<p>I have to agree…you got into your dream school! ENJOY! You can analyze and question all you want, but there is no point. They may not have needed your “type” for whatever reason. I’m not so sure the validation you are looking for will be found in this career choice. It is just too subjective. Best of luck and congrats on getting into your first choice school. You are a most fortunate young man.</p>
<p>Thanks, I am (overly) reassured now…guess everyone thought I was going to walk away from a great opportunity because of a couple of rejections. Not the case at all. It was just a question rolling around in my mind…</p>
<p>Hope it helps other people too…this is a stressful time of waiting!</p>
<p>Ah c’mon, guys, give Nick a break. Here’s a 17 or 18 year old kid who was posting nothing more than that his confidence was shaken by the rejections and was honest in admitting to his insecurities and everyone is coming down on him like a ton of bricks. He never once stated that he was unappreciative of the acceptance he received and to the contrary expressed his immense appreciation of it and yet he’s going to be called a whiner and told that he is holding himself out in a bad light because of his candor about his insecurities. It’s perfectly natural for someone who does not have a deep and broad foundation of experience to draw upon to have their confidence shaken in circumstances such as these and to even wonder if a “first time” success right “out of the box” was some kind of fluke, a 1 time event, and that the subsequent failures are more reflective of who they are and what to expect in the future. Happens all the time and not just in the world of theater. Call Nick inexperienced or even naive but a “whiner”, that’s unwarranted.</p>
<p>To be “glad” Nick was rejected from the other schools is not only uncharitable but presumptuous and myopic. There are many reasons that a student accepted to a “dream school” would continue to audition, not the least of which is to see whether an acceptance comes in from another school that may offer a better financial package that results in a revaluation of where to attend. The other schools may offer other attributes that make them highly ranked contenders with the “dream school” and a student may not want to make a final decision until all the results are in. Other than students who apply ED, I’m hard pressed to think of any student I’ve encountered who once having received an acceptance from a “dream school” cancelled all their remaining auditions. To the contrary, all of the students I’ve encountered played out all of their auditions even though they had in hand an acceptance to a school they would be delighted to attend. More over, Nick’s continuation with his auditions, if he is accepted anywhere else, will in all likelihood have little or no impact on anyone else’s acceptance odds. With few exceptions, schools accept more students than they expect to attend because they know students may get more than one acceptance and decide to attend elsewhere. The odds of Nick’s acceptance at another school squeezing out someone else are probably pretty low due to the acceptance/yield ratio and is certainly hypothetical. Furthermore, in a given regional area and among schools that draw a national pool, there is all sorts of “cross pollination” among students who are auditioning at various schools. There is a substantial likelihood that there will be other students accepted elsewhere who audition at other of Nick’s schools. Should they all withdraw from their other auditions? I would focus more on preparing for my own auditions than worrying about whether I was auditioning against someone who has an acceptance somewhere else.</p>
<p>Nick, you’re not whining? Whatever… but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck … I’m sorry if that sounds harsh, but I have spent two years watching my own son and other students work hard and go through this process and at the end of the day, be grateful for their success. You do not sound the least bit grateful that you were accepted to a very good school and regardless of your protestations to the contrary, that does make a bad impression!</p>
<p>I agree that Nick should not and need not pull out of his remaining auditions. He has every right to see them through and think over his options and decide which is the best fit (he may not have even seen every school yet) or even the best financial aid offer. I have had two students (one another year, one this year), upon getting an acceptance before the holidays at one of their favorite schools, cancelled a few auditions to lighten their audition trip load where they knew they preferred their accepted school over those schools, and then kept their other audition appointments intact. I have not seen anyone cancel all their auditions, unless accepted ED, where they would HAVE to do so. I also agree that they are not taking anyone’s slot. Schools accept more applicants, usually, than slots in the class, knowing that not everyone is going to attend who has been accepted. As well, many students, my own kid among them, have acceptances to multiple programs and can’t attend all of them. For the schools they end up turning down, this is just part of the yield process. At some other schools, it may mean the school goes to a wait list. Each student can only ATTEND ONE school, after all.</p>
