@MTmom2017 I can see a “congratulations from Texas State” email on my son’s email. I was thinking this might be the “priority hold” I have heard about.
@frontrowmama - it probably is!
@yorkside I will make a brief first response:
“Stretch” piece is only at Minnesota/Guthrie (BFA-Acting only school, although they had the kids “sing” this year at Unifieds because their partner theater/Guthrie is apparently incorporating song into performance); it just means what Minn. says on their website page for Acting majors: pick a monologue from a character you would probably never be cast as but have always wanted to play (someone you are passionate about etc. and have fun!)
Pre-screens: No formula here. Each school has different advice but I didn’t see ANY school that required a professional videographer. That said, I hired a friend who is one to film Julie in his attic studio and he made it look very “home done” but she had the right lighting, plenty of space, a white backdrop, the sound was perfect, and so was the camera angle (just as specified on each school’s website), and MOST IMPORTANTLY, he had a firm grasp on the time for each piece and helped my D so much in terms of giving her some basic feedback after each piece. They did retakes a couple times and he was able to show her the pieces right after each video session. It took 3 different days (about 1-2 hours each) to get them all in because he took time with her and let her choose which cuts to submit. Since these schools almost seem to go out of their way to require something unique (time limit for monologue, type of monologue, personal statements that vary from “tell us about a time when you felt passionate about theater” to “tell us something about yourself”, etc. – each of them a different time limit or no time limit), it is a good idea to BUDGET some money if you go this route.
BUDGET money now and plan ahead. Everything costs something; usually its not big chunks of $ at one time, but I just added up everything I’ve spent since last year this time (prior to the major Spring Break Road Trip to visit potential BA and BFA programs of different shapes, sizes and in different areas of the country) and it adds up when you are including the cost of ACT or SAT tests (and prep if you do that, which we didn’t and I am kicking myself for not doing it because I think it mattered to Michigan), CSS Profile submission fees, prescreen fees, application fees, artistic portfolio submission fees, HEADSHOTS, printing HEADSHOTs, and resumes (not a big deal but it just adds up); auditions that are required ON CAMPUS (with hotels and transportation and plane fare and meals etc.); visits to programs that really indicate they take your “demonstrated interest” seriously (unless you are the next Meryl Streep), etc.
Then, of course, there are the costs for therapy – you and your child and your other family members – because this really does make you a little wacko.
ESSAYS. My daughter was advised by her freshman friend in the BFA-Directing/Acting track that Michigan likes you to make all your essays about theater. Go figure. I would have guessed that “well-rounded” kids made better actors. I would do some research into each school to see what former students who were admitted did about this in recent years. But, DEFINITELY MAKE YOUR KID DO THE SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS! Don’t leave anything on the table.
CONNECT. Personally and early. At all schools where your kid has a decent 50-50 or even 30-70 kind of chance ( 30% success and 70% probable rejection), because that has made the difference for my D with ELON (our spring break trip in March 2017). She left the Professor a note and a chocolate bar outside his office saying thanks for the impromptu “hour” of his time; kept in touch over the summer when she read an article in the NYT about the play he had been directing that she innocently interrupted when she was peeking into the theater); contacted him again before she submitted her prescreen to ask him legitimate questions about the instructions; met one of the acting students in the bookstore and kept in touch with her (she happened to be one of the Seniors who they brought out during auditions as a shining example of their program), etc. Same with IWU. We requested an individual audition and they gave her that and much more (an entire special day with her name on the parking place and special events planned just for her, including meeting most of the BFA Acting students who were Freshman and Sophomores. These were both first and early (October after she passed their prescreens) and, although she was nervous, getting it done so early before the real pressure started to build seems to have been a saving grace for her because so far, its been all downhill (no no no), except passing prescreens for a couple noted programs that – in the end – she didn’t end up auditioning for because the reality that they cost a fortune and the fact that she had two really good offers made it easy to withdraw.
Good luck with everything!
@yorkside I also started ordering used copies of plays on Amazon every week over the summer (just one or two a week) for my D to start reading so she could find her own “type” of character and voice (modern, classical, comedic). If you have a D, its hard to find age-appropriate etc. material that your kid can actually play in an honest way where she can show the auditors HERSELF. She loved loved loved having all the new reading material over the summer.
@yorkside I also started ordering used copies of plays on Amazon every week over the summer (just one or two a week) for my D to start reading so she could find her own “type” of character and voice (modern, classical, comedic). If you have a D, its hard to find age-appropriate etc. material that your kid can actually play in an honest way where she can show the auditors HERSELF. She loved loved loved having all the new reading material over the summer.
