<p>I'm sorry. Your D must be very strong to be holding up. I think rejection in THIS sort of college app process is much worse than in other fields where you JUST COMPLETE AN APPLICATION. The whole family becomes involved with the travel, and the time, expense, and emotional investment is huge. There are lots of suggestions regarding what to do now, so hopefully you'll find something that works for you and your D. Hang in there!</p>
<p>Thanks... Lets figure...</p>
<p>snoggie-- Sending you my sincere best wishes and hopes that tomorrow looks like a better day. And you know what? That pint of ice cream sounds like a darn good idea. Just make sure it's the good kind:) Treat yourself to something that makes you happy, and remember that this whole thing really IS just as hard on the parents at this stage. Sometimes it even hurts worse.</p>
<p>Snoggie: I'm really sorry that your D didn't get into any programs. However don't give up, you can always try again next year as transfer or she could take the year off and study more! I didn't get into any programs last year. This year I applied to only one audition school (Marymount Manhattan) and I got accepted. There's always hope and I hope that she doesn't let this setback discourage her!</p>
<p>snoggie, we are hurting with you and your daughter. As my very wise and sweet friend letsfigureitout says upthread, decisions for musical theater and acting feel so much more, well, personal than decisions involving sending in an application, don't they? It's harder to take, somehow. If it is any comfort, I think we all would be surprised at the number of wonderfully talented and motivated kids that this happens to. (Thanks, ActressToBe, for posting here and sharing your situation and story. Also, everyone in this situation ought to search for the posts by cmujohanna's mom.) In any case, now is definitely the time for a pint of Cherry Garcia and a good cry. But also reassure your D that this journey is far from over and she <em>can</em> and <em>will</em> make it happen. Know we are thinking of her, you and everyone else who has not gotten happy news this season. xoxoxo</p>
<p>Just to add my support, Snoggie. I am so sorry for how this worked out and definitely join in the Ben and Jerry's idea. As others mentioned, there are other options for next year. You'll both have so much more experience. Maybe a different college for some liberal arts credits, or more training in performance, etc. Best of luck to you both.</p>
<p>Snoogie- It hurts and it hurts badly. You must know that all will be good in the end. My D.’s theatre path has been bump after bump after bump. Your D. will find that her own bumpy path will bring her to the right place. Tell her to follow her dream and most importantly to BELIEVE IN HERSELF.</p>
<p>Again, thanks to all who have written and all who will write later on!!! :)</p>
<p>snoggie -- if you need suggestions on where to go from here, feel free to PM me. I was in your D's situation EXACTLY several years ago, and am now very happy with where I've ended up. I'd be glad to help you and your D out :-)</p>
<p>snoggie - Adding my condolences. We are in a similar boat to yours. We embarked on this thinking the schools were looking for mere potential. In reality when I see the level of experience (as you point out) and training these kids have had I can't feel bad or surprised at our outcome. My D just isn't there....yet. I wouldn't trade the times shared during our trips for anything so it certainly wasn't a complete loss and was a real opportunity for growth. </p>
<p>As has been pointed out another year of training and your D has every chance of reauditioning and getting in. Did you apply at any BA backups where she can take acting, singing, and dance classes at a college?</p>
<p>snoggie - as you can see, we all care so much because we can all relate how hard this is. There are some great examples on this forum of success the 'second time around', and so tell your D this is not the end, but merely the beginning. She can use the upcoming year to train, train, train, and simply try again next year. Please share your successes with us then. We will be rooting for you! Sending you (((cyberhugs)))!</p>
<p>snoggie -- I really feel for you and your D. (I'm still weepy over a snub that happened when my D was 12!) Do keep in mind that a BFA program is not the only way to achieve success in this field. I have quite a few friends who are working actors, and only one of them has a BFA. Others have BAs, one has a doctorate in psychology, and several never attended college at all. If your D has the drive and the talent, she will achieve her goal one way or the other.</p>
<p>snoggie - another bout of support. I know how this must be tearing at you. I am so sorry. You know your D has talent and she know she has talent. Please don't let this process tell you any different. My D had so many schools that told her no...we lost track of how many. She didn't have the experience, the training or the confidence needed to get accepted. Finally something clicked for her. But it took months and many, many, many no's. It will click for your D also...when it is her time. Until then, Ben & Jerry's all the way!</p>
<p>Snoogie, I'm almost in the same boat as you. I have been rejected from 7 out of 8 schools and have still yet to hear back from the last. Next year I'm going to reaudition after taking many many many more audition prep classes. If she chooses to do so, she could have just as much training as all of the other people. In fact, she'll probably have a leg up on the process because she'll know how the audition process works. At least, that's how I feel about it :D</p>
<p>But yeah. Let her indulge in all the icecream she wants. I know that if the world had justice that I'd be about 80 lbs heavier after eating as much "mood-food" as I do. My parents have to keep a regular stock of Frosted MiniWheats and Nilla Wafers :D</p>
<p>I'm so sorry about your disappointments Snoggie. This is such a highly competetive thing and it's hard to knoiw how you fit in until you go out and compete for entrance against all of the other highly talented kids across the US. I'm sure your daughter has the talent. I don't know what her experience is, but I would use the next year to build up her resume with anything she can. No matter how many acting, singing , and dance class are under your belt, I don't think anything compares to actual stage experience in building skills, to include as much audition experience as possible. My D auditions around the LA area as much as possible, even when she doesn't think she has a shot; in community, regional, and equity theater. As a result, she is now quite comfortable during the audition process, which made a huge difference during the college auditions. Also she has been fortunate to land quite a few roles in both regional and equity theaters. This has given her the opportunity to work with some great actors who are also a fountain of knowledge when it comes to various college programs. It has also given her great communication skills as directors are casting her and expecting her to act as an adult. I'm not sure how close you are to NYC, but I would say audition, audition, audition over the next year to gain the experience to go in next year and blow them away!</p>
