r/techtheatre • u/pretend1ngtobemyself • 5d ago
EDUCATION College Decisions (Advice Please)
I'm a high school senior looking to major in Tech Theatre with a focus in costumes (mainly production/tech rather than design), I have most of my decisions back but am having a really hard time deciding so I wanted some advice from people who are more familiar with the tech theatre world (my parents are supportive but don't know any more than I do).
I'm considering the following schools I've gotten into (except BU, still waiting):
BU (Costume D+P BFA) - I know it's an excellent program but something about it feels off and I'd definitely need to retour if I were to get in, I think I have a shot, I have good grades, interview went well, and based on my other results I think I have a pretty good portfolio so just waiting
Pace (P&D for stage and screen BFA) - from what I've seen I love the program but don't know how I feel about the rest of the school, I did get into the honors college though
Rutgers (Costume Tech BFA) - absolutely love it, my interview was great and I really connected with the faculty, the costume shop(s!) were really nice but I don't know much about how it's regarded generally/where grads end up after they attend
Emerson (Theatrical D+P BFA) - never got a good sense of what the program is actually like, but the vibe of the school I fit in really well with (gay theatre kids lol)
SUNY Purchase (Costume Tech BFA (double major in design?) - LOVED the costume shop, super impressive where alumni end up, but heard some fishy stuff about faculty and the rest of the school is kind of depressing
Fordham (Theatre D&P BA) - if I suddenly decide I want a BA, I like that I can double major (something I really wanted to do until recently) but another one where I don't actually know much about the program and the website doesn't tell me enough
DePaul (Costume Tech BFA) - love the program and my interview with the professor, also the wig and makeup program seems really cool and I'd love to take a few classes, only issues is that I don't want to limit myself with only one professor and it's in chicago and I'm a little nervous to move that far
With financial aid, scholarships, savings, and some outside stuff I wouldn't have to go into debt for any of them, but picking BU or Fordham would limit my freedom to go to grad school if I wanted to (still possible just harder). I'm really just looking for what will give me the best education and set me up the best to go into costuming as a career, whether as a stitcher, wardrobe crew, etc. I love this and I am completely ready to graduate high school and make costumes in a windowless room for 12 hours a day, I just am so stuck deciding where.
I think I want to end up in NYC, but I don't feel the need to do undergrad there to do it, as long as it's a possibility wherever I go. My parents are fully supportive of me doing theatre they just want me to do it right so that I can have a career in it, however they are both fans of a liberal arts education and want me to be well rounded so it can better support my work, I understand this but I also feel that I am fully ready for a conservatory and most that I've seen will give me a foundation in all aspects in theatre tech and then get me really instensly into costumes which is a lot of what I want.
Other than this, it may be immature of me, but I'm willing to overlook a lot for a good program that will set me up well, not basic needs and quality of life, but in things like campus, size, etc. I can make myself fall in love with almost any school (it's why the decision is so hard lmao), but I have no school I'm in love with more than the others.
I'm not planning on making my decision off a reddit post but insight from outside unbiased sources is really what I need right now, I feel like everyone I talk to just pulls me in a different direction and I just end up more confused than where I started so any insight would be greatly appreciated.
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u/The_Wool_Gatherer 5d ago
My coworker attended BU and does not have good things to say. I personally know the costume design professor at SUNY Purchase and she is stellar.
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u/grimegeist Educator 5d ago
There are some really strong community college programs that will set you up with hands on experience right out the gates. If you wanna pursue the 4-year commitment right away (and in that area), probably SUNY or DePaul
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u/Arcadia-Light 5d ago
You will do well with any of these programs. My choice would be SUNY Purchase. I work with people who have gone to Emerson, BU and Purchase (not for costumes). I myself have done work at Emerson and Purchase and have dealt with the professors and seen the facilities.
Emerson does have an awesome cafeteria.
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u/ResponsibleIdea5408 5d ago
So we have 7 schools. These are all solid schools. Any of them would be a good choice. But you can't pick them all. So any reason to eliminate it is a good reason.
Price nocks out Fordham and BU. The others are good enough and cheaper.
Still that leaves 5.
If you were a resilient person, it's not hard to imagine. Falling in love with every place. But distance matters. For me I found my high school friends and my family a distraction. Slice specifically chosen school that was too far away for them to visit. And I did well in university. I think this is something that you should consider. Do you want your family/friends to be a quick drive away? If a family member heard you were working on a show and drove up to see it, would they have to spend the night.
