So two things happened today that made things REAL, 1. The school newsletter came out and I realized that I couldn’t scroll past the scholarship listings for seniors, it’s really our time 2. I reminded my child that September is next week and the ACT is in 2 weeks, her response…“oh crap”…Sigh
Just dropped d off for year two at Viterbo. Why does it seem like this is getting more difficult for us? I swear I cried more this time than last year. At least we had cheese curds to comfort us on the way home. Anyway, I wanted to wish the Class of 2021 the best moving forward this year. I’ll check back soon. Go make those dreams come true!
@TNMTDAD how does your d feel about Viterbo?
@Mel2421, she loves it. She has grown so much in her craft in one year that she honestly couldn’t wait to get back to keep up the momentum. La Crosse, WI is just the cutest college town ever, and Viterbo also has a very unique approach to undergraduate education built around Franciscan values, which are all about serving the common good. If you would like to ask more specific questions, don’t hesitate to send me a pm.
Thanks! @TNMTDAD
I second the thoughts of @TNMTDAD !
(Though my DD is at her second year at Nebraska Wesleyan and alas, no cheese curds. Sigh.)
Also, I cried while in the grocery store with her before we left while we picked out hummus.
Anyway … good thoughts & broken legs for the Co21 kids and parents as you guys get ready for this crazy adventure! Looking forward to hearing your adventures and cheering you on!
Nothing like crying in your spoiled milk. Or partially fermented legumes.
How are applications going for everyone? I have to admit, I am a tiny bit disappointed in D’s um, sense of urgency. She does have her schools chosen: 16 BFA MTs and 2 in state (highly regarded) public schools, in case she decides that the MT thing is no longer what she wants to pursue (or, in case the MT world doesn’t choose her). Of the 16, she has a few schools that are at that tippy-top level of “prestige/selectivity”, but certainly not all. Through the past two Summers at intensives: One at a conservatory, and one at a University-she has decided that she wants to go to a University. She wants to go to football (or hockey) games, apply for the Honors College, and possibly rush a sorority. She acknowledges (thankfully) that she will not die if she doesn’t get accepted to a top-tier MT BFA. My S applied to 5 schools-so the 18 school list? Daunting, bordering insane,…but we get it. And we are grateful for what we have learned on CC. “Win” or “lose”; opt out, or go big-we will share our journey through to the end, and look forward to hearing about everyone else’s experiences!
Just and FYI @owensfolks make sure your d does research on the Colleges if she wants to Rush. Some of the MT programs don’t encourage Pledging a Sorority simply because there is no time for it. One MT program that we visited over the summer said none of their students were in a Sorority or Fraternity, but they had a coed Organization for Theatre kids. Of course I am sure all schools are different. Just something to consider.
Thank you, @Mel2421. We have learned that that’s definitely an important question to ask. That’s a column in D’s spreadsheet, lol!
Funny! @owensfolks While we were on tour and someone asked about Rushing it got real quiet. Then the tour guide said “Ya you won’t really have time for that”. My d has no desire to Rush all she wants to do is Sing, Act and Dance all day long.
@owensfolks It’s slow here too but at least we seem to making SOME headway. Just a few months ago we couldn’t even talk about college lol! It doesn’t help that D is on the younger side of her senior class (and friends for that matter).
We just had the “what if I don’t get in anywhere” conversation which prompted her to say that there were some schools on her list that she couldn’t see herself attending which is great because it helps narrow the list a bit and may mean we could do LA Unifieds instead of traveling to Chicago in February. @KaMaMom how is Nebraska Wesleyan? In this recent conversation we were having, D said “i don’t think I want to live in Nebraska”. Any feedback I could present that might change her mind?
@MTheaterMom - I can’t speak to Nebraska specifically but my daughter didn’t want to go to school in the south and is currently in the south and loving her school! She applied to her program b/c if offered what she wanted out of a drama program. She was totally sold on the courses, philosophy, faculty, etc. She decided after a visit that if the program is the right fit then she can deal with a location that may not be what she thought she wanted (which was a big city- not in the south).
Encourage your daughter to first look at each program and think about if it is a fit for her - then add in location. Location can certainly be a deal breaker, but if the program “fits” it doesn’t have to be.
