<p>I think at this point we are up against missed auditions and missed money. We will consider the gap year, but hope that one of offers we are awaiting is attractive and close enough for us to meet that gap and get her dancing somewhere. Your help is greatly appreciated - fingers crossed. Will update as we get packages.</p>
<p>This performing college path is not for the faint of heart. :)</p>
<p>Do let us know how it turns out. Our thoughts are with you and your talented daughter (Alvin Ailey!! Goodness!!)</p>
<p>Any chance she could audition to be an apprentice in a dance ensemble if she decided to take a year off from attending college? Our dancer friend kids actually did this instead if college. </p>
<p>thumper1 - That is always an option - it’s a tough, tough road as usually you have to pay for classes/training (yeah, I know, it’s insane!), plus housing/food. Can run into big money depending on where a dancer is.
It can cost more than some college programs and have much more risk at the end (at the end of a year, you might be offered a spot, you might not). It really depends. We like the safety that 4 years in college offers - she trains, she gets a good education and is able to broaden her world. We’ll see. Nothing is off the table at this point.</p>
<p>No financial aid package yet from UMass, but she did hear today that she got into the Honor’s College, and got a $2K scholarship. That, plus Abigail Adams totals about $3600 in scholarship, to a state school which now costs $24K/yr. I’m thinking the FA package will be loans - that won’t be available til early April.</p>
<p>Still waiting on Fordham/Ailey, and admission results on Wed/Thurs and then April 1st. </p>
<p>I’m not good at waiting. :)</p>
<p>None of us are but hang in there!</p>
<p>The college route is also good in case of (knock on wood) injury. At a college with an array of majors, a dancer could perhaps switch to another major in time. </p>
<p>Yesterday’s admission decision was a no.
Waiting on today’s (long, long shot!) and tomorrow’s (Amherst College). </p>
<p>No other financial aid awards…waiting, waiting, waiting. </p>
<p>Remaining hopeful! Either that or I’m delusional from this stress. Yeah. THAT might be it.
:)</p>
<p>Hang in there. Most parents can relate. :)</p>
<p>So…a quick update: her results last week were three rejections. Sigh. It was tough, but she’s OK - and is moving forward, looking at the choices in front of her and waiting for the 3 financial aid packages from Fordham, Hartt and UMass Amherst (all due to be postmarked by April 1). She secured a job for this summer, and is excited for whatever comes her way. She’s a great kid and I am really pulling for a good package from one of these places. </p>
<p>We’ll figure it all out - reading lots and lots on this thread has made me feel better. She’s in good company with all the rejections, but has been admitted to some great programs - we’ll take that! :)</p>
<p>You’ve taken a very level headed view of things. I hope your D does that as well. Good luck.</p>
<p>Woot Woot! The big flagship state school came thru! They met our financial need - using our ACTUAL exact EFC! So she got a handful of the usual student loans, plus a $2K scholarship and $10K of grants and a tuition waiver.</p>
<p>YES! Something that is actually within REACH!
Still waiting on 2 more packages. But we can take a deep breath and know that she’ll be going to college somewhere. Have NEVER been so relieved to see something. :)</p>
<p>Congrats! It’s all gravy after this.</p>
<p>And she’s very happy about it and THAT is a wonderful thing. Hard to give up the big-city-dancer dreams - and we still have 2 packages and you never know - but THIS is a great thing AND still has dance. :)</p>
<p>CONGRATULATIONS to you and your daughter! Now she’s sure to go to college AND be able to dance. And who knows, indeed? She may get good news tomorrow!</p>
<p>Great!!</p>
<p>So , we are down to one. Don’t have the full award pkg from Hartt yet, but they of course will be no where near our EFC. Their talent $ was not enough. (They only give talent, and no academic). Sigh. Now we wait for Fordham, and make some plans to go out to see the big flagship…it’s all good though…!</p>
<p>We’re rooting for you! Hopefully Fordham will come through. :)</p>
<p>When you look at UMass, don’t forget she can take classes and join performances at the other 4 colleges too. When we toured Smith last year, the stage auditorium was really nice, and they talked about hthe ow a student can try out for any production at any of the colleges.</p>
<p>I’m so glad the state school worked out! I think there is a general idea out there that great kids get great scholarships and go to the colleges they want. We were fortunate enough to know lots of great older kids and learn from their sorrows. Not all the talented and brilliant kids get a free ride (or even an affordable ride! ) </p>
<p>And she is a GREAT kid. Hindsight is 20/20…wish we had understood more, and ignored some of the guidance advice, but here we are. It will all work out…</p>