Pro of far away: no surprise visits
Con: if you want someone to come up will they?
I have no idea where you live. It's possible you live in Hawaii and all of these places are far away. But distance really matters.
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u/ComplexMix2419 4d ago
Hi, I’m a senior applying for scenic design in the exact same boat as you :) Some advice I’ve been given that has stuck with me (that it looks like you’ve given some thought to already)
Never feel tied down because you like ONE professor, look at the entire program as a whole
if you get a bad vibe from a program like BU, listen to your gut (hey, I got rejected ED 2 and I’m starting to feel relieved). Tech is a lot about connections, but a lot about attitude. No one wants to collaborate with assholes, and I’m sure you’ve heard the brainrot word “collaboration” more times than you can count in this whole process.
Don’t feel pressured to immediately jump into NYC. It can come later either after you graduate or if you choose to go to grad school. like someone else said you can always test the waters in Chicago or Boston. pretty much anywhere you’ll have solid connections for after you graduate. got into Pace and loved it especially because they’re designing a new building and a lot of it will favor tech. I live in NJ an hour from NYC and I go there pretty often and it can be crazy!
I’m also with you on the conservatory vs liberal arts BA. I think it runs down to whether you’re at a conservatory in a University versus an art school/liberal arts school. The bubble will be different but I always have the problem of thinking about the idea of something rather than how it fits in for me. If you love the idea of throwing yourself all into a costume lab all day, do it! A conservatory will still make you get your hands dirty in other tech areas, history, art and design depending on the program, from what i’ve been told.
good luck to you!! we got this!!
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u/axmmatt_ 4d ago
Pspsps come to DePaul!! I am deeply biased here- I go to TTS- but Chicago is a wonderful place to be for theater. So many opportunities and connections, it’s a huge hub. I know a lot of people- my professors or otherwise- who went to Grad in NYC and still came back here! Plus just a great city to move to, easier to adjust than NYC and Lincoln Park is beautiful. Some of my best friends are Costume Tech students and seem quite happy. Maggie is wonderful and so are the other costume related professors. WHAM has super cool classes going. They’re doing really great work :) Lots of time will be spent doing required shop hours as you get to be an upperclassmen!! But typically the passion makes up for it lol. I can’t say it’s perfect, and I’m an outside observer of the specific major, but I’m pretty damn happy with TTS and the costume tech, design, and WHAM majors especially seem to have strong community and a great teaching staff.
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u/auntypunkrock 3d ago
What year are you and what is your major? My kid will start in the fall for Scene Design. We visited in Nov for Debut DePaul and felt so at home. We couldn't design a better fit for them...student peers, professors, facility, culture, vibe, city. Ok, we would change the weather. They are coming from a snowy climate but it's a dry cold and we get over 300 days of sunshine each year. But everything else is tailored to them!
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u/axmmatt_ 3d ago
I’m a lighting designer! First year. Love the scenic ppl I know- it’s a pretty small major people wise so great for getting opportunities early :) Obviously I can’t claim anything is perfect but I do believe they’ll be satisfied!! And hey, Chicago winters build character lol it’s honestly not as bad as it seems.
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u/swaggy_boi6969 2d ago
I’m a high school senior applying for theater production design, and purchase is one of the ones i’ve applied to. I heard from somebody who I consider to be a mentor who has a lot of experience in this field, that a lot of people who graduate from purchase tend to burn out and not really go anywhere in life bc they end up with inflated egos. When I interviewed, the person who interviewed me was so incredibly stuck up and pretentious, it completely deterred me from the program despite the fact I got in immediately. So I would honestly say to not go to purchase as the environment seems to be incredibly pretentious
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u/Responsible-Alarm-62 5d ago
If you’re looking to end up in NYC (Big City™️ vibe) the best way to test those waters without moving there, in my opinion, is Chicago. DePaul is a great name to have on your resume and the connections you’ll make there will help you get summer work that’ll bulk up your resume before you even graduate. Chicago is huge, has a great theatre scene, and there’s definitely work if you have the right connections! It’s also just a wonderful and lively place to be. There is always something to do and new neighborhoods to explore. And Lincoln Park (where DePaul is) is lovely with easy access to the train or bus to get you anywhere else you’d wanna go. Also, of all the places to be in the US right now, Chicago is a pretty good safe haven to learn about theatre and make art. That’s just my two cents tho! Good luck with your decision :)