Also look to see where alumni are working. If most are places other than Nebraska, you can point out how such a great school/program can help land work in other locations after graduation.
Have heard great things about Nebraska Wesleyan, not just from @KaMaMom. In fact, Viterbo’s current President, who is retiring after this semester, was the former president of NW. Incidentally, they are moving back to Nebraska to to retire. I will say this about not entertaining a certain school because of it’s location–you never know until you visit. Not kidding and no exaggeration. We visited Viterbo to scratch it off of our list because it was so far away from home, 12 hours. Go visit these places, especially if you audition and get it. You might be surprised to find that your dream school was not at all what you thought. This is such a fluid process that can change on a dime or with a magical visit to a place that was originally off your radar.
Forgive the typos. I was in the middle of giving the oral section on a test and there was a problem with the CD. 
Just want to second what @bfahopeful said above: keep an open mind when developing your list with regards to location. My D thought she wanted to be in or around NYC. Many of the programs she applied to fit that geographic requirement. Had we only look in the NYC area, however, her options would have been very limited, as this is such a competitive process. She wound up in Pittsburgh, and although she’s only a few weeks into the school year so far she’s loving it there. You really do never know.
@MTheaterMom … my kid thinks it’s the funniest thing in the world that she ended up at the school that is geographically the farthest from the east coast. But she adores it and couldn’t be more thrilled at where she ended up.
First, the town of Lincoln is great - I believe it’s consistently recognized at one of the best college towns. That has MUCH more to do with U of Nebraska-Lincoln, but Nebraska Wesleyan benefits tremendously.
Nebraska Wesleyan’s theater program is seriously underrated - it’s the little school that could, imho. The talent that’s out there in Lincoln is unbelievable … Last year’s summer show was Chicago - take a minute to search of Facebook for Nebraska Wesleyan Theatre Department and look at the Chicago album. I was literally blown away - BLOWN AWAY - by the talent and production value.
The amount of shows they do is unreal … here’s the 2016-2017 lineup. (And this doesn’t include TONS of student produced shows OR the Cabarets)
West Side Story
Romeo & Juliet
Boeing Boeing
Rocky Horror
The Taffetas
Christmas Carol
Lion in Winter
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Love and Information
Noises Off
Electra
Into the Woods
My kid is a city girl at heart - though we live in Indiana, we are essentially a Chgo suburb. (We are basically the New Jersey of the Midwest - lol!). So I definitely get where your daughter is coming from. But the truth is (at least MY version of it) that theatre kids tend to end up spending 95% of the time within the theatre dept - so whether the school is 2000 kids or 50,000, the core of their time is usually around the department. And that is what I wanted my kiddo to focus on - the department and not necessarily to school.
My best advice? Go visit in person if possible. They will set up a very personal day for you you - meet professors, sit in classes, have a tour and see a show. I do know that they go to Chgo Unifieds, but if possible, visit NWU in person. The campus is super cute, kids are friendly and the town is very welcoming.
Send me a private message if you want more details or have more questions.
My d was accepted at both Nebraska Wesleyan and Viterbo and would have attended either school in a heartbeat if finances allowed it. A visit to NWU or Viterbo will totally sell her on the school, I’d be willing to bet! We saw two musicals at NWU and both were incredible…on par with some professional productions we’ve seen. We didn’t see a show at Viterbo, but the faculty was amazing. Both are wonderful schools, and I still feel a little bittersweet that she isn’t in one of those programs.
But, I know your d is happy at that fabulous River Campus at SEMO, @songgirlsmom. I think about y’all when we drive by on the way to WI. Hope all is going well!
Speaking of location, here’s another list to share! Safest college towns in America. Maybe it’s another BS list, but since the location of my kid’s school is on it (Montclair) I’m happy. 
Princeton (Rider) and Elon are also there, also Durham, NH (UNH) and maybe more with MT programs that I’m not aware of.
Montclair also recently made Princeton’s list of one of the country’s most LGBTQ-friendly schools, and yes, it is quite diverse which my daughter, having come from rural northern New England, loves. http://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-college-towns-america-2016/