Congrats @YardleySisa ! We are at UNCSA right now visiting. The campus is so beautiful in the spring. We can’t wait to see Guys and Dolls tonight. My son has a few friends in the Acting program and they all love it. So glad to see another Fighting Pickle!
Hi everyone! I haven’t posted all that much, but I have been reading everyone’s posts with great interest. Although I have to say that my daughter’s school college counselor was unusually knowledgeable and weighed in on all of her choices (and suggested several others), CC has been invaluable in this process. Thank you, all!.
My daughter’s background: just the facts. 11 years of classical piano alongside some low-key acting classes, school theatre productions, some community children’s theatre outside of school; eventually dropped piano (she felt she needed to commit to one in order to do it well) and enrolled in Neighborhood Playhouse in high school. Summer programs were local – Prospect Theatre Company’s MT intensive, and the Neighborhood Playhouse. She did use a coach for the college process – a wonderful teacher she knew from Neighborhood Playhouse.
She began the college process knowing that rejections would likely be the norm, that she might well be rejected from every single auditioned program she applied to, and that it happens to many talented kids every year. I don’t happen to be a believer in destiny or that “you end up where you belong” or that “things happen for a reason.” I believe this process is scary, unwieldy, at least partly (or sometimes mostly) subjective and subject to a host of exogenous factors that cannot be controlled or anticipated. In other words, a lot of great kids can end up shut out of BFA programs for reasons utterly unrelated to their skill or potential.
That’s where we started – believing the above (and so adding a few great BA programs, which also were by no means certainties), but also hopeful. Her goal was one acceptance.
It was an “interesting” process, and frankly, pretty scary. I definitely had a mounting sense of impending doom. After lots of auditions (one of which was a total nightmare and proved to be the subject of her hilarious “senior speech” yesterday), lots of rejections (the usual suspects), and one waitlist (Elon, not pursued), she was profoundly grateful to receive BFA acting acceptances to UArts, Hartt, and Otterbein – along with BA acceptances to Muhlenberg and some others.
She visited all of these schools (which means I went to all of them and spent time in the car, walking around, or working in my hotel room) – all of which she feels certain would have provided her with a great acting education. In the end, she made a best-personal-fit decision. I am beyond thrilled to say that my daughter has accepted her spot in Otterbein University’s BFA acting program.
Congrats!! We loved Otterbein. It is a great program and school.
Congratulations StringPop!
Yahoooo!!! Congratulations StringPop and daughter!!! Welcome to the Otterbein clan!! 
What a great outcome, congratulations!
Congrats @Stringpop!
@Thespiandad my D was bored at Rider. For the money you pay, the food is horrible and the dorms are run down. The grounds are kept beautiful though. The campus police must be super bored because they literally look for every opportunity to fine the kids. The money they make on fines must surpass ridiculous profit! The musical theatre program is basic. She actually went in as a freshman being placed in their highest dance class. Where is the challenge… this IS college right? Just not happy and VERY glad she’s leaving.
thanks @dreamsiklz my son decided to attend marrymount manhattan
Congrats to you and your son @Thespiandad! Is he an incoming freshman at MMC or already a student there?
incoming in the fall @thestage603 – he cannot wait
@Thespiandad, so exciting! My Son can’t wait to be at MMC too!
congratulations @Thespiandad I wish your son all the success!!
Congratulations thestage603!
@Thespiandad Congratulations! My son was looking at a few schools and has decided on MMC too. @thestage603 - MMC came through and we put the deposit down for MMC last night. Let me know which Griffin Day you will be attending.
Congratulations @DadofNJActingSon!! I believe my son signed up for the Griffin Day on June 20th
My daughter will be at the last Griffin Day.
congrats to all of the MMC kids - we will be at the Griffin Day on the 20th as well
My DD officially committed to Oklahoma City University, BFA Acting. We’re all VERY excited!!! I can’t tell you how glad I am this whole process is over. Its been more than a year with audition preparation and college fairs. PHEW!!
DD officially committed to Boston Conservatory / BFA Contemporary Theater. Couldn’t be more thrilled for her!