Ugh me too with the wrestling. I want to be this model of strength and wisdom for my D, fully aware of the “big picture” and how my own journey, which started at Illinois Wesleyan, led to a top tier law school admission and, despite miserable grades there due to family issues that just didn’t give me the time I needed to study for one test (very much like the one audition determining your entire future thing), I have been given and earned an amazing career as a legal academic. None of this was predictable of course when I applied and was accepted to the NURSING school at IWU. Ha! But, now that I am doing statistical analysis (never a grade higher than C in basic basic math courses) and excelling, I tell my D that I owe it all to Illinois Wesleyan University and the LAC model, which teaches critical thinking and writing that can be applied to any discipline. When she sat in on the IWU script analysis class with Nancy, she was sold on LACs. She finally saw what I meant when I expressed ambivalence about conservatories. Of course, I am wondering if that counsel was right for her right now, especially after she passed up Unified auditions at so many amazing acting programs, like CMU for example. She looked at it, went to the College Callers, but she said it was too much of a conservatory and they told her straight out not to plan to do anything else except her BFA program all 4 years. She lives for the stage; it saved her life once upon a time; so she is not one of those who just prefer theater to other studies right now; she needs theater and acting. And, she wants to gain skills and make connections and practice her art! But, she listened to me (and now I have to accept the responsibility of my influence) and she only applied to BFA programs with strong liberal arts foundations as part of the instruction. I guess we all just do our best to guide our children without trying to make them mini-versions of ourselves. BTW, we were there way early and on our own in October. She got a fine arts scholarship. Did your S? Is he attended the admitted students open house this weekend there? (I couldn’t get her to look at Lawrence or Knox, but she applied to Denison and was accepted. We missed the talent audition unfortunately due to a show conflict for her.
Thanks so much! Can I ask if you have experience with BFA outcomes from IWU? I am an alum, one of my best friends and sorority sister graduated with just a BA from IWU (before they had a BFA) and is a well respected Director in Madison (formerly in a theater in Milwaukee) and worked at Tisch after getting her MFA there. And of course Richard Jenkins is all the news with The Shape of Water. So, I know. The Director of the Elon program is also a graduate of the theater department at IWU. Little known facts. 
My D is very concerned, however, that if she goes to IWU rather than, say, Michigan for 70k a year (painful), her connections to Chicago directors and casting agents may be okay but nationally she would suffer if she wanted to audition in New York or Los Angeles. She is also concerned that auditions are often offered based on which school is on the resume.
Some other friends of mine who have gone to bigger name schools (for BFA and MFA) and/or who still ACT regularly, say that the name of the school is not as important as the training received at that school and to look at the faculty and what they have done and are doing – whether they are active professionally themselves – as an indicator. That makes sense to me. Because, from my own journey in my own field, I find that “connections” are what you make them to be and don’t guarantee auditions or interviews or anything else if the talent is not there.
Where did your D end up going? I hope she is happy.
@gulf1609 My D is a freshman at LMU so let me know if you have any questions.
@DoinResearch @gulf1609 I posted extensively last year about our BA vs BFA dilemma. Maybe you can my Final Decision post I think it will be helpful to you. My D was accepted to five BFA programs but ultimately chose a BA.
@marg928 - we’d love an update… how is your D enjoying LMU?
@toowonderful so far so good! We actually just got back on Monday it was Parents weekend! I’m so glad we went… we got to meet my daughter’s friends families as well as her boyfriend’s family. Yes she got herself a boyfriend from Texas LOL. It’s such a nice school and the activities they had planned were very good. We also went to visit in October because she was cast in a show the first semester which was cool. It has definitely been hard for her being so far away from home but after Christmas break she was happy to go back. There are definitely trade offs with a BA but we knew that going in. She has done some auditioning, only a couple in the room, mostly self tapes. She will probably do a summer program in New York to make up for the intensity that she is missing out on being in a BA. And she is also going to be applying to spend her spring semester next year in their Moscow theater study abroad program. They don’t take everyone though. Sometimes she regrets not being in a BFA but then when I remind her of all the reasons she chose a BA she gets it.
