<p>The way I thought of it was, my son was in charge of the artistic end and I was in charge of the management. Many, indeed most, families seem to do it this way. It also helped remind ME that the artistic stuff was not in my job description.</p>
<p>Good to know Broadway95 that we are not behind!</p>
<p>Prodesse, i agree, staying completely out of the artistic stuff!</p>
<p>So - reading all your responses - and I feel a lot better - I’d just been seeing posts about apps being submitted and prescreens submitted (and gasp - one has even heard back from one pre-screen!) and I felt like we were falling behind. But in addition to submitting those first two apps last night - we got confirmation of our first scheduled audition today. I’ve been working on all the pre-screen footage - but she has to look at it and tell me what to use where - I’ve just been organizing and cutting off the beginning and end where the camera was on too early - or on too long. </p>
<p>Prodesse - you hit the nail on the head - I keep telling her to think of me as her executive secretary! And even though the artistic side is hers - I still feel like once all this administrative stuff is done that we will BOTH breathe a sigh of relief. She preps for the artistic stuff every week in already scheduled classes and lessons - it’s all this extra admin stuff that is making us feel like we’re drowning right now… but we just keep plugging away at it! </p>
<p>My husband just thanked me this morning for taking on this role! And I’m so proud of my D who can be very “head in the clouds” - who is working hard every spare minute to keep us moving forward on this. I must confess that I was concerned about that “head in the clouds” personality before we dove in this Fall… but she’s completely exceeding my expectations. (Could she be growing up? Yikes!)</p>
<p>PS Cellomom - I think my D is on a similar rewrite of the Common App Essay - and now I’m thinking - Let’s just be done and move on with all the other supplements!</p>
<p>And it sounds as if our D’s are similar.</p>
<p>I’m actually looking forward to the actual auditions when I might get to meet some of you! :)</p>
<p>My son is a junior in college and my wife and I still couldn’t tell you what his audition pieces were. Amen to the artistic part not being in my job description! I did most of the travel arrangements, logistics and scheduling and what not (not to mention driving). I look back on it as a very cool experience for all involved, but I’m glad i don’t have to do it again!</p>
<p>I know we are really behind, and I’m constantly worrying about it. I don’t know how my D thinks everything is magically going to get done. Is this her way of telling us she’s not ready? I feel like my lenient method of parenting is biting me on the a** at this point.</p>
<p>From where I am, I’m not sure if I could stand back and watch my son do relatively little in this whole application/audition process. Meaning-- He’s hardly home as it is, and we seem to be on the road for campus visits or choir auditions, or something else, every weekend. Also-- I’m a little bit of a high-strung type (my hubby would laugh at the “little”) and I know what needs to get done this semester in order to get all these darn auditions scheduled and pre-screens taped, etc. </p>
<p>I do worry that I’m doing too much, and that he’s not involved enough, in the actual application process, but we’ve already gone over his college list ad naseum, so I’m confident about where the applications are being sent. </p>
<p>I’ve been filling out the apps and it’s boring! Filling out the same kind-of stuff over and over. His time is better spent-- at this point-- writing the multiple essays (yes-- even the optional ones…to me, they’re not really optional), practicing his song/monologues, going to lessons, working on his huge senior project (that he wants to complete this semester), and the other stuff at school that he wants to be involved in.</p>
<p>7 apps submitted-- 5 to go… I’m sure the College Counseling office at school just loves me! LOL</p>
<p>I thought the same thing SU88BFA but realized its just paperwork and it was the redundant, name address etc… My D wrote the essays we went over her activities and that information together so other than really typing it she was involved. She did realize at one point how much of that I was doing when a kid in her class asked about a section of the Hartt app and she didn’t know what he was talking about. At that point she thought maybe she should be doing all that herself as well. We talked about it and really she would not have been able to get them done unless she gave up sleep as well. </p>
<p>And yes especially not being at a Performing Arts High School our guidance counselor was very tired of us by the end of November. She could not understand why she was applying to so many places</p>
<p>I too am helping with the filling out of all the applications. My D and I sat down together while she did the Common Application which only accounts for 4 applications. I then did the other applications but only for the same information that was on the Common App. If there was anything different, I had her go in and complete that portion. We still have some apps that she needs to complete.</p>
<p>So far, our counselor has been very responsive. He readily admits he is unfamiliar with this process and wants the experience.</p>
<p>Since my D is so busy with all her other responsibilities, she is hardly home, as is probably all your kids. So, whenever I saw her I would discuss something that she needed to do pertaining to college. She finally told me that all I was talking to her about was college stuff! I got the message and definitely backed off a bit. So I’m just stressing internally now!</p>
<p>Merlehay, I don’t think you are behind. If you are, then we are too! Things are getting done, just not as quickly as we would like. I’m still dealing with the counselor on getting the transcripts correct, they had last years classes in the box for current classes, etc. D is taking the SAT again tomorrow, etc. I hope we are able to record pre-screens in about 2 weeks. D plans on finishing a couple essays this weekend. Sigh…</p>
<p>I am happy my S’s production of Cabaret is over this weekend. My normally “can juggle whatever is thrown at me” kid is starting to get frazzled. Some of this may be due to me pushing him so I feel a little bad but I know he’ll feel so much better once all he needs to do is focus on rehearsing the crap out of his material. His senior year schedule is no piece of cake either with his AP classes. His senior paper hasn’t been started. And play rehearsal started this week. He is starting to realize he may need to give up a day or two of 3 to 4 hrs of dance per evening, he is very reluctantly realizing something has to give at this point. </p>
