@broadwayboy223 ideally, you would have clarity by 5/1, and commit to one school. But if you are willing to give up the deposit, and you are truly undecided, you will certainly not be the first student to need more time.
@broadwayboy223 - If you Google “college double deposit” you will find it is generally discouraged by most college counseling websites, like the College Board, who say things like, “some colleges reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission if they discover that a student has made a double deposit.” The Common App requires you to agree not to do this (it is in the terms and conditions that you have to agree to in order to use that service).
However, some articles will argue the opposite, i.e., “colleges are not exempt from the antitrust laws…courts conceivably could find the sharing of “deposit” information of accepted applicants to be collusive and illegal” (op cit United States vs. Brown University). However, you may not want to be a “legal test case” and get caught up in a multi-year lawsuit during your college years if a school rescinded their offer of admission because they found out about your double deposit and you decided to fight it out in court…
I do wonder if any school would actually rescind an offer of admission on this basis. It seems like it could be a big “can of worms” for them…
@broadwayboy223, I think I’d contact the heads of theatre at both schools, explain that you can’t visit until (date), and ask if you could please have an extension for the deposit.
My D didn’t make a decision or pay a deposit until one week after May 1st. She also had narrowed down her decision between 2 schools and was negotiating finances with them. Both schools/faculties were well aware of and encouraging of the situation. I think positive communication is key.
@myloves
That is really good advice.
@broadwayboy223, I agree with @myloves about contacting the program directors… depending on the school they may be able to work with admissions re. the deposit deadline.
Be aware that visits after May 1 may not fully illuminate the program differences. For example, where I teach exams begin April 28, and Commencement is May 5 and May 6. Visits during a school’s exam week may not be possible, or may not give as accurate a feel for the school. Same with visits after school is out of session. This is not to discourage you to ask for an extension, or to visit after May 1, just information that may or may not be pertinent to your decision,
I started that “Glee Factor” thread back in 2014. And I raised a math major who was not drawn to the field because of Glee. She was done and dusted long before that show graced the airways and was still good in math a bunch of other subjects. Sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants.
But she is now a working actress trying to survive. I do hope people recognize the difference between majoring it and actually working in it. There is a big difference between the two which will unseat all but the most persistent.Not that MTs have a lock on that challenge. So would people majoring in “historic preservation” or “English” - queue the Avenue Q song. But I have to agree with @alwaysamom, who recently posted something about cringing when it was announced that (I think she meant Rutgers) was adding an MT program. I know where she is coming from though I trust that school could put together a great program. But that doesn’t change the fact that there is too much demand for too little work.
I still think the degree is entirely worthy. Remain open for where it will take you.
Our story is a bit differnt…
My S has always enjoyed his “right-brainedness” - having drawn/doodled/sketched his way through childhood. And from as young as 2 yo, he consistently had a knack for vocal tone and pitch when singing whatever popped into his little head. A lover of stories and history, his regular mode of play was as some character other then himself.
In 9th grade, he decided to try out for the ensemble in his HS’s production of Peter Pan. It piqued his interest enough to audition again for the spring musical in 10th grade - and he was cast as Jack in the show Into The Woods.When a fellow student suffered a mild concussion that precluded him from performing as Cindy’s Prince, my S went and told the director “I can do them both, I know most everyone’s lines and blocking. Don’t worry.” (There wasn’t an understudy.) And he did! Playing both of those roles simultaneously sealed the deal for him - at 16, he could not imagine a life doing anything else.
Fast forward to now - he left his base high school after 10th grade when offered a spot in our district’s school that concentrates on PA. He is in competition show choir, and has been involved in all plays and musicals. He is also learning to run the sound and light boards, and has become very interested in direction, writing and production.
His initial Broadway score love affair was with Phantom. But over the past 18 months, he has committed countless scores to memory, and loves to learn about all things theatre.
So, 10th grade was our tipping point. And he’s been joyfully playing catch-up since.
I love these stories of how/when seeds were planted!!
My D was 6 and in 1st grade when her teacher gave us a flyer for theatre classes through the city. I signed her up, took her in, and she has been full speed ahead ever since. She was in her first show at 7, and since then has performed with companies all over the city, often being the youngest in the cast (like right now!
Man I love reading all these stories! Mine was quite a struggle…
I started doing shows in 8th grade and I actually didn’t like singing or dancing AT ALL. Everyone was shocked to hear I was going to do theatre! I had only done it because my friends encouraged me to. That one production changed my life! From then on I did every single show that I could audition for! Senior year of high school everyone encouraged me to be a dance major (my forte), but I really wanted to do musical theatre because I couldn’t imagine my life without it! So I went for it and auditioned for schools! Sadly, I didn’t make it into any schools and of course I was devastated… but I wasn’t going to give up there.
The following school year (this year) I’ve worked extremely hard to improve my craft and I auditioned for schools again! This year I’ve been accepted to The University of the Arts, Rider University, Webster University, NYU Tisch, and Temple with only one rejection!
~Follow your dreams and never give up! Hard work WILL pay off!~
@megamusical - where did you decide to go to school in the fall?
What an inspiration @megamusical
I don’t like lists like the one above. Even if they are based on fact there are plenty of other schools that have people working. Just because a person isn’t “On Broadway” doesn’t make them any less talented or their school of choice any less educational in the field of theater. I think these lists are ridiculous and just add more pressure on students and schools. I say relax people! If your kid has the talent and the drive they will succeed…on the road, on a cruise ship, wherever! As long as they are happy who cares?! Ok. I’m done.
Interesting. Post gone.
@momtojoss What do you mean?
There was a posting of “best colleges” or whatever that someone had posted a bunch of places including this thread and I believe the mods removed them all.
I’m more interested in the best colleges FOR MY SON than the best colleges in general.
Only he can make that list
@momtojoss I agree about best college 'lists" - and I think that also goes for BFA vs. BA - I think way too many people get caught up on that. After going thru this process I actually wished we would have paid more attention to BA programs AND left out colleges like BoCo, CMU and BW. Believe me - they are GREAT schools - but unless your kids are top notch kids (who probably would do well without college) - the odds are just stacked against a kid like mine getting in. Yes she is talented - but getting into those schools just wasn’t realistic and in hindsight I wish we would have skipped them. In the end, she landed at a school that I think with fit her perfectly - I think she will thrive and grow and have opportunities to perform - which is really what she wanted. I don’t think she would have had the same opportunities as some of the schools she applied to. And yes, at the end of the day if your kid has talent and drive they will successful in whatever they do - EVEN if that ends up NOT being on Broadway! Peace!
Agree with all the comments above, but am curious to know why the moderators would delete the post. Does it break some CC rules?
I believe there was a question as to whether the poster had written the list…
I feel that lists that are from a reputable source can be very useful. At the beginning of this process I used those “best schools” articles online as the groundwork for formulating the list.