Thanks @marg928 Kid1 knows what he wants, its a BA or Undecided. He’s liking the undecided aspect of LAC.
I can’t figure out how to copy and paste the list correctly! 
I will figure it out but I couldn’t erase my whole post…just edit. sorry!
I cannot figure out how to post correctly. But, here are my son’s acceptances as of 2/19/18:
University of the Arts - BFA Acting
Dean College - BFA Acting
Rider University - BA Acting
SMU Meadows School of the Arts - (in artistically, awaiting an academic decision)
waiting on results from others…
Carefully copy and paste the LAST LIST AND THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
Add your info (in alphabetical order) so that is appears in red. To use red post it as it appears below BUT REMOVE THE SPACE INSIDE THE FIRST BRACKET BEFORE YOU POST.
[ color=red]Username D or S School Date aud Date accptd [/color]
actor16
Baldwin Wallace aud 11/19 accptd 12/8
Viterbo aud 12/2 accptd 12/5
actorparent1 D
Marymount Manhattan aud 11/18 accptd 11/28
Atreuh S
University of Illinois – Aud 10/21 / accptd 12/15
bretzki5
elon 12/15
DiamondParent D
University of Evansville - BFA acting aud 1/21 accptd 2/2
DoinResearch
University of IL Chicago (UIC) BA Aud 12/9 accepted 1/4
Beloit College no audition accepted 12/21
Lawrence University no audition accepted 1/22 Talent scholarship $ audition scheduled in Feb
Illinois Wesleyan BA scholarship audition 1/27, accepted 2/8
Knox College BA scholarship audition 1/4, accepted 2/9
FourStars D
Marymount Manhattan aud 11/18 accptd 11/28
Loyola Marymount Univ. BA Theater EA. Video Audition. accptd 12/18
Gina1102 D
The New School 11/11 audition12/16 accepted
The Hartt School Audition 12/9 accepted 1/16
University of the Arts - Audition 1/20 accepted 2/1
Loyola Marymount BA Theatre Arts accepted 2/2
Laylamom D
Baldwin Wallace 12/8
Elon 12/15
Emerson (BFA- MT)
Marymount Manhattan
(Aud 1/20 accepted 1/23)
momof2lefties
U of Evansville, NYC Unifieds 1/21, (Design/Tech–Costume) accepted 2/1
Shenandoah, NYC Unifieds 1/21, (Design/Prod–Costume) accepted 2/1
NJMOM24 S
Marymount Manhattan - digital audition accepted 1/19
Orion1325 S
Marymount Manhattan Auditioned 1/20, Accepted 1/23
SFSClark S
CCM Acting audition at NYC Unfieds
STHmom S
University of the Arts - BFA Acting
Dean College - BFA Acting
Rider University - BA Acting
SMU Meadows School of the Arts- - (in artistically, awaiting an academic decision)
Twoboysandadog
Chapman Screen Acting 12/15
Emerson 12/16
Congratulations @STHmom So nice to have a nice selection to choose from
Yes big congrats to @STHmom! That’s great news!
Congratulations @STHmom ! So proud of our talented group of kids!!
@STHmom - congrats to your S on a great bunch of acceptances!!! You all must be celebrating! (Options are my dream for my S.)
Congratulations @STHmom !
Carefully copy and paste the LAST LIST AND THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
Add your info (in alphabetical order) so that is appears in red. To use red post it as it appears below BUT REMOVE THE SPACE INSIDE THE FIRST BRACKET BEFORE YOU POST.
