<p>I love CC. I still check in even though my D has finally found her place (for the time being). And I know this has been said, but we need to say it again… You have to know who you are and what you want when you get into this search process. Many college freshman don’t really know who they want to be when they grow up, but kids in MT really need to know by now. What you may not know is the right way to approach it.</p>
<p>Some kids know from the time they can walk and talk that they want to be on the stage; some kids come to their passion a little later. Some kids are high achievers and juggle many things at once; some can only focus on one thing at a time. Many kids are somewhere in between all of those. My D was… knew she wanted to perform in about 7th grade but didn’t know if it was instrumental or vocal. She worked very hard to get good grades and was always involved in 1 or 2 things after school, often performance based.</p>
<p>We had taught her to get a good education. So she looked at college fora BA in MT. She found one that REALLY didn’t work out. (long story) Then she went to Muhlehnberg and LOVED it, but was torn between getting really good grades and performance time. As I said, she had to work really hard to get excellent grades. It didn’t just come to her like so many on this site! She decided at this time, she really wanted to work on performance only. So we said, OK, this is the time to go for it.</p>
<p>She had sworn she would never go to AMDA… many people on CC had bashed it (and many have not!!!) But we went to visit it and she loved it. She has been there now for about 6 weeks (they have a very strange semester schedule) and feels that she has learned so much the SHE needed to learn and is looking forward to so much more learning.</p>
<p>The point of this rambling entry is… be honest with yourself about what you really want to do. If the academics are not the most important part right now, find a place where the training gives you what you need and the academics are interesting but not heavy. Or look at places like my Ds place (there are quite a few, and many of them have bad raps…)
find out why! And if you want high quality humanities and sciences as well as performance training, those schools are out there also. (Mulhenberg IS great!!!)</p>
<p>Snoggie, Good for your D, as is preached on this site, fit is everything. And a good fit can be achieved by Knowing Yourself. Good advice for all.</p>
<p>Good advice to be sure. Training is individual. Success is also. There are pros and cons to AMDA. Without starting any kind of war of words - my sole caution for some who read this success story - you may some day want a college diploma. </p>
<p>Someone told me not long ago that this may be available via AMDA now, but I know that it was not true some time ago. Beyond that, I’m happy for everyone who finds the right fit.</p>
<p>kjgc I believe that you can now go for a BFA in the LA campus and I think you can take your 2 year certificate and transfer to New School for a 4 year diploma. At this point, my D is just working towards her certificate with thoughts of finishing up a degree at a later date. I agree that a diploma is a wonderful goal and I was a little disappointed but I know my D and if she needs it in the future, she will go back for it!</p>
<p>snoggie,
I’m very happy for your daughter. You are right. If she wants or needs her diploma in the future, she will not only go back for it, but will probably do better because she has life experience, is more disciplined from musical theatre, and appreciates it more. Everyone has to find his/her own path. Great to point that out. Also great that students who have an interest in AMDA now have a source they can go to (you or your daughter) to get some first hand information on the school.</p>
<p>NotMamaRose-
Nice to stop back in once in a while! My daughter is graduating in May and I’m about to write out that last tuition payment! Hooorraaay. She’s been so busy this year. In August she was cast in The Donkey Show at The American Repertoire Theatre in Cambridge, Mass with Artisic Director, Diane Paulus (director of Hair). So she performs in that on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights (2 shows on Saturdays). Her contract ends in January and she will not renew it because she was just cast as Maureen in Rent for BoCo’s Spring Musical. Her last semester will be her best! This is a role she has always dreamed of playing. At BoCo you pick a direction Senior year, she ended up picking 3 so she’s extremely busy all the time. It’s exciting to see these kids grow and I can’t wait to watch what happens in the next few years! Hope all is well with you and your daughter.</p>
<p>Lynn, a big congrats to your D in landing that role in her senior year! Very happy for her. It has been a journey and I hope it continues positively!</p>