Finally. FINALLY!!! Call to offer me a spot in the class of 2022 at BSU. I’m a cardinal!
Congratulations @eks2018!
Yay, @eks2018!
Hoping there may be movement on the Manhattan School of Music waitlist!
A no for my D from Western Michigan BFA MT yesterday. And a yes from Western Carolina for BFA MT today! So the last of the notifications are finally arriving. One more to go but it’s a smaller program.
Congrats @eks2018!!! I know you are over the moon! We just visited BSU (D is on the WL). She shadowed yesterday. ACL was great!
congratulations @eks2018 I am 4 hours away and had no idea about the school or their amazing program! I’m grateful for CC, learning so much
@rutgersmom321 Yes, I do know a few Students now very happy part of the Carnegie program that originally were waitlisted. They are extremely happy.
@theaterlove3 - I have a Freshman D (MT) at Syracuse and she loves the program.
I asked her and a friend to help me answer a post on the Acting board and I think their answers are relevant to what you were asking:
- All acting majors take multiple voice verse classes (focusing on the voice as a speaking actor, breathe support, etc) and then can request to take a voice lesson (singing) for an additional fee. It is possible, but not required, to take dance classes through the department (if slots are available) or through Main Campus (outside the drama department)
- There is a Senior Showcase in NYC (audition based) and a semester in NYC second semester senior year where you take classes with working professionals in the city to prepare for the transition to working life. This allows you to make connections and begin adjusting and getting ready for work. The SU Drama community is a family and do what they can to support each other in their journey towards success.
- Freshman year you take a class called "intro to Theater production" which is all about "the business of the business" and then every Wednesday for all four years we take a two hour class ("Lab") that has a new panel/Q&A with different casts, teachers, and working professionals who give invaluable advice about working in this career
- I roomed with someone in my major, which I found very helpful considering our busy schedule, it also gives you a partner in crime who understands how hard performing arts majors have to work and can work through the chaos with you. I love the Syracuse community and truly couldn't be happier with my choice for college. You get incredible training, coupled with a traditional college experience, and endless opportunities to get involved if you wish
@eks2018 - congratulations!!! Such great news!
@lulugeorgan Sure, feel free to PM me.
On coaching: I had an inkling what this process entailed (our district sends a number of kids to music and performing arts programs each year) and a seemingly talented, yet typical “boy”. So to test the waters, he did a workshop weekend with BAA Last February, then in the summer a week/showcase with BAA, then a prep week with MCA, Chelsea Diehl. The goal was to determine if
- he could handle the audition/performance cycle and
- outside opinion on possibility of successfully entering a program.
Local accolades do not stack up against the chaos of college auditions.
He got a call on the train ride home from that first showcase weekend from a NYC Management agency. This freaked me out and shocked my DS. They were great in discussing the time commitment, DS opted to stay the course for college…so that went on hold.
The MCA week was perfect, not a major money commitment, fun and encouraging (or discouraging as needed) and Chelsea was able to confirm that DS could have success with program offers - she was right.
And this is important: it’s because she is honest with folks who seek her help. A student and family who conferenced just before us, were given the news that PA programs were not for their student. I am in no way throwing criticism or judgement, just relaying our experience and our needs. I had specific goals in mind for these workshops and sought the feedback our family needed. I will fully admit that we have been able to support the added expense where many folks do not have that ability.
Lastly, my DS could not have found material on his own, motivation surrounding struggles with reading skills - so yes, another factor good student, just not outstanding. MCA did a great job setting him on the right path. One of the biggest factors is developing a suitable college list for your child that will potentially provide good options. We had to find our own MT vocal coach, get him dancing more, and adjust his repertoire as auditions moved along. We invested in additional sessions of coaching, well worth it, weighed against the heavy time and emotional investment needed for this process.
All along DS said, I will go where they take me. Doesn’t mean he got what he most desired, now he is weighing options that are not his dream, but he will get a good fit program dedicated to acting and/or MT.
@fairlyoddmom I’m a current MT concentrator at Arcadia if you want to chat!
@EastchesterMom oh wow yeah, no
I legit say our daughters coach would have never said to dress that way.
Anyway, the purpose of coach is to coach and encourage. Our daughter on her own did countless hours of research for her song and monologue selection- that by the time she met up with her coach/- there was just tweaking the material
Coaches are not the magical solution- They are there for encouragement and reassurance. Many kids with a coach do not get into “reach” school or even back up plan schools… the kids get in for whatever it is the school In Particular is looking for…
Best of luck to everyone!
Everyone has a unique path they will take to achieve their dream. Happy dreaming everyone!
@HopeinMT YES!! I am not discounting the competition the girls face, but it’s frustrating to have everyone tell my boy, “oh, you’ll get whatever you want!” Well, it just doesn’t work like that.
@Trish0118 congratulations to your daughter! So happy for you both!!!
@XMRadio72 you can include us in your cautionary tale too… if we have a happy ending. Still holding on to hope. I started a draft of my ‘decision’ post. So far, it’s pretty damn depressing. Hoping it takes an upswing in the next few weeks!
@fancytheatrekid your quote: “I don’t know what it is that separated people who got into lots of schools and people who didn’t. Hopefully college will teach my daughter to pick better material? Audition better? Get coaches? Look different? Who knows” Here’s the thing: we’ll never know. People make assumptions about what gets acceptances and what doesn’t. My d has an audition tomorrow (one that she recently arranged last minute). She is not planning to do anything different. Part of me worries about this (okay, so she can’t change her ‘look’ of hair and skin color, or her weight), but she could change her outfit (she decided she is not going to) or her song/monologue choices (she certainly can’t change her vocal range) because she has worked tirelessly on them for close to a year, and they suit her (as per those helping her through the process). I do worry about it, but part me of me happy to hear that she is not compromising who she is, just to be liked and accepted (using that term differently now, then we normally do with kids who are trying to impress others).
@DramaQueen219 wishing so much luck to your daughter!
@DramaQueen219 Get it!
@DramaQueen219 break a leg!