<p>I think you are right takeitallin. I also think that many of the parents that are closer and can come to more of the shows “adopt” the kids whose parents are further away and can’t come very often. At least I got that impression at some places. The faculty also seem to watch out for the kids as well. I think that is why even if you can’t visit the school you can communicate with current students and faculty to get the vibe and feel. That is where a big part of fit comes in as well in my opinion.</p>
<p>To be honest I have never heard of any programs that were not nurturing and supportive. You may here from time to time someone who is disgruntled but those appear to be isolated instances.</p>
<p>beenthereMTdad, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If I may make an observation from the world of highly competitive soccer. The players that start love the coach and club, the players that are the first subs off the bench can deal with the coach and the players that never see playing time or were cut think the coach is a moron. </p>
<p>The “disgruntled” students were likely those that have been cut from a program. I don’t think those instances are isolated. I can name schools that will, or have, cut up to 50% of the freshman class. The students that post here, are likely those that remain in the program. It is rare on this forum that you’ll see anyone “bash” a program. It isn’t really the right venue and would be met with equal and opposite vitriol. </p>
<p>The students that remain in the program post-cut likely feel (and likely are) nurtured by the faculty in a strong training program. The faculty are still good people, the students are still good people and very good artists emerge from many of the programs that actively ask students to leave. I believe the question is… before the cut, how can you support the person with whom you are in competition for the limited slots? </p>
<p>And before anyone points out that this is the reality in the professional world, the comparison isn’t quite apt. The differences are many and the similarities few. I take no umbrage with programs that cut. I must say that I don’t truly understand them, but then again, I don’t need to.</p>
<p>People tend to like or love the program they are in, but that doesn’t always mean much, either. I visited schools that had zero reputation and classes that were a little disappointing but there will always be students who think it’s great and they’re learning a lot. Maybe they are. Even the most mediocre programs have happy students and lots of proud parents. Also, students do leave every program for many reasons other than cuts.</p>
<p>^^^I’m sure actor12 you didn’t mean your post to come off as snotty as I took it. On the flip side even the “best” programs do not always have the most nuturing environment because they think you should feel lucky to be there or that they picked you. There are people at those programs that are both happy and unhappy with their program. That is why fit is so important and you shouldn’t necessarily pick a school on name alone.</p>
<p>I think something to take into account is the “culture” of the school. I notice that like people sometimes tend to get accepted to and attend certain schools. Then they feel that the program is nurturing and supportive-- for THEM. A kid who thrives on competition to push them to work harder is going to feel nurtured and supported in a more competitive environment with lots of constructive criticism, while a kid who needs lots of positive feedback wouldn’t feel comfortable in that environment.</p>
<p>As many previous posters have said, the program environment is really subjective and you have to go with the program that you feel you “gel” with.</p>
<p>I agree that how YOUR CHILD feels about the program (or you, if you are the student) is super important, and is totally subjective. My D really disliked three programs that she visited (one was one of the lottery schools; the other two are also up there in reputation). She just PERSONALLY did not get a good feel from the students, faculty and/or campus. But this should mean nothing to you and your child…b/c you may have exactly the opposite reaction to the same school. And I’m sure there are plenty of people who hate the program my D is choosing to attend. </p>
<p>I think, like the rest of us who survived this process, you will find schools that you think are supportive and wonderful, and others where you think the kids are snarky and uber-competitive. It’s hard for us to offer anything aside from sweeping generalizations (like “cut programs tend to be more competitive”) and personal opinions.</p>
<p>I really agree with all the comments about personal fit, and as an example will mention that after D attended MPulse the idea of a very small tight-knit program wasn’t as appealing to her as many of us assumed it would be. She felt that small programs could be too easily dominated by one or two strong personalities and that over four years she preferred to work with and learn from a larger pool of people. In her larger program she has, as she’d anticipated, formed very tight bonds with a smaller group, but a group of her own choosing in the context of a larger theatre community. Different programs will certainly feel supportive to different students depending on what they want from college.</p>
