Here are some things that my d used to differentiate schools - note that “bigger is better” is not implied here, only that differentiation can be made. Some students may want “smaller and less” vs. “larger and more.”
- Production Season - number of main stage shows total, number of main stage musicals. Some schools have larger production seasons than others. Some schools only do 1 main stage musical, some do 2-3. Some schools offer lots of cabaret-type opportunities. And so on.
- Cross-over in casting between MT students and Acting students in straight plays and musicals. In some schools, there is very little cross-over (zero in a few cases).
- Amount of non-performance-related classes required in the MT curriculum. Some schools require 15-21 hours of non-performance courses in stagecraft, theatre history, etc. Some require only 1 stagecraft course and 1-2 classes in theatre history.
- Amount of dance offered in the curriculum and the number of levels of dance offered. Some programs require 20+ hours of dance, others 10-12. Some programs only have 2 levels of dance (Ballet I & II) while others offer many levels (Ballet I-IV, etc.).
- Facilities and Production Budgets: some programs have relatively limited stage facilities with small sets and shows, some have fantastic facilities and put on amazing theatrical productions.
- Attitude evidenced during auditions. Some schools project a definite "feel" at auditions that can be a distinct "fit" or "NOT." Just as schools observe auditioners from the moment they step through the front door, my d observed everything about how she was treated during the audition like Sherlock Holmes with "the game afoot." "Cool detachment" was OK, "thinly veiled arrogance" was not OK. Some schools asked interesting and thought-provoking questions, one school asked a question that seemed "out of bounds." YMMV is definitely a by-word for this type of comparison.
- Proximity and access to professional or semi-professional theatre companies. Some schools have URTA theatres on-site, some have other types of professional theatre companies on-site or have partnerships with some close by.
- Some programs require very little or no Music Theory/Aural Skills/Keyboard training, some require fairly extensive training in musicianship. Theory/Aural Skills/Keyboarding was really important to my d.
- Amount of General Education courses required. Some programs require 30 hours or less, some 50 hours or more. Some have a Foreign Language requirement, many do not. Some require little or no Math or Science.