<p>I think that MT’s get offered spots in acting because when they audition the panel sees they are strong actors. Acting it the foundation of MT and all T so it doesn’t seem all that strange to me that sometimes an acting program will want someone they found through the MT audition. It also makes sense that it doesn’t work the other way. When you audition for Acting only you are not showing the panel any M with your T. </p>
<p>I think Octaviar raises an important point and I don’t think it’s just CMU. I too am seeing a greater trend toward valuing MT actors, even in the professional world, and in straight plays. A classic MT actor absolutely does not have the same skill set as a classic actor. Yes, they certainly can overlap - you can get a really strong MT actor who is also a really strong actor - but the two do not require the same skill set. An MT actor is much more a performer; the acting style is very broad and usually quite exaggerated. A straight actor could not act in that style in a, say, Shakespeare or Chekov or really any straight play. Some people have all the skills. But many do not, and a very many talented straight actors cannot sing or dance. Think of any number of gifted Oscar winning movie actors who are just not MT performers. If we screened them out we would lose a huge potential of top actors. </p>
<p>I disagree that by chance the strongest actors in this round - I’m not necessarily talking only of CMU; this seems to happen more frequently in many places - were also MT. That just cannot be true statistically. It has to be because the colleges are looking for more MT talent. The ones they accepted into their straight acting program must be MT kids whose acting they want to nurture. It cannot possibly be because only MT kids were the strong actors, considering the amount of people they audition. I think this trend has to do with a lot of things but I agree it arises from Glee and other TV shows that value MT performance The problem I have with this is that it ignores theatre and certainly TV/film acting potential and also, as Octaviar says, it will screen out some extremely talented potential film actors just because they can’t sing which strikes me as short-sighted. </p>
<p>I am <em>not</em> saying that x or y actor who can’t sing will not be successful nor am I saying that z or q MT performer can’t act in straight theatre. Not at all. I’m talking about general skill sets and trends. It just seems a lot harder lately for an actor who is not interested in MT. However, it’s important to know this is a trend, and given that, to know how to market yourself. My D at Northwestern does not do MT. I have been encouraging her to find another skillset to develop because of the trend to value more MT actors. For her, this won’t be MT, but there are other areas in theatre/film one can develop. It’s always good to market yourself as broadly as you can anyway.</p>
<p>It’s strange because in the real world, musical theater is a very niche-y, culty thing. The most visible, highest paid actors and actresses are in movies and TV and hardly ever sing. </p>
<p>My S’s skills are mostly in straight theater but he is working on his singing and dancing to develop a full, marketable set. </p>
<p>All actors have to struggle/compete to get work. I would venture to guess that New York has an abundance of people with the MT skill set…LA though might be a different story. Question that I think I know the answer to- are there more working actors in LA or New York?</p>
<p>And, related, how do you define working? (Since even reasonably successful actors do not work all the time.)</p>
<p>I’m finally getting around to summarizing my D’s journey through the college application/audition process.</p>
<p>Applied to: USC, NYU/Tisch, CMU, Univ. of Michigan, Univ. of Minnesota/Guthrie, Illinois Wesleyan, Muhlenberg
Northwestern, Yale, Brown, Columbia, Middlebury, Kenyon, Colorado College, Univ. of Texas, Texas State (after a walk-in callback at unifieds), Austin College, </p>
<p>Prescreens: none</p>
<p>Accepted to: USC (BA), NYU/Tisch (BFA, Meisner Studio), Illinois Wesleyan (BFA), Muhlenberg (BA)
Middlebury (BA), Kenyon (BA), Colorado College (BA), Univ. of Texas (BA), Austin College (BA)</p>
<p>Accepted academically (but rejected by program auditioned for): University of Minnesota, Texas State</p>
<p>Rejected from: CMU, Univ. of Michigan, Northwestern, Yale, Brown, Columbia</p>
<p>Wait-listed at: None</p>
<p>Final Decision: USC</p>
<p>Coach: Did a few sessions with and workshops sponsored by Mary Anna Dennard</p>
<p>Summer Programs: NYU/Tisch summer program in the Meisner Studio</p>
<p>As you can see from the long and varied list of schools my D applied to, she has struggled to define exactly what she wants out of a college experience. She is at the top of her class and enjoys her academics, but theater is where her heart is. I totally get that, as I was a theater kid myself and did the struggling actor thing for 5 years after college before deciding to go to law school so I could have a more secure income. </p>
