Hi guys!
I was talking to a friend about the stress of auditioning for these schools, who is no way involved in the arts. She was telling me she has a friend whose daughter got into both Julliard and Carnegie Mellon but turned them down to go to Northeastern for more academics. I told her I don’t believe it! She insists. Does anyone think it’s possible to get into those schools (plus many others) and turn them all down? If she hadn’t said Julliard I might have believed it! But would anybody go to the call back weekend and go through all the auditions and turn them all down? I know I should just say "really how fabulous! but for some reason this irks me. Any thoughts how to handle these kind of remarks?
I feel she is either having her leg pulled or I’m being played with. Or maybe this does happen? Julliard and CMU for acting not musical theatre.
Possible ?
Could friend have meant northwestern rather than northeastern? I could absolutely see a person who decided that they wanted a college experience rather than a conservatory one (while Juilliard totally is, and CMU essentially is) making that choice- after all, Northwestern’s theater program is top notch- and it’s a heck of a college too…
Not knocking Northeastern’s academics etc btw- but I have seen/heard a number of people confuse the two schools - and that would be a more logical application for a high stats theater kid
Do you think it’s possible for someone to get into Julliard and Carnegie Mellon and Oberlon and Elon and Emerson et? I am so stressed and so worried about getting into one good school that seems statistically impossible. Maybe I am just over sensitive? Just really? Who goes through the whole audition process and callbacks of Julliard and doesn’t want a conservatory experience?
I suppose it is possible - but not probable. We know kids that got into several good programs but maybe only one “top tier” school (CMU, LAMDA, Juilliard, UNCSA, etc) or, more likely, none of the very “top” schools. . We do know a few who got into two of these top schools but most only got one if they were lucky.
I would be a bit skeptical myself. However, I suppose anything is possible.
I also agree that if it was northwestern that makes sense as it is also a very good Program and a great university in general.
I would also say it is possible to get several overall acceptances at schools such as Elon, Emerson, etc.
I have a few friends who have turned down Carnegie Mellon and other “top schools” for various reasons. It really just does depend. I also have a few friends from my graduating high school class that went through the audition process, got into fabulous schools, and then decided to major in psychology, marine biology, take gap years, etc. People sometimes change their minds or aren’t entirely sure what they want before entering the audition process.
As for Juilliard, I do know of one person who turned them down. He went to a performing arts high school, and decided he just wanted to explore other things in life before locking himself down in a conservatory.
Also don’t be stressed about statistics! If you worry about numbers, you’ll drive yourself nuts. Everything is sooooo subjective, and even though it’s all competitive, no one can bring what you specifically can bring. You’ll be fine!!!
And if it happened, a deciding factor may have been finances. If cost is a consideration, be sure to run the Net Price Calculator.
Yes , who knows? I guess it just seemed like winning the lotto twice in one week and turning it down. I was just reacting from my point of view which is overwhelmed with this process. Thanks guys… Feeling better. It apparently was a few years ago.
If I have learned anything after going through this process twice and keeping up with these boards, it is this – anything is possible! There are families on these boards who have turned down CMU for other programs. I agree with @entertainersmom - cost could have been a factor!
That’s what I was thinking @artskids. Seems like every permutation of everything has happened to someone…but not very many people turn down CMU. I think Julliard is worse for financial aid, though, isn’t it?
Well now that I pressed and told her the odds, it turns out oops! she was wrong it wasn’t Julliard. Just CMU and many others and money was no issue they paid. I honestly think this “friend” overheard me saying two hardest schools and just wanted to stick it to me for some reason. ( like maybe made it up …) that’s why I wanted to call her on it… Thanks guys. This process is overwhelming enough without “friends” trying to demean.
It’s kind of like having a baby…everybody’s got an opinion, but don’t listen to the people you wouldn’t listen to anyway. Hang in there.
Yes… That great saying… You can’t move forward if you are looking side to side.
Yes and I am beating a dead horse here, but I’m usually not that sensitive but several other remarks were made (about sons college, husbands hair , daughters car et et ) that aren’t relevant here. So I just decided to time to call her on some of it…
I think you have all experienced some of what I am talking about.