<p>So true. You should be able to get the training you need at one of those 4 places and may still get into a few more. Don’t panic. And if you look over the list of acceptances you will see that most are not to the tippy-top programs.</p>
<p>It is my understanding that in a BFA MT world whether you are 18 or 38, college or not you start as a freshman. But please DO investigate thoroughly.</p>
<p>It depends from school to school but I think that’s true at most. Sometimes students can transfer in as sophomores (only at some schools). At CCU, transfer students are placed on an individial bases- usually determined by what types a class might already have. Ex: a boy transfered in to my class our sophomore year because we needed another male in the class for balance.</p>
<p>Even if you have to begin again in a musical theatre program as a freshman, taking core/general education classes such as English/foreign language/etc can be beneficial in the future- freeing up credits and time fof non required theatre classes you might want to take. A lot of programs accept standaed core classes for credit. And usually its cheaper af a community college anyway!</p>
<p>My son was home schooled and started taking community college classes when he was 15. He also took a year after graduation to remain enrolled at the community college for the 1st semester, concentrated on auditions 2nd semester (w/out taking classes) and took classes over the summer before heading to his BFA program. He was still considered a Freshman because his conservatory program is a 4 year program regardless how much you transfer in. However, he has only had to take one 3-hour general education class at his current school. While other were taking Psychology and English Lit or Composition, he was doing things like…eating lunch between classes. He kept saying, “I don’t have to take this class.” and I would correct him by saying, “No. You already ‘took’ that class.” </p>
<p>Our son transfered in 34 credit hours at 82.00 an hour as opposed to 1,076.00 per hour if he had not transfered credits. Not all of them transfered, but we saved at least 12,000.00 right up front. We could not have afforded it if not for his grants, scholarships, and the transfer grades. (What am I saying? We stilll cant “afford” it, we are just in debt less.)</p>
<p>Credit for DE classes or summer classes will not prevent you from being considered for BFA MT programs as a freshman. The credits are subject to the university accepting them as credits for gen ed. No classes (for MOST BFA programs) in theatre/MT will transfer to take the place of a class within the major. For example, if you took Theatre 101 at XYZ College, it may transfer as a credit but not towards your major. You will have to repeat Theatre 101 in the correct sequence at your BFA transfer school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information everyone!
I have also taken AP/dual enrollment classes, and will most likely have 25-35 credits after this semester already, including courses in math, english, psychology, philosophy, political science, american history, european history, etc. That has been a blessing to take those classes and get some credits out of the way.</p>
<p>So, I guess what I would ask now is IF I were to take next year as a “gap year” (go to community college, train/take classes as much as I can, work to earn as much money as possible, then audition for schools in the winter/spring), I would be joining a musical theatre program as a first year, but I would just have these gen-eds out of the way in order to take more classes/take on a minor/have more free time? I’m still a little confused. I guess it would also depend on the school, but is that mostly what you all are saying?</p>
<p>Also, would I necessarily have to go to a community college? Could I enroll on the state university 20 minutes from my home, and still “transfer” into a MT program as a first year?</p>
<p>I’m not sure there’s a one-size-fits-all answer to this, steamed; I think you need to research each school thoroughly. </p>
<p>Maybe doing the research will give you something to think about while you’re waiting for the rest of your admissions results! That could help burn off some of the anxiety. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>You might want to read last year’s thread: “Current first semester freshman interested in transferring to a BFA program. Help?” which was started by AthenaL. It covers some of this topic with respect to are you applying as a freshman or not with college credits earned during a gap year or prior to applying to a BFA. Sorry I don’t know how to link it. I’m sure there are also many other threads on the subject but finding them is a job for EmsDad… superhero cape and all. :)</p>
<p>If I may be so bold as to chime in here as the parent of a working actor who graduated from a BFA last May:
May I suggest that people put way too much emphasis on <em>which</em> school they are attending, as if there is some magic place where everything is perfect and if only they can get accepted there and matriculate there, they will definitely be successful when they graduate. Problem is, it isn’t true – not by a long shot.
Yes, having a showcase and a strong alumni network can help you springboard into professional life when you graduate, but the hard truth is, not every (perhaps not even most) students who graduate from programs who have that is successful in landing good jobs in the short (and even long) run.
The important thing, in my view, is to make the most of whatever educational experience you have to become the best performer you can be, because the biggest thing you will take away from any college training experience is yourself, not the showcase or the alumni and so on.
Plus – and sorry to mention this, but it is a hard business – you cannot be sure that if you audition again next year that your outcome will be any better, and it could be less good in the end. You could end up with fewer choices, in other words.
