BFA Acting Class of 2023: preparation, prescreens, auditions, questions and support

Thanks @FourStars !

@FourStars Thank you! This is my first (and will be my only) time sheparding a child through this, but I’ve already come to the conclusion that the schools communicate a few quick ‘yes’ and a few more quick ‘no’, leaving a whole bunch of kids waiting for late Feb, March, and even April. At least, that’s my thinking today. Let’s see what the weekend brings. Break a leg, all!!

Just an added note that the Minnesota/Guthrie program is still in the process of hiring a new Director, so notifications may be different this year. There were no admins to hold auditions, so they asked Guthrie people to do them and had to train them right before auditions.

Actually, the faculty is taking turns going to the different auditions, and the head of the Guthrie side of the program, Maija García, is going to all the auditions.

Thanks @Isaroo. Do you know… what’s the general feeling among the faculty and students at UMinn/Guthrie about the program during the transition, and where are they at in the process?

Has anyone received their academic acceptance and financial aid packet for Pace? What’s the $6400 in fees?? It’s not books, or room or board or tuition or even miscellaneous.

@morgan830 I see that on our award letter as well, but I have no idea. I don’t think it could be the extra fees they’re tacking on for performing arts students starting next year as they said that would be $5K and we haven’t even received an artistic acceptance so they wouldn’t know what major my D would be regardless.

@NYart15 exactly. But wait, another $5k on TOP of what is on this letter. Oy

@NYart15 exactly. But wait, another $5k on TOP of what is on this letter. Oy

@NYart15 @morgan830. I think (hope) the $5K is in the $6K (is it $6,432?). Also, if I can ask… when/how did they deliver the award letter to you? My D received an acceptance letter, something that listed a couple of grants (the same grants that, to my knowledge, almost everyone got), but no award letter laying out the costs.

@NYAndOne we got a separate award letter/packet in the mail. I’m assuming it’s after the financial aid (fafsa) was processed. D got an additional $4k on top of the $28k that came originally. The letter is dated December 10. You would think $32k would be an awesome scholarship. Lol. But it’s still sooooo much. Sigh. But is my D’s top pick mainly for location of course. And of course, still the audition to go.
And yes the “fees” are exactly $6432

@morgan30 lol… It’s like buying clothing on Wednesday for $50 that was marked at $100 on Tuesday and $25 on Monday.

My D is an MT major at Pace. There are A LOT of fees. I seriously doubt that the new $5K fee for performing arts students is part of the fee you are all taking about. That will be added if your child is accepted into the program. Health insurance thru the school alone is almost $3K. With the new $5K fee being instituted next year, the final amount will be just around $73K a year with tuition, room/board and fees.

@NYAndOne My S’s Otterbein acceptance came on 2/25 last year via phone. He auditioned at LA Unified on 2/11. It was nice and early compared to most schools!

@Gapyearguru thanks for the info. Our total all in on the letter is $73,880 so hopefully that “fee” does include the $5k new charge. I guess we shall see.
On the other hand… how does your D like it? Is it worth all the extra $$? I want D to be able to attend wherever she’s supposed to be but finances are a huge factor. I’m a single mom.

Wow @Gapyearguru - that is a lot of fees. Good thing Pace offers good merit aid but stilll - wowza, that’s way more than I expected when we looked at Pace last year!

@NYAndOne Our award letter was dated 12/17/18. So I guess we’re to assume that the total cost of Pace for performing arts students will be over $78K. Wowza is right. Good thing they’ll be making so much money upon graduation.

@NYAndOne I can’t even comprehend that price tag. Wow.

Pace is a great program and my D is getting so much out of it. I can’t say enough about it. It’s totally amazing! That being said, if she didn’t have the post 9/11 GI Bill, I could not in good faith justify $300K in loans/debt for a theatre degree that would result in over $2k a month in student loan payments for the next 30 years.

@Gapyearguru
I’m sure it’s a fantastic program & it’s great to get an inside endorsement. Thank you!