Also there is a NJ Transit station on campus, so kids don’t have to go anywhere to catch the train to NYC. $7 or so each way.
Edit: @DivaStageMom - I see that you covered this in your post.
My son’s big came back to Texas with him for Spring Break (along with another freshman, and another local freshman). Great kids. Very friendly and polite.
Hello!! Can you please share your thoughts on the dorms at Catholic. Also any info on food, vibe, campus, etc. Thanks
@BlessedNStressed - Catholic is a mix of old and new. Located in a very blue-collar area of DC the campus has big old stone buildings - kind of like Fordham mixed with newer buildings. Some of the spaces are really outdated such as the area we were in for the audition and some were new like the common area where there is a Starbucks and some other food options. The dorms are much the same. The dorm we were in was kind of old - it had some interesting features such as woodwork in the common area - but the rooms were small - not the nicest I have seen. There are other dorms that are in the new building said to be nicer, and more spacious.
We were not overly impressed with the dance area - kind of outdated. My kids both have a lot of friends that go to Catholic - when we were there it was kind of quiet - not much going on right outside the campus but I did hear a lot of the kids take the train to Baltimore - that is very close and there is a train right there.
What I would say about Catholic MT wise is we were both extremely impressed with the faculty. The dance, music, directors all worked in the DC area - they were all extremely impressive. DC, in general, has a lot going on - the kids said they saw Mean Girls before it went to Broadway etc… There is a lot of theater in the general area.
This was my daughter’s very first BFA acceptance and although we didn’t love the facilities we both agreed that she could get excellent training - you actually get a BM - you leave learning how to read and interpret new music. We were very impressed with the guy who ran the music department - I do think you would leave learning a lot. D was also impressed with the dance teacher - they had a comprehensive audition ballet, jazz - fun choreography but not easy. You would get good dance training. And we loved the director - again the faculty was a 10 - the campus was a 7.
D’s coach works for a leading regional theater - he recommended she apply there - he says they turn out an impressive product. We got together with a friend from the area and she and her girls go to shows at Catholic - she says they are well done…
They also offered her a lot of money - brought it down to a state school level
Catholic - we live in the DMV and the area surrounding Catholic can be iffy. Walk in a group to Metro. The campus is a few Metro stops from everything DC - making it an easy commute if you work/intern in one of the theatres. D has been in several productions with, or taken classes taught by, the very talented alums of Catholic.
I have a daughter at CUA. It is some of the best training available, and on par with programs like Baldwin Wallace. I have never heard of students taking the train to Baltimore, but they do metro into DC quite often. Parts of campus are old, that is true. But by sophomore year they have the option of living in the new high rise dorm and can live off campus or in the apartments by Junior/Senior year. CUA is very highly regarded, especially in the DMV market, and their alum are quite successful. It’s also one of the more established MT programs (I believe 30 or more years old.)
I also failed to mention there are currently 52 CUA theatre alumni nominated for Helen Hayes awards this year (2020).