@Papertrope - Congratulations to you for making it through! And to your D for finding her perfect fit.
@mandidnam - Wonderful! My D also had 10 rejections in a row but hers was over 3 months. That must have been a tough 2 weeks but so great she already had Ithaca in her pocket.
Finally, I get to post here!! It’s long, and dramatic (hence the name, lol).
I decided to start this story on April 1st saved on my laptop, hoping to finish the story ASAP. If you asked me a year ago, I assumed it would be finished by this date; the infamous date that most decisions are in by. This year, it had a few other significant events: Easter Sunday, Jesus Christ Superstar Live, and of course, April Fool’s Day. A bittersweet combination. For us, utterly confusing and scary. In a few hours, we’ll be heading out to see the relatives, where we have to come up with an answer to “where will she be going to college?”, while avoiding feelings of anger, tears, and the ever-popular “how could you let her apply to so many schools that are so hard to get into”, mixed with a dash of “but she was so good in her musical; she was the lead!!”
Now I’ll go back to the beginning:
Training: Attends an Arts HS, that is highly competitive for acceptances. MT is an elective, and it is a daily class plus rehearsals after hours. Acting: she is a drama ‘major’, taking 2.5 periods of acting per day x 4 years). Started taking community acting/MT classes in 5th grade but was acting and singing around the house for her whole walking/talking life. Had a special affinity for Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan and Annie on dvd. Dance: started in toddlerhood (but is not at all a triple threat- she really wanted the acting instead, so at age 10, she switched to acting/MT classes). She ‘gets by’; makes it though dance calls and often got cast in community productions in ensemble tracks, where she needed to dance. Vocal: very intermittent private lessons from grades 5-8th, then fairly consistently since sophomore year. Not petite, not a blonde or brunette soprano. She is an alto/mezzo soprano with a hefty belt. Tends to play the more “motherly” roles (among them: Sour Kangaroo, Mrs. Potts, Mrs. Paroo, and this year Mother in Ragtime). She has grown a lot with her voice teacher and has been able to branch out of just being a belter, but definitely has owned her typecast.
Productions: it took her years to land a lead. Senior year, to be exact. Ensemble, then featured, leading up to this year. Was never considered a big fish in any size body of water she treaded in. But her work ethic is impeccable (I won’t be humble about that strength of hers). Took every single role very seriously and doesn’t rest until she feels perfect. She is very hard on herself. Her dedication was very much noticed by her drama/MT teacher in HS. Got the lead in the drama production (play) this year as well.
To be continued…
Coach: her MT/drama teacher, private voice teacher, who did help with organizing audition/coaching sessions with her peers in the industry (we are in NY, she is an NYU alum, and knows a lot of people). I honestly didn’t feel the need to spend more money on the names I’ve seen here. All of the above people felt she was well prepared.
Summer intensives: Triple Arts (2017), and various summer workshops in NYC throughout the years (ranging from one day to one week). Triple Arts was a great taste of ‘college life’ and an intense theatre education, while not falling in love with a particular school (she had no interest in WCU- too removed for us). It also built her confidence in dance (Charlotte D’Amboise is a queen!!).
Prescreens- Syracuse, Ithaca, CMU, Michigan, Pace. Passed all but Syracuse. Great confidence booster (especially Ithaca, because of the dance pre-screen).
Additional applications/auditions: Juilliard, NYU Tisch, SUNY Purchase, Cortland and New Paltz, Montclair, Wagner, Marymount. We held off on AMDA, deciding that she’d do it if she needed to.
Academic acceptances: Marymount, Pace, Wagner, Cortland, Montclair. New Paltz seemed to fallen into the abyss.
Live auditions on campus: Ithaca, CMU, Michigan, Pace, Juilliard, Tisch, Wagner. Purchase done in NYC during weekend of Unifieds. No auditions at Unifieds (we tried to avoid it, and most spots were full anyway). No audition spots left at Marymount, so she submitted digitally. Life (meaning tech, the musical, a cold brewing, other auditions and sheer exhaustion) got in the way of her submitting audition paperwork on time for Montclair. I didn’t press the issue; it wasn’t her priority, and we didn’t think we’d need it. Cortland scheduled for mid-April, with the hope that we wouldn’t need it (notice a trend here?).
Waitlist: Marymount (was notified within two weeks of submitting video) for both acting and MT).
