@crc500, regarding son’s girl friends who have 6 or fewer apps, one of the girls attending a prestigious (and expensive) camp this summer and seems overly confident that she will be accepted at that school, even though it is one of the tippy-top colleges. What do they put in the water during these summer camps that makes every student in a camp of 20-30 think they are all going to get one of 8 spots? I’ve heard of other kids being shocked and disappointed when not admitted to schools where they attended summer camp.
a quick read on a few of the threads here would serve them well…lots of camp-attending, summer program attending, talented, and experienced students who have been a bit surprised at the competition. I am always grateful for the wise counsel that we have received from people around us about creating realistic expectations. (without being a dream crusher…lol)
My S, a current BFA sophomore had an application/audition year similar to @claire74’s S, although he applied to fewer schools (8, all audition 
accepted to 3). He also felt he only wanted to be in a program with others who were “at or above” his skill level so he would be pushed to get better. He felt that if he did not get in, he would take a gap year and work on his skills so he would be a “better” applicant the next year. He may have been a little arrogant and naive, in the way many 17-18 are. But he had also lived through MANY casting disappointments throughout JH and HS because he was “too tall”, “too young”, “voice too high”, “voice not high enough”, “not the director’s favorite”, or “whatever”. He figured if he didn’t get in the first time, he’d just have to try harder the next time. He was already working harder than many of his peers, he would even harder if he had to. As a “wizened” sophomore, he totally understands the “type” dilemma, but he’s hoping he can push that envelope - again with more work and risk-taking.
On the flip side, many of his colleagues at his PA school who did get the leading roles, thought they had the world by the tail and had learned everything they needed from their “exclusive” HS experience - egged on by their teachers who I believe had become disconnected from today’s MT college scene. Some of his classmates were not accepted to any of their “top” choices and ended up scrambling at the end of the season to find a program. They eventually found spots, but not anywhere near those tippy-tops they thought they would be begging them to attend.
Ironically, the “rules” at the PA HS would not allow S to take the Acting classes because he was a transfer student and had not taken the prerequisites. He is now in an Acting-based program, doing fine. It’s unfortunate that many kids get so pumped up by their HS on-stage successes and accolades from adults who really don’t “get” today’s MT landscape. And it’s a crime that faculty members in prestigious summer intensives may be doing the same.
@mom4bwayboy, I’m sure the summer camp faculty are not purposely misleading the kids, but maybe they–like parents and teachers–could try for a better balance between enthusiasm and reality. There is no guarantee that all the kids in even the most exclusive auditioned camp are going to get into the schools of their choice: the math of it all just doesn’t work.
This ends up like a broken record- BUT I think it is important to say that NYU only has a higher acceptance rate than other BFAs if you are open to any studio. As soozie pointed out- the acceptance rate for MT is around 6% - and the same could be said for any INDIVIDUAL acting studio. But there are a group of them, and that makes the total # higher. There are people who apply completely open - they just want to be at NYU, And all of the studios have cool elements. But if you have a specific acting studio in mind (as my D did - she had done a LOT of research, and gotten to experience many of the studios through the Tisch summer program) I maintain that NYU represents one of the biggest risks- b/c you don’t have control. (as you do for MT- which you can indicate when applying) And when you take the higher % of acceptances and divide it by the number of studios- you get odds that are similar to many other programs. Just my 2 cents
@lovetoact, my D said she had a Plan B. She was going to be a biologist (following in the footsteps of both her parents). But I don’t think she ever really thought she would have to resort to Plan B. I’m not saying she wasn’t nervous/scared/worried/anxious…she was all of those things. But this is a kid whose Kindergarten teacher said to me, “Can you please have your D thank me when she gets her first Oscar?” and who drew a picture of herself singing on stage in 1st grade to show her future self’s career. She always knew this is what she would be doing. So even though she told us/herself/her classmates/guidance counselor/college coaches that if she didn’t get in, she would simply go to college for biology and work to save animals, I think she never truly had a realistic Plan B. It was something she said to get us all off her back. And after it was all over, she said to me, “I could never have done anything else.” So, I don’t know what she would have REALLY done if she hadn’t gotten in somewhere she wanted to go. Part of me thinks they have to throw themselves into it 1000% and not have a Plan B. B/c if they have a Plan B, that means they can contemplate doing something other than performing. And if they can contemplate doing something else, gosh darnit, they should be doing that something else. B/c it is a life filled with rejection for 99% of them. So, I think what really would have happened if she hadn’t gotten in to schools she loved is she would have gone to NYC, taken lessons, auditioned for shows, and tried the college thing all over again. Despite what she said about her Plan B…
I am the mom of a 17 year old senior and went thru this process with her older brother. He’s a classical singer and applied and auditioned to all the top vocal programs and got in everywhere except his first choice. They told him he should reapply after working on his music theory. That was the plan, but he ended training privately and working regularly and never looking back. Now his little sister is applying to BFA programs for MT with no safety/non BFA programs on her list. I’m very nervous and she may be naive with her confidence, but it is her journey. If she doesn’t get in her plan B is similar to @mom4bwayboy, she will do a gap and train and prepare to do better next year. I was distraught when my son took a gap year and then decided not to go to school at all, and he’s doing great. Again, I personally would be a LOT less stressed and sleeping better if she had some safety non audition schools in the mix. For the past few years she’s gotten sick right around January with bronchitis. That could cost her dearly this year.
