I’m not one for commenting, and throughout this process I’ve pretty much stuck with lurking, following everyone and cheering quietly as happy things happen, crossing my fingers while everyone (including my daughter) waits, and feeling sad for people when they seem sad (again, my daughter included), but had to chime in here. This summer I saw four shows in five days. Easily a third of the bios in the playbills had cruises and regional theater in their credits. In addition, my older daughter graduated last year with a degree in theater from FSU. Many performance majors want cruise gigs. They are a guaranteed three year contract, during which time these kids have paid room and board and can put their salaries in the bank.
As far as “lists”, understand that certain schools are incredibly popular and the end all be all in their region, but not so much for kids in other regions. There are a couple of schools on that list that kids around this area never even discussed and didn’t audition for, much less put higher than other schools. I’m sure it also worked in reverse. And we all have our “experts” and “contacts in the business”, both in our own areas and in NY that we speak to and work with.
Bottom line is there are no two lists that are the same, and on this particular forum there is no reason for one. And I don’t think anyone asked for one. So maybe we should stick to cheering for each other and being supportive and not worry about ranks? Just another thought that no one asked for. Everyone have a good night.
Not to pile on, I would like to think @2lights did not intend to offend or spark such controversy. What I will say is, I’m looking at a playbill for a regional show I saw last weekend - a small, well respected regional theater - but not a national tour and not Broadway - just a 3 week run of a show. Cast members included part of the original Broadway cast; others were from the recently completed national tour. Some were recently graduated. Reading bios, the cast graduated from schools including NYU, FSU, OCU, CCM, Tampa, the New School, but also several schools I never heard of like New Jersey City University. One was from Australia. There were Drama Desk nominees, television actors, award winning performers. All in this one little regional production. Point is, they were all extremely talented, from a variety of backgrounds. They put on an incredible performance for their regional audience, and all were happy to be contracted to do a quality show in a reputable regional theater. There is quality work in a lot of places. Not just on Broadway. And you will find people from the top schools performing in a wide variety of venues all over the world. And you will also find talented people from schools you never heard performing right along side them.
Woah. I know what to do if I want to pull this thread off topic! LOL I think after this weekend (NYU, BoCO and the rest of Syracuse), the WL could start to move. What say you?
If @2lights post had been a Facebook post, I’d assume it was from a Russian bot. Very divisive. Moreover, it really looks more like a list that a college coach would put out, with perhaps? the hardest to get into programs at the top. But might some of the schools be nearer to the top because of reasons unrelated to “the best” training? I.e., UNCSA might be more desirable to students (and their parents) than another school because it’s base tuition is cheaper. UMichigan and BU might be higher on that list because Ann Arbor/Boston are really fun college towns. Syracuse has crappy weather (unless you love snow) - which might be a problem for some. Those are reasons totally unrelated to MT/Acting training that might result in folks rating some schools higher than others, but I don’t see that they are indicative of the ultimate result. And the fact that Tisch isn’t even on the list (and I’m sure others)?? That omission alone invalidates the list.
@artskids here’s to hoping! Has anyone that’s been WL anywhere received any acceptances? I would think with Michigan and CMU already making offers that there would be some. But I also understand everyone waiting to hear from all schools before a final commitment.
@PaMTmom My D has not gotten any acceptances from her WL yet but there has been movement on some (reported on CC - none of my D’s WL schools, unfortunately!). She has 3 acceptances and is on 6 WL. Of the acceptances, she is waiting on FA for 1. I tell her to buckle up; April will be a rollercoaster!
@artskids we are in a similar situation. S is WL at 4 schools and has 2 great acceptances (still waiting on one financial aid offer). His number one is a waitlist. I guess we are just destined for more waiting!
@Mom2E Bradley Cooper didn’t go to Pace Undergrad. He has his MFA from the Actor’s Studio Drama School which has been affiliated with Pace since 2006. However, when Cooper attended it was part of The New School. So much for “lists”…you can’t always trust what you read. I recently saw on a list that Mila Kunis went to LMU but when I looked it up myself the truth is she went there for a very short time.
In fact most of the Pace list is ridiculous! I am an alum (class of '86) and when I went to Pace there was no Performing Arts department at all! I bet most of the older people on that list went to Pace for business as it was historically known as a business school.
My kid is going to have to negotiate the sharky waters of financial aid before making a final decision. So that might add time before he can release some of his acceptances.
@2lights Just curious who sent the memo to all the top kids not to apply to NYU for the last 10 years? And what ever was it that started their “demise”? Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?
I like the list, from the perspective of finding programs that motivated kids (like mine) would have a better chance of getting into. Avoid the schools with the lowest acceptance rates!
And I’ve told my kid all along - the goal is to work. Doing what you love while working is the bonus. “Make it”? Working regularly IS making it L-)
I’m wondering if @2lights was just bored and has a crazy sense of humor and posted that to see what would happen! There has been so much doom and gloom and stress on here. I saw that list and laughed out loud (although ha! I of course liked the list ). I thought to myself “things are going to get exciting around here!” Thank you @2lights for the diversion and for taking everyone’s mind off their waitlists!!! And if that was not the case…what on earth were you thinking!!!
@marg928 yea ridiculous list. Some of these alumni seem to walk away from school once they start working. I highly doubt that would Ever happen for my kid but great for those it worked for. Im assuming that its up to the new graduates and the up and coming to put some recent stamps on these schools