Class of 2017 - Final Decisions

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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<p>Accepted to:
Ball State (BFA-Acting), Northern Illinois (BFA-acting), University of Northern Colorado (BA-acting), Viterbo (BFA-Acting), University of Southern California (BA-Drama), University of California, Irvine (BA-Drama), University of California, Santa Cruz (BA-Drama), Loyola University, Chicago, (BA-Drama)</p>

<p>Waitlisted:
University of Michigan (BFA-acting)</p>

<p>Rejected from BFA’s/BA’s:
DePaul, CMU, Syracuse, Ithaca, CCM, Northwestern, BU.</p>

<p>Final decision:
University of California, Irvine (BA-Drama)</p>

<p>D made her final decision after attending two classes at UCI. She found the faculty and students to be intelligent, creative and engaging. The campus is very friendly and attractive. It’s close to LA so that she can keep her LA agent and continue to audition. It was difficult to say no to USC. They met our financial aid appeal. Yet we looked at the debt involved for a performing arts degree, the fact the USC did not guarantee the award for 4 years, and that D would have to take out 40K in student loans for the four years. At UCI she was admitted into their Campuswide honors program granting her priority registration, special advising, smaller class sizes and the opportunity to work on a creative project with faculty. We could also give her the opportunity to study acting in London. This way she graduates with no debt, and can still study acting, writing, music and dance, with many performance opportunities for the next four years. She started this process with a fantasy about going away from home, starting over in a new city, immersing herself in a BFA program with other talented and dedicated young artists. UCI seemed too close to home, too familiar, and too ordinary. Spending more time on the campus gave her a broader perspective of the many growth opportunities available for her there. I still feel a twinge of sadness every time we receive something from USC. Had we the financial resources that would be the school for her. I feel safer with her at UCI. The location is fantastic, with many theaters in the area, and she has a chance to audition for the acting honors program and professional theater auditions. We’ve developed a liking for the adorable Anteater mascot, and have all turned the corner to embrace this lovely school.</p>

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<p>Heartsong, thank you for sharing your family’s journey with us and congratulations on finding a fabulous program right in your own backyard! So happy for you and your daughter.</p>

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<p>Congratulations Skewlcounselor on your D’s decision! You must be so proud and excited for her as well. Thank you for all of your helpful contributions. This process was made much less daunting due to people like you who took the time to share and contribute on CC. I can see why parents return year after year to help the next group of kids and parents.</p>

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<p>Heartsong, congratulations to your D! I will share a little story we heard at the UCLA admitted student Theatre event from 2 years ago. The head of the Theatre Department (very nice man!) was speaking of his own two kids. His daughter chose not to attend UCLA and instead chose UCI where she loved it! (His son decided against college altogether.) I thought it was a great vote of confidence in UCI’s approach and great opportunities.</p>

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<p>madbean: His name is Rich Rose, and he still tells that story at the UCLA admitted student event! I love his point that no one college is the “best” college for every student, and that he uses his own kids to drive home the point is charming.</p>

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<p>madbean - we heard that story also - 5 years ago! I do still remember it. I found his stories and the head of U Michigan’s program stories the most memorable of the audition days.</p>

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<p>for her daughter. She auditioned for BFA in Acting and some MT programs</p>

<p>Accepted to: Mason Gross at Rutgers, Purchase Conservatory, Fordham Theater Performance, NYU New School on Broadway/MT, Pace BFA Acting, Marymount Theater Performance/MT minor, Hofstra (non-audition)</p>

<p>Waitlisted from: Juilliard, UNCSA, Boston Conservatory </p>

<p>Rejected: Carnegie Mellon MT</p>

<p>Callbacks scheduled for end of May: LAMDA, Guildhall in London</p>

<p>Final Decision: in US, Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers</p>

<p>Junior year we visited a lot of the schools to see go to the info sessions and take tours.
She kept going back and forth between acting and MT but realized that what she needed for what she wanted to do professionally was classical acting training.</p>

