<p>**By Mtmommy (Mtmommy) on Friday, October 01, 2004 - 08:34 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>Thesbo–Break a leg with the auditions. Thank you for offering to do the links. Keep us posted when you can about how it’s going. </p>
<p>**By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Saturday, October 02, 2004 - 07:58 am: Edit **</p>
<p>Congratulations, Thesbo! Enjoy your break from the college process. You’ve certainly earned it. </p>
<p>**By Notarebel (Notarebel) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 03:34 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>Thesbo is so efficient. I only have about half of mine done. </p>
<p>**By Fosselover (Fosselover) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 11:28 am: Edit **</p>
<p>Thesbo–You have such great insights and real determination. Please keep us posted on how things go!!! </p>
<p>**By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 03:14 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>Notarebel, I’m not certain where my son is in the process. I think I would gladly settle for halfway done. The only reason he is THAT far along is that I panicked when I read Thesbo’s post. I imagined that all the theatre kids in the country had already completed their apps. The last train for college had left the station and he wasn’t on it! I came down on him like Moses came down from the mountain top. So this weekend he’s worked some on the applications, and I have calmed down a little. It’s reassuring to know that he’s not the only one who still has work to do. </p>
<p>**By Alwaysamom (Alwaysamom) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 04:48 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>Catherdingmom, I wouldn’t worry too much about your son. It seems to depend on which schools you’re applying to, but I know the year my D applied, she turned in her app the day she was in the city to audition, in early November. All of her other apps were finished by the end of November that year and ready to go, in case she didn’t get in E.D. I know that a lot of her friends were in the same boat. Most weren’t due until January, and most she was interested in did not require an app to be in prior to scheduling auditions. So, it varies, I guess, depending on which colleges are on your child’s list. Take a deep breath, you’ll survive this, I promise! </p>
<p>**By Notarebel (Notarebel) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 06:06 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>Catherdigmom – ROFL! Don’t worry about Thesbo. Shes like a real life version of Monica on ‘Friends.’ I’ll go get her to do a new link to the mt thread and see if she can show me how. (Yells THESBO down the hall)- hehehe </p>
<p>**By Thesbohemian (Thesbohemian) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 06:34 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>A Monica in a world a Phoebes and Joeys … Such is my fate. I just wanted to get them all done and out of the way so I wouldn’t have to worry about them anymore. Actually, I’ve been talked into doing another one for SUNY Purchase. </p>
<p>**By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 11:37 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>Alwaysamom, my son sends you his heartfelt thanks! I was under the impression that he had to get those applications done in order to schedule his auditions. It’s such a relief to find that I was mistaken about that. I don’t know what I’d do without you tour guides on this strange and wonderful journey my son has decided to take. </p>
<p>Notarebel and Thesbo, you gave me a flash of insight. The problem is that I am by nature a Phoebe who has been assigned a Monica-type job–keeper of the family schedule. No wonder I’ve been going crazy! Now if you’ll excuse me I’ll just be going off to strum a few chords of “Smelly Cat”… </p>
<p>**By Wct (Wct) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 12:45 am: Edit **</p>
<p>When we were going through the application process with my S I asked one thing of him…
that he get his apps done prior to winter break so that we could enjoy it without the pressure of getting them done. </p>
<p>**By Thesbohemian (Thesbohemian) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 06:31 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>You rock, Smellycatherdingmom! </p>
<p>**By Mtfan (Mtfan) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 06:33 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>Wow, Thesbo freaked me out too… too bad I actually finished them before reading that it wasnt’t necessary (9 apps.)… oh well at least I can rest for a looooong time. </p>
<p>**By Wct (Wct) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 01:11 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>I saw an interesting article on Yahoo this morning. Check out this article: </p>
<p>U.S. National - AP </p>
<p>Enthusiasm Trend Up in College Admissions </p>
<p>**By Jrmom (Jrmom) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 01:44 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>What a funny title - we’re so enthusiastic I"m already exhausted and it’s only October! </p>
<p>**By Catherdingmom (Catherdingmom) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 08:32 am: Edit **</p>
<p>I understand (at least I think I do!) the BA/BFA question,now I’m wondering about the differences between the BFA & MFA. If a BFA is intensive training,then is the MFA intensive, intensive training? Does the MFA cover the same ground as a BFA, only at a deeper level, or is it covering new territory? I understand the rationale of getting the BA followed by the MFA because the student is following a broad knowledge base with intensive training. What is the advantage of following a BFA with an MFA? </p>
<p>**By Alwaysamom (Alwaysamom) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 07:15 pm: Edit **</p>
<p>Catherdingmom, I can try to answer your question by describing how it is at Tisch because we’ve had several friends go through the program there. First of all, I should say that very few actors who have BFAs go on to do an MFA. Tisch is the largest undergrad drama program in the country, accepting approximately 300 students each year. Their MFA in acting takes only 19 a year! </p>
<p>Tisch’s MFA program is a three year conservatory program which uses the Alexander Technique as the basis for its classes. There are full productions going on throughout the year in the grad program (they’re excellent, we saw several before my D started at Tisch), usually 15-20. Here’s a description of part of the program/production from their website: </p>
<p>"The arc of production over the three years is organized so that you will live within various styles, various “stretches,” in order to develop your instrument to the fullest degree possible and so be able to perform that actor’s task. Faculty members support these productions with their involvement with your progress at rehearsals; and what you and they learn about you affects how they will teach you. It’s a circle of learning and doing. </p>
<p>The first year doesn’t focus heavily on productions, giving you a chance to concentrate on other things. In the second year, you are in four productions plus, usually, a special developmental project under a director with a unique script or point-of-view to be explored. The four productions range all over the world’s repertory, with a special emphasis in each on an aspect of acting (physical comedy, language, character development, etc.) </p>
<p>The third year recognizes you as a professional in-the-making, and the productions move you toward the goal of taking your place in the world “out there.” Four more varied roles culminate your training in a repertory of plays under directors of the highest professional achievement (as, indeed, is the case through all your training). A segment called “Freeplay” allows you to produce as a class six or seven projects chosen by you, cast by you, and rehearsed by directors you’ve chosen. Finally the League Presentations, allow you to present your work to professional agents, casting directors and producers." </p>
<p>It’s not necessarily just ‘more intensive’ training. It’s further training. One last comment. Most who do an MFA in drama do not do so just having finished a BFA. Most are actors who have been out in the ‘working’ world and who make the decision to return to school. Many, if not most, are professional actors.</p>