<p>Didn't get in to ANY schools for MT! BUT it's ok...I just don't really fit the mold of what a typical "MT" should be. Like BohemaKJ said...there are lots of talented students who get in and not so many talented students that still find a way in. As for me i'm majoring in theater studies at Wright State and taking voice lessons. Good thing about TS is that you can audition for all the musicals and plays!! I'm also going to keep my eye out on summer stock...i'm in a summer stock theatre right now but i'm really looking into Straw Hat and Midwest. I mean it doesn't matter where you go to school or what your major is as long as you can bring it to the table!! Best of luck to everyone so far and I wish you guys the best!!</p>
<p>SingerNLMusic -- you have a great attitude -- I'm sure it will take you far. Good luck!</p>
<p>Both of you (bohema and SingerNL) are incredible and mature young adults. I am in awe of your comments and plans. I have the feeling you'll make it.</p>
<p>I am so impressed with you guys who did not have the outcome you had hoped this year but are still keepin' on keepin' on. You are inspiring in the true sense of the word and I am proud of each one of you. I KNOW you are all going to be successful!</p>
<p>I was going to bring up how song and/or monologue choices can really affect your outcome. I believe that I sung my songs as well as possible, its just that they didn't really make me "shine". Same with my monologues, except I just didn't think I was really up to par on my dramatic. Although it was very intense, it was more of a narative. It showed super-strong emotion, but it was more about telling a story than it was having a conversation with someone (which is essentially what separates a monologue from a soliliquey (sp?))</p>
<p>Moral of the story: Choose wisely :D</p>
<p>freedom, bohemaKJ, SingerNL "hats off to you". You all truly set the example of what this really is all about, never give up, work hard, and keep trying. Know that you have a huge "fan club" here rooting for you, and keep us posted on your successes! We will be there in the front row cheering you on!</p>
<p>You are all amazing young peole and will truly have a positive impact wherever you end up attending. I'm sure that all of you have the talent and will eventually be able to showcase it to a positive end result. You all certainly have the positive attitude that is so crucial to success in any field, but especially in theater.</p>
<p>S got his rejection letter from CMU - totally expected. Thanks to all the posters here, we knew he would not get into CMU as he had not gotten a call, etc. When the letter actually came it was an "oh, well." All of you wonderful CC'ers helped me prepare him, and he had already mentally moved on to trying to decide between other schools two weeks before the rejection letter showed up. Mom was doing a secret happy dance, as had no idea how we would have paid $52K a year for college if he had gotten in. All along, I have been saying I hope you get in, and in the back of my mind thinking, please God don't let him get in!! Had same thing happen when older D applied to Harvard. I sweated bullets for months over that one. She did not get in, either, and could not be happier where she is - at a much cheaper school. Mom was truly relieved at that rejection, too.</p>
<p>Well, now, Harvard is a bargain for many people if the student is admitted!!</p>
<p>Harvard could come out cheaper than your state U.</p>
<p>Read here:</p>
<p>College</a> opportunity for the poor: A sure bet | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA</p>
<p>An excerpt: An increasing number of colleges have been doing just. Harvard, Stanford and other elite private schools, for example, have completely eliminated tuition, room and board for students whose families make less than $60,000.</p>
<p>In addition, as I understand it, families of higher income (to a certain point) are only expected to pay 10% of the total cost of attendance.</p>
<p>My D just got into Emerson MT but will have to turn it down. She got $8200 total in financial aid, of which 3500 is in loans, out of a total COA of around $42000. While our FAFSA EFC is 17000, Emerson took into account our home equity. Since we are in Southern California, our house value has gone thru the roof in the last couple of years. What Emerson does not take into account is that our salaries have only slightly increased and we could never afford to buy a house here currently. We would have to contribute about 35-40 % of our take home income to pay for her school. We have another child in college and one who just graduated so there is no way!!! While we have been saving for college for years we never anticipated $50,000 a year in school tuition. We will get our 1st two thru college with no loans but they both worked -one almost full time- and went to state schools. None of the state schools here have worthy MT programs. </p>
<p>I feel so badly that my D has worked so hard and been accepted to so many great schools but will probably end up at our local CC.</p>
