Final decisions 2013

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>I thought I would start a separate thread on this board for final decisions, not just because it's interesting but also because the information posted might help those students who are still deciding.</p>

<p>The format I suggest shows individual acceptances, rejections, final decision and a quick summary of the factors which led to the final decision.</p>

<p>Also, if someone had an 'unusual' audition experience (i.e., accepted to Fordham or CMU Acting without being passed-around to different auditors, accepted without a call-back, etc.), that might lend a little bit more insight into the BFA audition process.</p>

<p>People should just keep adding their information to the ongoing thread. I honestly don't know how to moderate so assistance from those in the know would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Acting and Musical Theater majors are encouraged to respond.</p>

<p>Here's the suggested format: </p>

<p>Screen Name: [insert]
Acceptances: [list schools]
Rejections: [list schools]
Final Decision: [list in bold or red if you can]
Factors Considered: [brief summary such as: location, strength of curriculum, cost, etc.]
Miscellaneous: [brief summary such as those noted above].</p>

<p>Thanks and congratulations to those students and families who have already decided. Best of luck to all those still making their final decision.</p>

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2

<p>Now that more students and parents are posting final decisions, I thought I would bump this thread. I think that students preparing to apply next year might find it helpful to see where students applied this year and what factored into their final decisions, in addition to knowing what schools they chose to attend. The process isn’t quite over in our house, but when it is I will post too. Happy Mother’s Day to all the great moms who post on this board!</p>

<p>Here’s the suggested (revised) format: </p>

<p>Screen Name: [insert]
Schools Applied To: [list schools]
Acceptances:[list schools]
Wait-List:[list schools]
Final Decision:[list in bold or red if you can]
Factors Considered: [brief summary such as: location, strength of curriculum, cost, etc.]
Miscellaneous: [anything interesting or unusual that can shed light on the audition process, such as: “accepted to CMU for Acting without being passed-around to different auditors”, etc.)].</p>

3

<p>Applied: CalArts, Purchase, Rutgers, NYU Tisch, Fordham, Juilliard, NCSA, Carnegie Mellon
Accepted: Purchase, Rutgers, NYU Tisch, Fordham, NCSA
Wait-List: Carnegie Mellon</p>

<p>Final Decision: RUTGERS MGSA</p>

<p>Factors Considered: Faculty, Year spent at the Globe, Prestige, Alumni, Location, Meisner, Large university with many things to be involved in outside of the arts, Diverse student body, Growing program (seems to be getting better and better every year), Current Students, Demanding Schedule, GREAT PROGRAM!!!
Miscellaneous: Got misleading comments from CMU, Callback to Juilliard.</p>

4

<p>Screen Name: NJTheatreMOM; son has posted as YoungThespian.</p>

<p>Schools Applied To: SUNY Purchase, NYU/Tisch, Rutgers/Mason Gross, Boston University,
Carnegie Mellon, Montclair State University.</p>

<p>Acceptances: NYU/Tisch (Stella Adler Studio), Montclair State University, Boston University.</p>

<p>Wait-List: None.</p>

<p>Final Decision: Boston University.</p>

<p>Factors Considered: Reputation of acting program; location; toolbox approach to acting instruction; semester in London that is integrated into program; possibility of choosing Theatre Arts track that combines as many acting classes as you want with training in other areas of theatre; when visiting BU, very impressed by friendly, upbeat atmosphere.</p>

<p>Miscellaneous: NYU was tempting and offered better financial aid, but based on visits to Boston University and NYU and Stella Adler Studio, and conversations with Stella Adler students, BU was revealed to be a better personal fit than Tisch.</p>

<p>Note:</p>

<p>If you want to put the name of your final decision school in red and bold:</p>

<p>PUT THE FOLLOWING BEFORE YOUR TEXT BUT HAVE NO SPACES AS I HAVE SPACES:</p>

<p>[ B ] [ COLOR = RED ]</p>

<p>THEN PUT THE FOLLOWING AFTER YOUR TEXT BUT HAVE NO SPACES AS I HAVE SPACES:</p>

<p>[ / B ] [ / COLOR ]</p>

5

<p>Screen Name: thelilodance
Schools Applied To: UNCSA, Emerson College, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Fredonia, Savannah College of Art and Design, Buffalo State College, UArts
Acceptances: UNCSA, Emerson College, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Fredonia, Savannah College of Art and Design, Buffalo State College, UArts
Wait-List: none.</p>

<p>Final Decision: UNCSA</p>

<p>Factors Considered: facilities, rigor of program, size of major, willingness of professors to speak with prospective students, helpfulness of current students and openness of current students when talking with me, atmosphere of the school, location of campus. basically it is just the right fit for me.
Miscellaneous: UArts lost my portfolio 4 times. meaning i sent them my portfolio 5 times, and i got my acceptance the third week in april, basically i HATE UArts for the fact that they kept losing my portfolio.</p>