<p>She was afraid to audition at Juilliard as she figured it was a longshot, but it was also her dream school. After her audition at Purchase (which was her first audition after Marymount) she felt really good about her audition and the program itself. Her interviews with the faculty went really well and this school became her first choice (unless of course Juilliard was a possibility). She didn’t finish her application with Rutgers as it kept getting bounced back so she gave up and never scheduled an audition. It wasn’t on her list as she didn’t know much about it but her coaches really wanted her to apply. </p>

<p>She also wasn’t sure about the London schools but a director that she’s been working with for years kept pushing her to apply and telling her that she would get the most out of those programs other than Juilliard. However, we figured all along the London schools were long-shots for her as well. The audition with Guildhall was her favorite audition. She felt that she got so much out of her callback with them and was so excited when they told her she was getting called back to London. Both LAMDA and Guildhall discussed with her their enrollment consisted of mostly older students and how would she feel about that. So the factor of her age, her US citizenship and her gender I think may work against her, but she is going to try nonetheless.</p>

<p>She walked into the Rutgers audition in Manhattan after she auditioned for LAMDA just for the hell of it as she had researched the program and now decided she wanted to give it a shot. She did it and it turned out to be a very positive experience. They told her to go home and apply. She did and she went to final callbacks and really loved her weekend there. Her experience there was similar to her final callback at Juilliard as she got to really experience the classes, meet with the faculty and students and get a real feel for the programs. She said she learned more about herself as an actress in those two weekends then she had in her 8 years of professional acting. </p>

<p>She spent a day at Purchase sitting in on classes and found that the Mason Gross program really fit her better. She felt the Mason Gross style of teaching and their interest in their students was as close to the feeling she got at Juilliard then any other program. The directors from Mason Gross called her a number of times and emailed her quite a bit and answered all her questions and she felt very connected. The year of study at the Globe is also very enticing as well as how they run their 4th year program. </p>

<p>Although my D spent a full day under the covers crying once she received the letter from Juilliard about her waitlist status, I will say Juilliard was very supportive through the auditions, callbacks and waitlist period. The faculty and directors there are very concerned about their prospects and I was most surprised to see that. They did tell her to audition next year however, I don’t see a reason to once she’s in such a great program like Mason Gross or either of the London schools if they do work out. </p>

<p>So for now Mason Gross it is. It has been such an adventure and such a roller coaster ride. It should all be over May 25th but at least she will have a home next year!</p>

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<p>Thank you for posting this. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been following your daughter’s story with interest-and very happy that it has turned so well.</p>

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<p>My D applied to the following audition programs: Emerson, Ithaca, University of Michigan and NYU. She also applied to the following non-audition programs: Muhlenberg and Northwestern.</p>

<p>Accepted to: NYU Tisch (BFA at Stella Adler), University of Michigan (BFA in Acting), Emerson (BA in Acting) and Muhlenberg (BA in Theatre).</p>

<p>Audition BFA Rejections: Ithaca</p>

<p>Final Decision: NYU Tisch (Stella Adler)</p>

<p>My D loved all of the schools that she applied to and thought she would be happy at any of them. At any given time her favorite school was whichever one she had seen most recently. But toward the conclusion of the audition season she narrowed her focus to schools with very strong academic programs with a national reputation and because she also wanted a BFA degree, she became focused on NYU and Michigan. Previously she participated in the MPulse summer acting program at Michigan and loved everything about it, but was homesick. We live 30 miles outside of New York City and she loves the idea of being at a world class program with everything NYU has to offer, but also being able to hop on the bus and be home in 30 minutes for family events or just when she wants to get out of the city. She has never been impressed by “campuses” so the fact that NYU doesn’t have a campus doesn’t bother her. She’s communicated with several people with firsthand knowledge of the Stella Adler program and it sounds like a perfect match for her, particularly because she is more interested in acting for film than on stage.</p>

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<p>Congratulations, HHKMom! I am curious about one thing…why would the Stella Adler studio at Tisch be particularly appropriate for a student who is more interested in acting for film than on stage?</p>

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<p>NJTheatreMOM: I wish I could give you more specifics, but what I know is that my D talked to people who attended Stella Adler and did some research and felt comfortable that Stella Adler would prepare her for film acting – which isn’t to say that it has a greater focus on film than on stage or that there aren’t other studios or schools with more of a focus on film – but it was an important factor for her and she felt comfortable that within Stella Adler and the entire Tisch program she would get the emphasis on film acting that she wants.</p>