Rejected to all others that she auditioned for (many of which included the acting option as well), with one redirect (Wagner). CMU, Michigan and Ithaca hurt the most. Then, basically praying daily for NYU (since this one was the last of her schools to release, and she knew they took a larger number). But no dice there.
Audition notes: Two of the adjudicators commented on her HS (that had alumni currently in their programs). Multiple schools asked her where else she had applied to, commenting favorably on her acting (and asking if she was auditioning for acting too). Some said absolutely nothing to her. Some said “good” after her songs, a couple commented on the current roles she was cast in (lead in both the musical and the play at school) and how the roles suited her. One even sent her into the infamous ‘other room’ (where the more known adjudicator was seeing kids). I never saw my kid walk out of an audition so happy (you can figure it out, based on previous discussions in other threads). Dance calls ranged from “okay” to “not too bad”, to “OMG, I am so not getting in”.
Commence Plan B. “How we spent spring break”. Applying for four more schools (AMDA, U Arts, The New School, Molloy Cap21), after confirming that they would still accept applications/auditions. One was expedited and done during the break, two submitted by video (even though they have already accepted students, but would consider her anyway), and one with a live audition date in mid May. Apparently, this is going to linger longer than we had anticipated (unless an acceptance comes in before that, but definitely not getting hopes up). Then comes a big envelope from New Paltz shows up (not at all enthused at this point, as they took forever for the academic acceptance, which is all this was). Booked the hotel for Cortland, because we need to go, and re-touring our waitlist option, accompanied by a visit to an admissions counselor, to hear that you just need to wait to be called off. This, after two emails to the theatre department, expressing continued interest. She wasn’t giving up, but still felt like all of these options may be another set of rejections. A brief mention of a gap year, initiated by her. I told her we’ll discuss that if we have to, but my big concern is her ability to self-structure the time. She thrives on routine. She agreed. A few weeks earlier, she said she felt like that plan is very ‘grown up’. But for this to work, it has to be in her hands; I’m done scheduling her activities.
April 12-14th: while getting ready for one of the safeties (that we had scheduled months ago), she gets two acceptances, and a callback for a ‘real’ audition (that was on Friday the 13th!!!).
One school we know nothing about, so I need to do all the virtual legwork, while she prepares for the callback (which, if she got, would put the entire college process on hold). Enough of about MY feelings…
Acceptances: AMDA (4/12), U Arts (4/14: same day as Cortland audition; dad Facetimed us while opening the envelope), Cortland (4/16).
In less than a week she went from zero to three, one of which was never on her radar to begin with. Three very different options: an ‘acting school’ with good training (she had no issues with this as an option to get what she wanted out of a program) but no BFA option in NY, a BA program in a rural, ‘regular college’ setting (with sports and Greek life that she never expressed an interest in), and an Arts college in a city, with all arts kids and a BFA program.
After visiting U Arts (nine days ago!!), I thought she was convinced, but she wasn’t. Maybe it was cold feet, maybe it was “this is all happening so fast”, maybe it was “a week ago I had no options and thought I’d be at home doing a gap year”. Some of it was the financial burden we’d be taking on (she got a nice scholarship, but it would still be more than the state school option, which). She was still holding out for the Waitlist school. Released from WL on 4/23. A blessing honestly; one less to decide from.
She never followed up on New Paltz, The New School and CAP 21. We can finally say she “didn’t need to”.
While still deciding (and me thinking I know which she will choose), I ordered the sweatshirt, praying that it will arrive on time. It did 
and she’ll be wearing it on Tuesday .
Final Decision: University of the Arts, Musical Theatre.
My final two thoughts; Never underestimate the power of a video submission. It was the same pieces that got her through to four prescreens, and her one and only waitlist. Also, the schools you (or your child) think are the right ones in sophomore, junior or even the fall of senior year may not be the one your child ends up in. It could be the one that was never on your radar until about a month before you commit.
Biggest regrets: No early auditions, to possibly secure a yes. And at least one non-audition safety. I underestimated her ability to get in academically to a school that didn’t look at artistic ability.
And, a huge thanks to all of you who kept me sane during this process!! You know who you are 
Okay, well…here we go! This journey has been nothing but ups and downs like a rollercoaster! I have absolutely loved the extra time I have been able to spend with my D during the process, but to say it wasn’t beyond stressful would not be true. But she has landed at her dream school and we are so happy for her…but honestly, it didn’t look like that was going to happen.
