Theater Directing Skidmore [11k] vs U Rochester [20k] Denison [40k] SUNY Purchase [20k]

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Looking to study Theater directing, also film directing but don’t want a conservatory program which suny is, I want to be exposed to many types of people after doing LaGuardia theater conservatory for four years in highschool.
Going to visit Denison this week, anyone know more about it, if I can get more money it may be a consideration. Also considering Mount Holyoke so far 31k after aid etc but they are supposed to meet all financial need so hoping to get more. Also Muhlenberg [20k] has a great theater program and I would get to do a lot of directing but the students don’t seem to be on par with some of these better colleges. Really having a hard time making a decision! But so thankful for all the choices!

SUNY is the most well known for theater, but was hoping to get out of the conservatory life. Visiting Skidmore in a few weeks, also offered first semester in London, excited about that but it also seems to be mostly artsy kids but I don’t know that much about it. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

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So it sees there are more schools than in the subject line.

To me going to Denison doesn’t make sense - but if you’re going to plead for more, do it while there. But if money is tight, I’d save it.

I would not dismiss Muhlenberg based on what you said. The reason is you said you’ll get to direct a lot there. Will you have those opportunities at other schools? That (quantity wise), to me, would be more important than anything else.

Obviously, the others - Rochester and Skidmore - will have more non-theater people - but Muhlenberg is a fine school. Did you like the campus, vibe - other than maybe you are looking at statistically, it’s a safety vs. the others?

Both my kids chose safeties over reaches they got to. In the end, you’ll find your people - they’ll have tons of smart kids - because schools use merit to buy them in to improve their profile.

As for Mt. Holyoke - when a school says they’ll meet need (same as Denison), they all use different methods - so it will be hard for them to adjust. They might but it will be hard - because they simply used their formula. Meeting need is different to all - if someone is asking $40K, they are likely looking at home equity - that they feel your parents can borrow.

Based on what you wrote about Muhlenberg - and you didn’t mention Rochester, etc. but it sounds like a fit to me.

Going abroad the first semester - just realize, you won’t be on campus, getting established with others. For some it’s ok. For others, it’s not a good thing - you have to work harder to get integrated although if you are in London with other Skidmore kids that might happen organically, at least with them, when you return.

Good luck.

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I think you need very specific advice from someone familiar with performing arts as the reputations, programs and experience are likely highly unique to the school.

I am not that person as you presumably know more than the average reader like me.

Wishing you good luck.

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Coming from mom here- I think coming from NYC, the kids actually all seemed rather young, is the best way to put it. She just didn’t think she would be interested in meeting many people there. I think nyc kids have a coolness, maturity and worldliness that is hard to match. The talent level also in the theater program she felt wasn’t the greatest.

But you’re right she may be able to make the best directing portfolio from there.

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I went to Syracuse - for journalism. #1 program - blah blah blah. There was so much competition for the two radio stations and one TV station - and the entirety of my “education” to be a newscaster was one in class opportunity to make a news tape, one a sports tape, and one a weather tape.

We had a rank…we had zero repetition.

So that’s what I took from your initial post.

Maybe if I had repetition (or maybe not), I could have made it in my career. So that’s the first thing I noticed from your post. I always wish I had frequent opportunities vs. just one.

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My D is a theater and creative writing major at Muhlenberg. She picked Muhlenberg over Mount Holyoke, Grinnell, and Sarah Lawrence because of the volume of opportunities that exist at Muhlenberg in theatre. She’s focused on acting, tech theater, and playwriting so can’t comment on directing but she’s found that there are a lot of very talented students there. Auditions are very competitive but there are also a lot of opportunities and the community is very supportive. She absolutely loves the school. I’ve been impressed with the performances I’ve seen. In fact I’m here now because my D was the dramaturg for their current main stage production. Looking forward to seeing it tomorrow.

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Thank you so much for your insight! The theater opportunities do seem so impressive! I wonder if we can come and see the play!

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I bet if you reach out to admissions, you’ll get tix…or just buy them.

AudienceView Professional

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Of course! Tickets for their shows are available through the box office. Sometimes the dept will provide free tickets to prospective students as well. Shows are popular and do sell out, which is actually another thing that we really like - that students always have a good audience for their productions.

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Update! She decided on Skidmore, the student directed play we saw there was very good, she loved the beautiful campus in the woods but right down the road from the super cute, vibrant big town of Saratoga Springs. All the students were so kind and was impressed by the alumni network that is at a top tier level. Everyone is so creative and smart and it seems even if not immediately given the opportunity you can make any opportunities you want for yourself.
She is also going to the first semester in London though a little unsure if anyone has any experience with doing that let us know thanks!

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