6

<p>Screen Name: musicalstudent</p>

<p>Schools Applied To: NYU (BFA), Emerson (BFA), Penn State (BFA), Hartt (BFA), Point Park (BFA), CMU (BFA), UMich (BFA), UArts (BFA), Indiana University (BFA), USC (BFA), UMiami (BFA) 6 UC’s (UCLA, Berkeley, San Diego, Irvine, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara), OKCU (BM)</p>

<p>Acceptances: Penn State (BA), Point Park (BA), USC (BA), Indiana University (BA), UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, UMiami (BA), OKCU (w/ presidential scholarship)</p>

<p>Wait-List: UArts (BFA - accepted, w/ presidential scholarship), UC Irvine (accepted)</p>

<p>Final Decision: USC BA Theatre</p>

<p>Factors Considered: Amazing theatre program, amazing connections, networking ability, Trojan Mafia, Los Angeles, Center Theatre Group internships, guest speakers, master classes, guest directors, amazing academics.</p>

7

<p>Screen Name: Ronit</p>

<p>Applied: Illinois State, Carnegie Mellon, DePaul, Webster</p>

<p>Acceptances: ISU, DePaul, Webster</p>

<p>Waitlist: CMU (withdrawn)</p>

<p>Final Decision: [COLOR=RED]Webster Conservatory<a href=“Directing”>/COLOR</a></p>

<p>Factors: Conservatory, large scholarship, nice campus and facilities, general home-like feel, partnership with Saint Louis Repetory Theatre, intense directing program, study abroad requirement (London Semester)</p>

8

<p>Screen Name: Becca1991</p>

<p>Applied: Rutgers, Purchase, Fordham, NYU, Emerson, BU, U of U, Pace (all acting programs)</p>

<p>Acceptances: Fordham, NYU, Emerson, BU, U of U, and Pace</p>

<p>Waitlist: none</p>

<p>Final Decision: Boston University (acting)</p>

<p>Factors: Conservatory, large amount of money given, prestige and reputation of the program, attended summer program, love the faculty, Huntington partnership, nice campus and facilities, general home-like feel, awesome town, close to NY, toolbox approach, big school, study abroad requirement</p>

9

<p>Applied: Smith, Sarah Lawrence, BU, CMU, Syracuse</p>

<p>Acceptance: Smith, Syracuse
Waitlist: BU</p>

<p>Final Decision: Syracuse BFA Acting</p>

10

<p>IMHopeful’s D</p>

<p>Schools Applied To: Illinois Wesleyan, Hartt, Point Park, USC, Minnesota, Ithaca, CMU, Purchase, Webster, Evansville, Otterbein (only listed acting schools)
Acceptances: Illinois Wesleyan, Hartt, Point Park, USC BA (only listed acting schools)
Wait-List: None
Final Decision: Illinois Wesleyan BFA Acting
Factors Considered: Even though she applied for acting, she still has a strong interest in musical theatre. Not being able to audition for the musicals decided her against Hartt. She decided against Point Park because she didn’t like the urban campus and weak academics. She was very torn over USC, but ultimately decided that she really wanted a BFA program. Illinois Wesleyan provided her everything that she originally said that she wanted – a small, midwestern school, not urban, with good academics, strong BFA program and arts orientation, ability to study abroad. The school called her twice during her decision-making process and that meant a lot to her. She also liked their 4-4-1 academic calendar, and the small size of the acting class (only about 6).
Miscellaneous: She was shocked that she was accepted at Hartt. She didn’t think she did very well at the audition, and the auditors were very flat – no feedback at all. Conversely, she thought she did very well at Minnesota – they had her do additional monologues and sing a song, and spent quite a bit of time with her (backing up their schedule) – but did not get called back. She auditioned musical theatre for Ithaca and Webster, and that may have been a mistake even though they said that they would consider people for acting as well.</p>

11

<p>Screen Name: EtrnlSnshne09
Acceptances: SUNY Purchase, University of Evansville
Rejections: Juilliard, Boston University, DePaul University
Final Decision: University of Evansville
Factors Considered: The strength of its curriculum and reputation in regards to acceptances into graduate programs. University of Evansville has a class size of 16 Performance Majors and “Graduates of the University of Evansville are consistently the best prepared to enter and to succeed in the most demanding MFA programs in the United States.” - Ron Van Lieu, Chair, Graduate Acting Program, Yale School of Drama</p>

12

<p>Screen Name: Hedda - results for my son…not a member :slight_smile:
Applied: CalArts and Juilliard
Acceptances: CalArts BFA Acting
Rejections: Juilliard
Final Decision: CalArts</p>

<p>Factors: He decided to only audition for the schols he REALLY wantd to attend - sort of all or nothing. It worked for him :slight_smile: BTW, he found the Juilliard audition well worth the experience. He went in with an open mind, and was glad he went through with it.</p>

13

<p>Hedda, after having been through this process recently with my own child, I now completely agree with your son’s philosophy about only applying to BFA programs that the student is totally committed to … and I’m so glad your son had a positive outcome and that he is on his way to CalArts this Fall … </p>

