<p>You go Big Cheese! Drake University…great school! Congrats to you and Daughter ^:)^ </p>
<p>So glad to hear it Mike! Big congrats to your daughter. Post it in the acceptances thread! Woo hoo!!!</p>
<p>.</p>
<p>@truestory i’m curious about your UCLA TFT comments above. My D visited the program and campus, and the school has been high on her list (for program, location, college feel), but I have had reservations a) school size/ more impersonal campus and b) STRONG emphasis on the BA program.</p>
<p>After auditions, I walked away with even more reservations.
50% of their 4 years are classes outside the major. - which offers a strong Liberal Arts core to students that want that type of college.
The big negative I saw is that the 50% of the classes IN their major are not strongly performance oriented.
A adult actor friend started at UCLA many years ago, and asserts that UCLA is NOT an actor training program.
I believe there are students thrive in this environment, especially those who want to be well rounded in theater arts (say playwriting, directing, tech theatre) - not just performing. </p>
<p>To their defense, the TFT admissions counselor is very candid that UCLA may NOT be the right fit for certain students - those who want a BFA program. Those who do NOT want to take more classes in science or history or English. Anyway - I know my D is now rethinking UCLA as a fit - and if she is not accepted, our problem is solved :)</p>
<p>Bisouu - I have an only child. I told him I would be fine next year because I was planning to adopt a little dog and dress it up…Kidding!!!</p>
<p>Congrats cheeseheadmike & D! My son also had good luck with his walk-ins at Unifieds. (Now, I just wish I could say differently about all of the other auditions… )</p>
<p>Congrats cheesheadmike and D!!!</p>
<p>UCLA TFT is definitely not an actor training program. Yet, it’s very difficult to fit in your GE’s around their required classes if you are in the acting or MT track. They don’t seem to take the needs of the undergraduates into consideration at all–nightmare TA’s, no rational system for providing sufficient rehearsal space for class scene assignments nor a fair system for booking it, students have to find their own props for class scenes and aren’t given anywhere to store them. Poor communication about requirements. They make policies and don’t bother to enforce them. Your student will be “required” to do a 6-week summer intensive between Sophomore and Junior years that you have to pay for, and that pretty much bars them from getting a summer job (it’s six weeks from 10 am to 10:30 pm, 6 days a week). The intensive didn’t happen for the class of 2015 because the department didn’t get its act together in time. The department cancelled all undergraduate shows for next quarter. Why? Again, it couldn’t get its act together. They are clear that there are no guarantees your student will ever perform in a production in their four years there. The get no actual performance classes until second quarter of Sophomore year. If your student is in the MT or Acting track, they can be arbitrarily dismissed from it by a single instructor, even all of your student’s other instructors think he/or she is doing well. The administration will do little to nothing to stick up for your student. After all that work to get there and while there, your kid can suddenly be out of the performance classes with no recourse. Quite honestly, TFT is a travesty at this time.</p>
<p>UCLA is of course a great place to be if your student has academic interests outside theater. There are a lot of other opportunities associated with being there. They might get some opportunities in the industry just by virtue of being in the program. Just don’t expect that the TFT experience will be a professionally run program. And if your student speaks up about being unhappy about something, they may get thrown under the bus.</p>
<p>I recommend going elsewhere.</p>
<p>thanks @truestory we will approach UCLA with caution. </p>
<p>I should add that your student might have to do an extra quarter, or do summer units elsewhere, due to the difficulty of fitting in GE’s.</p>
<p>Big congratulations to you and your D cheeseheadmike! Drake is definitely on our radar as it was the University my father attended and we still have lots of family in Iowa even thought my D is a California girl from birth. It looks like a wonderful program!</p>
<p>A comment regarding the UCLA discussion. My daughter just shared with me yesterday when we were talking about potential colleges that one of the young ladies she has performed with in the past who is a current student in the UCLA MT program just posted that she is transferring to UC Irvine in the Fall. She has been very unhappy and quite disappointed with the quality of the UCLA program. It didn’t turn out to be what she was expecting at all from a high level MT program.</p>
<p>Yeah, UC Irvine! It’s a fabulous school. Interestingly, the head of the department came from UCLA.</p>
<p>I’m not surprised, sopranomtmom. Good for her friend. The drama department at UC Irvine is actually a lot more welcoming to students, not so caught up in their own egos and reputation.</p>
<p>I don’t know what to do or where to turn…except for here. My D has only gotten rejections so far…and today was the worst one! She was hopeful for FSU, yet didn’t get the phone call that her friends received, inviting them into the program. She had had such a good audition there, with great feedback, and had fallen in love with the school and is now crushed. She doesn’t even want to talk about it…but feels like she won’t get in anywhere. Her friends are receiving multiple acceptances to all of the programs. She is happy for them, but is crying and my heart is breaking. She was deferred by emerson (back in Nov…hope they remember her) and is still waiting on Rider (decision pending…though many have heard). Yes, there are a bunch of others we have yet to hear from, but she thinks that the same kids who have gotten offers so far, will prob. get those too. My heart is breaking…truly, hurts. I’m at a loss… </p>
<p>@bwaybabie I’m so sorry. 
When I read threads from past years, it seemed to me like the rejections for many people came first, and acceptances came later. I don’t think there’s anything scientific about it, but it is comforting. It must be especially hard on her because of her friends’ acceptances. It must be very hard for you to know what to say at a time like this. Hugs to you both.</p>
<p>I have no advice. Heart hurts with yours.</p>
<p>bwaybabie, I’m so sorry. It is just so so difficult when your child is hurting. Plus, with all her friends getting those acceptances… Ugh. All she needs is one acceptance, that’s all. </p>
<p>You say she was deferred by Emerson and decision pending for Rider? Has she written these schools or called to express her continued interest? Does she perhaps have another letter of recommendation she can have sent along from someone who can strongly recommend her? </p>
<p>((hugs)) I feel awful for her too, this is such a tough process. You guys are not alone. I’ve read many times a lot of girls are in her shoes, doesn’t make it easier but she needs to know its not just her. </p>
<p>Last year we had two students in our daytime program that were auditioning, one a guy one a girl. As the process went on he had auditioned for 15 schools and received 14 acceptances. The girl had auditioned to 12 and received what seemed like 10 consecutive “no’s”… and we had started working on a new plan for a gap year. Three days after that meeting she got a “yes” from Oklahoma University which was her top choice. Girls have it so hard, and I don’t think there are any great words. It is so hard when those around you are getting in and you aren’t. Sending hugs to you and to her. I can relate to watching your daughter hurt so much and you want so bad to make it better.</p>
<p>bwaybabie, I just ditto everything that’s been said. November seems like soooo long ago and April 1st seems so far away. There is a very wise elderly lady (she’s 89) at our church who reminded me one day that you need to remember your “■■■■■.” And then she said, “Come on say it with me…” And we did and I have many times since that day. All you can do is hug them, sometimes be their punching bag (not literally), go in close, then stay away. And come on CC to get strength to do it all over again. Thank you for sharing. Hugs, prayers, good thoughts and “■■■■■.” You are doing a great job!</p>