<p>Background: My daughter is a junior in HS. She is interested in technical theatre, no performance. She thinks stage management is her route, but she also has interests in lights, sound, scenic design, etc. I've posted about her average academics, horrendous standardized test taking results, the disability she has in math and her ADD. We know she needs to look at a BFA with a more conservatory type or actual conservatory program. The only thing she can see herself doing is theatre, but I don't think a traditional program that is heavy in core is a good fit for her. We are in Georgia, but we know she will need to look at schools outside our area. From reading other posts, I keep seeing that applying to many schools is a good policy for performance majors, but what about for the tech kids? Where do we draw the line? How many should we really consider? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>At the schools we have visited, we keep hearing that tech students have a much easier road as there not nearly as many kids competing for the spots available. I can’t tell you exactly what it means in terms of number of schools to apply to but the crazy 12-15 applications that many BFA kids to does not seem at all necessary for tech.</p>
<p>Thanks, ActingDad. I had hoped that the 12-15 number was a bit high for tech kids. Now, we have to refine our list.</p>
<p>As you refine your list, hopefully you find a couple of programs with rolling admissions. I know how helpful it was for my D to have some acceptances in the fall. I’m not as familiar with how that works for a tech major, but my guess is there are programs out there where she could apply to the school and the program early and get an answer on acceptances (both academic and portfolio) before the end of the year. Best of luck!</p>
<p>My daughter only applied to 4 schools. She auditioned for only one MT and the rest were for BFA Acting. She got into her top BFA Acting choice and accepted to all the other schools- (1 waitlisted, one she didn’t audition for theatre at all- safety school, and one she got into their BA). She did a lot of research and chose only the schools were she would be happy. That’s an extremely low number. She did audition for 2 other MT programs at NY Unifieds and those were very successful but the schools were way too small for her. My son, who is a rising junior in a BFA Acting program only auditioned for 2 acting programs. He, too, got into his top choice and was waitlisted for the other. He also got into one program for Classical Guitar, and a couple of programs for film/tv. Granted, they went to a performing arts school, but they also took their chances. I’m very proud of the confidence they had in themselves by applying to so little programs but I wouldn’t recommend that for others. My daughter and I met a girl at NY Unifieds who was auditioning for- wait for it- 31 PROGRAMS- 31! That is just way too many. I would love to know where she ends up!</p>
<p>31 auditions? She should reconsider her professions and become an event planner! ;)</p>
<p>Thirty-one auditions!?!? I can’t help but suspect that there are diminishing returns when a student has to rush between so many auditions, and will not be able to take time for callbacks or extended interviews, much less get a sense of the individual schools. I understand wanting to play it safe, but I think most students can do that with a much smaller number.</p>
<p>I spoke to the girl and her dad in the elevator. The dad said some of the programs were MT and some were VP. All I could think was the money involved in all those applications and auditions. I was thinking that would be at least $3000!</p>
<p>My tech theater kid applied to 8 schools. Originally, she chose 5 but we insisted on a few more. Of course, better safe than sorry, we’re her parents so we worry, but as I’ve written elsewhere on this forum, she didn’t need safeties for her safeties. She was not a stellar student but she was accepted everywhere. Of course, It had something to do with her winning personality, her portfolio, her passion for the theater, and also the fact that she applied to a number of generalist majors (e.g., Theater Arts) in specialist programs (BFA in Theater) but ALSO I think she was accepted because there were enough slots to go around.</p>
<p>I noticed the same thing as ActingDad–tech theatre seems a bit less competitive than bfa theatre (good for tech theatre!). </p>
<p>You don’t mention about money, however. If you are lucky enough to be able to not worry about the college payments (which can now be upwards of $60,000!!!), then wonderful. However, if you need to budget, then I would strongly encourage to your D apply to at least 10 schools, particularly as her academics aren’t so strong. </p>
