Hello Moms (and Dads?).
I stuck my head in to this thread just to see something new and I must say, you guys rock.
Love the stories (and the drama!) of the journey each family has taken, and I applaud you all for having the love to support your children as they walk this path.
Theatre gave me wings and poetry gave me voice, and I simply love seeing the energy and joy which live in the performer.
Happiness to each one of your talented children as they go forward.
Congratulations @meohmyoh ! We are not far from Chapman, hit me up if you need any local tips. Lots of great restaurants and antique stores near Chapman! One of the few towns that have an older town feel in SoCal, we love it!
First and foremost, I want to say thank you to everyone at CC who took the time to help us. Had we known about this forum at the beginning of our journey, we could have saved or son a lot of heartache. Thankfully, we discovered CC right on time and learned so much from all the stories, posts and messages. This allowed us to guide our son through the final leg of this process. Without MANY of you that helped, this would not have been possible. A special shout-out to
@tsamuique for caring-your effort made all the difference. We hope to pay it forward one day. Thank you from the bottom of my family’s heart.
Programs Applied to: NYU (BFA Acting ), Pace ( BFA Acting, BFA MT ), Julliard (BFA Acting), Syracuse University (BFA Acting), Rutgers University(BFA Acting), Carnegie Mellon University (BFA Acting), DePaul University (BFA Acting), Northwestern University(BA), University Of Miami (BFA MT), UCF (BFA Acting), FSU (BFA MT)
Prescreens: Passed All except (UCF, FSU, Northwestern has no prescreens).
Summer programs: Applied to Carnegie Mellon and DePaul was accepted into both and decided on DePaul (family in the area).
Accepted to: NONE
Wait-listed: NYU, University of Miami.
Coach: Voice Coach, Acting Coach.
The scramble:( NOW WHAT after going 0-11): Skidmore College (BS in Theater) Purchase College (BA Theatre and Performance) Sunny Oswego(BA Acting/Directing) Drew University (BA Theatre & Dance). New World School of the Arts College (Theater BFA Acting)
Accepted to: ALL
Background:
Our Son started acting in the summer of 5th grade because we just wanted to keep him busy. Subsequently, he joined his school’s thespian troupe in 6th grade and never looked back. He performed in his first musical in 7th grade and was hooked. He attends an all boy preparatory school in South Florida that has two full productions per year with a live orchestra. The productions are extremely competitive for both male and female roles and are open to students from other local schools.
Since the 5th grade, he’s performed in about twenty large- and small-scale productions. His sophomore year he was casted as Gomez from The Addams Family, in a local theatre production in Coral Gables, FL. Afterwards, he was then casted in the school’s MT production as Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
We really thought it was too much with the rigorous schoolwork and rehearsals, but he pulled it off. Then came the awards seven Florida Regional and State Critics Choice Awards. As parents, we were new to this world and had no clue about this path. But when we saw his passion and how he would just bring these characters to life we knew it was his gift.
The Journey: We traveled to New York for his first round of auditions, NYU, Pace, Julliard, Syracuse and Carnegie Mellon. It was an eye-opening experience, but he felt he did his best work. On this first round he received two denials (Pace BFA Acting and Julliard). I always questioned his monologues and why one had some curse words, but what do I know. We then traveled to Chicago where he auditioned for DePaul (BFA Acting) and Rutgers (BFA Acting). He had completed a three-week summer program at DePaul and felt extremely comfortable there. They knew his work ethic, talent and he received so much positive feedback that summer from the professors and staff. Once we returned to Miami he auditioned for University of Miami. We never thought he would receive a rejection from DePaul. That denial letter was the worst of all!
The Scramble: Things happen for a reason and thankfully, many schools had extended their application process due to the COVID-19 nightmare. The CC forum, and people who took the time to help, provided information on quality BA theatre programs that were still accepting applications. Within two weeks of receiving these options, our son had applied to four additional programs suggested by CC forum. One day he received a call from the Senior Associate Director of Admissions from Drew University, and she proceeds to tell him the theater professor was extremely impressed with his resume and personal statement; they were going to make him an offer! A week later they offered him three scholarships and he spoke to the acting professor. The more he researched the program, the more it made sense to him, that he can, not only continue to perform, but also learn all aspects of theatre and look past the fact it was not a BFA. He then realized they had a Shakespeare Theatre on campus, and he loves to perform in Shakespeare roles. During our London family vacation, we watched a performance at The Globe Theatre. After that London trip, he said one day he would be performing on that stage.
The truth is, we have always taught our children to have a plan A & B in life. I honestly think those little voices were telling him you need a backup plan just in case. He came to us and said Drew University has shown me the love, it’s 50 minutes from NY, it’s a very well-regarded acting program with many connections and internships. It just fell on our laps and he was happy and ready to commit.
