<p>Binx touched on this in an earlier post, but I just wanted to expand. One of the methods to find out if the school your considering has a need (for a talent/interest your student has) is to communicate with them. We found that talking with department heads, professors, and coaches revealed their needs. Some were impacted, others competitive, while others neutral. </p>
<p>Our son went from not being remembered by the band professor at one school, to being actively recruited. He spent this past year at community college and during that time, the jazz band lost their talented drummer to illness. Fortunately, my son had continued e-mail communications and occasionally travelled to the campus for a performance to stay in touch. He received his acceptance letter in April along with a generous music scholarship, though he will not be a music major.</p>
<p>Sometimes it's just a matter of timing, but active interest and communication with people at the school outside of the admissions office can be productive.</p>