<p>She loved the summer program at NYU and firmly believed that was where she wanted to go by the end of the 4 weeks last summer. We then toured some North Eastern schools and she fell in love with Yale. Their acceptance rate is about the same as Juilliard’s, so she knew it was a long shot, but because 2 other family members and I were alums, she reasonably believed she had a shot at it. She applied to Yale Single Choice Early Action and got deferred and eventually rejected. After she got news of the Yale deferral, she became more concerned about doing well at Unifieds.</p>
<p>When we were at the Chicago Unifieds, I think it started to dawn on her that there was a real chance she might not get into any BFA programs because the competition is so intense. We had some tears after her NYU/Tisch audition because she really wanted an acceptance from there and she didn’t feel that she did well at the audition.</p>
<p>When the acceptances finally started coming in, I was very thankful that she had a nice smattering of BFA and BA programs to choose among and that she had a nice variety of large universities and small liberal arts colleges to chose among as well. </p>
<p>What finally swayed her toward USC in the end was the combination of strong academics and strong acting training that she could get in the BA program there. Although she says that part of her heart will always be with Tisch and the Meisner studio in particular, she decided that a BFA at NYU would provide an experience that was too similar to the experience she has had at the performing arts high school she has attended. She was just ready for something different. She went through 4 years at a high school with no sports teams and a student body that is 2/3 female. Besides acting and studying, she’s ready to go to some football games and have a few dates. Which I think is a totally reasonable thing to want.</p>
<p>An added bonus is that a friend she made during the Tisch summer program (whose mom is also a member of this site) is going to USC in the BFA program and my D is going to room with her next year. Having a friend in the School of Dramatic Arts and as a roommate will be a nice way to start out.</p>
<p>It’s been a long and winding road with some heartbreak along the way. But I feel really good about how it’s all ended. </p>
<p>Congratulations, mamarose and D!!</p>
<p>That’s a great story, mamarose. Congrats to you!</p>
<p>I’m finally getting around to summarising my application experience!</p>
<p>Applied: USC, Marymount Manhattan, NYU (Tisch), Pace, CalArts, AMDA, University of Richmond (London, UK) and Wagner College</p>
<p>Accepted: Marymount, NYU (to Atlantic Theatre School), Pace, AMDA and Richmond.</p>
<p>Withdrew applications: CalArts, Wagner and USC.</p>
<p>I’m from the UK and decided I wanted to study in the US several years ago. My parents weren’t on board and they told me I wasn’t good enough. I begged a lot but they wouldn’t budge. I knew if I didn’t try, I’d always regret it, so in April 2013 I travelled to London (five hours!) because AMDA were holding auditions. I’d already done my essays and paid the fee etc. For the audition, they don’t require you to dance (which did worry me slightly) and they want one song, one monologue and an interview. I sang My Man from Funny Girl and performed Harper’s final monologue from Angels in America. Then in less than a month (AMDA will give you a very fast decision, so you’ll know within mere weeks of your audition if you’re in) they called and said they wanted me for their musical theatre programme. I then told my parents. They were obviously taken aback that I’d applied to a school without saying anything, but then they discussed it and ultimately decided that I could apply to some drama schools if I wanted. I think they were surprised I’d been accepted somewhere (ie, I had some talent!) but they also recognised that I had filled out the huge application, paid for it myself (bearing in mind that in the UK, nobody pays for university apps) and written three essays, plus saved up for a train to London. Ultimately, they saw that I was relentlessly dedicated to this as my future and maybe I had a shot at it. So they weren’t going to stand in the way anymore. </p>
<p>AMDA was a great first step but it wasn’t really my first choice because I was hoping to do some academics too, and AMDA doesn’t have a great reputation on these forums, which made me a little nervous about it. They did give me a decent scholarship though - they consider students for scholarships equally, regardless of whether they’re international or not, which is not the case for all schools. So that is a pro for AMDA. However, this was May last year, and obviously I couldn’t apply for any other colleges for fall 2013 by that point. (I’d been accepted to Richmond around the same time, but I was never massively enthusastic about it, it was more to appease my parents. It’s a great uni though!) So I took a gap year to work on my applications. I finished high school in May and finished my A Level exams in June. I gave myself two weeks to chill out and then I began studying every day for the SAT and took it at the beginning of October. I had to go to Edinburgh to sit the exam which was a little annoying but worth it. </p>