Then the twist-University of Miami accepted him to the BFA Musical/Theatre program off the waitlist. Yes you heard right, just when he was happy with this BA program that gave him a well-rounded education in theater and performance, and when all the heartbreak and rejections were behind him, he now had another major decision to make. Our son struggled for some days knowing that University of Miami gave him extraordinarily little time to accept the offer. He reflected on the time he spent in those audition rooms and how hard he worked. He reflected on the BFA dream, and how a BA can also help him dig deep as an actor and further develop his skills. The truth is-this profession is extremely competitive and there are no guarantees with a BA or BFA. We all sat down and had some real discussions as a family. Our daughter, which is a prosecutor, also sat with him and objectively proceeded to help him make a list of pros and cons of a BA and BFA education. In the end, we wanted HIM to make an educated decision that was best for HIS future. After much thought, our son came to us with our society’s new normal, his sister on zoom, and made the decision that was best for his overall growth in Theater.
There is an old quote “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. There is no disgrace in honest failure; there is disgrace in fearing to fail.”-Henry Ford
Final Decision: Drew University BA Theatre and Dance
We hope one day when another parent reads this, they understand this is a highly competitive process. Do not try to apply common sense to the process and please do not try to figure it out, or it will drive you insane. In the end- you need to apply to as many programs as possible. Even though your child may, be extremely talented and check off all the proverbial boxes, that gets diluted on a national scale. Apply everywhere you can and never give up!
@APerez - I remember your first post on CC and I am SO HAPPY to read this one. Your son had OPTIONS that fit him, which is the goal for every applicant, and he chose the one that fit him best. Thrilled for him and for you. Congratulations to you both.
Congratulations, @APerez – what a bumpy road for your S, but he found his place and I know he will thrive there!
Thank you for sharing @APerez . What a heart wrenching story. You had me tearing up from “Accepted to: None”. I, like many on here probably, can feel that sadness/confusion in the pit of my stomach after going through all this. It is so incredibly hard.
Congratulations on finding a place that makes him happy! I hope he has a wonderful time at Drew.
Aw, thank you for the shout-out, @APerez ! I am THRILLED for your son that after his rough season he landed in a fabulous place and one that he is excited to attend, and I am touched to know that my late-night musings on the CC rabbit hole were the right help at the right time. I’m especially happy for your son that he feels such love coming to him from Drew. I wish him all the best on the next part of his journey! (And layers and good, water-proof boots are the key to surviving winter up north! 
)
@2231Starcross3 I enjoyed reading your journey so much! How exciting for you. All the best to you at Northwestern.
@sydcooper I admire your story and your journey. You offer generous advice, and I especially love this: “You are not auditioning for a role, you’re showing a group of people versions of yourself.” All the best to you at Texas State!
@Loganator your daughter’s story is laudable. All her hard work and efforts paid off in spades. I love how she was exceptionally self motivated and inquisitive all her years in high school. And you are a dedicated Mom, a real trooper! All the best to your daughter at Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts.
Man I can’t wait to post my final results! I don’t know where I’m going yet because I need housing to go to my top choice right now and I’m waiting on results from a couple of schools. I’ve narrowed down my backups to two (in case I get denied housing and my other apps get denied). I’ve been working on pulling my other offers from the schools I’ve decided aren’t for me (those are hard to pull! Having to battle to get responses from different admissions offices). Crossing my fingers that housing works out. I’m going to be crushed if I can’t get anything… 
@alwayshp394 , could you tell the school that you need housing in order to attend, and that if you don’t get housing, you’ll have to decline the offer and go elsewhere? Maybe that would tip the scale to get you housing?
@actorparent1 I actually never thought about that! After seeing your post I dug deeper and a different school (not the one I would attend) at the university recommends that their students call housing themselves. I think I’m going to call them tomorrow or Monday. Thank you so much for the idea!!
Good luck, @alwayshp394 !! I hope you get the movement you want there!
Anyone else obsessively nagging their kid to check email today? 
Is anyone else going to post the final decision story ???
Hi,
Congrats! Amazing list and I’ll sure you’re thrilled with Northwestern! Could you PM me on what aid package looked like for Fordham? Curious as to whether they make it affordable in the end.
Thank you
Thank you!
Hi class of 2024, loved your stories, thank you for sharing your journey! Just started a new thread, “School-specific scoop on Acting & Musical Theatre programs”, would love it if you would contribute some insight now that you’re experienced with the school and acting program. (help us! remember March last year?) Appreciate anything you have to add!
Hi Reading these posts and just wondering if you could elaborate on the UNCSA comment about knowing right away he wasn’t a fit? What did they say they were looking for? Thanks so much in advance.