<p>In my opinion, Nick should do all his auditions if he wants to. At the same time, he should realistically expect some rejections. He is sitting pretty right now IN at a school so early, a dream school in fact. Sure, rejections sting. But if you enter this process knowing that it is very very very realistic to get SOME rejections, each one should not be a big blow or indicative that you don’t have what it takes. In Nick’s case, to be accepted so early in the process should be affirming. Many have to wait until March or April to get that acceptance, if they get it. It’s a nice position to be in to start with an acceptance, let alone at the favored school. Sure, there are kids who get into many BFA programs. But these students are more in the minority. The main thing is to be able to progress to your next stage in this journey. In that regard, nick has been successful already.</p>
<p>I also think some of the reaction on the thread is due, in part, to the fact that there are students right now who don’t yet have an acceptance in hand (it is only mid Feb) and even have some rejections already in hand, and those particular students and/or parents have a harder time reading about disappointment over a rejection or two when the student is accepted to their dream school. I understand the lens through which they are reading the thread. Many would be envious of nick. I understand nick’s disappointment with two rejections (that’s not a lot of rejections, however), but at the same time, I also can see how someone who is currently batting 33% acceptance to BFA programs would be the envy of those who don’t have any acceptances yet and so they have trouble reading about the “disappointment” of the 66% rejection rate. </p>
<p>So, a lot of how someone views this is gonna be through their own personal lens and experience. Nick has his. The students who are dying to get an acceptance already have theirs. Those removed from the process or who have been through it and are past this stage of the journey, have theirs. And so it is.</p>
<p>When you start a thread, are you allowed to end it?</p>
<p>I feel a little sick at my stomach that I brought this all up. I hate that anyone thinks I started this becuz I was in any way ungrateful. Wow…Can we discuss someone else for a while?</p>
<p>this is nicks mom. i registered for a screen name so i could do my “mother lion” impression. listen, this is a great kid and he (and I) appreciates your positive feedback in a stressful time. his “dream school” is a financial stretch for us, and Nick knows that. he has been working hard to find scholarships, etc. that make that possible to get there and we will do everything we can to make it happen for him. he cannot afford not to audition other places, and many of the questions he has come from us also. we are new to this as many of you are so please be kind!</p>
<p>soozie, michaelnkat and others, thank you for giving us a whole new perspective. that was all he was trying to achieve, i know he did not ever intend to sound arrogant or ungrateful. you were very kind to share your time with us. i have advised nick to stop posting to this thread but hope others will glean lots of insight from it.</p>
<p>Advice to Nick…It is natural to feel some disappointment and doubt when receiving rejections. I understand. At the same time, I hope you walk away from this process feeling AFFIRMED. You have been accepted into a fine program (possibly may get into more). It really doesn’t matter how many you get into. Nobody is gonna care or know. The number you get into won’t matter in terms of your success as an actor. Come next fall, none of this is gonna matter. You’re gonna be studying MT and that’s what this is about. So, come to expect rejection as PART of this process and also try to feel affirmed that you have made it to your goal. One of out three is really great so far. </p>
<p>Advice for those still waiting…it is HARD! The uncertainty and stress can feel overwhelming. Believe in yourself. Each result is not a commentary on your talent. You just need ONE acceptance. More is nice but not necessary. Try hard to look at the big picture. Each admission decision along the way seems so important to you at the moment but at this time next year, you are going to be happily immersed in college some place. You hopefully created a balanced list of schools that is appropriate to you and if so, you will have some place to go next year and when you get there, none of this stuff will matter any more. I know it is hard to see that now but that really is how it will be. Hang in there! Things work out. You just don’t know exactly how that will come about, but it will.</p>
<p>Nick and others, I wanted to add a different perspective that may or may not apply but based on my D’s experience and her friends at auditions (althought they were dance programs). My D found that she was accpepted at one school, albeit one she was no very interested in, she was able to relax more and enjoy the class and let her love of dance show through. Her friend, accepted to the same program, found taht at the next audition she was less on top of her game. For my D being accepted helped her enjoy the process more, for her friend it seemed to interfere with her being at the peak of her performance.
