California Institute of the Arts Reviews of Master's in Performing Arts

"CalArts changed my life. It was as crucial for me as anything I have ever done, especially as an artist, Of the bat I will say this, you get from CalArts, what you put into it. You can work from 7am-1am every day or you can go 9-5 and get away with it and pass and just cruise; it's all up to you. The doors are open and the things are there for the hungry and ready. I entered CalArts green, and came out tested and ready to act and be one of the strongest actor sin the machine that is Hollywood. All my teachers were exceptional in taking the time to know me and therefor push me in challenging and safe ways. CalArts was amazing for connections. The networking you get at CalArts is unbelievable. Everyone who goes there is a brilliant, talented actor/writer/artist/actor/dancer/etc.... If you go you will meet so many amazing people and rub shoulders with people who may become famous later, who knows? Some I knew did, and some still may have their moment. The CalArts rolodex is a good one. CalArt will hook you up, even if you are a socially awkward hot mess as I certainly was back then. It's nice to be in LA, but not be directly in LA. I repeat, you are in a suburb 30 minutes outside of LA called Valencia. This distance allows you to head into the city (if you have a car), but mainly stay around this small town and focus on the work. While you are there, try to live on campus the first year and enjoy all of the amazing avant-garde theatre, regular Thursday night art openings, dance concerts, varied music, and general free-spirited anything goes California atmosphere. There's installation art everywhere. There's even a pool! I repeat, the faculty are brilliant. My few critiques are small and thus: classroom signup was a total s***-show and needs to be updated, the graduate dorm rooms are tiny and ant-infested, and the administration is rather antiquated. My final caveat about CalArts is Holy Cow is it expensive. I'll leave it at that. if somehow you can get the grants and scholarships - it is way worth it. Know what you are getting yourself into if you go to CalArts. You will probably end up deeply in debt if you're not disabled or rich. But you will get super-well-networked, and learn about obscure and wonderful things that you never knew even existed. You will be abetter human because of it."

"I went to Calarts a few years ago and it was fantastic. It's a very liberal school so if you're looking for something more traditional I would go elsewhere. However, the training I received there is fantastic and has truly helped me develop my voice in the professional world."

"The only real Con of our graduate program would be the cost. Tuition is steep and almost everyone is on loans in order to afford it, and being a 3 year program it leaves many students with large students loans to pay back after graduation. The faculty and training is phenomenal and I wouldn't trade it for any other training in the world."

"Cal Arts is worth the money! Connections are everything!"

"CalArts is wonderful! But you have to be adventurous. There is opportunity absolutely oozing from the walls and you have to take advantage of it for the school to be worth it. Definitely a place for self-motivated, dedicated artists of all disciplines."

"CalArts is a fantastic place. There is so much opportunity to do anything and everything you could possibly want. The experience is priceless."

"California Institute of the Arts is a wonderful place. But it is expensive and it has its issues, like any college. And for students and artists this is a reality to be considered and obviously a difficult one. If you are a self-starter, intrepreneur type who is prepared to work hard and are committed to a life in the arts - then this place is for you. Be prepared to make your own opportunities if you feel you are not being challenged or "seen" by the faculty during a given semester. At CalArts, you can. We have a world class Dance, Animation and Film school in addition to Studio Art, Theater and Design. It is possible to take classes in different schools and to collaborate across the metiers but you have to fight for it and plan ahead. You can gain valuable teaching experience for credit through the Community Arts Partnership which is great as many artists in the real world teach but not many BFA or MFA programs provide teaching opportunities. CalArts is a school interested in exploring themes of social justice across all metiers. The Critical Studies faculty are kick-ass, world class and include LA Times Theater critic Charles McNulty among many other well known scholars, critics and writers. Most of the faculty at CalArts are working professionally in their field- TV/Film, Theater, Dance, Animation, etc. And this has its pros and cons. At the undergraduate level, really think about it given the cost and check in with your own maturity level and work ethic. CalArts will not provide a lot of structure- You do that and guess what? Welcome to the real world... the real world just won't cost you $40K plus living expenses per year... Graduate students, if you are accepted as the class sizes are smaller and admission is very competitive, I say go for it. I am glad I am here at the end of the day. Attack any teaching opportunities, make your own work, collaborate, ask a lot from your faculty, relentlessly bother financial aid and get grants/scholarships from outside sources. At the Master's level it is probably worth it to take out loans and go for it, but make sure you do your part to make it worth your while. This place has a ton of connections in the industry in LA and beyond, but be prepared to work hard and to ask for what you want... relentlessly if necessary. Its a lot like the real world in that way. LA is affordable and only a 30 min commute from the campus. Valencia is convenient but very suburban, which means it is boring but more affordable."

"I will be entering as a first year this Acting Student this 2013. I haven't actually experienced a full year. I will start this fall. I did visit the campus and spent a day as a student. I loved the intense class schedule that I had. And I loved interacting with the current students. The campus was safe the diversity was exceptional and the campus was pretty."

"Cal Arts is a wonderful place to be because it offers what most other schools do not offer. It does not impose a rigid and standard curriculum on all students and measure them according to that. Instead, each student is able to take full advantage of its rich resources here, such as awesome faculty who are performing musicians and peer music students who shape and help you as you go to school here. On top of that there is a great amount of interaction and very little separation between the students and the faculty, which just exposes you to more learning and growing as a musician. Other disciplines in the school also influence you much because after all it is all related. The only drawback is if you are looking for a place to "train" you to be a good musician, this might not the place to be."