Regarding the phone calls from Pace for general admissions – reminds me of one thing I really like about Syracuse: The application process directed kids to NOT apply the the school unless they got through the prescreen. And they asked on the application if you would like to be considered for admission in another major if you didn’t pass the prescreen. Much more realistic approach (IMHO) for acting & MT kids.
My daughter was following a conversation in The Green Room and someone ( a girl) supposedly got a call from UNCSA telling them they were in “highly consideration”?? Does this sound like something they do? I told my daughter that I thought they would call with acceptances but I thought it sounded odd to call and let someone know they were being “highly considered.” Would they do this? Does this sound plausible?
Do I sound overwrought, tired and desperate because I am haha!
Apparently a current UNCSA student jumped in and they made the convo private. Knowing parents…is something afoot?
@laylamom UNCSA does make “in consideration” calls. I’ve read posts about this before. Someone more CC savvy than me can probably find such previous posts. Good Luck everyone! The waiting is hard!
I just want to say how incredibly valuable CC is, and how glad I am to be on here, and how grateful for all of you! Knowing from reading this forum that UNCSA accept students with phone calls after their final audition date (which this year is February 18th), and that Owenfolks said rejection letters have started going out, I warned my D that if a letter comes from UNCSA this week, it’s probably going to be bad news. Of course, getting a rejection in any form is always upsetting, but at least we’ll know NOT to get excited and hopeful if we do see a letter. We’ll know to kind of “brace ourselves” for a rejection, which does help a little bit. (As it is, I’m already assuming that the email we got asking for our apartment number is a bad sign.)
Of course, we’re still hoping we don’t get a rejection! But I am just SO grateful to the information I’m getting here on CC, because it really does help! Plus of course all of the stories, support, commiseration, Etc!
@actorparent1 It really does help. I thought I was stronger than this but no…
We love our kids and as young actors they really are brave. They are so vulnerable and they share true parts of themselves. Not the grades, not the essays but they stand in front of the auditors and bring themselves! Amazing kids…all. They are all deserving. My stomach hurts.
I caution everyone (I need to heed my own advice, lol) to realize that precedent may change this year with UNCSA. They have a new Dean, and he may change how notifications are handled. At my D’s 1/13 audition I overheard Bill Poole tell a student that sometimes a no will arrive pretty quickly-within a week or two of an audition. I assume that’s what happened with my D’s male friend: Whether they have too many of his type, or whatever-the program felt comfortable releasing him before all auditions are done. I was a nervous wreck when my husband walked in with the mail last night! Sending you all “only good news” vibes!!!
@actorparent1 and @laylamom and every single person here! You both have expressed what we all feel so well. My heart swells for every child and family going through this process! My son and I were at LA Unifieds last week and weekend. We met students and parents from all over the world and despite being utter strangers, we all had this same experience going on in our lives and it was so comforting and unifying to talk and share and support each other. And, even if these brief encounters were occurring while sitting on a the floor of hotel hallway for an hour, parents and kids were connecting in the most supportive and genuine way. I found this board when my son was a sophomore and honestly have felt that it is one of the best tools out there as a means of finding calm in this really crazy, exhilarating, roller coaster experience!!
@owensfolks I’m only laughing here because I feel that way whenever I see a New Email Notice. I know that the schools have to know how anxious we are right now. Like we need to plan and move on with our lives if only we knew where our lives are moving towards … Also, I find it odd that Rutgers callback notices are supposed to come out on 2/20 for a weekend that is 10 days later, The travel expense on such short notices will probably be staggering… Only “if” my kid makes it to the callback, I think about how this would work. Does he just linger between NJ and NYC, miss a week of school so that he can make it to the callback in NYC the following Friday? so many thoughts, so many dreams, so much time and certainly so much $$ ;
We attended UNCSA information session last week. This was the most comprehensive information session of anything we attended. However, they were really clear that they were auditioning 700 for 24-28 spots and this statistically makes it more likely that one would to be accepted into Yale than their program! I am really trying to keep that perspective in mind while being hopeful.
It is also very hard to read the auditions. For any experienced parents, how do you really interpret a school’s interest in a child? Does getting a card, or having the suggestion made to come and spend a day on campus “like an accepted” student really mean anything? I am trying to figure this aspect out. Any thoughts on these types of situations would be great.
@frontrowmama I agree. Obtaining a BFA from top schools seem much harder than it was for me to get into medical school. It really is. I will never question this and will remind anyone who even takes getting a bfa degree lightly!
I’m very new at the Fine Arts education but my son received business cards from Juilliard, Suny Purchase and One from each Director at Pace ( by the name of Wayne and Mathew) and 1 from Emerson College. I think these cards are just handed out until they run out and remind myself that they are trying to recruit as well. They need our $$ but they also need great kids who are going to produce great results as their alumni.