@yorkside I also started ordering used copies of plays on Amazon every week over the summer (just one or two a week) for my D to start reading so she could find her own “type” of character and voice (modern, classical, comedic). If you have a D, its hard to find age-appropriate etc. material that your kid can actually play in an honest way where she can show the auditors HERSELF. She loved loved loved having all the new reading material over the summer.
@MomofJ5 Sorry. 
My D is going to be super sad if she ever opens up her email! (sigh). Going to have to ask her to check tonight if she hasn’t looked by the time she gets home from rehearsal.
Have you thought about a Gap Year doing the Eugene O’Neill Theater semester? Auditions are in March, I believe, for the summer and for the Fall.
Its been on my mind for my D if she ends up just wanting to give the whole process one more “college try” in the Fall. God help me if she does.
My daughter got in nowhere (until she came off a waitlist) but decided on going to her safety and it was the best thing she ever did. She gave up her BFA admit and selected a BA and will be graduating in May and already has a paying job for the summer! There are many paths…my mantra has always been LOVE YOUR SAFETY 
I love your story @bisouu! we all end up where we’re supposed to be. I don’t know how my Son feels about being called after being waitlisted but I would’ve done exactly what your daughter decided to do so happy that she’s got a job already especially in this field
@Noreplays2018 I’m sorry for your D. The good news is that she’s been accepted into one great program at least. The others seem to be great too!! I regret that my son had to reschedule IL Wesleyan due to a Chicago Snow Storm that was unexpected. We were supposed to drive there this weekend but he got a callback so he’s going to NJ instead. It’s a gamble. IL Wesleyan is nice. I love their campus. Good luck to her! I hope that she reconsiders the acceptances. They are good as well
Ithaca mom here they took 15 MT and 15 Acting last year
S just received a rejection via email from Chapman, so their decisions are still rolling out.
That is so encouraging! Thank you for posting that.
Thanks for the info @Naevia - one of the ones we’re waiting on, and no idea when they’re notifying.
@MTmom2017 you might want to just check the portal bc the results could be there.
Thanks @Noreplays2018 - I never heard of that program before. I can definitely see him doing a Gap year- mainly because he’s unsure what he wants to do. U Mich was our first rejection. Hopefully the others won’t be so bad AND hopefully he’ll get accepted somewhere that feels right. One of my older Ss (not a performer-but into CS) got rejected from MY first choice school for him and he is SO happy where he ended up. So I do have faith that this could be the best thing in the end.
Hey all. I’ve been lurking around here for the past week or so. Took me a while to catch up on all the posts. I’m happy that I found this place as it provided some relief and perspective for me. I’m also glad to see that I’m not the only one that has a child that doesn’t check emails and is in no rush to meet deadlines. I think my D does it because she knows it drives me nuts. Has anyone heard anything about LIU Post. My daughter received an acceptance there for their acting BFA in December with a generous scholarship but we have yet to visit. An friend of a coworker who teaches theater at Columbia (NY) said that they had a really good theater program so I hope her endorsement is a positive sign. And I’m in the same boat as everyone else. This waiting game is killing me. My daughter received callbacks from CCM and Otterbein and we went to both campuses. We received the rejection letters from them fairly quickly which actually seems to be more of a relief than waiting. My daughter hated the Otterbein rejection because she really loved the program once she visited. She actually said “I hate that I love it so much here”. I knew it was a long shot after hearing the head of the program state that they only take 16 and those are split between MT and acting. So essentially 8 spots available. And cut that in half if you consider male and female. We are still waiting to hear back from DePaul, Fordham, and Ball State. She also has a safety school here at home but she’s steering clear of that. She loved DePaul but she knows not to get those hopes up. In the end she has a place to go right out of NYC which is great but it is so far away from us. I’ll just be glad when it’s over and happy that my youngest has no interest in theater. Haha
I’m going to 2nd the advice of @bisouu - there are many paths and LOVE your safeties! Research a few safeties - strong BA programs (with no audition required). Play this game: if you don’t get a YES from the audition programs, where could you see yourself? This is a tough business. It’s realistic to have a plan B and C for college.
Hi! Question about scholarships, we received a financial aid package from the school but it didn’t have any scholarships listed, just loan info. Should i assume that info will come separately?
@BrokeDad0530 , welcome! I SO hear your D on “I hate that I love it here so much!” My D was totally in love with Rutgers, for years had been picturing herself there. Got rejected, was devastated. Picked herself up, continued auditioning. Then she auditioned at SUNY Purchase and fell in love with THAT program. I told her I was so happy to see her so enthusiastic and having another school to love. She sighed and said “But I don’t WANT to love it, because I’ll get rejected and be crushed again.” This process is brutal. I hope your D gets an acceptance she loves!
@CTMomofAJC , I wouldn’t assume anything. Call the school. All our financial aid letters included both scholarship and loans. If there’s no scholarship mentioned, there may not be one. But call them to find out for sure.