<p>By this point, I’d sort of figured out where I wanted to apply. My list of colleges was initially much larger. Then I decided I wanted to study in new york (in manhattan) or in LA. Partly because of the atmosphere and inspiration those cities would provide, as well as performance opportunities, but also because I’ve lived my whole life in a small town and I wanted a change. So places like Ithaca, Syracuse etc were crossed off the list. My parents (mostly my mother) were worried enough about me studying so far away, and about safety in those cities. I myself wasn’t too concerned. But places like Chicago and Boston worried me a little…I know it’s a little irrational. So a couple days after I’d taken to SAT I chose my six to apply to and started working on my applications. I had them all mostly sorted within about three weeks, but I prioritised the NYU one because their ED1 deadline was November 1st. All the other applications were sent off by the second week of November because the drama programmes mostly had deadlines in December. </p>
<p>Then I went to new york (for the first time ever!) to look at the colleges there and do my tisch audition. I was impressed with all the colleges I’d applied to and knew I’d be happy to go to any of them. I wasn’t too enthusiastic about Wagner. (fyi, the Wagner dorms are old, and communal toilet and shower and that really turned me off.) Marymount was really nice, lovely builldings, and a cheaper option - but it was small and it did seem a little bit high-school. Pace was fantastic and I was impressed, it was a clear second choice. But NYU has been my dream school for about five years, and as soon as I set foot on campus I knew it was where I belonged. The audition was a long process but it was a great experience. It took the whole day though. I’d signed up for the afternoon slot, 1.30 and I didn’t get out until well after six, so be prepared for it to take longer than the ‘2-3 hours’ they say. Although I think if you’re just acting it will be shorter, but I had to dance and sing too. I’m happy to explain the audition process in more detail, just let me know. I did my same song and monologue from the AMDA audition but they require two of each, so I also did Emma’s monologue from The Normal Heart and sang Everything I Know from In The Heights. I was a little worried that both my monologues were from AIDS dramas, and they’d think I had a narrow range of interest or something - but they’d said to pick material you were passionate about, and that’s what those plays are to me. Luckily my auditioner was impressed with the choice and we talked a lot about them (you do your interview right after your monologues.) </p>
<p>Honestly I never thought I’d get into Tisch because they’re so selective, the acceptance rate is narrow etc, plus you have to pass the regular admission process too. Whilst I am not at the lower end of the academic spectrum I’m not the cleverest. My grades and scores are average - good, not outstanding. I was also pretty certain my audition wasn’t good enough. AMDA was one thing but this was Tisch! I’d applied early decision because I wanted to get the rejection out of the way so that I could get over it and move on, focus on the other colleges. </p>
<p>Then acceptance day rolled around and I was a nervous wreck, forums kept crashing, I was refreshing my email every two minutes…and there was all this speculation about the longer you wait, the better it is…but I was going crazy! I didn’t find out until like 9pm (timezones) and I was over the moon. It didn’t feel real, still doesn’t! </p>
<p>I think the only issue I had was that if you’re early decision, you’re committed no matter where you’re placed, and I had to wait until April to find out my studio placement. I was placed in Atlantic which was awesome, but there are a couple studios where, if I’d been placed into those, I’d be annoyed that I had no choice but to attend. I was surprised at being placed anywhere but musical theatre - not disappointed, because Atlantic is amazing - just surprised, because I always thought my acting alone wasn’t good enough. I knew nothing about any of the studios (and at the audition I was asked that, and I felt a little stupid because I knew nothing - so regardless of where youre aiming for, do a little research about the studios so you don’t look ignorant like I did! I just always assumed I was not the right sort of person for an acting studio, so I only really knew about the MT studio.) So bear in mind that if you apply early decision, you won’t know where you’re going to be at first. </p>
<p>So then I turned down my offers from the other places and withdrew my applications from Wagner and the LA colleges. I can technically say I had no rejections because I withdrew before decisions were made/sent out - though I’m pretty sure I’d have gotten rejected from USC. Anyway, none of that matters now.</p>
<p>I know that NYU is the right place for me, without a doubt. The financial aid sucks, and it sucks even worse for international students. But it’s so right for me, and atlantic even more so. I’m so excited!</p>
<p>great story! I too ignored my parents and upped and moved to CA (from Clacton) when I was very young – the more they said you’ll never do it, the more I wanted to! Hope it works out as well for you as it did me. Congrats!</p>
<p>Mrsmelchoirgabor, thanks so much for sharing your story. What determination you have! I hope you will post more and let us know how things go at Tisch.</p>
<p>That is a fabulous story, Mrsmelchoirgabor! What determination and drive you have–it will take you far. Extremely impressive. Best of luck at NYU!</p>