<p>I had my kids apply to 10-15 schools even though we are not well off (we did get some financial considerations in applying). THis is because we had two hurdles: 1) getting in 2) affording it. If you apply and get in to several schools, you can then negotiate or at the very least, be able to consider cost as a factor. </p>
<p>My D didn’t apply to several BFA programs because their financial aid/scholarship programs were very weak. On the flip side, some programs are very strong and/or they have a bargain tuition (relatively speaking). </p>
<p>If you apply to a small number of schools you can be fortunate and get in to a great program that will give a great scholarship, but your chances are much much lower. I viewed the applications as an investment.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your responses. </p>
<p>Finances are most definitely a concern. We have the same hurdles as connections: 1) getting in and 2) affording it. I can certainly understand viewing the applications as an investment. I just want to make sure we are covering all our bases. </p>
<p>Going in our favor is her extreme devotion to theatre and her ability to express that devotion. We are continuing to work on the portfolio and clean up the prompt books. </p>
<p>I’m also trying to decide how many and which ones we will actually be able to go visit. Some of the schools are quite a distance from Georgia, so I don’t know how many are financially feasible to visit. I know it’s important to visit schools, but I can’t imagine how we could visit them all. </p>
<p>Next question, once she makes a final list of schools, is it acceptable to post a list here and ask for feedback? I’d love to get opinions on her picks, if possible.</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>More than acceptable, ugadog99! That’s what this forum is all about. :)</p>
<p>Just a quick thought. When you’re looking for money, it’s important to let schools know there is a good chance you will attend and they are not just an afterthought. If you can’t visit, your daughter should call to ask questions and get to know the admissions people.</p>
<p>Another quick thought. I agree with “connections” about financial safeties but, again, once you find a school you can afford with a student profile that more than fits your daughter, you don’t need more than one. We looked at state and community colleges in our state and in nearby states with reciprocity.</p>
<p>Just to clarify about financial safeties–there are two types. The first is the type that is a great deal for everyone, eg community colleges, good in state tuition, etc. The second is the type that has the resources to offer a generous scholarship (need and/or merit). For all three of my children, we ended up at an otherwise expensive college that was able to offer generous aid, need/merit combined, or just merit. This is what I meant when I talked about expanding your options. It’s a great idea to apply to an in state reasonable college (we did, for all three). But bear in mind that many colleges offer scholarships/grants based on a combination of need and merit, how much they want you, what you can offer to them, what their policy is about need, etc. If you apply to a larger number of colleges, you definitely increase your chances to be awarded such a scholarship. Not guaranteed, by any means, but at least increased.</p>
<p>As to your other questions–We didn’t visit some colleges as cost was prohibitive. We did visit colleges <em>after</em> acceptance and/or for auditions. If you live in Georgia, and your finances are limited, you will not be able to visit a lot of colleges beforehand. However, we did find a lot of info online and my D was able to screen out or include some based on that.</p>
<p>Again, thank you all for your information. As to visiting the colleges, we will be able to visit those in North and South Carolina plus Florida. The ones further away will have to wait until (or if) she’s accepted. We are spending a lot of time on the colleges’ websites, though. </p>
<p>We do have two in state public schools on the list. One is because it is the “best” theatre college in our state and the other is a non audition BFA. Both of these will have the benefit of in state tuition and perhaps a portion of HOPE. There is also an in state private school on her list that partners wtih a local theatre group to offer a BFA. </p>
<p>Thankfully, I’ve been down the financial aid route with my older daughter. All of her choices were at private schools, and she received quite a bit of aid from them all. She ultimately decided on Emory just because the package was so good. (But then changed majors and schools, but that is an entirely different story…) So, my younger one is also applying to those schools who have a higher price tag but also have more to give in terms of financial aid. </p>
<p>She finishes her junior year next week, and we will be spending the summer getting applications done, visiting the schools we can, and narrowing her list. </p>
<p>Thanks again for all the advice!</p>