<p>cktsing have you thought about UCLA or UCI? they both have amazing musical theater programs and are significantly less expensive than out of state schools. UCI has a BFA in musical theater starting next year. UCLA is BA but very selective. Maybe your daughter could take a year at CC and reapply as a freshman to either of these schools.</p>
<p>Cosmo'smom-</p>
<p>My D also received her CMU rejection letter and since that was her "dream school" (however, she had been definitely re-evaluating of late because of all the wonderful schools she has been visiting), she chose to burn her letter slowly and with a sincere disappointment. When all was said and done, she felt much better and was ready to move on. Sometimes, we need to purge the emotional attachment to a school I suspect. My D knows that she is blessed to have been accepted to many great schools and is ready to move on and evaluation her choices. </p>
<p>Thanks again to everyone on CC... I don't know how I would have ever gotten through this rollercoaster ride without you all.</p>
<p>cktsing, everyone's financial situation is different but I will just throw something out there to you. We had not saved up any money for college. And like you, there is no way we could pay 35-40% of our yearly income toward college in a given year. I also have two in college. However, I never looked at it as having to afford college out of pocket in a given year. We pay a little toward college each year they are there but as parents, we can take out Parent Plus Loans for the remainder of the costs (after scholarships and the amount out of pocket we can put toward school) and spread out the payments over ten years, so that we are only spending a much smaller percentage of our yearly income per year toward college. If I had to view college as something I could afford in a given year out of income, there is just no way. But with Parent Plus loans, we can handle a monthly payment but will have to pay over many years. I realize not everyone is willing to do that. But most of us cannot pay for college out of our income in a given year.</p>
<p>I, too, am a PLUS loan parent. It has been my only option, but one I am very thankful for. I have a sophomore in college and now my MT D heading that way. PLUS loan heaven...or h-e-doublehockeysticks, here I come. :)</p>
<p>cktsing</p>
<p>Please take a long look at the loans available to you and to your daughter, including the Parent Plus Loan that soozievt mentioned.</p>
<p>It's true that the monthly installments make it much more accessible for average families to afford. </p>
<p>IMPORTANT.. call the head of the department at Emerson and let them know your dilemna. Often, dept. heads have $ which they can utilize in these situations if they really like a student. </p>
<p>We were coached to do this at a very expensive university which my oldest S was admitted 3 years ago (not MT, but a small specialized program nonetheless.).
Although, I had to take a long breath prior to making the phone call, my request was very well received. </p>
<p>I was informed that it was perfect timing since the Financial Aid Office had just alloted more funds for newly admitted freshman in my son's major dept. that very morning. They were able to offer both an increase in both his grants and loans.
Needless to say. Take a deep breath and make the call. It doesn't hurt to ask. </p>
<p>Congrats to your d on her acceptance!</p>
<p>cktsing,
Ditto here in So. Cal! I have one who graduated UCLA last year, one at CSLA
and now the last one entering college as well. We were able to get the first 2 thru with no loans but we're BROKE! No regrets on how we did it it though. We promised undergrad on our dime but grad school is on them. Point Park gave my d a nice scholarship and somehow we will make it work. No retirement for us.
My D's Arts High School in Los Angeles has not sent any one to UCLA or UCI's MT program.
UCLA has a good VP dept and UCI has a so-so dance dept. Maybe things are changing.</p>
<p>cktsing-I'm sorry for you and your D. I know that if I had been admitted to a school and couldn't afford to go, I would be intensely frustrated. She is clearly talented though, to be accepted to so many schools; even is she has to transfer next year, she'll definitely get in somewhere good. Is there any way to negotiate with these schools about the financial side? Or any competitions she could enter that would give her a substantial monetary award? If not, just be sure to look into schools that are notable for giving a lot of student aid. Best of luck!</p>
<p>To those who responded to my last comment-
Thank you all so much for your good wishes. Having the support of people at CC really does make this process easier. Also, you must be truly forgiving people not to have mentioned any of the numerous typos in that post. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the support!! Reading some of your comments just make me smile when i'm having a bad day!</p>