<p>I completely agree. Our D’s top school choice surprised everyone initially, but as we’ve learned more about it we’ve realized it sounds perfect for her.</p>
<p>Program reputation is a dangerous basis for a selection for many reasons. </p>
<p>1) Obviously, what you hear about any school depends on the biases, breadth of experience and opinion of whoever you ask. If we started an “Unpleasant Things you’ve Heard About Various MT Programs” thread, I assure you there are commonly-heard rumors/complaints about EVERY program out there. Similarly, if there was a “Why My School is the BEST” thread, you’d hear lots of people wax poetic about how amazing the program they attend is. </p>
<p>2) Programs change. The staff that once made a program great might move on OR get older and less motivated. Programs gain/lose funding. A specific class may be amazing, and after they move through a program it may be left with less-amazing students. A few strong student personalities can totally change the “vibe” of a specific program rather rapidly.</p>
<p>3) What YOU need/want from college is not the same as what someone else may need/want. Some kids want a program that plays to their strengths, while others specifically seek a program to fill their training holes. Some want rigid discipline, while others want freedom to explore. Some people love one coach, while others learn nothing from them. One of the strongest MT kids I have ever seen chose a school this year based solely on acting training, as that’s where he wanted to focus for the coming 4 years. Another chose a pure Opera program. Neither chose MT programs (both were accepted to great MT BFAs), but I expect these kids to be among tomorrow’s biggest MT powerhouse performers. </p>
<p>4) YOU will impact the quality of your school. This is not only because what each student gets from the program will differ depending on what they need, but also because most of these programs are relatively small so each individual student strongly shapes the experience of their specific class. Even the largest programs are small, and within them there are often very small 4-year cohorts for studios or acting classes. Would you rather go to a school that has produced famous graduates in the past, or help create the class that will contain tomorrows superstars?</p>
<p>I’m thinking most people need to have a final choice in the next day or two. Have fun deciding, and we can’t wait to see your choices in the Final Decisions thread!</p>