S17 was accepted to one school with enough of a scholarship that we could have afforded it if he lived at home (15 - 20 minute drive), but when we told the school he was going to live at home, they readjusted the money downward and so we decided to send him 8 hours away to an in-state school where the total COA was less than the scholarship he’d been offered. Point is - make sure they don’t reduce the scholarship if he doesn’t dorm.
Great tip! @actingdreams. Today is the day I review $$$ with the 2 top LACs, I wasn’t willing to make the calls on $$ at the local “dive” until S gets his skinny butt into a class to confirm that he’s real about that option. Also, a tiny voice in my head that was crushed over the no BFA route…if he stays local with no debt, MFA maybe? I still have that crush on DePaul.
@techmom99 WOW! that sucks. How does this 8hr school compare? I hope it’s just as amazing and he will be able to take part in a “True College Experience”. Now I wonder if that is what would happen if he attends there and stays at home. He texted me a few minutes ago to request that I don’t even bring the school up anymore ( le sigh) He says it’s bad enough that He’d even consider the other university here but then said that they have an excellent conservatory and their program has some weight to it with the most important being that we don’t live around the corner so he can stay in a dorm 
I guess the scholarship was to curb your dorm cost. a Small discount if you live on campus (puhleez)
DePaul is SO many kids’ dream program. If you guys lived in any other city, he’d be SO all over it…So.frustrating. Hang in there.
I am now in the process of visiting colleges for my junior year Ds (who are not going into performance) and I can see how this financial aid problem starts. When you sit in on the info session, there is a presentation about how wonderful their aid offerings are. They state how you won’t be asked to pay more than your EFC. So everyone trusts this info and spends the time, anguish applying (and auditioning) to thear colleges. But after your kid falls in love- the news come back that your EFC=100% of your after tax income. That’s not a credible EFC amount. So you are stuck choosing between the safety school that comes through because they know your kid wants the next level and they need to give you money for your kid to attend and the ridiculously pricey school. The solution?: the school (for an application price of course) should look at your prior year paperwork to dertermine tentative financial aid if your child were to be admitted. Or perhaps have a centralized company? determine EFC (that all schools pledge to follow) prior to applying. This would eliminate the bait and switch game that is clearly going on right now. The same problem exists with merit aid. The school touts that they provide this, but they don’t highlight that only the top 1% of applicants get it - or that they use merit aid solely to enhance geographic diversity, etc. Again- it’s a bait and switch, you go in thinking you have a chance for $ that you never really had a chance for. The problem is that these schools are exclusive, getting in is a testament to your child’s talent/hard work, and there are other people willing to pay full price. It’s a real problem.
listening to the Frank Bruni youtube video of “Where you go is not who’ll you’ll be…”
@katew529 agree with you 10000000% and you know what? My husband and I are already committed to DePaul! The $$ that they’ve given us means that we will not be in heavy debt. If he stayed at home (I know that he would just die), we’d probably be receiving a refund!! There are about 20 kids right now introducing themselves from California, Brooklyn NY and some who graduated from UNCSA who are going to DePaul for their Masters. I don’t get it! 1/2 of the Faculty there seem to be from NYU, Carnegie Mellon Master grads or Yale. It’s like getting the same education for lesser $$$. Just as kids like my son are trying to get to the Bright Lights in NYC, Many of the NYC kids are trying to come here or go to California. I’m blown away by a teens ideology. I’ve never seen a therapist but after this, I may seriously need one!
This weekend is the Theatre School accepted weekend. We will be there Promptly with the biggest smile ever! I told him since he’s so talented at acting “Act like” this is the best school for his soul and be honored that they want him there :). Tisch threw a curveball and Pace keeps creeping in with these sweet incentives but he needs to remain focused and if he doesn’t, I’m going to do it for him.
