<p>We’re 12 down (did NYU today) with two to go – Ithaca this week and BU the next. </p>
<p>NYU was relatively uneventful. A recent grad did a nice summary description of the program and answered questions. Split into two groups originally and then a third teacher arrived to take a few more students at the end. No passing between teachers or anything else for anyone to read anything into it. </p>
<p>Only thing of interest was that the recent grad doing the overview claimed they were trying to be a bit more flexible on academic stats so as to not lose talented applicants.</p>
<p>NYU told us a few years ago that there are instances where Tisch will over rule the academic side…but they are not always consistent. However, I have a friend whose daughter is a business major at NYU and she told her mom that the Tisch students’s HS stats were nothing like the rest of the schools…they were not horrible, they were just not always the top of the class/4.0/2400 SAT level.</p>
<p>Eve48, yes, Emerson. I think it will be interesting to see where you’re (my D, too) accepted and then reflect on the auditions. You just don’t know 'til you know!</p>
<p>I received some great news yesterday - I was accepted to Cornish College of the Arts. I finally feel like I can breathe. No matter what rejections roll in from now until April, at least I know that I’m going to college to get my BFA in acting. I’m just so beyond thrilled to know that my dream of studying my passion is now becoming a reality.</p>
<p>Congratulations, Eve!! That is wonderful news!!</p>
<p>We made it to Richmond after a 9.5 hour drive. The plan was to grab a bite to eat and see the show they have running. Well, having never been to VCU or Richmond, I didn’t realize what a pain in the rear the traffic and parking were. We ended up missing the show and coming back to the room to get ready for tomorrow. I have a better understanding of the campus and parking now, so we should be good. We will be leaving right after her review tomorrow and heading to Shenandoah. </p>
<p>Looking down the road to Tuesday’s adventures, we are in for a bit of snow through the Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania travels. I’m freaking a bit as I’m just a good 'ole Georgia gal who sure isn’t used to driving in snow! Please tell me the roads will not be like they are at home when we get a dusting of the white stuff! :)</p>
<p>Interesting news about the academics at NYU. I will have to see if I can find out more about this. I believe NYU was on our not sure list due to the higher load of academics.</p>
<p>So happy to hear your news, Eve–awesome!! I can imagine you in Seattle.</p>
<p>Ugadog, I am optimistic about your trip in terms of both weather and schools. I’ve made the Virginia-to-Ohio trek in snow many times, and the roads usually are clear…and from what I’ve seen, you may not have bad weather anyway. Be brave! We are rooting for you!</p>
<p>Ugadog…Shenandoah will be the opposite of VCU, small and easy to maneuver. If you are going to be in Winchester tonight, one of the professors has put together a program at a nearby museum featuring the SU students doing various sonnets and scenes from Shakespeare. If you are interested in going, I can give you a link. My daughter is one of the participants.</p>
<p>Break legs to your daughter and hoping for easy driving weather for you!</p>
<p>Hey y’all! We’re in Winchester and making it an early night. We have to be at SU bright and early in the morning! My D did not like VCU. She’s really looking forward to Shenandoah tomorrow! Still hoping for good weather. :)</p>
<p>Nothin’ but rain in central virginia tonight, and ugadog, I have a feeling you guys are going to like Shenandoah. Keep us posted! Good luck to everyone with auditions/interviews this weekend. I feel a little adrift heading into our first weekend since early January with no auditions!! However, a headache-inducing few hours filling out the CSS PROFILE made me appreciate the quiet weekend ahead. ;)</p>
<p>We are back home for two days before hitting the road for College Madness Part 4. This last leg will finish us up with the exception of her in state safety, which is scholarship only. </p>
<p>Update from the weekend: VCU wasn’t well received. She just didn’t “feel” it. Well, neither did her sister or I. Richmond is quirky and artsy, but safety is a concern among other issues. Again, it is just so important to do these visits. There is no way you would know from looking at a website or reading online in a forum about the “feel” of the school. At one point in this journey, I had thought Unifieds were the way to go. I still think it might be a good way to initially get the interview/audition done, but I would encourage all parents and students to visit those schools where there is an acceptance! </p>
<p>Shenandoah: WOW! We had a totally different feel here. First, Winchester is a great town and Virginia is just breathtakingly beautiful! My older D and I want to go back in good weather and just explore the state. The Conservatory’s faculty and staff were very welcoming, as were the current students. My D was impressed with the facilities, and I was impressed with the warmth and genuineness we felt from everyone. Margie Cullers is a hoot and did a super job keeping the day from feeling stiff and from keeping the emotions among the parents too high. Kudos to her and her staff! My D said the interview went very well, she thought. I think Coastal and Shenandoah are neck and neck now! </p>
<p>Next up: We leave Tuesday for Ohio (Wright State and Otterbein). Wednesday evening takes us to Illinois (DePaul), and Friday we go back to Pittsburgh for Point Park. Whew…I’m tired just writing it. I am pleased that my D seems to be open to other schools, even though one particular school at the beach still has her heart!</p>
<p>ugadog – good luck with the rest of your journey. I will be interested to hear what you have to say about Otterbein. Otterbein and NCSA are the two schools my daughter did at Unifieds that she continues to have a high interest in.</p>
<p>We did Ithaca yesterday to make it to 13 out of 14. She loved the town of Ithaca. State Street reminded me of walking on State Street in Madison, WI – very college town feel. Audition was the usual sort of group structure – open remarks, students answering questions, etc. The one thing I really objected to was they paperwork included the usual question of what other schools you are interested in but then asked for you to rank those schools as compared to Ithaca. Everybody around was putting Ithaca first. My daughter listed it after CMU and NCSA. If this is really some basis of who they decided to give an offer to, that is a real shame. My other comment is that the auditions are rather rushed. Monologue time is cut to a minute per monologue and there is no real interview. They do have you do the monologues to two faculty members. For her 4 hour time slot, there were 39 MTs auditioning and 9 acting kids. Still, she had a pretty positive feel.</p>
<p>I found the ranking of your schools an odd question as well when my D told me. There were 4 acting and 16 MT at the Unifieds session we went to. Although it wasn’t too rushed there really wasn’t much of an interview- however they did glance at my D’s resume and asked her questions about it.</p>
<p>We loved Shenandoah too, on a visit, Ugadog-- and loved Winchester. There’s a little French restaurant there-- if your D goes to Shenandoah you’ll have to eat there one day. D and I decided to marry the father and son who own it (complex as I am already married). But they were so nice and the food was so good and the mixture of France and the south (well, VA is the south to us) felt so right…</p>
<p>Yes, Gwen, what is the name of the restaurant in Winchester? Now that would be a fun thread – a list of good restaurants in or around the locales of audition sites or college campuses - to keep parents content while accompanying their S or D to acting auditions or college visits! </p>
<p>I went through the application/audition/waiting for results process with my S a few years ago. I still return to CC occasionally to see how the latest class is doing. I am keeping my fingers crossed for everyone.</p>
We are rooting for you!</p>