<p>Hi Everyone interested in COPA at Point Park University!</p>
<p>I have two children (1 a Senior MT and 1 a Freshman MT) at PPU. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them.</p>
<p>I have a question…some kids during the audition were sent to a second room to sing. What does that mean?
Thanks!</p>
<p>Hmmmmm That didn’t happen when my two auditioned. I ask the kids to see if they know what that might mean.</p>
<p>As far as I’m aware, this process is new to Point Park’s auditions this year. As opposed to having a callback process like they’ve done in previous years, they’re sending students to the second room of faculty members if the first room likes what they see or wants a second opinion on a student. That being said, it’s entirely possible that the first room could have see all they need to see- in other words, it’s possible to be accepted even if you don’t get sent to the second room. Essentially, this process is intended to streamline the audition day and get rid of the callback system.</p>
<p>MTman, you are probably on to something. My advice to parents would be, don’t try to read too much into it one way or the other, with this new wrinkle at PPU or with what they do at auditions at other schools. You’ll just drive yourself nuts with it.</p>
<p>We definitely learned last year on the audition circuit to NOT read anything into anything!! My son is a freshman at COPA (Point Park) and when he auditioned for them last year, they were not doing this. I would just urge caution overall about second-guessing…collegesearchdad is absolutely right that you will drive yourself nuts. Last year it was impossible to predict any outcomes based on audition procedures.</p>
<p>So, PPU didn’t have callbacks this year at all?</p>
<p>mrsannaloeonowens - PPU didn’t have them last year from what I am reading. My S has a friend at PPU, a sophomore, and she indicated this didn’t occur last year for her at all.</p>
<p>My daughter had a callback. There were about 15 students called back. She auditioned in January of 2013.</p>
<p>You can never tell or figure out the process.</p>
<p>Yep you are right, I suppose no one my S’s friend knew were called back. </p>
<p>My S has had 2 auditions, I’ve told him repeatedly not to over think it. I’ve read so many different stories on this site its impossible to predict the outcome.</p>
<p>mrsannaloeonowens, I have a bunch of questions, if you don’t mind too much! First, could you speak a little bit to the overall education at PPU? What did your Ss think of the core curriculum classes they were required to take? Useful? Also, have your S’s made friends outside of the major, or do the MTs (or at least COPA kids) tend to keep to themselves? Just trying to get a sense of the overall atmosphere. In another direction, is it possible to take more than 1 or 2 dance classes a semester? My S currently takes a lot of dance, and he wants to know if the other requirements of the MT major would preclude him from taking much dance at PPU. If he does want to take a lot of dance as well as acting and singing, would he be best off sticking with a BA in MT rather than eventually auditioning for the BFA? Thanks so much for your help - we greatly appreciate it!</p>
<p>I can honestly say that I, as a parent, am very happy with all aspects of Point Park University. (I am also a high school guidance counselor.) There tends to be a belief that the curriculum for MT and COPA majors is “easy” and “lesser than” the other majors. That could not be further from the truth. As a guidance counselor, I recommend many non-COPA students to attend Point Park. It IS a good college. In fact, I recently went to a Guidance Counselor evening at Point Park and spoke to the admissions counselors. I expressed my disappointment that my daughter (valedictorian of her graduating class) only received $5000 in academic awards. The admissions counselor shared with me that the COPA students are probably among the best students coming into Point Park Academically. She, too, felt that COPA students should be considered for more academic awards. The reason I say this is because of the high calibre of students coming in, the course offerings need to be up to the expectations of the students (and parents of those students).</p>
<p>My son, who is a senior, tended to socialize only with MT students. It appears that my daughter is doing the same thing. I think that the program is so intense and confined that the students just naturally gravitate toward each other because of their shared experiences. My son was also on the xc team, so he socialized with those students also, but really only during the xc season.</p>
<p>My son (the senior MT) had NO interest at all in taking additional dance classes. He did take jazz and tap as electives during his sophomore year, I believe. My daughter (the freshman MT) is definitely interested in taking additional dance classes. She is going to look into during her sophomore year. She told me that freshman year is pretty “set in stone.” She was planning to take dance classes through the “community program,” but felt that she needed to focus on her classes and get acclimated to college and being away from home.</p>
<p>My daughter is looking into dance as a minor. I am really not sure of all the requirements. I am sure that she will tell me over Thanksgiving break.</p>
<p>Now regarding BA vs. BFA. My son opted to go the BA route because he wanted to explore other avenues of theatre: lighting, sound, playwriting, directing, etc. He has been very happy with his choice.</p>
<p>I would encourage your son to just follow the “plan” for freshman year, but talk to his advisor frequently about his goals and what he wants to get out of college.</p>
<p>The students don’t audition for BFA until their sophomore year, anyway, so he will have alot of time to figure out his goals and what he wants.</p>
<p>In going back over my response, I am not sure I answered the academic/core classes question completely. The Gen Ed classes that are required are the same classes that are required for most all college degrees. The COPA classes and offerings are awesome and have been very helpful and inspiring to both of my children.</p>
<p>COPA offers artistic scholarships as well that when coupled with the academic one are very generous.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for all the great info mrsannaleonowens! Sorry I somehow made both of your kids male - for some reason that got stuck in my head. Apologies to your D. 
My S is just a junior in hs so won’t be applying until next year (though my head is spinning with how fast that is coming up), but he is trying to figure out which schools he most wants to apply to. He is very into dance, which is why PPU is appealing. Also at first he was a little put off about having to audition for the BFA once at the school, but now is thinking that might actually be an advantage since he could end up having more flexibility that way as far as fitting in dance and other things. There are so many factors to consider! Again, appreciate all your help.</p>
<p>Yes, I did fail to mention the artistic scholarships. I’m sorry. They do add them together. My son got a REALLY nice artistic scholarship, but no academic scholarship. My daughter ended up with basicially the same scholarship between academic and artistic. I think it all becomes relative. The same amount of amount is always available, it is just how they title and award it. </p>
<p>Good luck with the audition process, zebrarunner. It is an interesting ride. lol</p>