen, and they don't have enough space for everyone). There are more affordable apartments further out, but Tampa traffic can be bad at certain times of day. For parents from out of state, I think a big selling point is that the airport is only 15-20 minutes away and there are a lot of hotels in walking distance to the school.
UT is a very pretty campus and a nice mix of city and green space as it sits on the river. Lots of new buildings as they've had to accomodate growing student population. It is a very attractive place and close to everyhting in South Tampa which is where ALL the action is.
The city itself is pretty safe. I still wouldn't walk around alone at night (but I wouldn't want my D to do that anywhere). There were several housing projects bordering downtown but they've been removed (literally) and redeveloped into the hot areas. D attends the Performing Arts magnet downtown. We were just saying that in 3 plus years, it's gone from a "we're crazy to send her there - literally in a ghetto scenario - to being the area that everyone wants to be". Tampa is not a big city (wife is from SF and I'm from Boston) so there isn't alot of culture in the form of art and museums like there would be in other areas. But there is enough if one wants to explore. St. Pete actually has more but she would need a car for that.
We are going down this weekend for my daughters audition at open house, so interested in any input.
My older one is very happy there - loves her classes and her friends, who are mostly in the theatre department. They are opening an amazing new state-of-the-art facility for the arts in the fall, and they have what is probably my favorite of all the college theatres I've seen. They also do some of their performances in the nondenominational chapel on campus, which is beautiful. However, I think once the new building and black box open that that will probably change.