If you get specific information on how many vocal lessons or dance lessons are included in the curriculum at either Ohio University or Shenandoah, would you please share? This might be helpful to some this year but will definitely be helpful to the class of 2025. Plus looking at particular areas in a program that a student needs/wants is a great way to compare them if you have more than one offer.
@Mindatwork - interesting - so D did reach out to McCaela right after the audition and got a very friendly response back - she said to reach out with any additional questions - but McCaela hasn’t initiated a conversation with her - its hard to tell how much you should be corresponding - it is her top choice so she wants to show interest - but not annoying at the same time - how did the correspondence work with your son if you don’t mind me asking.
I may not be remembering exactly but he stayed in touch with her via email after his summer program and then sent her an email after his audition and the communicated a couple times. (He did not audition with McCaela btw.) When he was waitlisted, he emailed her and they set up a time to talk on the phone. When he was accepted, same thing again.
Good luck to your D!
This was posted on an MT thread by @peacemama . Thought it was great information about assessing the program or programs you have been accepted to. (And also to programs future classes are looking at.) Apply the decision making to areas in Acting.
The programs will all say they have the best training and industry connections and tout the reasons why, and for this reason it’s so hard to feel like an informed decision is easily attainable. My son found that it was helpful to sit in on an acting, voice and 2 dance classes to see what faculty and teaching style he most connected with, and if the dance teachers modify for stronger dancers. Sitting in on and spending time with students was key in him being able to tell a difference in the level of talent and individuality of the students in different programs. *Pay attention to the students.
For example, after our visits, he came away feeling like his very top school going into the process had VERY talented, yet cookie cutter performers. The school he ended up choosing stood out because he saw how the program was more personalized and was supporting their performers to come into their own unique style. For this reason, he felt the students there were more attuned to their craft and able to trust themselves as performers. It wouldn’t have dawned on him to consider his feeling regarding this aspect without comparing these things in his top three choices.
He also reached out to kids currently in the programs he was accepted to and got very helpful and truthful insight regarding the pros and cons of each school. This is how we narrowed down our schools to visit list. Also be sure to ask the stronger dancers at each school you are considering if the program is meeting the level of dance they desire. Ask students if there is anything they wish was different about their program. Ask if they feel like they are seen as an individual and have access to faculty and to give examples (because they all said yes ;). Ask what their favorite and least favorite thing is about the program. Ask what the culture is like. What do people do for fun outside of MT? (or Acting)
Regarding industry connections: Ask who they bring in for audition workshops, master classes, and new works opportunities. This will tell you A LOT. Try to see who they have brought in over the past 2 years and not just sometime in the past.
Just randomly checked Depaul’s Blue Demon site for my DD today and there was a new thing there under forms – RECONSIDERATION FORM Ugh! I called the admissions office and they said check again in a couple of hours. I stated well I guess she isn’t getting in. She only said check again in a couple of hours. Sending prayers and good wishes for all!
@yourmama99 i saw your comment and checked my portal as well and saw the same form 
wonder what this means
Are they supposed to send decisions today??? @yourmama99
@gapyearbaddie they said to check later today
@yourmama99 my friend checked her portal and got waitlisted
@gapyearbaddie so the decision was there on the portal?? argh!!
@Gapyearbaddie decision is now posted. a no. Crushed.
I’m so sorry, @yourmama99 I hate all the rejections, and especially ones that really crush the kids. I hope your daughter finds the right fit for her. A friend of ours was waitlisted last year. It was his first choice as well. He never got off the waitlist but did end up at a school he now loves.
Thanks for the update on DePaul announcing decisions. And I ditto @SoMuchDrama . I’m so sorry about that no.
I’m so sorry for the no @yourmama99 We all can feel the pain of those no’s. We’ve all been there. Hope for the best news for you D soon!
@yourmama99 I’m so sorry. There’s nothing worse than seeing our kids devastated. I hope she moves through the pain and finds something good on the other side.
Congratulations @WonderfulJourney And good luck to everyone who hasn’t checked the DePaul portal yet.
So sorry @yourmama99. Rejections from the schools they have given their hearts to are very tough.
In case some of you don’t haunt the MT forum, I wanted to post info from there -
Many schools nationwide appear to be closing on-site classrooms and facilities for the rest of this month due to concerns about the potential for spread of COVID-19. Some schools are going “virtual” for the rest of the semester.
NYU has also canceled all public and admissions events… through April.
If you have plans to visit schools in March and April, you might want to check to see if the school will be in session first.
Many Ohio schools are going virtual. There was a post that Ohio University just went virtual today and will revisit that on March 30th. Check and recheck with any schools you plan to visit as @CaMom13 said.
@onette posted this on the MT board.
I just learned that Crucible Cast Party (CCP) Instagram account has tours of quite a few school theatre depts from this year where the kids did takeovers, including CCM, Niagara, Rider, Arizona, OU, Elon, Temple, Western Connecticut, etc. It might be worth checking out if your school is on there. The instagram name is ccp.admins and these are in the “stories.” not posts.
Thoughts on Elon BFA Acting for an MT kid? Opportunities for voice & dance & auditioning/performing in musicals? Same prestige?