<p>Well the admissions process is over for me. I heard back from everywhere yesterday and I’m now deciding between Rutgers Mason Gross and Muhlenberg. 2 completely different schools, I know, I’m still trying to decide what I want. I’m very indecisive. Trying to go back and visit again and possibly watch class and see a performance before I make a decision. It’s been a crazy process with a lot of ups and downs, I’ll keep you guys updated during these next few months as I try to make a decision. Good luck to the rest of you waiting to hear, hoping for good news for all! </p>
<p>Our process is not over yet, but DD was admitted to one of her top 3 choices - the Fordham/Ailey BFA program. PHEW!!! She is beyond excited. Also received a letter that she is an alternate for Pace, which was relatively god news as I know that program is getting crazy competitive.<br>
Still waiting to hear from NYU, SUNY Purchase and Domincan/LINES. Anyone heard from any of those programs yet??</p>
<p>Congrats to you JDancer - two good choices!</p>
<p>JDancer - great to hear that things are working out for you! I think re-visiting and taking (or watching) a few classes is a great idea. Good luck with your decision.
Pmcolorado - that is great that your DD got into one of her top choices, and she can breathe a little easier!. We also got the ‘alternate’ letter from Pace (yesterday), so more waiting ahead on that. DD’s friend heard from Purchase last week and she was accepted. This friend also auditioned at NYU and has not heard yet. Hang in there. </p>
<p>JDancer good luck with your decision process!</p>
<p>pmcolorado- Congrats to your daughter! </p>
<p>Has anyone heard from UCI yet? My daughter and I are going crazy with the wait! Also, wondering how UCI notifies…can anyone help? </p>
<p>UCI you need to log into your D’s admission portal that is the only way to find out. It will say whether she is admitted or not and to what major. The dance department does not send a separate notification. Google UCI My admissions. </p>
<p>Thank you, sewingmom!</p>
<p>Well, our agony is over, thank goodness! Still have not heard from one school, but it’s a school D no longer cares about as she has been admitted to her to top 2, NYU Tisch and Fordham/Ailey. I am still baffled by some of the decisions. I have been thinking, how could she have been admitted to these two schools (and a couple more) and rejected from certain other programs?? But a conversation we had recently with someone in the dance industry is helping us come to terms…</p>
<p>The woman we spoke to said that for students applying to college dance programs, this is not an admissions process, it is a “casting process”. These schools are looking to cast dancers into their programs and freshman classes. And from one year to the next they might need different things in their cast. One year they might have a few short males and need shorter females for them to partner with. Or they might have too many blonds, or not enough, or not enough ethnic diversity, or too much. And some schools just have a particular background that they are looking for that year, like Balanchine training. And as applicants and parents we just can’t predict or find out which schools are looking for the qualities our dancer might possess. They just have to put themselves out there and see who values them for who THEY are and what they have to offer at that moment in time.</p>
<p>The reality is that as dance becomes more mainstream and popular from TV programs like SYTYCD the more kids are going to want to do it, and the more competitive all of these college programs are going to get. And another sobering reality is that there aren’t going to be enough jobs out there for every kid that wants to try to dance professionally. All we can do as parents is set them up for success with the best teachers, training and studio environments we can, and let them do the work, and figure out how much they really want it and are willing to sacrifice for it. And all of us on this board KNOW how much they sacrifice.</p>
<p>It’s decision time in our house and we will head to NYC one last time so D’s dad can finally see what all this has been about and help her figure out which environment, and financial situation, is right for her and our family. I wish ALL of you dancers and parents the best of luck! Thank you so much for commiserating with me on this frustrating process - it definitely helped to know we were not alone! Hugs for all of you!</p>
<p>@pmcolorado - congrats to your D and good luck with the decision process. It has been a long road for us all. Thanks for sharing the above. We too had some odd decisions and found them hard to reconcile, the above helps. </p>
<p>It does all make sense if you look at it from a casting point of view. All these kids can do is their ultimate best…one pointed foot in front of another. :)</p>
<p>We are still awaiting the Fordham/Ailey financial aid. DD would like to attend the admitted student April 12 day, but we are holding off making plans until we find out what that aid looks like. </p>
<p>It’s actually comforting to know that others have seen some odd decisions, too. It is so hard to know. These kids are tough, tough. Auditioning is so ingrained, it just rolls off DDs back. Ballet is NOT for the faint of heart. </p>
<p>Here’s hoping that an award from Fordham allows her to follow her dream. </p>
<p>Good luck to all!</p>
<p>@moregrayhair I hope it works out for Fordham if that’s her dream - good luck to her!</p>
<p>@JDancer have you come to a decision? :)</p>
<p>@DarwinKnew Not yet! Leaning towards Rutgers Mason Gross, I should know very soon! Once I decide I will let everyone know asap!</p>
<p>Well, the mystery is over. After applying to CSULB and UCI, my DD was accepted to CSULB dance and rejected from UCI dance. She was admitted to UCI academically; so now a new torment has begun. UCI is her first choice. She is considering accepting the admission offer and trying to audition again for dance…anyone know UCI’s policy regarding auditioning again? I am wary because my DD said she can not imagine not having dance as a major. Advice? Thoughts? Comments?</p>
<p>Pangal00 - Can she still take a lot of dance classes at UCI while not being a declared major? There are some programs that do not allow you to take classes if not in that program. I would look into that to see before making any decisions.</p>
<p>lammb66 - She can take a few classes, but many are restricted to dance majors. Thanks for your response.</p>
<p>@panga100. At the UCI audition the department chair said the students could audition as many times as they want. They also said, they should come talk to the teachers and see what they need to improve on to get accepted as a major. I would write the department chair and discuss it with her. She was lovely and very encouraging. </p>
<p>@sewingmom . Thanks for your insight! I will let my dd know that hope is not lost 
</p>
<p>" One year they might have a few short males and need shorter females for them to partner with. Or they might have too many blonds, or not enough, or not enough ethnic diversity, or too much."
This strikes me as a bit odd, as I have yet to see any auditions where there was “too much” diversity". I was quite surprised to read this as a reason because the dancers are judged on their prior training and certainly appearance yes, but seems to me that most auditions would be rather lacking in ethnic diversity to begin with,if that’s what was meant.</p>
<p>You are taking this way too literally Glider17. If my trying to relay the gist of this dance professional’s comments was not 100% word for word or was politically incorrect … my apologies. I feel like I captured her main theme which is that even despite excellent technique and training sometime our particular dancer may not be what a school is looking for at that point in time. Perhaps someone would like to initiate discussion on diversity in college dance on a new thread.</p>