<p>I’m also finally getting around to summarizing my D’s journey through the college application/audition process.</p>
<p>Applied to: USC, Fordham, Boston University, Chapman, Carnegie Melon, Univ. of Texas, University of Houston, Columbia, Northwestern, University of Evansville, Wake Forest, Muhlenberg, DePaul</p>
<p>Prescreens: none</p>
<p>Accepted to: USC (BA), Muhlenberg (BA), Wake Forest (BA), University of Evansville (Theatre Generalist), Chapman (BFA), University of Texas (BA), University of Houston (BFA), (Also accepted to University of Northern Colorado and Pepperdine on Audition, but did not apply).</p>
<p>Accepted academically (but rejected by program auditioned for): Fordham, DePaul, University of Texas (BFA), USC (BFA)</p>
<p>Rejected from: CMU, BU, Northwestern, Columbia</p>
<p>Wait-listed at: None</p>
<p>Final Decision: USC</p>
<p>Coach: Did a about a dozen sessions with a local coach. </p>
<p>Summer Programs: Summer workshop at Stephen F Austin University</p>
<p>High School: Large public school in Texas (over 3,000 enrollment) with a fairly strong theatre program.</p>
<p>This was an interesting journey. My daughter is very strong academically–National Merit Finalist, a lot of APs, high GPA. Her acting resume was not as strong. She only really decided to pursue acting as a career when she was a Junior, so she didn’t have any community theatre and not many summer activities. Even her parts in high school were good but not great. When she started out, she was dead set on a BFA. She wanted intense acting training with strong academic core requirements. I think we both underestimated the competition for the BFA programs. She was devastated and shocked by the rejections. I think BU hit her the hardest because she really thought she had nailed the audition (at Unifieds in LA). The acceptances she received were not the schools, or in some cases, the programs she thought she really wanted. She told me that the University of Texas, where she had an academic auto-admit was “dead to her” after being rejected at the audition (btw, she was under-prepared for that audition). </p>
<p>In April, she narrowed her choices to three. USC BA–big school with football and school spirit, an okay scholarship, interesting academic opportunities, and active student comedy improv clubs (I think this last item was actually a factor); University of Evansville–really interesting, flexible program that you can turn into a BFA --a ton of individual attention, opportunities to perform, good reputation, great scholarship, VERY friendly students, but with a small and extremely isolated campus in a cold climate; Chapman–the BFA with strong core curriculum that she claimed she wanted from the beginning and a great scholarship. </p>
<p>She went for the BA at USC and she seems genuinely excited. She is planning a double major in Narrative Studies (which seems to be a mix of dramaturgy/screenwriting/playwriting/creative writing). She applied and was accepted into USC’s Thematic Options Honors Program, which she thinks will be very interesting and challenging. None of this would have been possible with a BFA at USC. It’s weird to say, but I think she ended up exactly where she should be. I wish she had figured out that she was better suited to a BA earlier in the process so that we could have avoided the audition angst, but I think she had to go through the process to figure it out. I hope she never feels like she settled. I suppose she can always get an MFA if she decides that she wants the extra training. </p>
<p>That’s a great story, and sounds like an excellent outcome for your D. She will be right there in the middle of things if she decides to pursue screenwriting and film. </p>
<p>@txdramamama, it sounds like your D’s experience was in many ways identical to my D’s – coming from a public school in Texas, very strong academics, experienced some tough disappointments during the audition process, got accepted to a few BFA programs, changed her mind from wanting a BFA to a BA during the process, ultimately decided on a BA at USC, plans to double major, and accepted into Thematic Option at USC. We should probably arrange for our daughters to meet! </p>
<p>Finally, I’ll share our journey as well:</p>
<p>Auditioned for: Juilliard, Carnegie Mellon, DePaul, Rutgers Mason G, Boston U, Emerson, Fordham, NYU, Syracuse and SUNY Purchase</p>
<p>Non-audition applications: Skidmore and Muhlenberg </p>
<p>Prescreens: none</p>
<p>Accepted to: Fordham (on the spot at her audition!), NYU (Atlantic), Emerson. Waitlisted and then accepted to Syracuse BFA. </p>
<p>Waitlisted but ultimately rejected from Mason G. BFA, but accepted academically to Rutgers U (BA)</p>
<p>Waitlisted at both Muhlenberg and Skidmore but did not accept waitlist spots since she knew she had an acceptance from Fordham. </p>
<p>Rejected from: Juilliard, CMU, DePaul, BU, Purchase</p>
<p>Final Decision: Fordham BA Performance</p>
<p>Coach: 4-5 meetings with audition coach in the month before LA Unifieds, just to work on her monologues</p>
<p>Summer Programs - Auditioned based: CSSSA (California State Summer School for the Arts), CAPSA (California Arts Partnership), RSAC (Rutgers Summer Acting Conservatory). Non-audition based: A couple US Performing Arts one-week camps each of the last two summers.</p>