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<p>HHKMom: I don’t know anything about the particular focus of Stella Adler or any of the other NYU studios in relation to film acting. But there is an Advanced Studio at NYU completely devoted to film acting, directing, production, etc. called Stonestreet. This would be available to students after they complete their first two years of training in their primary studio. Congrats on NYU!!</p>

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<p>Thanks Madbean and Touchstone for the info about UCLA and the shout out for UCI. We’re happy about the decision and see so many benefits within the program. Great to hear about all the other final decisions.</p>

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<p>Applied to: Coastal Carolina University, Point Park University, Cornish College of the Arts, Roosevelt CCPA, Oklahoma University, Pace University
Accepted: Cornish, CCPA, Pace
Rejected from: Point Park University
Withdrew from: Oklahoma University
Waitlisted at: Coastal Carolina
Final Decision: Pace University!</p>

<p>I was soy blessed to be able to pick from Chicago and NYC as CCPA and Pace were my top choices. I was accepted into CCPA’s new BFA MT Dance emphasis program and into Pace’s BFA Acting, so it was very rough for me to choose. Ultimately, I knew I belonged at Pace in NYC, especially after visiting the campus and sitting in on some classes.
When I was limbo on which program to choose, I was constantly getting personally written emails and phone calls from the head of the department from Pace asking if I had any questions and wanting me to come to campus so he could introduce me to some of his students. CCPA was just sending me a general email just reminding me of the day I had to officially commit by. I just really digged that Pace was so personal. I mean, who doesn’t like to feel wanted :)</p>

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<p>Congratulations cydnie on your acceptance to Pace. Sounds like that personal touch made a big difference for you. Knowing that the head of the department took a personal interest must make you feel wanted and will likely help you really push yourself to grow in that environment.</p>

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<p>My S applied to: Bates, BU, Brown, CalArts, Carnegie Mellon, Emerson, Fordham, Goucher, Hampshire, Juilliard, Morehouse, Muhlenberg, NYU Tisch, Pitzer, Purchase, Rutgers, Trinity, UCLA, USC, Yale</p>

<p>Accepted to: Bates, Boston University (BFA Acting), Emerson (BFA Acting), Fordham (Performance Track), Goucher (with Theatre Scholarship), Hampshire, Morehouse, Muhlenberg (with Theatre Scholarship), Tisch (ETW Studio), Pitzer, Purchase (BFA Acting), Rutgers Mason Gross (BFA Acting) (with Theatre Scholarship), UCLA, USC.</p>

<p>Rejected: CalArts, Carnegie Mellon, Juilliard, Yale</p>

<p>Waitlisted: Brown, Trinity</p>

<p>Final Decision: Boston University BFA Acting. </p>

<p>Decision process too difficult to explain.</p>

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<p>Congrats to all who have recently made the final decision! I know it must feel wonderful to have that weight lifted. Now maybe our kids can enjoy these last few weeks of senior year!</p>

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<p>Touchstone - glad to have you guys at BU. I forget, are you guys near Boston, or is it a haul for you. I wished you’d give us at least a little info about your choice. You son had a lot of great programs to pick from and it would be helpful to those coming up as to why you picked BU or why you didn’t pick other places.</p>

<p>And congrats to all the other folks who I’ve missed in the last few days. Lots of decisions now on MAY 1.</p>

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<p>Today I am purging my house of every college postcard/viewbook/letter/random mailing! I am cleaning out my email! I am proudly wearing my UMiami tshirt and ready to move on! </p>

<p>Time to plan a summer vacation! Yay!</p>

<p>Congrats to all! Yippee! :-)</p>

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<p>Marbleheader, no we are not near Boston. My s will be traveling from sunny southern California to experience seasons for the first time in his life.
Once things settle back down to some semblance of normal around here (still have to deal with finals, prom, senior trip, etc), I will try to put together some notes on the decision process. Having so many great choices made the process lengthy and involved…</p>