BFA Acting Pre-Screen and Auditions. Class of 2022 - Sharing!

@HopeinMT keep in mind that those details may be for the college as a whole, with the possibility that Tisch and/or acting majors have a different way of handling the waiting list. But it at least helps set expectations and lets you start planning… of course if you bump off the waitlist sooner then it could be a bit easier and cheaper than putting in a deposit elsewhere.

And definitely a help for their confidence and mood going into the final stretch, getting visits in, making a decision and finding what’s right for each of them.

So we seems to be winning the waitlist award of the year, Tisch, BU, Minnesota, Pace… hard to know what is possible and how to approach this process.

@takealeap, I’m sorry your D had disappointing rejections. My D didn’t get into any of her top schools either. But as others have said, your D did incredibly well for someone who got into acting only two years ago.

Maybe this will give her some helpful perspective: my D has known she wanted to be an actor since she was in a school play at age 8. She took weekly acting classes from age 8-14, did student films and community theater, got an agent and did some professional work. She auditioned and was accepted to a prestigious performing arts high school that has wonderful acting training and where kids routinely get into top acting and MT programs. In junior and senior year, she was cast in the school musical (very competitive since there’s so much talent at the school). She also won a YoungArts award with the same monologues she used for college auditions.

She went into audition season with high hopes. Her dream school was Rutgers, and she also auditioned for CMU, UNCSA, Purchase and Juilliard as well as lower tier schools.

She only got two acceptances: Marymount and UArts. So, she’s going through the same disappointment as your daughter, even with so much training and experience.

We have only one school left to hear from, and it’s Hartt. If my D is lucky enough to get accepted there, she will be absolutely ecstatic! It’s a fantastic program: an intense, rigorous conservatory with excellent training, well-connected faculty, and 10 weeks in London junior year. We’re trying not to hope because of all the rejections, and next week she’s sitting in on an acting class at Marymount and visiting UArts. But if Hartt came through, I would feel like it was a miracle.

So tell your D that she did great, and that Hartt is excellent. (However, yes, it’s true that acting students can’t audition for the musicals there.)

You asked about Marymount. It’s a decent program, but it’s only 60 acting credits there vs over 100 at Hartt. Marymount prides itself on giving BFA students a strong liberal arts foundation along with the acting training. It also leaves a lot of room for electives or a minor, if a student wants to explore other interests. Which is great for some kids, but my D wants intense conservatory training with few if any gen eds.

@actorparent1 I also felt that comparing credits between programs was an excellent way to determine the intensity of a program. My D’s BA program at LMU has 56 credits in the major which is very close to the BFA at Marymount that you mention. Elon’s BFA has 68. These are important facts to consider when choosing which programs to apply to and ultimately choose.

I don’t know how the waitlist notifications happen and how soon (how many are contacted) Last night during a parent meet-up, A few schools acceptances were declined last night. 2 UNCSA. 2 performance BA Fordham, 3 BU’s, 3 Emerson and 2 Rutgers …These are mostly if not all for acting/drama/theatre depending on how each school names their program. Hoping this helps someone on CC

All, regarding waitlists. My one year of experience (minimal, I know) tells me that there can be a LOT of movement off of waitlists in the coming weeks. D’s freshman company (UMinn/Guthrie) is 18 students and I think 6-8 of them, maybe more, were on the waitlist prior to final decisions. For various reasons some declined a number of top-tier schools too (UNCSA, Rutgers, CalArts.) Just saying that a lot can happen in the coming weeks. And, regardless of what the schools are telling you about decision deadlines prior to May 1, dig deep for requirements. May 1 is the day most schools in the US require students to put down their deposits, but you guys know that…

I applaud everyone who is narrowing their list and declining. It’s a real help. Keep faith if you are in WL mode!!!

@Work64 D is on six waitlists (Acting and MT). D1 was in the same boat 2 years ago (more than 6 actually). Hang in there and know the waitlists can move. Many will move by May 1 and some even after that!

@MTmom2017 Do you know if the TX PH calls were for Acting or MT?

Has anyone been successful get more $$ out of NYU than they offered? Should parent or child call? Thank you!

Oh, joy, oh, rapture unforeseen! D just got a phone call that she was accepted to Hartt BFA Acting!!! We are both SO thrilled and excited and relieved!!! Miracles do happen!

They told her she’s also getting a scholarship, but they didn’t tell her how much. Please, please let it be enough to make this affordable!!! They said her letter is in the mail, so we should be getting it soon.

@actorparent1 So happy for you and your daughter!!!

Oh, congratulations, actoparent1! I read your previous post and felt such a sympathy since I remember being in this situation four years ago. And here you are-- with the wonderful news! Great day for you and your D!

It is heartbreaking to see kids with none or very few appealing options after the audition process is complete. We live in a major city where talented but sometimes raw MT and acting kids are all over the place. When my daughter was in the 8th & 9th grade we started seeing what we thought was top level talent getting into mainly tier three schools. It was a real eye opener. Luckily for us we realized quickly that there weren’t any decent acting coaches in the South Florida area and eventually found one in another city who could coach my daughter. We also had to switch her voice teacher as that teacher couldn’t get her to the next level. The dance teachers weren’t the problem. After making all these changes and an incredible amount of hard work by my daughter things worked out fine for my daughter. All I can tell parents is start planning for this process early. Sometimes starting to plan at the beginning of 10th or 11th grade isn’t early enough. Just because your kid is a lead in school plays or even regional stuff it doesn’t mean squat when your auditioning in a pool of 2,500 - 3,500 kids for 10-20 openings. Have someone with experience evaluate your child by the 9th grade and listen to their suggestions and be prepared to do a ton of homework if you want to have some success getting into college MT and acting programs that you would be comfortable with. In most colleges this is this hardest major to be accepted in. Remember that while going through this process. Dreams still can come true. It just takes a lot more homework and hard work than 5, 10 or 20 years ago.

Bravo!!! @actorparent1 - great news for you & you daughter. So happy for you both!

I do agree with @2lights note above - getting a broader and objective assessment earlier is important!

Contrats @actorparent1. It’s great to hear the uplifting stories. As for others on the waitlist I do believe there will be movement at schools like BU and Minnesota - Guthrie.

@emf1959 we were successful at getting more money at NYU by proving that my D had a better offer at a competitive school, that our financial circumstances weren’t fully reflected in the FAFSA, and that it was my D’s number one choice (unfortunately, I have also heard that many people are not successful but I don’t think it can hurt to try!). Requesting financial aid is the one time I suggest that the parents call because they are the ones aware of the financial circumstances and I find that the offices prefer to speak with the parents regarding money! Good luck!

@actorparent1 Awesome news!! Made my day!!

@actorparent1 SO HAPPY for your D and for you!!! CONGRATULATIONS
:)) !
Hartt is so wonderful. I LOVE that school! It’s a great day!!

Omg YESSSSS @actorparent1 :(( I am so Happy to see this Yes from Hartt!!! We are experiencing All of the amazing feels right along with you. Today is going to be a good day <:-P