Nerves and internalizes them is different for each person, and some people are at their best when everything is on the line, for others this interferes. I wondered if maybe in your later auditions if you were missing that little edgeor hunger that might have been there for your dream school. I have no way of knowing, and maybe completely wrong, but when I read your post back at the start that is what popped into my head.
Congratulations on your acceptance, and enjoy the rest of your senior year.</p>
<p>SKIPSMOM: Shame on you…as an adult you should know better. I would rather see this kid question what he is doing and look for answers from the experts out there than to read some of the parents get on line to only brag to no end. If he doesn’t ask now and here, when and where should he?</p>
<p>“Quack quack quack quack”. Guess what skipsmom, it wasn’t a duck, it was a goose. Apparently you understand even less about teenagers than you know about ducks. Sorry watching your son go through this process created so much stress for you that out felt the need to lash out at a teenage kid who had the temerity to ask an honest question.</p>
<p>keepingcalm, my D had an experience similar to your D’s. She had had a rough season (bronchitis at Unifieds, ugh), but once she auditioned at her dream school and got very positive feedback, she started having fun and nailed the rest of her auditions.</p>
<p>Nick and mom, I know there is a part of my D that always asks herself if she is good enough to make it in this business. It is only natural for those big fish from little ponds to question themselves once they get out there and meet other big fish. It has to happen among the academic elite and athletes, too. </p>
<p>Nick, you keep going and finish out this season! I hope you get more acceptances and $$$. Don’t be afraid to come back to CC…I know I speak for most of us parents here when I say we want to know how it all pans out for you.</p>
<p>Nick’s mother’s post gives a more mature and sympathetic insight into his continued worry about auditions. However, his own statement was, “I went ahead and finished my four other auditions not only to give myself “options” (closer to home, not as expensive…) but also as validation that I am good enough to make it in this career.” I responded to his words, not his intent as interpreted by others, and I think people posting on a public internet forum have to expect that they will be taken at their word, not their intent. I realize Nick is a teenager and perhaps he doesn’t always say what he means. I fail to understand why giving him an honest opinion is reason to be scolded by other adult posters. And Nick, I wish you a wonderful four years in the program of your choice, and will honor your request to let this topic “die” by not posting on it further.</p>
<p>Nick I’m just popping on here to wish you the best and let you know that I did understand your original post and what you were questioning. Every year we see John Doe accepted to one of the best programs and then rejected by a few of the lesser esteemed programs. If you try to understand why it will only give you a headache. Soozie said it best - there are no guarantees - whether you get a BFA, BA, BA in History or no degree you’ll find everyone of those types listed on some great Playbills. It is going to blow your mind I guarantee it where you go with 4 yrs of college training. At the end of my D’s freshman year she looked back at all she had learned in one year and multiplied it by 3 and felt much more assured. (She is a BA). Have confidence that your dream school sees that potential in you by having accepted you. No other school matters. If you are by chance rejected by ALL the other schools - it doesn’t matter. It says nothing. Follow your passion and your love and everything is going to work out the way it should.</p>
<p>What HoosierMom says. PS: I am envious of the multitude of performing opportunities her D has as a BA at a big school. My D’s opportunities at a conservatory pale in comparison.</p>
<p>just to say-- one thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the most talented are often the most uncertain. They are very sensitive and aware, and when they see greatness they recognize it and are afraid they won’t measure up. The military is a great place for people who don’t ‘whine’. Art is where those, whose many layers of sensitivity may make them uncomfortable in the world, find their strength. Go on questioning, Nick…and have a great time at Elon, or wherever!</p>
<p>Wait, Nick, are you in Elon?</p>
<p>^Yeah, that’s what his acceptance on the list is. JEALOUS! I’d give my left arm to go to Elon. 
But then would they even want me if I only have one arm? Who knows! Diversity?</p>
<p>On topic, we all feel like this, Nick. I promise. Especially after reading your post, I freaked and wondered “what if” I don’t get in anywhere I really want to go. But there’s no point in wondering that or if we’re going to “make it” or not- it’ll just make us more upset. If it’s what you love, why not freaking do it! It’s not like anything in the job market is safe nowadays! 
And I know I’d, personally, rather just chase my dreams than never try.</p>
<p>All I can say is I am glad Skipsmom is not MY mom!</p>