my daughter got into carnegie mellon's drama school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, that is an enormous achievement. She must be an amazing actor.

Employment in theater is going to be 100% based on talent, and her skill as an actor. She should go to the school where she thinks she her skills will develop the most. It doesn't matter if the name is less prestigious.

Where else did she get in?

Oh darling you're so naive.

It is going to be based on looks and availability.

And Race. And Casting Couch. All the stories of the Demi Levatos of the world and we still pretend.

AVAILABILITY = CASTING COUCH

[Anonymous]

I just read that Felicity Huffman’s daughter (the one for whom she went to prison for changing SAT/ACT scores) goes to Carnegie Mellon for Drama.

[Anonymous]

OP can your child talk to a few current students, do a virtual campus visit or other engagement with students? It's a total different exercise to visit with folks when you know you are in.

I know only one girl who ever got into that program--a friend I had met in college. She went straight to starring in major musicals on Broadway.

[Anonymous]

Why did she apply?

Are you the same poster who’s daughter wants to go to CC in California?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My kid is going to Alabama (Honors College) on nearly a full ride scholarship, and from what I've seen it has a great drama program. Transfer! Roll Tide!

“Roll Tide” sounds like an advertisement for laundry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, that is an enormous achievement. She must be an amazing actor.

Employment in theater is going to be 100% based on talent, and her skill as an actor. She should go to the school where she thinks she her skills will develop the most. It doesn't matter if the name is less prestigious.

Where else did she get in?

In Hollywood, I think it has a lot to do with who you know and looks...but maybe theater is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CMU Drama is wildly intense. I wouldn't advise her to go unless she's 100% committed. I was in the Music Department but we were right by the dramats and saw their program close up. The freshmen (and I think sophomores too) go from 8 am to 11 pm with just a couple of hours off for meals. It's very competitive, though the students are also very close. In my day they cut 10 freshmen at the end of the year no matter what. It is true that directors show up at the end of the year to check out the seniors and they get personal ins for auditions, mostly in NY. I see fellow students on TV and in movies from time to time.

It's an incredible achievement that your daughter got accepted, but if she doesn't REALLY want it, I would suggest a different route. That said, if she wants drama but just not CMU, I would definitely go with CMU. The whole arts department is its own world and very fun and cool. Pittsburgh is a great city, great vibe, and safer and cheaper than a lot of similarly sized cities. The weather sucks most of the year, but the dramat parties are fun and when the weather is good it's so very much appreciated. I loved Pittsburgh and would move back in a heartbeat.

Also a CMU grad, and I agree with everything the poster above said. Getting into CMU's drama department is an incredible achievement and many, many of their graduates actually get acting jobs! Yes, there are many other programs, but if your daughter seriously wants to make a living as an actor, she would be remiss spending her time and your money in another less prestigious program. CMU drama grads are known quantities and casting directors know that anyone who gets into the CMU drama department and then actually graduates is going to be extremely talented. If your daughter has other career goals, like teaching acting etc., then of course CMU probably is not the end all for her and she might be happier somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, that is an enormous achievement. She must be an amazing actor.

Employment in theater is going to be 100% based on talent, and her skill as an actor. She should go to the school where she thinks she her skills will develop the most. It doesn't matter if the name is less prestigious.

Where else did she get in?

Harvey Weinstein would like a word with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My kid is going to Alabama (Honors College) on nearly a full ride scholarship, and from what I've seen it has a great drama program. Transfer! Roll Tide!

You must be a troll. I read your thread and now you’re here? I’ll bet you don’t even have children. Regardless, U of A isn’t even slightly in the same league as CM Drama.

[Anonymous]

Here's a side that people aren't talking about. FYI, I am only a community theater performer, but I have been a theater reviewer in the DC area and I know a fair bit about the local drama scene in this region.

There are thousands of actors out there for every part. That includes Broadway, all of the off-Broadway theaters, and the full list of regional theaters around the country (there are several additional theater regions like DC that have pretty active communities that can support a lot of local actors), plus Hollywood and the professional film acting industry. Even with the many venues/industries/media/places were actors can work, there are still far more who want to be actors than all of those industries can support.

And it's a lot more than just talent and even casting couch. A HUGE factor is opportunity. Being in the right place, the right type at the right time. Networking is all about getting those opportunities. Going to good schools helps because talent agents/scouts/directors look to good schools to "find" the talent and look for the right types. Good teachers know good agents or directors and can connect you with people inside the industry. Even if they don't have the right opportunity for you then, if someone they know puts in a good word for you, then later, if they have an opportunity, they'll reach out to you and you may get a break that you would otherwise never have even known about or been considered for. Many people get their "break" through networking.

Good schools like CMU give you an extra step into the world by giving you the networking to get opportunities that you may otherwise never even know about. So, OP, your daughter needs to stop and think about what she wants. There are many who graduate with theater degrees and do not get into the very cut-throat and die-hard work of theater. If you are referred or network and are offered opportunities, then you have to be ready to jump and take all opportunities. The only really acceptable way to decline is to do so because you already have another part that you've been cast in. It's a very intense world and the only reason to go to high-powered schools like CMU is if you are ready to dive in and sacrifice other parts of your life to be in the industry. If that's what she wants, CMU gives you an extra foot up on others by giving you access to more opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Just go to acting program. The Meisner school, Adler school, Actors Studio, etc. Also take lots of screenwriting classes.

Place like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu want you to come in as a package deal - have some treatments ready, perhaps an indie short under your belt, a reel, etc.

That seems to matter more these days than an expensive degree.

Does she want to be a working actress? Or does she want to study theater/acting? Big difference.

-NYU Alum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, that is an enormous achievement. She must be an amazing actor.

Employment in theater is going to be 100% based on talent, and her skill as an actor. She should go to the school where she thinks she her skills will develop the most. It doesn't matter if the name is less prestigious.

Where else did she get in?

Harvey Weinstein would like a word with you.

I think that may be the same poster who announced that all actors have day time jobs. Hello? No. They rehearse in the daytimes, they sometimes have pt jobs and night time waiting tables.

[Anonymous]

It is a difficult life, especially for women. She will need a tough skin, with regard to her looks.

I disagree with her going anywhere that does not result in a bachelor's degree. Most actors need a Plan B, at some point, and a college degree will open up more decent (well paid) alternatives for her.

Some examples: I know frustrated actors who opened a drama school for kids, one who got his Masters in Arts Administration and a third who became an agent for actors. One "made it" (i.e., nominated for a Tony, had long running stints in hit TV shows like Everyone Loves Raymond and Frasier. He is the fluke.

The OP is right to support his daughter, who sounds very talented. But hopefully, he can encourage her to come up with a practical plan for her future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The drama school has a very different vibe than rest of the school and drama kids tend to stick together.

Agree with this. Also, Pittsburgh is a really great city for artists. Low cost of living and there is a very vibrant and experimental artistic community there. I would weigh the benefits of that against any issues she has with CMU main campus, because there will be great off campus opportunities for her in Pittsburgh. Where else did she apply?

+1 Pittsburgh is a great city for the arts and a lot of other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My kid is going to Alabama (Honors College) on nearly a full ride scholarship, and from what I've seen it has a great drama program. Transfer! Roll Tide!

You must be a troll. I read your thread and now you’re here? I’ll bet you don’t even have children. Regardless, U of A isn’t even slightly in the same league as CM Drama.

aww. don't burst that PPs bubble.