[ color=red]Username D or S School Date aud Date accptd [/color]
actor16
Baldwin Wallace aud 11/19 accptd 12/8
Viterbo aud 12/2 accptd 12/5
actorparent1 D
Marymount Manhattan aud 11/18 accptd 11/28
Atreuh S
University of Illinois – Aud 10/21 / accptd 12/15
bretzki5
elon 12/15
DiamondParent D
University of Evansville - BFA acting aud 1/21 accptd 2/2
DoinResearch
University of IL Chicago (UIC) BA Aud 12/9 accepted 1/4
Beloit College no audition accepted 12/21
Lawrence University no audition accepted 1/22 Talent scholarship $ audition scheduled in Feb
Illinois Wesleyan BA scholarship audition 1/27, accepted 2/8
Knox College BA scholarship audition 1/4, accepted 2/9
FourStars D
Marymount Manhattan aud 11/18 accptd 11/28
Loyola Marymount Univ. BA Theater EA. Video Audition. accptd 12/18
Gina1102 D
The New School 11/11 audition12/16 accepted
The Hartt School Audition 12/9 accepted 1/16
University of the Arts - Audition 1/20 accepted 2/1
Loyola Marymount BA Theatre Arts accepted 2/2
jenniferm1973 D
Millikin, BFA Acting 2/4, 2/19
Laylamom D
Baldwin Wallace 12/8
Elon 12/15
Emerson (BFA- MT)
Marymount Manhattan
(Aud 1/20 accepted 1/23)
momof2lefties
U of Evansville, NYC Unifieds 1/21, (Design/Tech–Costume) accepted 2/1
Shenandoah, NYC Unifieds 1/21, (Design/Prod–Costume) accepted 2/1
NJMOM24 S
Marymount Manhattan - digital audition accepted 1/19
Orion1325 S
Marymount Manhattan Auditioned 1/20, Accepted 1/23
SFSClark S
CCM Acting audition at NYC Unfieds
STHmom S
University of the Arts - BFA Acting
Dean College - BFA Acting
Rider University - BA Acting
SMU Meadows School of the Arts- - (in artistically, awaiting an academic decision)
Twoboysandadog
Chapman Screen Acting 12/15
Emerson 12/16
@jenniferm1973 congratulations! I hear Millikin has a great program
Carefully copy and paste the LAST LIST AND THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
Add your info (in alphabetical order) so that is appears in red. To use red post it as it appears below BUT REMOVE THE SPACE INSIDE THE FIRST BRACKET BEFORE YOU POST.
[ color=red]Username D or S School Date aud Date accptd [/color]
actor16
Baldwin Wallace aud 11/19 accptd 12/8
Viterbo aud 12/2 accptd 12/5
actorparent1 D
Marymount Manhattan aud 11/18 accptd 11/28
Atreuh S
University of Illinois – Aud 10/21 / accptd 12/15
bretzki5
elon 12/15
DiamondParent D
University of Evansville - BFA acting aud 1/21 accptd 2/2
DoinResearch
University of IL Chicago (UIC) BA Aud 12/9 accepted 1/4
Beloit College no audition accepted 12/21
Lawrence University no audition accepted 1/22 Talent scholarship $ audition scheduled in Feb
Illinois Wesleyan BA scholarship audition 1/27, accepted 2/8
Knox College BA scholarship audition 1/4, accepted 2/9
FourStars D
Marymount Manhattan aud 11/18 accptd 11/28
Loyola Marymount Univ. BA Theater EA. Video Audition. accptd 12/18
Gina1102 D
The New School 11/11 audition12/16 accepted
The Hartt School Audition 12/9 accepted 1/16
University of the Arts - Audition 1/20 accepted 2/1
Loyola Marymount BA Theatre Arts accepted 2/2
jenniferm1973 D
Millikin, BFA Acting 2/4, 2/19
Laylamom D
Baldwin Wallace 12/8
Elon 12/15
Emerson (BFA- MT)
Marymount Manhattan
(Aud 1/20 accepted 1/23)
momof2lefties
U of Evansville, NYC Unifieds 1/21, (Design/Tech–Costume) accepted 2/1
Shenandoah, NYC Unifieds 1/21, (Design/Prod–Costume) accepted 2/1
NJMOM24 S
Marymount Manhattan - digital audition accepted 1/19
Orion1325 S
Marymount Manhattan Auditioned 1/20, Accepted 1/23
SFSClark S
CCM Acting audition at NYC Unfieds
STHmom S
University of the Arts - BFA Acting
Dean College - BFA Acting
Rider University - BA Acting
SMU Meadows School of the Arts- - (in artistically, awaiting an academic decision)
Twoboysandadog
Chapman Screen Acting 12/15
Emerson 12/16
Theatrebee
Emerson 12/15
Congratulations, @jenniferm1973 and @theatrebee!