New Kid on the Block

[renatadelena]

Hey Yall,

My name is Renata. I ran across this network in SM class, and what a nice place to begin! I am a senior in high school at Booker t. Arts Magnet in Dallas and have been given some great SM opportunities around the area. It was my pleasure to be the student intern for the Dallas Theater Center this fall and I hope to be returning this month (cross our fingers.) I will be getting a BFA in SM next fall as I enter undergraduate school. I have been accepted into three programs, Carnegie Melon, Oklahoma City, and Webster. I have visited and shadowed managers at each school and enjoyed each program.  Does anyone have any input on these programs?

Excited to be here!

Renata

[KMC]

Welcome!  If you can stomach the winters in Pittsburgh you may give serious consideration to Carnegie Mellon.  Degrees from that university are extremely valuable. 

[Maribeth]

Hi and welcome! Congrats on your acceptances.

I don't have any insight on those particular schools, but did spend a year in Pittsburgh and really enjoyed the area. (I was there in the fall and spring, so I missed the worst of the winter weather). There were some great farmer's markets, bookstores, museums, and libraries. (Including a museum about comics!) I found it an interesting place to live and there are certainly a good amount of theatres and other arts venues in the area to make connections with.

You might try doing a search on this site for those universities- there's a search bar in the upper right hand corner. There might be some useful info in previous discussions about colleges.

Best of luk with your decision and welcome to the boards!

Maribeth

[RuthNY]

I've been in Pittsburgh during January and February every year since 2001, and although it's really wintery cold and snowy for 3 months or more, that's no reason not to consider living and/or going to school there. It's a great town!

Welcome!  If you can stomach the winters in Pittsburgh you may give serious consideration to Carnegie Mellon.  Degrees from that university are extremely valuable.

[MatthewShiner]

From what I know from graduates from those programs, those are three VERY different programs.  I would be  leaning towards Webster or Carnegie Mellon  (but that's only because I know graduates of those programs, and not form the other.)

I will not get on my soap box again about choosing the right school for you, but since we know very little about you - I hope our advice will carry the appropriate weight.

[KMC]

I've been in Pittsburgh during January and February every year since 2001, and although it's really wintery cold and snowy for 3 months or more, that's no reason not to consider living and/or going to school there. It's a great town!

Welcome!  If you can stomach the winters in Pittsburgh you may give serious consideration to Carnegie Mellon.  Degrees from that university are extremely valuable.

I grew up in Pittsburgh and lived there for 20+ years, and second your opinion that it's a great town!   My comment was mostly in jest, but living in Miami now and knowing folks who have made the move South to North, then back again, climate is something to consider.

[renatadelena]

Thanks for the input! My only hesitation with Carnegie Mellon is the Graduate program attached. I would hate to pay thousands of dollars to be 1. cut from the program (as it is a cut program) or 2. be over shadowed by the graduate program.

[KMC]

Thanks for the input! My only hesitation with Carnegie Mellon is the Graduate program attached. I would hate to pay thousands of dollars to be 1. cut from the program (as it is a cut program) or 2. be over shadowed by the graduate program.

The attached graduate program is definitely a concern.  Are you able to contact both current students and alums of the undergrad? (And I definitely recommend doing both, if possible)  I'd look to get some first-hand reassurance that the graduate program did not intrude on the value of their education. 

[MatthewShiner]

Isn't Webster a cut program as well?

(And a cut program is not a bad thing - having gone to a program that didn't cut, it sort of devalues the degree I received given some of the people who graduated from the same program....)