I wish you the very best.</p>
<p>I agree with NotMamaRose.</p>
<p>My dear one. Please breathe. Four acceptances is phenom! We have been waitlisted for two schools and still waiting for one, ONE acceptance. My daughter auditioned for many schools and had very positive experiences at most. We are feeling extremely discouraged and down about this whole process. My D gets cast in professional shows so it is such a crazy ride!!</p>
<p>The path is already planned. The answer will come to you. Hang in there!!</p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptances. :)</p>
<p>NotMama and Soozie, you are voices from the future! Would love to know if you or your child would do anything differently if you had it to do all over again, knowing what you know now.</p>
<p>Here is the thread about transferring into an MT program after time at another university or a gap year. Found it with help from the clues given above, and I don’t even have a cape! Hope it is useful!
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1396919-current-first-semester-freshman-interested-transferring-bfa-program-help.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1396919-current-first-semester-freshman-interested-transferring-bfa-program-help.html</a></p>
<p>Brilliant NotMamaRose, but then you always are! </p>
<p>Calliene - I think both NotMamaRose and SoozieVT kids are both so far removed from the original process that it may not be a realistic question. My daughter is currently a college MT senior and I neither remember nor care to remember what happened her senior year in high school. What seems so monumental and insurmountable senior year in high school fades for almost all by their second term of Freshman year in college, most kids couldn’t see themselves being anywhere else.</p>
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<p>In my D’s case (this is also true of my D who did not go into theater actually too), I think now that she has been through college, that she truly found the perfect fit school for HER. It is not about finding the “best school” but the best one for what you want and where you will thrive (from among the offers you are given). She truly loved her four years at her school and seems really happy to have gone there. The connections she made there continue on and she has stayed in the same city since graduating as well. As a parent, that’s really all i would want for my kid. I don’t think the name of your school is as important as enjoying the experience and gaining a great deal from it. Chart your own path. </p>
<p>Anyway, I haven’t heard my D ever talk about any regrets or wishing she had done anything differently regarding college admissions or college itself. I do recall that in December of her admissions year, when several friends had gotten into NYU/Tisch Early Decision, she was upset that she had not done ED and could maybe have been done with college admissions early, but we had chosen for her not to do ED because she had not seen enough schools yet to be certain that NYU was her first choice, even though she had wanted to go there since age 12. She applied to college in her junior year of high school and we had only seen four schools and so did Regular Decision and saw all 8 of her schools in person and so when she finally did get into NYU/Tisch in March of that year, she had come full circle and did choose to go but I feel her decision was more informed at that point.</p>
<p>I also agree with amtc that while you and your kid are in the thick of college admissions right now, and all this seems sooooooo important and monumental, it won’t matter much of all come this time next year when your kid is hopefully happily settled in their new school, wherever that may be.</p>
<p>djexpress - I am impressed by your grace. I will not say how many rejections my D got before her one acceptance, but let’s just say it was plenty, and we were actively considering her non-audition options. I assume you still have some schools to hear from, so there is still real hope your child could end up with an acceptance. This is a crazy process!</p>
<p>steamedartichoke - I commiserate with you. I am worried that the one school my daughter is accepted into may not be the best fit, but will encourage her to explore the option fully with an open mind and heart. I agree with everyone who has posted in this thread about finding a way to adjust to your current options. Avoid the misperception that only the “top tier” (??) schools are worth attending and that you are any less talented, or that the non top tier options will offer worse training. Focus on the options you have. If you can be open when doing your research, visit, talk to current students and the heads of the program, you may find one you can see attending. If at the end, you just can’t see attending any of these schools, don’t do it. Don’t waste your parents’ money or your own time. It would be a drain on you and everyone around you. However, be prepared that a gap year, or one spent at a local college, will not necessarily open more doors, it could in fact yield fewer options. But the options will be a different path than what is known now. Better? Worse? Who knows?</p>
<p>I told my D as she was receiving her rejections that she only needed one acceptance. It is true, but I might tweak my comment to you only need one that you can get psyched about. Find a way to get psyched!</p>
<p>Steamed…you have a good mix of options among your acceptances: Big and small campuses and both rural and urban. I think that once you carefully weigh and compare your options that you will be very happy with the one you choose. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>To anyone with acceptances - Go visit each school your are seriously considering, stay overnight in a dorm, take a class or two. It will then become clear where you belong.</p>
<p>^Great advice and totally agree! It made a big difference in how my S ranked his choices after visiting his top 3 (out of 7) program acceptances. He’s very happy where he landed, and the shadow day helped clear up a lot for him.</p>
<p>It’s an exciting, stressful time, but in your heart, you’ll know where you belong from among your acceptances. Only a little more than 2 weeks unti April 1st, and Decision Day follows close behind!</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Sent from my SCH-I405 using CC</p>