<p>bisouu… My S and I went last night to the San Diego BU event. He was absolutely exhausted and had a huge APUSH test today, so he left a little early. I felt it was an “ok” presentation. Nothing whatsoever about the CFA. They did this thing where they highlighted 3 applicants, with tests scores, grades, etc, and then who they admitted and rejected. It was somewhat informative, but probably doesn’t pertain to theater auditions and BU. I was hoping they would take questions at the end, so I could ask how BU weighed in the audition in decisions, but they did not. I really didn’t think it was worth it for my S to stay, as studying for his APUSH test was more important in my book. I also decided to splurge for an on campus audition for him, so he will get to see and talk to everyone he wants to at BU in Feb.</p>
<p>I can tell you this about admissions. The student will audition. If he passes the audition his application goes to the university where they look at test scores, transcripts, etc. The CFA can say what they want about the kid, but if the grades are not there the student will not be admitted. If the grades are somewhat there, perhaps a little back and forth will go on between the CFA and admissions, but the CFA cannot get a kid in without the grades.</p>
<p>If the student does not pass the audition, the student is rejected from BU. There is no offer for a different major at the university. There is no academic-only admit.</p>
<p>With all due respect to the hardworking admissions reps, (many of whom are wonderful) these sessions can tend to run together to the point the only thing that seems to have changed is the name of the school. After a while they can get mind-numbingly boring. But look at it as a right of passage and part of the job even if you only get one thing out of it. Sometimes they surprise you and are extremely well done. </p>
<p>In any case, I always look forward to hearing the most cringe-worthy question asked by a parent. To date my favorite was the parent at Emerson that asked, “how do you make sure that the kids are in bed at night”? Gosh her poor son pretty much melted into the carpet. If that doesn’t entertain you, try my second favorite game which a friend recently turned me on to: count the number of times the word plethora is used.</p>
<p>LOL halflokum… my older son and I happened to be texting during this presentation( they lost me at internships, blah,blah), and he said to ask, " how many varieties of cereal do you have in the dining room, and if there was a Harry Potter club:))</p>
<p>My favorite was a parent who said - at a senior parent night in November - that her son was going to wait until June (of senior year!) to take the SATs. I thought it was funny for a few minutes, then my heart broke for this parent, and the poor kid!!!</p>
<p>Oh no. That would be a winner if it wasn’t just so tragic. :(</p>
<p>I will make sure to ask if they can check that she is wearing clean underwear each day and that she does her homework…</p>
<p>When I was at my daughter’s orientation, parents were horrified to find out their kids had to share a tv in the dorm room (only one cable outlet) and then, they found out the school allows coed overnights…then it really got amusing!!!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>As in significant others staying over? I feel as if I’m missing something. What schools, other than uber-religious schools specifically prohibit this?</p>
<p>bisouu, NJTheatremom’s son is a BU grad. She’s a good resource and is very generous with her assistance here.</p>
<p>alwaysmom…yes! As in anyone, significant or not! A lot of these parents were first time college parents and it had not occurred to them this would be the case.</p>
<p>I’m still stuck on the TV in the dorm room worry. In my day the only TV in the entire dorm floor was owned by a guy on the male wing and it was a 10 inch black and white with rabbit ears that we would all pile around, standing room only in his room at 3 PM so we could watch Luke and Laura on GH. And we liked it! Queue the Dana Carvey Grumpy Old Man Weekend Update video.</p>
<p>Yes, Halflokum, same here! In my rural Vermont college, we hardly had any reception anyway–I seem to remember it being best on the top floors of the dorms, and people definitely stuck tinfoil on those rabbit ears, in a probably superstitious attempt to improve reception. There was a guy in my class whose brother was a writer for SNL (partnered with Al Franken), so we’d occasionally squish into his 4th-floor room in between parties to watch. Of course, those were the probably-broken-payphone-down-the-hall days too. 
Life was good!</p>
<p>bisouu, </p>
<p>If your daughter does end up going make sure she gets a business card of the rep there and sends them a thank you note. I like my kid sending hand written snail mail thank you cards cause they are more unexpected and leave an impression.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Oh my goodness, didn’t these parents go to college themselves? I graduated from college almost forty years ago and we had no such prohibition even back then!</p>
<p>We went and my D loved it. But there was no question answer period and the line was out the door to even get close to the reps so there was no way to get a card or even a name. Not sure she has the SAT scores to get in…her GPA is above what they want but I think it may be a crap shoot.</p>
<p>Bisouu-At the audition they give the student a score (from 1-10?) and send that over to admissions which is then figured in to the whole application. So a good audition can really help. It is true though that BU looks at GPA and test scores more that some other auditioned programs.</p>
<p>Occasionally you will hear people say that BU is a 50/50 school, meaning the audition is 50% and grades/scores are 50%. But that isn’t true, really. Again, you have to pass the audition to even have your application looked at. If you did the audition and you didn’t pass, the application doesn’t even get to the admissions people for review. If you pass the audition, and the SAT scores aren’t where they need to be, no matter how wonderful your audition went, you will be rejected. This fact was drilled into our kids at the BU summer program (BUSTI). They told them over and over that they cannot do anything for someone with low scores, even if they are fantastic actors.</p>
<p>Many schools have artistic acceptances and academic acceptances. So if you don’t pass the audition, the school will still offer you acceptance into another major. BU applications to the CFA go no further if the audition is not passed.</p>
<p>I do know that about BU. Thankfully my S has the grades and test scores to get into BU, if he does get that far… but the audition…who the hell knows:)</p>
<p>Thank-you Marbleheader! It’s so hard for people to understand that the audition means everything in many BFA programs. Unless the theater dept. wants you admissions will never see your scores or read your essays. Audition is first and most important, by far. Syracuse also works this way. Students audition and then the chosen applications are sent up the hill to admissions. If your not selected, you’re done.</p>
<p>Flossy, don’t some schools do it the other way around where you have to get into the school first and then make it in to audition?</p>