<p>High School: Small private school in Los Angeles with a very strong theatre program, and generally a very strong visual and performing arts curriculum.</p>
<p>My D went into the audition process feeling that she definitely wanted a BFA. She only applied to her “safe” schools (the non-audition programs) at my urging, and she was dramatic about that (“You don’t think I’m going to get in anywhere!”). She was very headstrong about applying only for schools where she could actually see herself. She went into her first audition feeling ready, but here’s what happened: she was called in fairly early with Paolo. She did her monologues, he gave her some adjustments, she did them with his adjustments, and he complimented her. Then, he asked her, “How are your grades?” She said, “I have good grades, but I’m not great at math. And also, I have ADD.” Oyyyy…I guess we didn’t coach her on the interview! It’s kind of a funny story now in retrospect, because she has a 3.7 GPA unweighted, and a 1980 SAT score, so she’s solid academically. But, when Paolo asked if she had any questions, she said no. I think these were her big mistakes in that first audition. I told her then, “Never volunteer that you have ADD and always ask a few questions! It shows that you’re interested in the program.” Lesson: definitely coach your kids on the interview portion! Also, don’t schedule your first audition with one of your top schools. Her 2nd audition was with Fordham, where she was offered admission on the spot, so that came at the right time and really helped boost her confidence going into the rest of her auditions.</p>
<p>All in all, Unifieds were grueling but certainly a memorable experience. She cried when she didn’t get called back for DePaul, but other than that, she handled everything well and had a blast. Ultimately, she said that she learned that she takes rejection well. She also had a fairly good feel on how her auditions went - the schools where she was accepted, she felt very confident about, and the schools from which she was rejected were not unexpected based on the feeling she got from her auditors, except for Purchase (she was filmed at LA Unifieds, allegedly the equivalent to a call-back, so she was disappointed and surprised to not have made at least the waitlist). </p>
<p>When the acceptances/rejections rolled in, I was most surprised that she wasn’t accepted to Skidmore or Muhlenberg! Those were, in my mind, her “safe” schools, at least according to the stats on our school’s Naviance program. I found myself wondering, how bad would it have been if she didn’t get in anywhere? Was it my fault for not pushing her to apply to more safe schools? But then I remember that she DID have some great choices, so I stop beating myself up. </p>
<p>Even though my D thought that she wanted a BFA, she chose the BA at Fordham. Its small size pushed it over Tisch, and its location pushed it over Emerson. She said that she realized that learning about things other than theatre would help her become a better artist, and she grew excited about the large core curriculum at Fordham. When she got off the waitlist at Syracuse, it threw her for a loop for about a week, and she struggled with the decision, but she stuck with Fordham. </p>
<p>This whole journey took so much out of me; I think only you theatre parents could truly understand! I feel as if the last 7 months have been completely devoted to college admissions and stressing about my daughter’s future. I think we could not have known that all along, they would be okay! This process is simply designed to cause us to worry, stress, and obsess, because other than composing charts, calendaring dates, and acting as a general assistant and fan, we have no control over the process. I am so happy and relieved to be done, and looking forward to graduation on May 29. I am exhausted, excited, and so emotional! </p>
<p>Congratulations! I think Fordham is such an exciting choice! </p>
<p>I love these stories. Thanks for sharing, Sherryjane73! I second your advice about rehearsing for the interview and not going with your top choice first, if at all possible–my daughter did a similar thing at her Guthrie audition several years back and I was wincing at what she’d said to the auditors. On the other hand, she’s now at Northwestern, and loves it there, so maybe these things are meant to be. (She was also rejected from Skidmore btw!) Fordham is a fabulous school. Very exciting for her! </p>
<p>Btw, Sherryjane73, is there any chance we were sitting together during the long Juilliard audition? I sat next to a mom whose daughter went to a small private school in LA. I spent the whole day at that audition and yet didn’t ask anyone if they were on CC! I should have worn a T shirt or something… </p>
<p>Congratulations!!!</p>
<p>Yessss I agree a little interview prep is a good idea. My son was asked by one auditioner whether he could dance and responded apologetically that he can “move” but is not a dancer. They responded with advice that he take a couple dance classes if he is serious about this path. No acceptance from them 
A lot of 17-18 year olds don’t understand that this is not the time to be modest. I guess we parents have ourselves to blame for over emphasizing manners and humility! </p>