<p>Who said anything about not visiting? And, of course everyone going into this business must learn to put themselves out there, audition and deal with rejection, but when it comes to these summer programs I think if you are going to attend it is very important to do as you did Times3 and have discussions with your kid reminding them that attendance does not lead to admittance. I was only responding to ActingDad’s own description of his D feeling especially hurt and ‘cut.’ I’m sure no matter what the result with these admissions decisions she will have benefited from the wonderful friends and contacts she made at CMU during the summer. But to continue the dating analogy, I don’t prefer sleeping bags till the ring’s on the finger. Best of luck to all still waiting on CMU. Sounds like decisions may continue at least for a couple more days.</p>
<p>^^I’ve read lots and lots of posts on other threads about the perils of visiting–not by you, researchmaven, and I know every family has to decide this for themselves. Somebody said they wouldn’t let their kid buy a t-shirt from the school bookstore, lest they feel bad when they see it later. We have taken the opposite tactic and bought some kind of coffee-cup, t-shirt, or trinket from everyplace–useful souvenirs and often good for laughs later! In general, though, it’s kind of a hot button issue for me as a high-school teacher, as I so often work with kids who are scared of taking risks. I like your use of the “ring on the finger” analogy though, and I do agree about overnight visits before acceptance…that was something my older kids were uneasy about too.</p>
<p>My D did a two-week camp at a school that she did not get in to (Minn/Guthrie). In fact, she did not even get a call back! Does she regret it? Not for a minute! Now she has friends literally all over the country: at SU, BU, CalArts, NYU, Rutgers and others. (In fact, NONE of them wound up at Minnesota!) Those who graduated before her as well as those who graduated with her all helped her with her own audition process. (And, Unifieds was like an awesome reunion!) Now, had she spent six weeks and $6K with the intention of improving her odds for admissions, we may feel differently, but that was not even remotely the case.</p>
<p>^^Skewlcounselor, when was your D at Minnesota (SESTI)? Mine went summer before last, in 2011, and is still in very close touch with kids he met there. I think it’s a great pre-college program for those who aren’t ready to take the plunge with a really long one, and it’s a fantastic value too. My son didn’t end up wanting to apply to UMinn, but he learned a lot there about the kinds of programs and instruction that work for him.</p>
<p>AdaQuince is right in her post #85 – we have brought much of the current angst upon ourselves because it is so easy nowadays to communicate in groups such as this. CMU is not doing anything cruel in making calls over a few days. Rather, I am sure the callers are taking time to have real conversations with the accepted students, as well as teach classes, eat dinner, direct rehearsals, and so on. The “feeding frenzy” is not of their making.</p>
<p>In my case I am using this thread as a way to vent because I am feeling anxious and don’t want to express the anxiety to the rest of my family. I don’t think I would feel any better if I did NOT know that calls are going out this week. We are sharing information and speculations and joys and sorrows, like the office water cooler as a gathering place, or the town pump in earlier times.</p>
<p>None of this is CMU’s fault. Just human nature. The online version of “Ya Got Trouble” in “The Music Man.”</p>
<p>I love post #85! They did not ask anyone to be on stand-by. Seriously, they call 5 girls out of 1500 applicants. Chances are not good, it’s not personal, and if they want you you’ll be notified. In the meantime… live life.</p>
<p>Parents respond to what their child is going through. Knowing that calls started on Sunday night and not finding out till Tuesday night that that the calls were over was a long stretch with lots of anxiety that I wish she hadn’t had to go through. We know at least 4 acting calls were made in between 4pm and 5pm on Sunday based on people responding once word came out that calls had started. MT class is same size as acting and all those went out in one night. I don’t think its too much to have hoped to save some stress on my daughter to have them not taking 3 days to make the calls. </p>
<p>While the odds are not great, it’s not 1500 acting girls for 5 acting girl spots. Plus, she had lots of reasons to think she had better than lottery odds for one of the 5 spots. She’s a very pretty girl and was often referred to over the summer by faculty as the “pretty girl.” She was very well reviewed by the faculty over the summer. She had the call back thing with very nice praise. And getting into UNCSA for a non-North Carolina girl is not much better odds so, rightly or wrongly, she felt she had a realistic chance of getting a call. Plus, there are the attachment issues I mentioned previously that played into this. </p>
<p>Once she found out all the calls were made last night, she’s already mostly past it. </p>
<p>Message boards like email are sometimes difficult to completely decipher but I get the sense that some people think it was somehow crazy for a child to set their heart on a school with such difficult odds to get in. This entire profession is a crazy dream. I think part of achieving big is to be able to dream big and dust yourself off quickly to plan B when plan A doesn’t work. I know she doesn’t have any regrets putting so much energy into trying to get into CMU even if it didn’t work out.</p>
<p>Acting dad is right… The odds are not great but it is not as impossible as people on cc seem to make it. And if your kid is actually talented and good looking, their chances are substantially higher. When my daughter was going through this process she was totally freaked by hearing the numbers and odds at all the top schools. I told her probably half the people auditioning are not prepared or talented and the actual number of true competitors was much less.
Anyway, I’m sorry for the kids that are disappointed, but happy they have other great choices. </p>
<p>This is from CMUs website btw:</p>
<p>How many students apply to the School of Drama? How many are admitted?
In 2012, the School of Drama received over 1300 applications. This number varies from year to year. Approximately 80 students are admitted to the School of Drama every year and 60 students enroll. On average, 12-14 students are admitted into Music Theatre, 16-18 in Acting, 20-25 in Design/Production, 5-7 in Directing and 5-7 in Dramaturgy.</p>
<p>Well, I’m not saying it’s impossible. My daughter applied there, too. And is currently going on a callback #3 for something she wants very badly so right now I really do understand obsessing. But it’s not helpful. That’s all.</p>
<p>Flossy – and in answer to your question, in retrospect it is possible that all the acting calls went out on Sunday based on the lack of any reporting of any acceptances after Sunday. However, there were several sources reporting that acting calls were not done including a source my daughter had within the program.</p>
<p>A friend of mind was accepted to CMU M.T. she is a beautiful tall blue eyed blond born with that silver spoon always gets every part but,CMU was her only acceptance so there you go.Granted she got the golden ticket but, other schools passed her this whole system is so strange!</p>