<p>I just wanted to add that students may make the decisions but they are buffeted by opinions on all sides. Parents have their own agendas, based on things like price, nearness to home, reputation, job prospects, and so on (present company not excepted). Then there are the high school teachers and counselors. One of these apologized to me for hoping my D would choose a particular school just because the high school had not yet placed anyone in that theater program. And, as if the feedback from adults were not enough, the internet gives students daily access to old friends, friends of friends, people they met at auditions, enrolled students, etc.</p>
<p>I mention this because I imagine other people’s opinions play a big role in the decision to accept or decline a school with a great reputation—such as UCLA. I can easy imagine any of the above parties saying,“Well, but, you can’t turn down UCLA!”</p>