I see I’m mentioned in a thread I’m not even participating in. 60-2 is 58, not 48 and 58/60 is 97% retention rate. But it doesn’t matter. I can see your two and raise you two+ more just from my daughter’s immediate circle in any given year in the process while they figure it all out. I can make the story of retention on the ground, far more compelling than speculation beforehand with real stories. On the ground there is less speculation because you are there. You will be closer to the story when friends leave the program, or struggle with the work, or go to rehab, or attempt suicide or take an academic semester to find if this theatre stuff is truly their passion or not. Some of these kids come back and graduate and other so do not. I’d venture a guess it has less to do with the program and more to do with the really critical transition from childhood to adulthood. That transition occurs no matter where you go to school.
Mathematically, I get the inclination to think smaller programs can win the retention battle but it defies math. It’s a numerator and denominator math exercise and actually the smaller school is the more vulnerable in any given year to someone leaving percentage wise. Basic math. A program of 10 who loses 2 has a 80% retention rate. A program of 60 who loses 2 claims 97%.
I want to wish you all the best. I’m retiring from the forum and sort of love that my last post is in a thread I had nothing to do with and that I’m going out speaking about math because as I said before, I thought I was raising a future math major until I realized I wasn’t. Best to all of you this year and in the future. Half-lokum. Not halflocum. Half-Turkish delight was the translation. I have a couple of them that’ I’m proud of. All the best and enjoy the journey!!!