<p>The National Reply date to accept offers of admissions is May 1. Colleges are not supposed to make you commit before then (unless you applied Early Decision which is binding). None of my D's 8 schools required a commitment prior to May 1. I would be surprised to find schools that did as this is a national agreement between colleges. With regard to scholarships, some of my D's schools sent the scholarship offers with the letters of acceptance and some sent it under separate cover close to the same date but not the same day. Scholarships for my D did not have to be accepted/denied any earlier than the May 1 date BUT......Penn State asked for the student to accept/deny the scholarship BEFORE the May 1 date....the letter of acceptance had come in March and they were asking to reply by a certain date (I forget the date and am not home now to look it up) but it was BEFORE she had all her college decisions in hand which seemed odd to me because how can a kid decide without all their cards on the table. I asked if she could wait the extra days beyond that date (was near April 1) to get all her letters in hand and they said yes. Her friend had the same situation and got the same consideration. Neither have chosen to enroll. The reply for intent to enroll was still May 1 at Penn State but they were making you accept/deny the scholarship offer sooner which in effect is making you commit to enroll earlier than the national reply date. Ironically it was the lowest scholarship offer she got but that may be due to it being a state university. That did not play a part in her decision, however, just commenting. It was a great program. </p>
<p>MTparent...
Our experience with scholarship awards with OCU was that the academic scholarship award came early...I think it was even BEFORE she auditioned in November. Then when acceptance came (mid-December), scholarship information came with that letter.</p>
<p>Our experience with UMichigan was that acceptance came 2-3 weeks after January audition date. Scholarship award did not come until April. It certainly changed the scope of things that late in the game. Not complaining...just commenting that a student can be pretty set in one direction...and then a scholarship offer can change the whole complexion of the decision process. Always leave your mind open until you have all the cards in your hands!</p>
<p>My daughter had two schools that asked for responses prior to May 1 even though she applied regular decision. About half of her acceptances came with talent-based scholarship awards and the other half sent separate packets within 2 weeks. Academic-based scholarships seemed to come prior to acceptances to the Theatre programs. Both of the schools that asked for early responses called weekly wanting a commitment, but my daughter learned to graciously and respectfully respond that she needed to receive all her offers with complete financial aid packages before she could make her final decision. I think there are a handful of schools that will pressure you to respond early so that they can put other offers out there if they are going to have spots open. In retrospect I probably would have had my daughter turn down a couple of programs that were never really in the running for her much earlier than she did. Perhaps it would have opened up a spot for someone else. I guess hindsight is 20/20!!</p>
<p>There was a discussion about the National Reply Date and schools that asked for earlier commitments on these boards last April or so. Perhaps someone with a better memory could pull it up.</p>
<p>OCU academic scholarship offer came before audition
Boston Conservatory merrit offer came at audiiton
CMU merit and academic $ came together several weeks after audition
Tisch academic scholarship came before audition and more $ after audition
C.W. Post offers came after audition
Elon merit offer came after audition
Webster, no offer of $ for merit until Soph. year</p>
<p>National Candidate's Reply Date - Most colleges and universities in this country, .... belong to a professional member organization called the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). One main function of this organization is to assure that colleges, while competing to enroll classes, institute procedures that keep paramount the best interests of students. To that end, this organization has constructed a "Statement of Principles of Good Practice". All NACAC members agree to abide by the rules in this statement. A major tenet of this Statement includes a provision for the National Candidates Reply Date. "College and University Members agree that they will permit first-year candidates for fall admission to choose, without penalty, among offers of admission and financial aid until May 1. It is understood that May 1 will be viewed as the postmark date. Colleges that solicit commitments to offers of admission and/or financial assistance prior to May 1 may do so provided those offers include a clear statement that written requests for extensions until May 1 will be granted, and that such requests will not jeopardize a student's status for admission or financial aid. Candidates admitted under an early decision program are a recognized exception to this provision." (NACAC Statement of Principles of Good Practice, II, A, 6. See <a href="http://www.nacac.com%5B/url%5D">www.nacac.com</a> for more information). </p>