Training: Private Voice lessons since the age of 9. Dance lessons through elementary school and then periodic tap, jazz classes throughout middle school and a few during high school. She was part of local intensive program for 2 years which included voice/acting/dance.
D has been involved in over 30 musicals, starting at our church. Incidentally the man who directed and wrote all of those musicals went on to NYU/Tisch and is now a music director/composer in New York! She continued with community theatre, reputable Kid’s programs in the area, high school performances(She did not attend a performing arts school…we do not have any in our area), and she was cast in a few professional theatre productions. She had ensemble roles and lead roles. It really varied. She always seemed to be in a production year round and there wasn’t much time for dance classes or acting classes due to rehearsal schedules. She got exceptional training in acting/dance and vocal training with almost each production she was in. Especially the Professional theatre experiences. Being taught and directed by those who have been on Broadway was excellent.
Coach: None(In hindsight, we would’ve gotten a coach…we just didn’t know…)
Programs applied to(first round): Ithaca, Texas State, Rider, TCU, Pace, Penn State, Point Park, Montclair, Roosevelt/CCPA, BoCo, University of Arizona, UArts, University of Hartford,
Prescreens: Ithaca, Texas State, Rider, TCU, Pace, Penn State(Only passed Ithaca and TCU…which caused a bit of panic from the beginning)
We went to NYC Unifieds and LA Unifieds. D is doing Running Start/College in high school and the local community college did not look kindly on her taking a week off for auditions, so we had to choose the auditions that were mostly over weekends. We had to eliminate any schools that had on campus auditions only. We just couldn’t afford to travel to all of them. D only had three auditions scheduled in NYC due to the prescreen “No’s”, so she did a few walk ins at LIU-Post and Otterbein. Otterbein was at the end of the last day and they only let her sing one 16 bar cut and she was done. She knew that one wasn’t going anywhere.
LA Unifieds was a busier schedule. She had heard from LIU-Post by then and they wanted to chat with her some more, so we scheduled the interview for LA. Unfortunately, they had taken way too many walk-ins that day and couldn’t fit her in even though she had a scheduled interview time. That frustrated us and we thought we were done with them, but while we were in LA, she got her first acceptance to LIU-Post MT BFA! We were shocked! She had not even applied to the school yet. But…it was a great confidence booster.
She auditioned for UofA, Hartt, TCU, Point Park, Ithaca and BoCo while in LA. Overall, she enjoyed all of the auditions with each school. The only one she didn’t get a good feeling from was Ithaca. I appreciated the schools that had parent sessions to talk about their schools. I wish all of the schools did that! We had toured University of Arizona while visiting a friend in Arizona last fall and the professors and kids were so nice and inviting. She loved this program. The BoCo dance call had a bit of free styling along with the dance they learned. Even with her limited dance experience, she thought it was fun! During her voice/acting audition with BoCo…they asked her to freestyle a jazz dance while reciting one of her monologues. She knew she just needed to go with the flow, so she took off her heels and had a good time with it.
When we got home, she decided to go ahead and submit her application to LIU-Post.
Academically, she was accepted to all schools.
Then the No’s started to roll in…10 in a row…by the middle/end of March she had only 2 schools to hear from. Panic set in. So…she decided to apply to a few more programs and send them video auditions(her pre-screen, which she wasn’t thrilled with…but she didn’t have time to record anything else).
Programs applied to(Second Round and all video auditions): Ohio Northern, Belmont, Nebraska Wesleyan, Lipscomb and Western Michigan
Acceptances(All MT BFA): LIU-Post, Lipscomb, Nebraska Wesleyan, and BoCo
Re-Directs to BA MT programs at TCU and UofA
Rejected from all others(U of A and TCU hurt the worst. She really felt like she connected with the panel/professors).
When the BoCo Acceptance came in on April 1st, the pure joy in our D’s eyes was amazing and beautiful! And the relief! This was always her dream school…since she was 12. Yes, we know its pricey, and we did not get any financial aid help or merit…even with an appeal. We will do what we have to do to send her there. Yes, she will have large student loans. After our visit to BoCo a few weeks ago, she was bursting with happiness! Everyone went out of their way to make her feel welcome. She spent two days with current students touring, going to classes and being immersed in their day. D is a singer first, then actor, then dancer. She feels this program will push her in areas that she needs to improve and is one of the most well rounded programs we researched.
FINAL DECISION: Boston Conservatory at Berklee, BFA MT!!