@DoinResearch Thanks for bringing up Frank Bruni! Yes! I’ve decided to make it easier for any other parent would like to share with their teen 
@actingdreams LOL, I remember the weekend we were at DePaul for callbacks, which I’m pretty sure was the same weekend your S was there (D was in the other group), how many kids from all over were there auditioning, AND A TON OF THEM WERE TRANSFERS FROM OTHER PLACES! Also people who had skipped college and tried making it straight into the profession, and then came back to try out at DePaul.
“Point is - make sure they don’t reduce the scholarship if he doesn’t dorm.”
Another issue with scholarships awarded for room and board is that they used sometimes be considered taxable income – I don’t know if that changed with the updates to the tax code. I’m sure the financial aide gurus here on CC know the current scoop on that.
@actingdreams do you know if those from UNCSA getting a masters at DePaul are from the drama school at uncsa? We didn’t know of any doing this but maybe they are going for a masters in directing. Or they may be tech students pursuing a masters. I know DePauls theatre school encompasses more than “just” acting.
Not many UNCSA drama students get an MFA in acting that I know of. Some may further their education in directing or playwriting or another area. We have heard of at least one grad who is now a lawyer (but most are still actors!).
Just curious. Thx for any info.
@bfahopeful yes! I will get a name and inbox you
Thanks @actingdreams. Looks like the one person went to the high school drama program at uncsa. That makes sense. DePaul is a top program kids from all over strive for.
The 8 hours away school is SUNY Fredonia and S17 is really happy there. I think he is happier than he would have been commuting to school. The program is very good, so although I miss him, I am pleased that he is somewhere he is thriving. Just the other day, he told me that he and another freshman lighting design major have been asked to set up lighting at several senior recitals and that they were recommended by an upperclassman. This makes me feel like he is learning and gaining respect.
Bottom line - at first, I felt badly that he didn’t get enough money to live at the closer school and that my emotional issues will not permit me to take parent loans on top of the SUNY cost that I agreed to cover, but having visited him twice up there, I can see that he is where he should be.
I should also say that if he was a performer, rather than a techie, I would have thought longer and harder about those parent loans because I would have wanted to see every show he was in.
@techmom99 - you are wise to trust your aversion to the Parent Plus Loans! Everyone will come out ahead. And your posts really seem to indicate your S is in the right place (I’m sure you miss him, though!).
@techmom99 - good point about factoring in the cost of getting family to see shows!
@“Jamieand Winthrop” ha!! Yes!! There were a lot! I couldnt believe so many were there to audition for masters. I recall many parents there. My S had met Atruh’s Son and later on had heard it was Not a good audition and he had known this one was a No. surprise, surprise!
And you’re right so many transfers, so many who figured they’d best get educated instead of going at it on their own. Things have changed! Hate I didnt know that you were there on 1-27. My son took the train home (had said why bother, he knew this one was going to be a no after having to relearn a monologue he now hates within 2 days)
Yes, factor in the cost of visiting. For our visit this past weekend, I thought I’d save money by having my oldest son and daughter (and their SO’s) drive, rather than flying and renting a car; H doesn’t travel. All went well until on the way home, we hit a deer. WE ARE ALL FINE, Bambi not so much… I didn’t have comprehensive on my 2003 minivan with 70K miles on it, so I am now out $1,500 for repairs. That’s the amount of the honors scholarship S17 received, so I guess it’s a wash. Anywhoo, my latest advice is add collision coverage if you have a car you plan to drive again if you take it someplace where there are deer, etc. I figured near home I’d be in accident with another car so I’d have someone to sue if it was their fault. D is planning to visit her college upstate using my other car so I am adding the coverage before she goes.
The good news is that the show (Spring Awakening) was amazing! It was primarily the MT BFA kids with some acting BFA kids. My goal is to try to see two shows that S17 works on each year.
NYU studio emails just went out. D was placed in Stella Adler.
@techmom99, oh, no! I’m so sorry that happened to you! Glad no one was hurt. And of course, it just figures that the cost of repairs is the amount of his scholarship! You just can’t win sometimes!