<p>Portathor42 - I think you define “up & coming” differently from the rest of us. I don’t know anybody who wouldn’t place Mason Gross on a short list of the most respected and selective programs in the country. They audition hundreds of students for 18 spots, with an acceptance rate lower than Harvard’s. I’m not sure than Fordham-Lincoln Center’s acceptance rate is quite that intimidating, but they have much higher academic standards. I suppose they are “up & coming” simply because Fordham University, overall, has become increasingly selective in recent years. Students have to qualify academically, as well as audition for the Performance major. I don’t know quite what the numbers were this year, but I’d be surprised if they accepted much more than 10% of those who auditioned.</p>