<p>There is so much pressure on kids - - particularly those interested in pursuing a BFA degree - - to create a list of non-audition safety schools + audition schools that are more or less of a ‘safe bet’, because the odds (i.e., vis a vis admission statistics for BFA programs), are definitely against them. </p>

<p>But you know what? In the final analysis, the audition process can be exhausting and expensive, and why force a kid to attend a school or program that they have little or no interest in?</p>

<p>Congrats again on the outcome of your son’s audition and his acceptance to CalArts!</p>

14

<p>hey hedda! or anyone else who auditioned for the “j yard”. can anyone tell me about this audition? everyone says it’s so great and i’d love to know why!</p>

15

<p>Thanks Brown Eyes :slight_smile: It was tough for me to reconcile - I am a teacher :slight_smile: and my son, the AP student announced CalArts, Juilliard or JC until he can re-audition and get in. I had to accept it was his education, and my job was to guide and not direct.</p>

<p>ingette - my son says it is the process of preparing that he found the most rewarding. The big “J” asks a great deal of it’s candidates, and the decision is immediate and final. If you don’t get called back - hours after you audition - your journey is over. Also, he felt it was very professional. Very little chit chat, just right to the point. He is still 17, so he was young when he auditioned, and he felt that they treated him as an adult, not as high school kid trying to get into college. We had to drive to San Francisco for the audition (we live in the LA area) and that also added to the “adventure.” Believe it or not, we live in the same town that CalArts is located in (Valencia) and having a local get in is almost unheard of :slight_smile: It is a really diverse, international school.</p>

<p>Basically, if you are prepared for Juilliard, you are prepared for any and all BFA Acting audition…in my opinion :)</p>

16

<p>that sounds very cool. i know juilliard asks you to prepare a song, but says that a trained singing voice is not a requirement. is your son a trained singer? if not, did he feel that hindered his audition?</p>

<p>sorry if this is too much off topic!</p>

17

<p>Not at all…sorry for the delay!</p>

<p>He did prepare a song…for what it is worth, he has never been trained, nor does he feel he can sing :slight_smile: He just was sure he knew all the words, and chose something that went along with his natural voce. I wish I could remember what it was…sorry! I know it was something contemporary…</p>

<p>He wasn’t asked to sing, I think it depends on how you answer the questions in your application.</p>

18

<p>My major will actually be theatre education but for what it’s worth:</p>

<p>Screen Name: FlowerxChild
Acceptances:Lynchburg College, Shenandoah, Longwood U, Randolph College, Sweet Briar
Rejections:Elon U
Final Decision: Lynchburg College
Factors Considered: Location was a big deal for me because my parents and grandma are going through rough times and I didn’t feel ready to leave home so soon. I picked LC because of it’s small campus [although beautiful!] and it’s wonderful financial aid. I also loved the staff I met in the theatre department and it allowed me to double major with english to get my teaching license.</p>

19

<p>Chrissyblu’s D</p>

<p>Acceptances: UCLA (BA Theatre/Acting); Cal Arts (BFA Acting); Emerson (BFA Acting Early Action); Univ. of Cinn. Conservatory College of Music (BFA Acting); UC Irvine (BA Theatre); UC Santa Barbara (BA Theatre)</p>

<p>Rejections: Juilliard, Carnegie Mellon, UNCSA, NYU </p>

<p>Final Decision: UCLA</p>

<p>Did not apply: USC (that may seem odd for a Californian.)</p>

<p>Rationale: (1) Alumni network; (2) Its LA and she wanted LA or NYC; (3) She says “how can you do a play about the Russian Revolution if you don’t know anything about Chekov?” Her BA at UCLA will give her a more rounded education than she thought she would get from the BFA programs she got into; (4) Its UCLA. EVERYONE has heard of UCLA; (5) UCLA’s Film program is in the same school and the actors work with the film students in their films. She likes the idea of making connections today that will last the rest of her life. UCLA’s Film program is one of the best in the country. She is also going to minor in Film. (6) It was highly competitive. 1100 applied. 100 got in (30 MT, 30 Acting, and unlike most schools, Acting is the stronger program.)</p>

20

<p>Acceptances: Rutgers University, SUNY Purchase, CalArts, NCSA and U of I Urbana.</p>

<p>Wait-listed: Juilliard</p>

<p>Rejections: None</p>

<p>Final Decision: SUNY Purchase</p>

<p>Factors Considered: Purchase was just right for me. I went to visit and sat in on a Speech/Shakespeare class and the students were just unbelievable. I couldn’t believe they were just in their second year of training. The current students were just real and not stuck up like some of the other schools I visited. The faculty is hardcore and well respected and the location was great. Not to close to the city and not to far. The program is highly selective one of the most difficult BFA Acting Programs in the country to be accepted into. Over 1,200 audition/apply and they only accept 18. I feel truly blessed!</p>