Definitely go and see Elon. It is still high on her list. Her top 3 schools are very different. Different school vibe and different programs. She just received a very nice scholarship at Elon. Towson also offered a nice scholarship. Towson had a wonderful ballet master from Washington Ballet and she really enjoyed the modern teacher. My daughter felt that there was not enough daily dance. The performance set up was also odd. I’d have to find my notes to remember exactly what bothered her. Also, Towson seems like a commuter school which is NOT what she is looking for.
I remember you saying your daughter was interested in choreography, which is why I mentioned VCU. We stopped in Richmond going and coming from Elon twice and really liked the drive through that we did and Richmond was a cool town.
I always try to take in other peoples observations on a school or program but remember that a program that does not fit one dancer may be perfect for another. Please feel free to ask any questions.
Just wanted to agree that while it is great to have an off campus audition (cheaper, easier) that the opportunity to visit the school and dance in the rooms, meet staff and pick up the vibe etc is really important. Since we had an off campus audition for PPU we visited recently to view the campus (dance studios are top notch) and see the show (AMAZING). We were able to meet with Admissions as well as COPA admissions and had a one on one talk with the artistic director of dance. We also were able to sit in on a dance class & got free tickets to the dance performance that weekend. My daughter wanted an urban experience but not knowing anything about the city we made it our mission to explore. In case anyone is considering PPU I figured I would give our itinerary and impression of our visit.
First, I would recommend staying at the Hilton Garden in downtown (there is a PPU rate). I had been considering a cheaper hotel but after doing the google street view I knew that was NOT the first impression we would want as it was more in the business district section of Pittsburgh. The Hilton hotel is all updated and a 5 min walk to campus. Also you are right in the mix of downtown with Market Square around the corner. The CVS across the street was also a plus. You are able to walk to Point State Park, Walk over one of the many majestic bridges in Pittsburgh, Walk to their version of the subway (by gateway plaza) and walk thru the Cultural District and (if you are game) even to the Strip District. My daughter and I were really impressed with Pittsburgh! We were able to Uber so easily (they are very popular) from the Airport and the hotel to visit Oakland (UPITT) and Shadyside (by Carnegie Melon) -not walkable but worthy of the 10 min excursion. We also went up Mount Washington via the incline Railroad (super cool experience) and went to Station Square for a birds eye view of the city from the other side of the river. So many great restaurants and areas with very different vibes. There were lots of other university students walking around the city in groups, especially in the Starbucks and Chipolte in Market Square. We did not ask but we didn’t think they were from PPU.
There is a COPA admitted student day on 4/13/18 if anyone wants to give it another try…we had a GREAT experience!
Happy to have stumbled across this thread and find others in the same audition/waiting game boat. My daughter applied to Barnard, Ailey/Fordham, NYU Gallatin, Butler, Chapman and Scripps. She received academic-only acceptance to Butler, has been accepted to Chapman dance, and just received her acceptance to Ailey/Fordham last night. She was shocked, but ecstatic! We’re waiting on the others – hoping to hear from Barnard and Scripps next week.
@SCMHAALUM My daughter did all the research on Gallatin. What I understood from her was that she could still take classes at Tisch. Gallatin is a design-your-own-path program and she is looking at combining neuroscience, psychology, and dance. I would assume there are limitations on which dance classes she can take, but I truly do not know.
@24bunheadmom20 Sounds like your daughter has similar interests as my son. We didn’t know about Gallatin. Did your daughter audition? My son doesn’t really care if he gets a degree in dance, just that he can take good dance classes. Many programs would not allow non-major students to take advanced BFA dances classes, so he applied for BFA at USC and NYU/Tisch. He also applied for Columbia (biology) believing Columbia would let non-major students take classes at Bernard if they are placed at advaced level. Well all these are very high reach schools/programs. We live in Southern California and I am glad he’s accepted at his backup UC Irvine.
I’m sorry @christinemom - top choice or not! So far we have not received anything… no call, no email, no letter. Not feeling very good about it knowing letters have been mailed. I would assume calls have also been made. Good luck to everyone waiting!
I’m sorry @chickies11 - no’s can be tough even when they aren’t a top choice. I can’t even imagine my d’s reaction when our letter arrives since it is her top choice.
ugh @3girls2dogs fingers crossed it is an acceptance letter!! This is soooo difficult. My daughter’s top choice is NYU, which is such a long shot, and seems to be the last to notify. This truly is torturous for these dancers! They are so talented but it is just so competitive!
Good luck @Chickies11 keep the faith - hoping someone gets their first choice-meanwhile we also continue to wait for NYU even tho we can probably not afford it but we need closure on all options so we can make the final decision !!! serenity now!!
Any updates on notifications. I really wish this was over. My daughter did not get into Point Park. I am not surprised as because she did not like the audition. I think that it is so competitive that if you are not 100% on that day then you are not going to get in. We have not heard from Fordham so probably did not get in. Like everyone else, still waiting on NYU -It seems kind of silly.
My D has begun to look at other options that she feels good about should she receive bad news… she got into a couple of programs but they are all “too close to home” or she is underwhelmed by their program and will not be attending them. We agreed this morning that once she finally hears from her final school… she has big decisions to make. She’s spoken to a couple of current students and has been told that decisions were being made and sent this week. Neither knew if calls were being made and she’s spoken to some that she auditioned with and so far, no one has heard anything. Some made it to the short interview and others hadn’t so we aren’t seeing a pattern yet. We agreed that at this point, it is out of our hands… she did her best and had the chance to sit down and chat with the faculty during a brief interview so it will be what it should be Best of luck to everyone waiting to hear - hoping we all receive some bit of good news over the coming days!
@3girls2dogs we have not heard anything from Pace yet either. That’s awesome that your daughter made it down to the short interview, which would indicate she has a better chance. My daughter auditioned in Dallas and there were only 10 dancers at the audition and they did not do interviews. I’m not sure if it was due to the small number of dancers,or that there wasn’t anyone that they thought they would take or they just ran out of time (they did not tap because of time). I know phone calls were made to those accepted last year but just as you said I would have thought calls would be first before the letters.
@grit2018 your details about PP are helpful. We had the exact opposite vibe. I’m thinking there must have been things that we missed. What else can you tell me about the program itself? I went to the q & a at the audition but maybe you picked up something different. The rigor of the program just doesn’t seem to be what my daughter wants. My husband questions that, thinking that if she wants to do this professionally she would do whatever it takes.
@Chickies11 It was not an email, but an update on her Fordham portal. It came as a “letter” from Fordham accepting her to the university with a second paragraph accepting her to the BFA program. I cannot believe they don’t notify everyone at once.
@SCMHAALUM My daughter loves Barnard and is very interested in its dance program. It has been her top choice even though it’s not a BFA. She admitted yesterday that she really didn’t think she had a chance at Ailey, so If she’s accepted at Barnard, it will be a tough choice. She applied to Barnard ED and was deferred — it is a bit of a reach for her. As I understand the Columbia/Barnard relationship, students can cross-register for courses. It looks like there are some nice performance opportunities as well. Are you aware of the Columbia Ballet Collaborative? As for Gallatin, there was no audition. I just skimmed the website and it states that students “take courses in the various schools of NYU”, hoping that includes Tisch. Best of luck to your son!
Best of luck to everyone waiting to hear - hoping we all receive some bit of good news over the coming days!