@actor01 no word from Calarts yet, here. I know their website says anytime from 3/1 to early April. That’s a
@FourStars I don’t think anyone was bashing the program, obviously we love the program or D wouldn’t be so bummed to not get a call. And it was certainly never my intention to bash it. Nor was anyone complaining about the speed with which acceptances went out, which was really fast. But I am frustrated. Quin did say at the info session that everyone would know one way or the other by Feb 24 and that’s not what happened. I know lots of schools have all kinds of ways of drawing this process out, but most of them so far have been pretty open about their methods and dates, and it’s hard to understand the staggered email rejections and lack of response when the class is full and the date we were told we’d be notified by has passed. While we haven’t called, I know students who have and the admissions office is still very much perpetuating the idea that they are reviewing everything and keeping kids hopes of acceptance up, which again doesn’t seem right if they know the class and waitlist have already been set. I don’t think it’s bashing a program to say we wish for a little more transparency.
Also, just a clarification, not all auditions were seen by three people this year. On our day kids who went in the morning were seen by Quin and Scott, and kids in the afternoon were seen by just Quin or by Quin and Cameron. No one our day was seen by Quin, Scott and Cameron and only Quin and Bill Poole were at the info session. But yes, it was a fantastic audition experience, and a seriously wonderful program. If by some miracle they called today, D would withdraw all her other acceptances and commit tomorrow before her CMU or Guthrie and Rutgers results even came back. It’s that good. D has several friends in the freshman class and not one of them has a single bad thing to say about the program, except for maybe how tired they get sometimes, but even that they say is completely worth it.
I think everyone would agree that UNCSA is a fabulous program. Full disclosure, my D has not heard that she’s been accepted so she assumes she has not.
However, as amazing as their program is, I think their notifying method is not great and in fact our dealings with the admissions office have been frustrating. They told my D that her transcript was not received even though we had notification that it was received electronically. When my D contacted them, they replied with a confusing email telling her not to worry about it as it had no bearing on her audition. She did mail another hard copy of the transcript anyway. Also, she only auditioned in front of 2 auditors, not 3. I had no idea anyone auditioned in front of 3. Despite the fact that many people have heard Yes, Waitlist, or No, she has received no response at all. That just keeps a glimmer of hope alive when it seems obvious to me by the number of accepted students on the Facebook page that by now she could have been given a polite no. It is just not that hard to send an email to candidates to let them know of their status. Also, I very clearly remember an unfortunate situation discussed on CC last year where a theatre design student was told by UNCSA that she was accepted, and then her parents were called and told the offer was a mistake and their daughter was not in fact accepted. I do think their issues are with the admissions office, but I think that they could address them and improve the process. That’s not meant to bash the program at all, just my opinion that such a great school should do better.
All that said, congratulations to those who got in! My D would have gone there in a heartbeat. ?
Thank you for replying appreciate!
No word from CalArts here either. Anyone know how they notify? Portal/snail mail/calls? TIA
I just want to say about UNCSA… that they are small and maybe not as super duper efficient as some larger schools . As @FourStars said while they are auditioning their time is so stretched. This is such a unique and maddening process- I understand the frustration of wishing to know. At this time last year my nerves were shot! My daughter was in love with UNCSA after Chicago-( it became her first choice and dream school) we did not get the call and those were tough days. when a letter came snail mail later it was a rejection encouraging her to re- audition the following year. There were just a handful of these that went out. Then a surprise call from Quin came weeks after and we had just gone to accepted students day and Tisch (also waiting for Purchase). This was so unexpected and out of the blue we are still in grateful disbelief. I think if they were impressed or connected with your kid’s work you really could still be being considered until you get a solid no. Not to encourage false hope but at the last minute some who had been accepted last year picked Juilliard and a spot opened. Still thanking the universe in a state of happiness and disbelief! Quin said my daughters audition stuck with them. They really care. They really really try to create a diverse and dedicated group that is a good fit. All this is to say, there is a last minute shuffle among the top programs. Things change- it’s all still fluid and that FB page is really not the last word. Anything actually can happen and in our case (and others) no news was good news. Even if eventually it’s a no…it likely took them longer because they were not an immediate no and they were impressed.Take heart…this waiting time is just the worst. It’s so damn stressful. Hang in there. This year is such a trial and next year will be ahhhhhhhhhhh!
All, great information on UNCSA, and while our D has heard nothing either, we agree that they are a small program and are somewhat short staffed. However, that “smallness” and very personal connection is what makes them special and so our “communication” expectations have been lower than with other schools. @laylamom grateful for your story and so happy this has been a great fit for your D!
@fireflyscout for my son the portal had a sizable talent scholarship from the theatre dept. and a small loan through financial aid. I’m still hoping that he may be offered some type of academic/merit scholarship from the school as he is a National Merit Semifinalist and they offer a Semi Finalist scholarship, but since it wasn’t on his portal, I’m guessing he didn’t receive that. Still have my fingers crossed though!
We haven’t heard from Cal Arts either.
Does anyone know when or how The New School sends out their decisions? TIA
Does anyone have any information or experience with Otterbein’s waitlist? Did they go to it in years past, how many are on it, etc? My S is on it for BFA Acting. Thanks!
@HPDbfa my daughter was accepted to Ball State Acting BFA in 2/28 - she had he same feeling about the faculty, very friendly and welcoming (but I guess any school faculty is going to be more friendly if they like you).
We visited back in January and met some of the current MT students and got a tour from one of the associate professors. Very nice campus. I would definitely schedule a tour and check it out.
@HPDbfa my daughter was accepted to Ball State Acting BFA in 2/28 - she had he same feeling about the faculty, very friendly and welcoming (but I guess any school faculty is going to be more friendly if they like you).
We visited back in January and met some of the current MT students and got a tour from one of the associate professors. Very nice campus. I would definitely schedule a tour and check it out.
@BettyBNYC2023 My S was accepted to The New School through early action. He was notified via email to check his portal a decision had been made. The next day he received an email from the drama department congratulating him on acceptance.
@BivalentChomps My daughter was accepted to Ball State Acting too! I’ve been trying to find more info on the program. Hoping to get out to visit soon. Any Ball State Acting families here?
@MTDreamz has a D at Ball State for MT, but maybe she has some info on the acting program there too?
@BettyBNYC2023 same as @collegeadmiss for my D.
@collegeadmiss & @NYDreammom CalArts will notify via an email that will read something like “a decision has been made” or something along those lines. However, we beat that email and saw the acceptance posted on his portal before the decision email arrived! I think CalArts goes out in waves starting around 3/1 or 2 and then throughout the month. They do have a WL and I am not sure if there was movement on it last year or not. I will note that our acceptance came around 3/8. S received an email on the 3/2 asking for his transcripts so they could “move forward” with his application. Somehow they had not received his semester transcript. Haha, this created a little panic! My S is a Freshman there and I am more than happy to answer any questions!
@HPDbfa As for Otterbein WL, we knew a few kids on it last year. They all ended up at different schools and I did not hear of movement on it, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t. It is one of those crazy, popular programs with crazy, talented kids getting in and that means these kids are usually getting into a bunch of amazing programs and have a tough choice to make. My S did not release his spot until April 18th last year as they were really stressing to get a decision from him. So, I think it is a school that will have movement for a while!
@frontrowmama for calarts portal, just checking if thats the VIP login page? Thanks!!