<p>Cut programs aside (do not like the principle) one’s feelings like a previous poster mentioned is totally subjective and personal so the mention of one versus the other seems a little pointless.</p>
<p>So, the next question would be, how do you get to know a program? We live on the West Coast so visiting colleges prior to creating our list is not possible. What suggestions do you have with this limitation?</p>
<p>LoveMyMTGirl: We are also on the West Coast! I just sent you a Private Message…</p>
<p>You can send an email to faculty with questions. Ask to be put in touch with students in the program. Make a list of what you are looking for in a program and research the schools to see if they fit your criteria. For example some schools don’t let you perform for one or two years where others you can the first year. Do you like BFA or BA. Finding out what you want in a program will help you with your list.</p>
<p>Agree with others that the atmosphere at a program will be more about a fit with what YOU want and opinions will differ on these things. Also, most kids tend to love their program and bond with other kids in it. </p>
<p>As an aside, like MomCares’ daughter, my D liked how at NYU/Tisch, similar to her D’s school, Northwestern, it is big enough to have a larger peer group in theater and to get to choose your friends and not be in such a small group that may be more limiting in nature. </p>
<p>I also agree with others that visiting is a great way to get the vibe of the school, but if you can’t visit, then try to get to talk to current students in the program and faculty. Also, even here on the MT Forum, there are individual forums for many of the MT programs and current or past students and parents participate and can help you that way with questions or contacts (along with reading past discussions here). </p>
<p>And as another parent posted above, it is important for your kid to figure out their own college selection criteria and then research each school and see how it does or doesn’t fit that criteria. Setting up a spreadsheet listing one’s own selection criteria and then filling in for each program how it meets or doesn’t each of those things is a very useful exercise. At the same time, due to how selective programs can be, try to cast a wide net and see where your D gets admitted and then narrow the selection of where to attend based on best fit. Obviously don’t apply to any programs that she is not remotely interested in.</p>
<p>momarmarino, I can’t reply to your PM until I have 15 posts. Almost there and then I will answer!</p>
<p>You all are really helping quite a bit. I would have never thought about the small versus large group due to picking your own friends from the larger group. It’s a good question for my D.</p>
<p>We do plan on casting a wide net, and have a spreadsheet going. All these suggestions are really helping with criteria to narrow down the list of schools. We started with about 180 schools and are now down to about 30!</p>
<p>30 was where we were about this time so you are making great progress. Best of luck!!</p>
<p>We narrowed down the list and eventually decided that visits would happen if she got in. We are on the west coast and can understand your travel issues. Because my D had so many NYC schools on her list - we did see them over time due our love of that city and fairly regular trips. But in the end, the school she chose she hadn’t seen until she got their offer.</p>
<p>Even though we live on the East Coast and it was easier for us then some, my daughter ended up applying for 4 schools – CCM, Depaul, Otterbein and UNCSA – that we neither visitied before auditions or did on campus. We wanted to cast a wide net and it just wasn’t practical to apply to 14 schools and see all of them. We thought the worst case scenario would be that we’d have to squeeze in one or two trips in April before decision time. As it was she got into one of these – UNCSA – along with NYU, U of Arts and Hartt – and it was no issue getting in an after an April visit of sitting in on classses and seeing a show which is as much or more that she could have done previously. </p>
<p>So I don’t think anyone should get too hung up over seeing every school in advance. You can get a lot of info and come to a pretty good sense about whether a school is a good fit without a visit.</p>
<p>My S also waited until after acceptances and financial info came in before deciding whether to visit or not visit about 1/2 of his schools. Like ActingDad, said there was plenty of time to visit the schools he did want to see and re-visit one other after we received sufficient info from his accepting schools.</p>
<p>LoveMyMTGirl - Just going to add in Coastal Carolina as another program that may have the mix your D is seeking. Here’s a great post from a rising sophomore:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/15836854-post10.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/15836854-post10.html</a>
With a follow up by a rising senior:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/15840077-post11.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/15840077-post11.html</a></p>
<p>I do remember how hard it was to get to the final “final” list. For my D, that wasn’t done until February of her senior year - eek - when she added one final school to her list! Interestingly enough, it was that final school she added that she is attending and loving :)</p>