Her late acceptances into Lipscomb and Nebraska Wesleyan were a huge relief. She felt comfortable going to either of these schools if BoCo hadn’t been an option. We were very impressed with everything we had heard and read about NW.
Regrets: APPLY EARLY! It would have been a comfort to have a few early decisions. Don’t wait until the last minute to send in your pre-screens or fill out your applications if no pre-screen is required. Audition slots will be full. Save your $$ and apply to a wide net of schools. Some of the lesser well known programs really sound amazing and I wish we would have done more research on these programs.
@“K&Tmom” Congratulations on D’s acceptance to Boston/Berklee! I agree with you - I wish I would have known about some of these programs earlier and applied WAY earlier - but in the end, I think we would have made the same decision! Many blessings!
I LOVE READING ALL THESE DECISIONS. I feel like I know so much more now than when we started - and wish we had this information to begin with! It’s day before decision day, and I would love to know where everyone landed! After you post your story, please add your COMMITTED COLLEGE to the list of Final Deceisions by College: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/2078282-decision-day-for-mt-class-of-2022-final-decisions-by-college-only.html#latest
Thanks!
@PaperTrope Very well said!
@DramaQueen219 Ah yes the SUNY admission, their loss. Very happy for your D and you on a great school!
@Fergie978 @mezzomother @dramamama2022 @owensfolks @CTDramaMom @HopeinMT @DramaQueen219
Thank you all for the kind words and support! It’s been quite a year! Best of luck to all of you and your kiddos!
@DramaQueen219 - many of us on cc were pulling for your D! So very happy that she landed well. Congratulations!
@K&Tmom - Wow! Saved the best for last. Not great for you nerves or spirit- but so glad it worked out for your D! Congratulations!
@BFAMTMOM, we enjoyed meeting your son as well!
@#booknerdmom Yes, it would have saved us a lot of $$!!
@DramaQueen219 that’s the best part about my D being close to home… getting to see her perform in College!
@onewaytobroadway Congrats, it sounds like you found the perfect fit! Same for @jenniferm1973, @BassTheatreMom, @DramaQueen219, @K&Tmom !!!
@mandidnam, you know I’m thrilled for your D!
Ok…guess it’s our turn…at last!
D has been dancing since she was 3 & has been doing MT and voice lessons intermittently since she was 6 or 7…mostly for fun. For quite some time, her focus was dance and she was part of a competitive dance company since 4th grade. (All aspects of dance training: ballet/pointe, tap, jazz, MT, modern, contemporary, acro…) They let her compete vocally also.
Upon entering high school, she continued dancing competitively and had group voice lessons at school every day. She also took 4 yrs of theater arts and was in the school musical each year. (Managed to land increasingly tougher lead roles each year.) as well as local shows. She competed three times at STANJ through the high school. She truly loves all aspects of the theater - from painting sets, to acting and singing. How many shows was she in total?..I have no idea…never thought to count! I guess quite a few…
So between high-level dance competitions, the STANJ competitions, and being in the NYC area in general, we always had a sense of the tremendous talent out there, where she stood in that talent pool and it really kept her humble and grounded. (And I’m ever so grateful for that!) While accolades from local teachers, friends and family are wonderful to hear, we always knew she was living the whole “big fish, little pond” scenario. Her early high school years lacked the balance needed. She was being stretched too thin with her dance schedule but couldn’t come to terms with taking a break from it. She yearned to be part of school activities but never could participate because she always had to be at the studio. Toward the end of junior year, dance finally took a bit of a back seat in favor of vocal and acting training. She spent last summer doing an amazing regional show as a supporting lead and loved every minute of it.
Senior year has been stressful and wonderful all at the same time…and busy…she now has more time for all the extra-curricular activities that make her a more well rounded person…D has continued with theater arts classes, worked with a new voice teacher AND a new dance studio where she could keep her skill but yet it was casual and not so intense.
And that brings us to the dreaded college application process…given dance has been a part of her life for so long, she only wanted to apply to schools that had an MT program or concentration…
(Up front, I will say that during her Junior year, D visited Emerson, BU, Wagner, Rowan, Catholic and American. They were not a good fit for her for various reasons.)
Applied: CMU, Pace, Rider, Montclair, Millikin, Coastal Carolina, AMDA, Hartt, Elon, BoCo, UArts, Marymount Manhattan, Ithaca, Point Park, and Shenandoah.