D did have an non-audition safety (audition after first year), but she ended up not really liking it or taking it seriously; she really didn’t investigate it much after preliminary research. As it is, she received her first acceptance in November, so she pretty much forgot about the safety. I don’t know if she would have found things to love about it enough to go if she hadn’t gotten in elsewhere; she talked about going to NYC to train and audition. She also did apply (and was accepted to) CAP21 and knew pretty early that it was an option for her to go to their 2 year program, too, so we believe she would’ve done that. Not a safety choice, but a plan B, and an option in case she decided to go to NY to audition and train despite being accepted to BFA programs.
BTW, D applied to 15 schools (including prescreen schools, 2 of which she didn’t pass), did 3 walk-ins, and canceled 1 audition. The only time it felt like too much was when we were paying and when she was writing all of those essays and filling in those applications. She liked auditioning.
I think it’s VERY hard for us parents to remember this IS THEIR journey. They really do need to take majority ownership for their decisions - and live with the consequences (as long as that means they won’t be residing in our basements forever, of course. Or depleting the family trust fund. Or putting themselves in danger. Or making themselves sick. Or. . .) Wouldn’t it be nice if they were back singing in front of their stuffed animals? And listened to EVERYthing we said?
My thoughts have recently changed as I step back from the first audition.
Initially, my daughter seemed rash in avoiding schools which were a) affordable and b) outside the CC world of recognition. MY strategy was to pelt colleges with apps and see what fell out.
She insists that if the school doesn’t appeal to her, she isn’t going to apply just to get in somewhere. I think she believes it is better to face facts and admit some further work needs to be done, rather than take anyplace that would have her. Because this business is unlike getting an accounting degree, I think she is right.
The training matters, the opportunity a school gives you matters.
We are lucky in that we live so close to NYC that a year training (kind of like homeschooling) with your own choices, and working perhaps in an office that’s theater themed, could be done . If she wanted to continue to college after that, she would try again. If she begins to make headway or finds her path is personally pleasing, so be it.
I admit, the great thing about a conservatory is that the discipline she will get is invaluable. How can such a stringent program not reap life long benefits? Doing the custom program on your own has drawbacks. It will be interesting.
I was reading yesterday about the after college years and it was making me apprehensive. Her type; blonde 5’4 legit soprano with belt is a DIME a DOZEN. Does she have that intangible 'it" factor. Who can say? It’s a lottery of luck, timing, connections, schmoozing. Do I want it for her? I don’t know,sorry. Yes, sure, being a star would make her happy and I’d be happy for her. Being even a well known, consistently working actress would be a fine life for her.
But I know a few actresses at 35-40 not yet breaking through. I don’t want that for her. It’s not my choice though.
I’ve come to a much more relaxed place than I was before the first audition. If she gets in nowhere she likes, that’s going to be ok. We have options we hadn’t fully appreciated.
I love all the aspects of this conversation. And good points-- @mom4bwayboy that it’s their journey—although I’d venture to guess that most of us do put some level of parental limitations on them and give guidance when they’re 17 or 18. Otherwise they might be applying to 50 schools!
#:-S
and also the point by @monkey113 that a plan B could possibly indicate that you should be doing something else if you can envision doing it. I 100% agree with that in effort to get into the business. I wouldn’t encourage my kids to get a teaching certificate or have another ‘fallback’ to start their professional lives (unless, obviously, teaching or another field were options they wanted). If their heart is wanting to work, they need to give it their all (another reason to not end up wallowing so deeply in student loans that they’d have to work full-time to pay them and not have time to audition). On the other hand, a Plan B could be (as others mentioned), moving to an urban area to work with a coach or non-college school/conservatory/program and auditioning for professional work. I also think a Plan B could be going to college for a BA in acting or MT, or even for a non-performance major. Admittedly, there are more non-MT success stories of people majoring in non-performance.
Love having this space to discuss all this stuff!
I prefer to call it “finding another path to Plan A” rather than “Plan B”. That happened the first audition year when the options weren’t plentiful and I offered up different ideas and The D thought I was giving her a plan B which to me meant anything other than theatre which wasn’t the case at all. I was coming up with different paths to the same Plan A endpoint which is exactly what many of you are offering or have offered to your offspring!
My daughter also applied only to audition BFA programs and would not pick a safety school. She received four prescreen rejections, one rejection after a full audition, and then an acceptance, thank goodness! This is a nerve wracking process that doesn’t seem to faze her but I’ve been checking websites often for the three others at which she has already auditioned. Is it better to wait till all results are in before visiting the school she was accepted at so she can (hopefully) compare it to one or two other acceptances in close time proximity likely in March or April or better to go sooner since January is not busy but February is very booked?
If you can swing an earlier visit, I would go for that option. If she gets no other acceptances, she will still have a good idea of the school she IS accepted (and it’s often nice to see a campus when it is NOT in its spring or fall glory). If she does get other acceptances, that will be one visit you no longer need to worry about scheduling late in the year. Another reason to go earlier is because many college spring breaks fall in March/April and by mid-April, the school year is winding down at most colleges and often the MT programs are not operating as “usual”. Seniors and some faculty may be absorbed in rehearsing/traveling for senior showcase. Students in other grades are prepping for end of year exams/juries/performances and the classes are often not doing the “typical school day” work. If you need to schedule multiple visits towards the end of the year, it can be difficult to squeeze them in and still experience the schools at their best. It might also be helpful to try to schedule a visit during a main stage production - not always a “great” indicator, because seniors are often not in the winter/spring casts, but still another puzzle piece to add to the whole picture.
Thank you mom4bwayboy! D agrees; she’d like to go when she can see a production so January it is.