<p>Best of luck!!!!!!</p>
<p>Sorry -I just read your post Freedom...</p>
<p>Again, while audition classes don't hurt anything, they really do not represent the real thing. Many of the classes we've tried are taught by people who have not necessarily been successful in the business and are not realistic. There is no substitution for going out and auditioning over and over- the higher level the theater is the better. Even if you make a total fool of yourself, at least you've tried and you also get to see what the talent is like out there when you get outside of the high school and community theater arena.</p>
<p>Another great place for experience is if you have a regional or higher level theater near you, call them to volunteer in whatever capacity you can. If my D does not get cast in a show, she will often call to see if they need help backstage or during the rehearsal process. As a result she has worked in hair and wigs, as a dresser, on sets, as a production assistant, and as an intern in a production office. Most of this was unpaid, but the contacts and experience have been invaluable. We live about 1 hour north of LA and are fortunate to have a good regional theater very close. I realize not all communities have something of this caliber, but any theater experience at any level is a huge plus. </p>
<p>My D got comments at every one of her auditions about her audition skills and it is purely because of practice!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>snoggie and freedom- I'm really sorry about both of your situations and wish you the best of lick. I'm in the same boat .I don't think it necessarily means that we're not talented people-I've seen very talented people get into great schools and not-so-talented people get into the same schools. It probably just means that we're not whatever style they're looking for this year, or that we didn't apply to the places where we our style of performance is best appreciated. If any of the schools you applied to offer feedback over the phone, call them. I did that for BoCo and feel a little better; I apparently had really high acting scores and did well at the dance audition (which for me is an accomplishment, because I have had very little dance training and have no natural sense of coordination), but there was a "quality to [my] voice" that they didn't like. So, while they didn't adore me, they didn't think I was all bad. I know that I'm a good singer-at home, that's mostly what I'm recognized for-but I've been told that I have a unique sound that people are either going to love or hate. Maybe I just need to find the right audience. </p>
<p>My main plan as of right now is to go to one of the schools in NYC that accepted me academically, do that for a year and get the training I need by taking acting, voice, and dance in the city. I want to use good college grades and more training to help me get accepted as a transfer next year. I read the posts of people like cmujohanna's mom and know that this is possible. I've already done more research and assembled my transfer list. I'm hoping to get accepted to a good summer program, so that can train intensely and hopefully get some ideas of how to pick better audition material or how to present myself in a better light at auditions.</p>
<p>We're all in bad situations. In my case, I have many people at home who have been successful in this process who have all hated me for various reasons, and it's going to be difficult to face them and maintain my self-respect. I'm just hoping that a new start in a new place will help me find what I need to successfully take this step towards realizing my dream. We'll all be fine-I'm sure of it.</p>
<p>Add BohemaKJ to the list of students with AMAZING attitudes! You're obviously very mature to have thought this through so thoroughly (wow, alliteration!). It sounds like you've come up with a great plan for how to move forward. </p>
<p>You're also very honest to admit how challenging it is to face people whom you either don't want to disappoint, or others that you don't want to to have to face after being rejected. It takes a strong individual to face that pressure head-on and keep your head held high. However, you can do it, and with the right attitude, you'll have a successful career to show for it in the end. </p>
<p>There are just so many of you "stars" from your own areas out there! It's kind of like you all showed up at the door to the "musical theater training world" at the exact same time. There's just not room for a thousand kids to get in all at the EXACT same moment! Sometimes you have to wait a few minutes, and let that revolving door come back around in order to get in. It's all a matter of timing. If you want to get in badly enough, use this time to be better prepared for the next time the door comes around!</p>
<p>P.S. to BohemaJK -- You mentioned about BoCo's feedback when they told you:</p>
<p>"but there was a quality to [my] voice" that they didn't like. So, while they didn't adore me, they didn't think I was all bad. I know that I'm a good singer-at home, that's mostly what I'm recognized for-but I've been told that I have a unique sound that people are either going to love or hate. Maybe I just need to find the right audience." </p>
<p>In your situation, rather than finding the "right audience," I'd bet you just need to find the right SONG to showcase your unique voice! Selecting the right song can make all the difference between sounding "wrong" and sounding fabulously unique and different! Be sure to get some quality advice when you choose your songs for next round. It may make a all the difference!</p>
<p>I couldn't agree more about song choice! My S switched his uptempo song after his first rejection, because he didn't feel what he was using showcased his voice. He went back to a song that he'd used a couple of years ago, which really worked for him then, and was only better now that his voice has matured more, and used that for all his other auditions. He felt much better about it.</p>
<p>By the way, I think the same could be said of monologues.</p>