oops now that i can PM, im not sure i know how 
NEVER MIND , got it now, SORRY
@NYYFanNowMTdad - if you look at the top of the page next to your login name, (to the left of the search function) you should see an envelope icon. If you click on it, it should give you an option of “new message”. Click on that and you can pick your recipient, write your message and post!
For those still working on their schools- I noticed that this year’s crop on OnStage Blogs “best” lists are starting to drop. While all lists have inherent flaws, and should NOT considered gospel - I really liked the article below. They talk about their methodology, giving more transparency (and in my mind greater merit) than finding out ranking came from a student survey, or that a list was created by someone who WENT to the school ranked at the top
http://www.onstageblog.com/onstage-blog-news/2018/8/20/understanding-onstage-blogs-college-rankings
Quick questions – is there a separate thread for Acting over MT this year? I am asking for a friend whose daughter is about to start this crazy process but she’s only doing Acting programs, no MT. My daughter was an MT hopeful last year and there were two separate threads for MT and Acting but I’m not finding that for class of 2023. Thanks for any info shared and BAL to all the amazing kids out there! What an experience you and your parents are about to share.
They have their own forum. Here is a link! http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/theater-drama-majors/
@toowonderful i agree their specific criteria of rankings was transparent if nothing else, but have to wonder about a top 25 that doesnt include NYU ( i think most people on broadway) …anyway just interesting and unredictable as always
@NYYFanNowMTdad - lists are always a crap shoot. Tbh - I read the MT list earlier today… and then a school disappeared (it was #4 earlier in the day… now absent - which is ODD to say the least.) My kid was an acting major at NYU (Which was highly ranked on that list earlier in the week) but as a recent grad- she would tell you the proof is in the audition room, not the classroom!
@toowonderful what school disappeared?
@MomofMTBoy - when I looked this morning BW was #4. (I knew 2 kids in the pic they posted - from their production of Dogfight a few years ago). By dinner time when I went to show my husband… BW was gone (Pace is currently listed as #4,I don’t remember where it was this morning). I did note this morning that in their description of the program that they referred to BW as a BFA, when of course they are a BM. Maybe that is what led to the change - after all, the title of the article is “Best BFA…”
@toowonderful maybe NYU Steinhardt did not make the list for the same reason that BW was removed–it is a BM in Vocal Performance: Music Theatre?
One of the first things I noticed was the absence of BW. The fact that it is a BM versus a BFA makes perfect sense.
I totally agree - what’s odd is that it WAS on the list… so apparently they didn’t catch that until after it was published
This points directly to something I post about frequently – that applicants should be more concerned with the program and training they will get at a specific school rather than the letters of their degree. Those casting shows will not care if you have a BFA, BM, BA or no degree at all. They will only care what you do in the audition. But there seems to be a pervasive attitude among applicants that a BFA program is better than other types of degrees. Obviously, as evidenced by programs such as Baldwin Wallace and Oklahoma City University that consistently produce Broadway caliber performers, the training with their BM degrees can be just as good or better than some BFA programs. My advice again is to study the curriculum for each school you are considering. Make sure you get the training you want. Don’t worry about the letters of the degree. BFAs can be great. But so can other types of degrees. With any school, make sure you will be taking the classes you wish to take and getting the training you need so you can be successful in your field after you graduate. The letters of the degree do not matter.
There were a couple programs that dropped off- Onstage stated that they would be doing BM and BA lists so I think that is why they ended up dropping off as it was a “BFA” list.
I’ve noticed that Letters of Recommendation aren’t required for many schools. Are you guys sending them anyways? They are optional in The Common App, but aren’t required. The only ones who seem to require it so far are an international school and Julliard.
Ahh…The year I graduate highschool.
I took a look at the list of “best musical theater programs.” Like any list, it can’t possibly factor in everything. The fact that AMDA is listed at all makes this list inconsequential to me. Missing: OCU, NYU, BW, Uarts and more. Look at the programs themselves and decide what YOU want, because most programs from top to bottom of any list offer excellent training. We looked at things like class size, private voice lessons, availability of all styles and levels of dance, performance opportunities and big city vs. small campus. For us, the chance to easily audition for summer stock and professional theater was a top priority. Learning the business of theater is almost as import as the training so getting an agent and union status before graduation was a must for us (accomplished).
@carriemc95 My D included one on the Common App because she had a teacher that prepared a very well written academic lor in advance of her applying so figured why not include him? But had he not done that for her she might not have. So far we have several that require artistic letters of recommendation that we are working on getting sent.
On another note, just a reminder to everyone…have your D/S keep following up on applications…we have already had a few transcript hiccups. She received an email of digital acknowledgement of receipt by a school who says they never received it. And one high school transcript that the school has missed sending.
@BeBop1 just curious based on your stated criteria where you applied to & it sounds like you child already graduated? sorry if I am confused