<p>@cheeseheadmike, when it comes to scholarships and grants, some schools will look at your best financial aid package and they will see what they can do to meet it, come close or at least throw you a little more $. Others will not “play ball” because they don’t need to, or they do not have the funds to do so, or they just won’t for whatever reason. Sometimes it varies year to year. One thing is for sure “all they can do is say no” and “you will never know unless you ask.” Look, these admissions and financial aid people KNOW that this is an investment and it is expensive. They know what you are up against. Some have an official financial aid appeal process that you have to go thru, others will deal with you more informally. Make the calls to the admissions offices to find out. Also, make sure the MT people are aware that $ might be what is keeping your kid from accepting and the dept head or some other MT person may go to bat for you with the admissions people if they are not already involved.</p>
<p>Could you comment on a couple of things? Is there much hope of getting funding if you have a child with marginal grades and tests scores? I see again and again those who have kids with stellar academics. I’m afraid my S didn’t let his school work interfere with shows, dance classes - girls. Now I’m afraid that’s going to come back to haunt him. One of the schools (his favorite) is horribly expensive. If the cost is beyond our reach - do we talk with the admissions people, the financial aid people or the MT department? </p>
<p>Tired of the football analogy? How about we try real estate analogy. I’m in the middle of buying some real estate right now, and I just realized how similar it is to securing the best financial aid package in MT. All of the offers, counter offers, looking at comps, who pays closing costs, etc., are just like telling the school you need more money. It’s the same type of negotiating that goes on when you tell a school that XXX school tuition is YYY amount, and that another school is offering a financial aid package of ZZZ. </p>
<p>@ikemom-it depends on the school and what you mean by marginal. Some schools will spell out for you what you get as academic aid if you have certain grades/test scores/rank in class. Others do not. I know my D received a little more academic money than the guidlines said at one school because her class rank and grades did not coincide with her test score(she has always had a problem with standardized testing). I know pace has a program for students that need that little extra help academically and they give a decent scholarship for that. Talent money is all over the board and very unpredictable. Also you should check if your state participates in any kind of reciprocity agreements with other states because that can take the tuition down as will. </p>
<p>There is truly not much talent money to be had out there. More at some schools, none at others. If you are talking about something other than financial aid, academic merit is where the money is (if there is any of that either.) Financial aid essentially requires proof of need according to how they calculate it. Sometimes people get confused by that and are surprised by what the formula expects them to be able to pay. It can really hit home if there is a huge mindset difference between what you are “willing to pay” and what the school thinks you need to pay based on their formula after looking over the data you provide. The school won’t care about what you are willing to pay which often takes into account your planning for your future needs so be ready for that.</p>
<p>I hate to go there again, but I haven’t been here in a couple of days. If anybody here doesn’t think a young man or woman coming out of CMU doesn’t have a leg up is kidding themselves . “I am a graduate of the CMU School of Drama” will open doors that may open for some very talented graduates of most other programs, but the non-CMU grad better bring better than “A” game. On that point I agree with neuroticstagedad. We can go back to the chicken or the egg discussion (whether CMU accepts highly talented but also commercially appealing kids in the first place, therefore ensuring their success after graduation, yadda, yadda). But make no bones about it, the CMU alumni network in New York and Hollywood is very, very strong, and the grads are very, very hireable. BUT, obviously that doesn’t mean that CMU, UMich and CCM are the only schools in the game. </p>
<p>After the first few years after graduation, I believe natural selection takes over and the % who are making it work and make a living, are doing so because they are talented, resourceful, hard working and hireable for whatever number of reasons. AND they went to many, many, many different schools.</p>
<p>Any info on train travel from NYC to Philly? Going to visit U of Arts the end of March. Thanks…</p>
<p>deleted. Good point below NAtlantaStudio. I’m with you.</p>
<p>8-| Please not again!!! I don’t know whether to :(( or 8-} </p>
<p>@Ikemom - The best bets for merit scholarships are private schools where your S’s test scores and grades are in the 75% and over for that school. Cappex is a good site to find those figures quickly and easily so you can get a better idea of who to squeeze for $$$.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. I’ll check out Cappex.</p>
<p>@bisouu Train between NYC and Philly are frequent and not that expensive ($100-ish RT). There are also a lot of Chinatown bus type options that are cheaper than the gas and tolls if you drive. (Though there have been some safety issues. ) </p>
<p>Wow I didn’t think it would be that expensive…thanks I am flying from LA to NYC for a little over $300… hmmm</p>
<p>@bisouu – My older son lives in S. Phila. and takes the Peter Pan bus to NYC all the time for about $25 RT, and it only takes about 2 hours on a non-stop bus.</p>
<p>I know that I’m a little late on the Annoying Actor Friend discussion, but I think the reason why it may not land with some people is that the entire thing is a joke. It’s a parody. Yes, the author is making fun of actors, but she/he is also making fun of judgmental people who write like that. If you found it annoying, it kind of proved it’s point-- don’t forget-- the person’s name is “Annoying” Actor Friend. </p>
<p>I’m not saying you have to like it. I like that there are a wide variety of opinions on the book :)</p>
<p>This is a fun Backstage Article on the subject: <a href=“http://www.backstage.com/interview/annoying-actor-friend-creating-anonymous-alias-werking-hard-and-being-undeniably-soblessed/”>http://www.backstage.com/interview/annoying-actor-friend-creating-anonymous-alias-werking-hard-and-being-undeniably-soblessed/</a></p>
<p>Thanks @MTCoachNYC, great article. I wish that interview would have been appended to the book #nowigetit</p>
<p>@MTCoachNYC that’s not why I didn’t like it. It’s obvious that it is a parody. It just felt too much like it was a joke that went on too long. But that’s me and I agree that it is appropriate to have a variety of opinions on the book.</p>
<ol>
<li>I have no idea if it’s the same person posting under a different name, but please: Can we just stop it with the ‘which school is best’? PLEASE. It’s pointless.</li>
<li>No, getting merit/talent scholarships is most definitely not like negotiating for real estate. Many colleges have no money or limited money. For starters.</li>
<li>NYC to Philly: If you want to go directly to Philly, you can take the Amtrak or the bus. Amtrak is expensive, about $100. The bus is much cheaper but it’s a bus 
Peter Pan is fine and so is Bolt.</li>
<li>I didn’t like the book either! :-)</li>
<li>I’m in a bad mood because I"m letting #1 get to me and I shouldn’t. Grrrr. </li>
</ol>
<p>NYC to Philly, you can also take the NJT Trenton Line from Penn Station to the Trenton transit center, and switch to SEPTA train to downtown Philly… A longer trip, but a cheaper option. </p>
<p>Oh my goodness….woke up this morning to my daughter’s safety school offering her an increase in her scholarship…it is now basically free! This is going to be hard to turn down!!</p>