To be fair, some acceptance letters are also worded questionably.
As long as, Accepted to the BFA Musical Theatre program is in the body of the letter, I really don’t care what else it says!
@Thespiandad , preach!!! I have to admit that my D loved the wording in one of her acceptance letters so much, she actually framed it and has it hanging on the wall by her bed. It may not even be the school she ends up attending either (for financial reasons). However, while parts of the letter were clearly “form”, the head took the time to write a personalized blurb just about her audition, what they liked about her, and how much they want her in their program. It came a week after the acceptance phone call and meant the world to her. She feels they really paid attention to Her and found what makes her unique/speacial/adjective of your choice. As she has yet to accept any offer, it may have been a calculated move to try to tip her towards their school? Or maybe they just do this for everyone they accept anyway? Regardless of their reasons, putting in writing some of the reasons they want her has really made an impression on my D and has family members cheering for her to pick that school over another school still in the running that may be “more sought after”…
I’m with you @limbo2019!!
Love the name too, describes exactly where I feel I am right now…
@addicted2MT: My son is at the college who quoted his essay. ( He is an actor too, but writing is his passion.)
Oh, they want the kids (and parents) to want them. Some are a lot better at the marketing than others. I think the key is to wade through all of that and pick the spot that provides the best, most personal training. The professionals say over and over that there are many paths.
The money is a big thing too. I want to be able to afford opportunities for additional training outside her school and help her get settled after graduation.
The personalized feed-back that my son received last year at a particular audition was a deal-changer for him. The head of the MT program-- who also auditioned him-- even asked me into the room after the 45-minute one-on-one audition to tell me that “I want your son in my program-- He’s exactly what I’m looking for.” Whoa-- some pretty heady stuff! This was a walk-in audition, and S hadn’t applied to the school yet. Before he had a chance to send in his application, he received an email from the school, congratulating him on a successful audition and to send in the application. (So-- MT head contacted admission dept personally to have them send out this email to my son.)
He’s attending this school now, loves it, and has no regrets. Knowing that you’re wanted-- and experiencing that in such a personal way (right to your face!)-- really made a difference.
I have a bit of a storm brewing in my brain… I call this the non-traditional Gap year, or Gap year that isn’t.
And this is not for my D who feels pretty set (I’m growling at the rejections and she says “mom, you understand I can only go to one, right?”)
Say you have darn good test scores and grades. (And remember the superscore game). What if you found a school near a major theater town and worked the heck out of the scholarship? for instance, my son got a non major theater scholarship and non major music scholarship to play guitar. We stacked and stacked. If you did that near, say, NYC, your cost would be lower than an apartment in the city, would include some training, Gen Ed credits, and perhaps some maturity.
And despite what my son says, college kids have down time (wish we could stack a napping scholarship). Use the downtime for additional training in said city. And now Unifieds are only a train ride away.
I’m just saying these kids are sitting on some assets that have nothing to do with the singing and dancing.
I’m sure this is not an original idea, just trying to help some think outside that old (black) box.
@SU88BFA can u tell us the school or send private message. My s had a similar experience and I wonder if it is the same school
@Jrdirectortommy - It was RCS at Chicago Unifieds last year.
@SU88BFA - My son had a very similar experience with RCS 2 years ago at NY Unifieds. He did not ultimately choose that program but he was very tempted because of their strong interest. So glad your son is loving it.
@SU88BFA thank you. Different school but very similar experience giving us a lot to think about. Same old story… how much value do you put in a schools name and reputation, and how do you compare that with how much attention a smaller school that’s hungry to make a name for themselves…
@winnieroot not really sure what you are asking. Is it that son will go to school for another discipline while training in NYC for MT so he can reaudition next year? – basically on the school’s dime due to all the scholarships? I think that could work but:
- I agree with your son that he may not have as much down time as one might think. And unless directly “in” NYC, commute time could take a big bite;
- If successful, he would likely have to start as a freshman, losing a year that would cost you something;
- Your son would not be in a position to make a commitment to what he was doing at present, as his intention and goal would be to “leave”. Would not make for a very happy or successful nine months in my opinion.
But of course, it really all depends on your son, and how he would adjust to the above.
@tramsmom. I know, it is super confusing. My son is a junior at a liberal arts college and happy as can be. I am just talking from the experience of working the scholarship system.
I am really thinking about those that have acceptances, but are considering Gap years. Gap years can also be expensive if you choose to move to a big city. If you get a really good offer at a school in a great location, it may be a deal (and chances are they will love it)
Ah, ok, so its just a general suggestion or option you are thinking of as a place-holding year and hopefully long-term if it worked out. I think we sorta did a hybrid of that with our safety school. (Which thankfully we will not have to use). D’s opinion was that if she had no alternative but to go to a safety school, it would be in NYC so she could get training and acclimate to NYC. And there are some schools in and around NYC with very generous scholarships actually.
… and it’s a no from Western Michigan.
@KaMaMom: Dislike! Sorry.
I think I just heard the mailman… :-S
Sorry @KaMaMom
So sorry @KaMaMom. We have so few schools left that each day we don’t get something I tell myself that no news is good news…Hugs to you and D.
No from Western Michigan.