<p>Apps are complete, except for the 1 new addition. Dance segments are recorded. Songs are recorded as well but he isn’t happy with his one ballad and I think they need shot from a closer angle so he’ll redo those. Monologues were performed for acting coach those are a go and now he will record. So making progress on prescreens although he hoped to be complete yesterday. He also needs to double check he followed all the instructions such as say name, state and pieces in one segment vs. introduce every segment etc. before he puts the videos together.</p>
<p>He has to get together the transcript requests and recommendations for Penn State, that wasn’t through the Common App.</p>
<p>We are off to Wright State 11/8 for his first live audition…it will be here before we know it! Ahghgghgh!!</p>
<p>Well, we have 3 apps in, but 2 are for Acting programs and didn’t require as much work for some reason. I’m torn about what to do about prescreens because she is doing the MTCA mock audition in November and I feel we should wait until she gets real live feedback (we coach through Skype). I’m feeling a bit better today because my friend who does essay tutoring now has time to take D (the on-top-of-it kids are done!) and I think it will be worth every penny to just make her sit down with someone who knows what she’s doing. Unfortunately, D’s in a play at school right now and rehearsing for the All State production which doesn’t allow her much extra time over the next 3 weeks – she can’t even squeeze in a voice lesson. Aaaargh!</p>
<p>I just have to say that reading the last few posts on this thread is making me feel somewhat better…
My D is at the SAT right now so we have a much needed break from each other. She also had a bit of an outburst where she exclaimed “Can I PLEASE just have an hour where I don’t have to hear anything about colleges or prescreens?!?”. <em>sigh</em>
I think it came to a head two days ago when we were filming the last of the prescreens along with the Young Arts-which of course have a totally different slate. After about the 15th take of the Young Arts where she accidentally said her name again she stormed off to her room for the rest of the evening. These poor kids are under such pressure, and yet it is probably not going to get a whole lot easier for them.
Merlehay-we are with MTCA as well, but we aren’t attending the Mock until the December break. Much to late for the prescreens. We Skype as well, so we will just send the video for her coaches to review if we have concerns. I just hope that they are all right-she really doesn’t want to reshoot them all.<br>
We haven’t had too many issues with our guidance office-they have been pretty timely with sending out the transcripts (though they don’t understand why we need so many!) Our problem has been letters of rec from some of her former directors/coaches who are older and do not understand the whole “upload your letter of rec” process. They want to type something up and be done with it. I am sure we will get it all worked out in the end, but it has been stressful for sure!</p>
<p>OMG last year we had numerous people that my daughter could not ask for references from because they could not handle the computer part. Once counselor told my daughter not to even bother asking Mr. X, a wonderful older faculty member who would have written a great reference had be been able to just type it and mail it. I wasn’t much better when it came to sending videos to these schools in particular formats (hello, WHAT?) and neither of my kids, who I turn to for technical advice, knew how to do it either. I feel like we escaped the process by the skin of our teeth without having to hire a video techno whiz (and we probably should have). I wish these schools would have a little mercy on the older generation; we are still around and we are these kids’ parents and teachers! :/</p>
<p>Calliene, I have to disagree with your school’s counselor although in your case I"m sure it turned out just fine – But if people are reading this now, if you have someone who just does not want to handle technology or can’t, you can simply have the faculty member write out a letter of recommendation and send it out via regular mail. Have your son/daughter double check, but my students recently asked about 20 colleges total between them, and they all said, Sure, regular mail is fine. You just have to make sure the recommender puts the student’s id/social and birthdate on the letter.</p>
<p>Frazzled35. Had to laugh about the slates. Just did a pre screen and young arts yesterday. We actually recorded all the slates first. But several times she stopped and said “wait what do I say again?” I said “how can you remember two minute monologues but not a one sentence slate?”
After the slates she did her monos without having to think about any slate. I edited them together in iMovie. Only took about a half hour!</p>
<p>lol dramamom you are either way younger or way smarter than I am (or both) :/. And connections, I think I’ve blocked it all out, but my memory was that that was not an option. Maybe it was but we never asked!</p>
<p>Calliene- I’m neither, but I was afraid I was going to forget what to do for each slate so I had her do them first! I had looked both of the requirements up right before we left home. :-)</p>
<p>Moving right along application wise. Academic acceptances from Wright State and Point Park. Baldwin Wallace indicates everything is in and S would hear from them in November. Rider, everything is in pending riview. Penn State, everything is in pending review. CCM - indicating transcripts are not received, Common App shows submitted last week. Nothing yet from Ithaca, CMU or U of Mich.</p>
<p>S decided last night to change his ballad but he’s much happier with the new selection he thinks it represents him better and he loves it more…so whats another $5 for sheet music at this point LOL! </p>
<p>Working on prescreen submission to Otterbein. The remaining won’t be re-recorded until the end of October.</p>
<p>S said he still feels a bit overwhelmed like he hasn’t accomplished enough. I reminded him how far he’s come!</p>
<p>@MTMajorCook - Wow! I can’t get my S’s high school to send transcripts! We’ll never get any acceptances this way!!! So frustrated!</p>
<p>Yeah, we’re in the same boat with sending transcripts. The school cannot send them electronically, so they’re being snailmailed. It’s up to the daughter to give the counselor the stamps (yes, I said stamps) and the addresses. OH and teachers younger than 40 who don’t like doing things electronically need to get the recommendations done. Really, it’s just the theatre teacher who is dragging her feet getting online to do the recommendation.</p>