<p>[IF a school is not on the list, they do not observe National Candidate Reply Date and if you want to reserve a place you will probably have to send them hundreds of dollars before you hear from other schools. ]</p>
<p>You are correct about OCU notifying students about academic scholarships with in a few weeks of applying. Our scholarship department meets every two weeks to decide on academic awards. As soon as those decisions are made, our Financial Aid Department sends out notification. These academic scholarships are made before music school auditions take place. The music school will then make music talent scholarship awards a few weeks after a student auditions. Many of our prospects find it very helpful to be notified of these scholarships early in their admissions process. Also, if a student's scores (ACT or SAT scores) change after the inital award has been made (meaning their scores increase), OCU is more than happy to reconsider adjusting their scholarship.</p>
<p>This is one reason that early applications are advised. It is much easier to consider a student for the maximum amount of academic scholarship money when awards have just begun. Wait till March and there's less money left!</p>
<p>My d was accepted ED to NYU, and naturally had to decide early whether to attend; I believe she was given until early January, but not sure (she was sent a letter on Dec. 9). Her financial aid package came with the acceptance letter, and did not change one iota after I filled out the FAFSA (she got a Tisch scholarship which I was told was a combination of talent/academics). Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Hi...this is Amy. I wrote a few posts at the beginning of the summer. I am attending Skidmore college in Saratoga Springs, NY, and in June I wrote posts about how I felt like I had made the wrong decision regarding coming to Skidmore. I want more musical theatre, and Skidmore focuses a lot on avant-garde drama and straight drama, which I enjoy but am not nearly as passionate about. A lot of you helped supress my fears by reassuring me that I could take dance and music and be involved in the student-directed musicals here. So now here I am at Skidmore. I'm involved in the theatre department, taking some courses, and also dancing and taking voice and singing in an acapella group. I'm also in the student-run musical on campus, Once Upon a Mattress. All in all, I will admit that I'm having fun, but I am NOT SATISFIED at all. :( My dance classes are helping me improve upon my dancing, no doubt, and the theatre classes are intense, and nice, but I am sick with grief because I miss my musical theatre life. The student-run musical is silly and fun and we have a good time...but that's all it is. It is directed by people my own age, it's somewhat disorganized, and i'm not learning a thing about musical theatre, or progressing in that area at all. It makes me sick to my stomach, because musical theatre IS what I want to LEARN about, and I realize it more and more every day! I began to freak out of the summer realizing that I wanted musical theatre, but I accepted my situation, and yet now I am freaking out again!! I know I've only been at school for about a month, but that is enough time to realize that the program here does not match me. I'm so sad here...because I want to be in a wonderful, faculty directed musical...I want the quality of the musicals I do to improve....not lessen.
So that is my dilemma....I'm at the wrong place, and I realize it early on. But what to do??? I could transfer next fall to another school. I don't know about auditioning for BFA programs, though, because then I will have to start over as a freshman, which I would be alright with doing, but it means losing another year of school, and I have already taken a year off before college...so I would be a 20 year old freshman. Or I could opt to transfer to a school which has a BA in Music Theatre or even a BA in Theatre that is just more musical-friendly (I get the awful sense that professors in the theatre here look down on musical theatre as a lesser art form, somewhat). Some schools like that would be University of New Hampshire or Plymouth State University in NH or Wagner College in NY or even a SUNY school, maybe?. Does anyone know of others?? I really just want a school which has musicals produced by faculty and still a good theatre department that is a little less avant-garde. It's just not my thing.....help please!! i'm so sad, I've been really frustrated and upset for a loooooooong time. Please reply or email me if u have any suggestions! <a href="mailto:ballet312@aol.com....oh">ballet312@aol.com....oh</a>, and also, I could audition to transfer to BFA schools like Hartt or Emerson, even though that would mean becoming a Freshman again. Any thoughts on those??? Thanks for listening to my sad little story. :(</p>
<p>Wait a little longer before you decide what to do. As someone who works in a college health services I have talked to a lot of freshman. Very few are remotely happy in September. There is so much going on. Do you have an advisor to talk to? If you decide to change you want to be sure your next choice is the right one. I have seen kids who have transferred more than once and never end up happy.</p>