My son felt weird about wanting to send them a message (email or note via snail mail) but I can tell you that he did notice that during the Juilliard Callback, he was the only one who received a card and so far from Chicago schools, the only one invited to a weekend callback . I hope a seasoned CC member can chime in. Juilliard is his top choice but he’d be thrilled to get into any of these programs. UNCSA really piqued our interest after their session
@frontrowmam I know it is tempting to try to look for clues at every turn, but as someone who went through this last year I can say with assurance it is an exercise that will only lead to frustration. You just can’t read too much into anything. At CalArts, my daughter was one of only a handful of students given a card and invited to come and shadow a student - didn’t get accepted. At other auditions the auditors barely interacted with her - accepted. Her UNSCA audition was amazing - spent a long time in the room, lots of positive interaction, practically skipped out the door - not accepted. One audition at a school I will not name one of the auditors was downright rude to her in her opinion - accepted and heartily pursued after the fact. CMU has a reputation for its kindness and positive interaction - it was one of her favorite auditions but she knew the odds so took it with a grain of salt. The best advice we got last year was to leave everything that happened in the audition room there - keep it in the moment, embrace it and then walk out the door knowing you did everything you could and the rest is out of your hands. At this point, all you can do is wait, and let me tell you it is hard. Patience is really difficult at this point, but keep in mind that many schools are still auditioning. I remember my daughter did her last audition the first weekend in March last year. So sometimes these decisions will take weeks. Most schools will have their decisions out by the end of March - I think the very latest for us last year was Boco on March 31. But it is a painful waiting game and my heart goes out to you. Try to look for ways to distract yourself - a nice glass wine and some chocolate are always a good idea!
@sopranomtmom Love this! Thank you for taking the time to share these examples of why it’s pointless for us to beat our heads against a wall over-analyzing these things. We might as well insert ourselves into a conversation between a couple of 25-year-olds in a bar who are trying to figure out whether some romantic interest of one of theirs is reciprocated based on how long this random unknown guy took to call, or what his texts said/didn’t say. An exercise in futility and frustration.
@sopranomtmom Thank you for your sage advice! Very much appreciated! Wine and Chocolate here I come!
So agree with your sentiments, @frontrowmama, @actingdreams, @laylamom, @actorparent1 and everyone else. I was in your shoes a year ago (like @sopranomtmom.) So stressful and it’s hard to resist reading into every nuance. One of D’s mentors/directors, who has an MFA in acting from her school, told us a year ago, “you can never tell what a director (read “auditor”) is thinking.” It’s true. Personalities are different.
It helped me to remember that programs are both unique and structured differently. For example, a previous conversation was about finding the right actors to fill a spot… like needing an ingenue or the pretty boy among the available actors in a program. Maybe, but many of these programs are about training actors, not putting on shows. I learned that this was a different league than her previous experience; a league that focuses on the craft, depth, and stamina of being an actor. Many schools don’t require auditions for parts while studying in the program, which can add tension and unnecessary competition among students. They’re often thoughtful about casting to give students room to grow and challenge them.
As for contacting students, it seemed that email and/or a call was good news. Snail mail without any previous communications, not so much. And, don’t discount the wait list. This is like putting together a sports team. The director of her program even said so. Ya win some and ya lose some on both sides. Thank you notes? There is no substitute for common courtesy. Emails seem to be the most appropriate for us.
Finally, I kept reminding myself that what’s meant to be is meant to be. She had put it all out there and given it her best. It’s a journey our kids have chosen and, believe it or not, it will lead them right where they belong.
I could say more, but I hope that helps a little…
Hi everyone! I’m a little late to the party, but I’ve loved reading through the older posts! My dd is finishing up her audition season with UNCSA on Saturday. I’m looking forward to the end in sight after an exhausting week in Chicago. I have felt sightly removed from some of the application/prescreen/audition stress because she is in the UNCSA HS program. It has been great for her to have school to help her with all of it. It’s not something that I could have done on my own! I’m hoping that all of our kids dreams come true!
@Broadwaybellemom wow!! your daughter is already experiencing the Magical UNCSA! that is pretty awesome. she’s ahead of our anxious game. Good luck to your Daughter! I hope she gets into her dream school (even if it is to remain at UNCSA)
@sopranomtmom’s advice about leaving it in the room is very valuable and one of the skills that all of our kids will have to learn sooner or later. There is a lot of “leaving it in the room” in the professional audition process and you may very well find your kids discussing less and less of the details as they move on to the next stage. For now, though, they’re just kids and probably need their moms (and dads) a good bit of the time. I know this process is awful, but try to enjoy the good bits, because it is likely the last time you will be integrally involved in your kids’ pursuit of hopes and dreams.
Surely these schools have all studied this, but I wonder if they find they get higher yield by being late to send out offers versus early? It seems to me that if a student gets an offer earlier, they are more likely to attend. Maybe that is wrong. However, I am fairly certain the yield on early action admits is higher than on regular decision admits. Athletes are stalked to commit as early as possible. Why would a school wait until 3/31 as referenced in the last post. By that time, a student who might really like said school may have already heard from a school they like almost as much, got excited about going there, maybe even attended an admitted students day, told all their friends and family that they are likely going there, and bought lots of swag from competing school. Just seems odd considering what we see schools do outside of audition-based arts programs.
Thankful for the Olympics to distract me a little during this process!
@actingdreams Yes! It has been a magical year! It’s been one of self discovery, facing reality of talent and the business and at times redirection of what she had always thought would be. I’m thankful she has had this year to learn to live away from home and start the tough critique that only continues in college. She’s learned many hard lessons but has also had some incredibly high moments. She would love to stay there for college but in some ways it’s harder for the HS kids to be accepted so we aren’t expecting it. It would be wonderful but I think it’s probably a long shot.
@toowonderful - you cracked me up when I read about your love for Ralph Zito. At the session we attended last week in Chicago, he won my heart also ; He did, however, warn us to NOT believe everything we read on CC. Hmmm, wonder what he was referring to?