Prescreens passed: Pace, Ithaca, Millikin, Coastal Carolina, Rider.
We did some auditions early and some we treated as practice. Early acceptances were a confidence booster and early rejections taught lessons. Tweaked songs and monologues accordingly.
Accepted: AMDA, Marymount Manhattan, Rider, Hartt, Coastal Carolina (BA - we had to cancel BFA audition due to a schedule conflict), Millikin (BA based on video audition).
Withdrew: Fairleigh Dickinson (based on acceptances received)
Waitlists: None (I’m so glad about that!)
Most surprising acceptances: Hartt (just a pleasant surprise after a few rejections in a row) and Millikin (since it was a video audition)
Most disappointing rejections: Point Park and Pace (both of these schools seemingly loved my D…chatted her up and practically kissed her on the lips…only to reject her).
Coach: No. We formed our own team of choreographers, voice teachers and acting teachers and I actually think we created a very balanced list of schools on our own. I think we did ok without a coach really and since we had some exposure to talent and schools, we kind of knew where we stood and what we were after. Where we really could have used help was with the guidance department!
Summer/other programs: mostly workshops (dance workshops, a capella singing, etc) and Arts Days at a local university
Admissions experiences: Best: Marymount Manhattan (promptly answers emails, worked to fit us into audition schedule, very friendly and helpful). Worst: Shenandoah (lost things, slow and unresponsive) (I know others had a pleasant experience with them, but they were completely unprofessional with us.)
Audition experiences: Best: Point Park (so friendly and talked to D privately for about 20 mins after audition). Worst: Montclair (rushed everyone, cut everyone to 1 monologue & 2 songs, accompanist messed up D’s tempo and was completely rude. Accompanist actually bickered with auditors and made D feel awkward and completely uncomfortable. It was a just weird experience.)
Over the last month, she narrowed the field to three (Rider, Hartt and Marymount Manhattan) and visited each before making a final call. She was on her third visit for some! There was something to love about each school and program!
Final decision: University of Hartford/Hartt School, BFA Music Theatre!! After she finally got to visit the campus and was able to shadow a few classes last Thursday, she knew it was the one for her! She was happy with the classes, faculty as well as the connections and opportunities post-college.
Closing thoughts: As always, honesty is the best policy. Honesty with yourself, and honesty for the kids. Do the research and be realistic about the chances of being admitted to ANY school. There are sooooo many talented kids and so few spots. It sometimes just becomes a numbers game. Manage expectations…be humble…have a safety…and maybe a Plan B on your back pocket.
BIG thanks to everyone on CC for their tremendous guidance and support! I’ve been continuously impressed with everyone’s generous and positive spirit!
@DramaQueen219 WOW This is Exciting!! I remember when you guys weren’t sure about any of this anymore. I knew that it would Always work out. It always Works Out!! I’m so incredibly happy for you! I can’t wait to see her on the Big Screen or on Broadway! I have a feeling that she’s going to make it and will be able to tell her story about what happened when she was just starting out. If anyone wants to know what defying the odds, they need to read your story! Congratulations again!
CONGRATS @MThopeful2022!!
Congratulations @MThopeful2022! I love your detailed breakdown of each school experience! My D will be meeting yours at Hartt! (Mine is going for acting, but from what I hear, all the theater kids there become a close-knit family!)
@DramaQueen219, I am SO happy your story had a happy ending! We were all rooting for you! My D loved the accepted student day at UArts - even though she ultimately chose another school, she was blown away by how warm and friendly everyone at UArts was, and how creative the environment was, and the fantastic location on the Avenue of the Arts, and the apartment-style dorm rooms. Your D will have such a great four years!
@actingdreams thank you! You kept telling me it will all work out, but it was hard for me to believe you We can finally breathe a sigh of relief!
@MThopeful2022 Congratulations!! I think all of the Hartt Parents will be able to toast together on move-in day Hope that you all will be able to connect. What a wonderful choice
@actorparent1 she missed the accepted students day, but we did visit, and felt the same way. My d is in a small school environment now, but equally artsy (and also navigates our city fairly well already). Although more of the same, I feel like she ‘knows’ this type of atmosphere and will feel at home there. The apartment thing is really cool, and a little scary (“grown up”) at the same time! Grandma is very excited about that part (shopping and decorating)!
@MThopeful2022 such a great outcome! So happy for you all!