<p>NotMamaRose, I happen to know for a fact that many students DO audition for other schools in case they don’t make the cut. I know a great number who were in first year 07-08 (which would have been my year if I had gone to college straight from high school) and they all (all the people I know that is, not to say that the whole year did) auditioned for CMU, NYU, BU, USC, and various others. It is common that first year students do audition for other schools however not all students do.</p>
<p>In regard to the British schools… I am currently studying in the UK at the Drama Centre in London and so I know first hand that they operate in what I consider to be a SIMILAR way (notice how I didn’t say the SAME). the conservatory (LAMDA and I believe RADA operate similarly) accepts its foundation year (50-60 students usually) who all go in with the hopes of attending the BFA program (the school system here is different and as many of the foundation year students don’t meet the min. age requirement of 18 or don’t have enough experience, training, etc. can’t go straight into the 3 year BFA) and that entire year is like an audition for the BFA program, (you don’t have to do the foundation year program to get into the BFA but you’re chances are MUCH better if you do) but they only take about 20 into the BFA acting program, so many don’t make the cut. They spend the time and money on that year, many realize a career in acting isn’t for them, many audition for multiple conservatories’ 3 year programs (although they have the best chance of getting in to the one they are already studying at) and many simply don’t make it. So, the situation many of my peers are in now is similar to that of first year students at DePaul. (I’m not auditioning for UK conservatories… for the record, as they are three times as expensive for international students and with this lovely recession, it’s not a viable option, plus I miss life on the other side of the Atlantic after 2 years in europe)</p>
<p>This is also not dissimilar to the way many BFA acting conservatories in Canada (where I’m from) operate. You audition for the BFA acting course out of high school (or whatever) and are accepted but the first year curriculum is much more general theatre training (like at DePaul) and it isn’t until 2nd year that you find out if you make it into the BFA acting program (acting ‘stream’ it’s sometimes called) if you don’t make it, just like at DePaul, you’re not kicked out of the University, you can pick another major or usually you can remain a theatre studies major. (I believe Emerson does something similar but after sophomore year, although I’m not 100% sure…)</p>
<p>fishbowl you make a lot of valid points in your latest post. There are a lot of other opinions expressed in this discussion that I don’t feel the need to counter with a rebuttal. You are all more than entitled to your opinions and they are completely valid in that respect. I was just a little bit frustrated that for the most part this thread really hasn’t been a “discussion” but rather a hate-fest (for lack of a better term). Which is fine, I just feel that it is kind of a moot point. The program obviously isn’t well suited to many of you/your children so you’re/they’re better off somewhere else. I apologize if my earlier comment “I think anyone who shies away from DePaul because of [the cut] doesn’t deserve to go there anyway” bothered anyone, it was not worded very adeptly. I simply meant that DePaul’s cut program is a reality, and if you’re not prepared to face it, you belong at in a different program.</p>