<p>I definitely remember you and your story/situation and we even PM'd a little bit (remember the coincidence that you said you used to go to my girls' high school earlier in high school and then realized you knew my kids and you were in the same class as my oldest D?). While I do agree with Josiemax overall when it comes to freshmen in college and giving it more time, I think I understand your case because you questioned what kind of school you had applied to before you even entered so this has been brewing for a while. I think it is great that you are taking voice and dance and studying acting in the theater dept. at Skidmore and also in a musical. You aren't missing a beat keeping up at least. But you crave an intensive musical theater training program. Ok, so let's say you transfer to get into a BFA in MT program (I'm not sure I would suggest transferring for another BA program though). I would inquire at every program you are interested in as to whether or not you have to start over as a freshman in the program. Actually, I don't think that is true everywhere but would have to research it myself. You are already saying that at Hartt and Emerson you can transfer and be a soph (and I know this IS true at Emerson....I am not familiar with Hartt). I know when my D auditioned at Boston Conservatory, another girl was auditioning as a transfer from Washington U in St. Louis and I honestly do not think it was to start as a freshman. I know someone who transferred into Tisch too. So, ask at every program and research your options. In the meantime, make full use of all the training and production experiences where you are. Perhaps if you can handle it next semester, look into regional theater productions off campus if you aren't happy with the student run ones. My in-laws who live in Saratoga and in fact, take classes at Skidmore, attend many of the theater productions there and say they are quite good including the student run ones so you do have that. You are still getting training from professors. All is not too bad on that front and will be beneficial should you look to go onto a BFA program.</p>
<p>Do a little research of the programs and transfer policies. Make the most of Skidmore right now (you seem to be) and reassess in a few months and if you can try for transfer and still want to, that option is there. You could look at BA programs in MT at places like Muhlenberg or Indiana as well, in case you don't go for or get into a BFA program. Good luck.<br>
Susan</p>
<p>I agree.
Please please just give it some time.
So much of your college experience is more than your major, the student body, the town, etc. There are many factors that will make up your overall impression. Hang in there, try to stay positive and check back with us in the beginning of February. Let's re-assess then. If you still feel the same way, we can help you initiate a change at that time.
Don't give up yet,
xxx,Mary Anna</p>
<p>It is a long way from home for you, but the University of Arizona auditions both upcoming freshman and upcoming sophomores for their BFA program in Feb.</p>
<p>UArts seems to be a great enigma in the Musical Theater world. I'm having trouble finding any information about it, both in previous threads and their website. Any UArts students out there or anybody who's been to see the school? Thanks</p>
<p>If there is anyone out there who would like information on the Shenandoah Conservatory i would be glad to give it. I am a Musical Theatre major, and there program is indeed very very good. The school was recently ranked i believe number two in the country for their music theatre program. (it was either number two or three, but i am pretty sure it's number two). Having gone through the whole process of college selection i know it's not easy and i know it's hard to find the information you are looking for. I hope that i may be able to provide any assisstance i can :-) goodluck to all of you</p>
<p>I would be very interested in more information on Shenandoah. How many students accepted each year, for example, and how many auditioned? Is there a general overall emphasis in all disciplines, or, being a conservatory, is it more focused on music? Also, what is the ranking based on? Who ranked it? Is there a senior showcase, and how are the former students doing professionally? I know that's a lot of questions, but I'd be very grateful if you could answer. Thanks.</p>
<p>Does anybody know anything about good MT schools that accept transfer students? I currently go to UC Berkeley and they have no musicals at all and do 3 main stage shows per year. Can somebody help me get out of here?! I have done a alot of research on MT schools and it seems like alot of them accept transfer students, but only accept 3 per year. Blah. So far the only ones i know that accepted a decent number of transfer students are UCLA and NYU. Tisch said that they accept 80 transfer students for the drama major but it is almost impossible to get into CAP as a transfer student. I would love to just apply to schools as a freshman but i dont have that kind of money (6 years in college is too expensive). Does anybody know any schools that accept more than 3 transfer students? Also does anyone know how many students apply as transfer students each year? Thanks!</p>