My S is looking at around 16 schools right now. Just wondering how many schools other MT kids are planning to apply to for class of 2024?
We are on the other side of auditions, but I will say it not only depends on the number but how balanced the list is. So just make sure the list isn’t all top 25. Most schools are competitive but a mix of reaches, regional fits and a couple of safeties is a good balance. Break all the legs!
Also just on the other side of this and I agree with MTSongbirdMom - the balance of the list may be more important than the actual number. And most important of all is being deliberate and reflective about schools that he would actually be happy to attend. This seems like an easier thing to consider from this side of the process but in retrospect, there were a handful of schools my son could have eliminated from his list because they were the wrong fit, rankings aside. If we had to do it again, I would limit the applications to 15.
I agree w @MTSongbirdMom and @mindatwork re: a balanced list. If the list is top school heavy, then you probably need many more schools, but if the list has more lesser known schools on it, then you probably won’t need quite as many. Unfortunately, it’s all so individual, that there I don’t think there is an exact number or even range to apply to.
I think the range of school apps for the class of 2023 was between 4 and 30+. (I did not go back to check…so my memory may be off on this).
What we found to be not so easy is truly determining the schools your student would be happy to attend…bc on paper, and on websitbe the school may be exactly what you’re looking for, however, we found that the visits, along with the auditions & how the auditioners interacted (both on and off campus), told us much more re: whether my S would be happy to attend. That’s not to say there was anything ‘wrong’, just personal preference.
Agree with everyone else about a balanced list, but also have a non-audition safety that your S would actually want to attend! No auditioned program is a safety, even if it’s one that is seen as “easier” to get in. Every year there are stories of people who have been accepted at traditionally more difficult schools and not accepted by the “easier” ones. Also, if you can schedule some fall auditions with schools that have rolling admissions, if he doesn’t have good results, he can always add schools. And then there are also walk-ins at Unifieds. Overall, 16 schools should be plenty if the list is balanced.
And agree 1000% about how schools look on paper vs. your child’s experience. Both of my Ds had schools on their lists that were in their top 3 that they took off completely after auditioning. Both of the schools are great programs with students who love them, they just weren’t the right places for my Ds. What your S will like/dislike will be completely individual for him.
Also , do people think having a broader list at this time of year AND seeing how many pre screens you pass makes sense? seems more and more schools are adding pre screens and the % passing seemsed to vary widely…Id be nervous only going into Pre screens w 15 and potentially “only” having 10 auditions? am i crazy?
@NYYFanNowMTdad - adjusting your list based on prescreen results is a very viable approach to the process. Adding new auditions to backfill prescreen rejections makes perfect sense. Also, adding walk-in additions at Unifieds is another way to increase your odds - many times students find programs that are great fits through walk-in auditions.
Would love people’s thoughts on non-audition “safeties” that are good schools on their own but with a really good MT or theatre department. For example, I have heard Tulane is one of these type of schools and I would love to know more to add to the list. I’m guessing most would be BA in Theatre programs rather than BFA MT? I only mean “safety” in that they are non-audition.
@cgn626 here is a link to a list of colleges by program type.
We are expanding the list with “backfill” schools to cover prescreen schools. After prescreens we would like to be around 12. He is looking at a wide range of schools in the top 25 and others. In Louisiana, so limited local schools and he would prefer to go away from home. His list is BW, CCM, TXST, U of Arizona, Otterbein, Ball State, Rider, MSM, Point Park, Marymount Manhattan, Montclair St., Pace, Molloy/Cap21, Pace, Hartt, Webster. Also considering Wright St, Wagner, U of Arts. Any other suggestions?.
@MTDad2024 - In order to have a balanced list, don’t forget to have a least one safety (non-audition school) on your list that he would be happy to attend.
@MTDad2024 I echo the earlier suggestion to make sure you have at least least one or two non audition safeties And there are a wide range of different campus/program types in the list so in an effort to save money make sure those are all schools your son would be happy attending and not just on there based on reputation. U Alabama Birmingham has a pretty outstanding program at a great school imho if it isn’t too close.
A non-audition safety may not be an “acceptable” choice for all students. For my d, making her apply to an non-audition safety school was a waste of time, she would not have attended if that were her only choice. She would have taken a gap year and re-auditioned. I did make her apply to one, but she did so more or less “under protest.” Looking back, I wish I would not have insisted that she apply to a program in which she had zero interest.
Of course, for other students, this may be a great plan.
@MTDad2024 - if you are considering Ball State and Wright State, then I would also look at Western Michigan, MIssouri State, and perhaps Kent State. For more info on Western Michigan, see this thread: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/western-michigan-university-mt/1809907-why-my-d-chose-western-michigan-p1.html
I will second points made by both @MTSongbirdMom and @EmsDad We made the mistake of making my son apply to a non-audition safety. If he had not gotten in anywhere else, I don’t think he would have gone. He applied just to appease me. So I agree - it’s not for everyone, but it’s a good idea if your kid can find one they would truly be happy to attend if all else failed. Additionally, as noted above, there are a lot of differences in the schools. My son applied to several schools based on reputation and cursory research that I don’t think he ever would have attended due to - the school not being in an area of the country he wanted to be in or size of the university, etc. I know we spent a bunch of money on applications and audition fees for schools that my son would never have attended when all was said and done. It pays to get them to really research and be introspective about what they want. (Good luck. I was clearly not successful here!) We did not visit campuses before applying due to cost of traveling all over the place, but I wish we had walked through some college campuses within driving distance during his Junior year just so he would have gotten a feel for what he liked and didn’t like.
@EmsDad Western Michigan is one I have looked at and am trying to get him to research. Thanks.
If your list is balanced and appropriate, you don’t need to audition for 20+ schools. Throw in two or three top tier just to see how it plays out, but then work on really finding your fit. We auditioned for fifteen because that seemed to be the magic number. She was accepted to 7, waitlisted at 6, and got a no from 2. But we spent hours creating what we felt was a very balanced list. Be realistic in your child’s skill set and target those that will appreciate them!
Good luck class of 2024! It’s a wild ride. My daughter (class of 23) applied to 13 audition schools. 1 non audition safety school. It was crazy. She was accepted at 3, waitlisted at 2. Ended up going to a waitlist school. I do think the list of schools is important. The best advice I could give is be organized, start early, pick good material and start those stupid prescreens early. Wishing your kiddo the best experience.
One thing we learned was to capitalize on the kid’s strengths. For us personally, this meant investing in auditions at schools that are not traditionally dance-centric.
@MTDad2024 Agree with others that you may want to add in either/both some lesser known/up & coming and perhaps safety schools to the list. I second @MTSongbirdMom’s suggestion of UAB! Some others to research may be Western CT State U, Coastal Carolina, Florida Southern, Ohio Northern & Viterbo.