Just so you know you’re not alone here is a list of schools that have rejected DD so far either prescreen or final audition.
Elon
Michigan
Pace
CCM
BoCo
Penn St
Emerson
Shenandoah
UArts
Rider
Belmont
OCU
Fordham/Ailey (Dance)
Won’t list the schools where she may still be under consideration but there are about an equal number.
Wouldn’t be able to get through this without my CC peeps. Your support has been tremendous and your suggestions invaluable. Thanks to all y’all!
So far, here’s where I am!!
Prescreen Passes:
Indiana University
Florida State University
Point Park University
Millikin University
Roosevelt University
Syracuse University
CCM Acting
Prescreen Rejections:
Emerson College
Elon University
CCM Musical Theatre
Coastal Carolina University
Otterbein University
Rider University
Shenandoah University
Still Waiting:
NYU Steinhardt
Penn State University
Some of these have been bummers, but at this point, so much of it is just trying to make a schedule for auditions so I just need a result, even if it isn’t what I’m hoping for! I’ve also received 7 acceptances currently, but none are difficult schools to be accepted into! Thanks!
Yeah, my girl is 8 yes and 6 no with the prescreens, still waiting on 3, and with 5 non-prescreen schools on the list as well. We aren’t feeling anxious or defeated as there are a nice mix of schools still in the running and each prescreen declination gave us clearer focus on the schools that she might end up at.
My D has had good success with the prescreen - a few No’s but mostly passes - she has two BFA acceptances before Xmas which has helped her confidence. Does anyone know if Coastal Carolina or Montclair notify you early or do you have to wait until March/April? I know some schools seem to make offers/rejections within a few weeks. Wondering on those two?
@Melanie97 Last year, Coastal Carolina notified early March. They had a late Feb on campus audition and started notifying about 2 weeks after their last audition
Has anyone who sent a prescreen to Shenandoah near their deadline heard back yet?
@NeensMom - my daughter submitted her pre-screen on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and just received a no from Shenandoah today.
@msullivan oh wow that’s a long wait! We submitted on December 3rd. I’m only anxious to hear because we would be auditioning in a few weeks in NYC so I want to book flights before it’s a last-minute rate. Yes or no, I hope we hear this week!
OK–cue the tiny violins… just kidding. Just giving some food for thought on something we never anticipated.
Regarding prescreens-- there is a flipside to doing well with prescreens (20 yeses with digital submissions --including all the typical dream schools, 3 no’s at CAP, and 3 we’re waiting on). Sure, you get further along in the process with more schools, but it also means more trips across the country for callbacks (money we weren’t counting on) not being able to fit them in at Unifieds because so many schools want 3-4 hours of your time, and more application fees for the schools that ask you to apply to the school after positive prescreen results. We literally can not fit them in the campus/unified slots available, and it feels like money down the drain. You probably think it’s a nice problem to have, but I’m not so sure. Kids are going to get some no’s either with prescreens or with acceptances, and we totally expect a bunch of no’s in the end, but the second way is more costly and perhaps more devastating because the kid is more invested and hopeful. Anyone in this boat?
@SavsMom Would your kid be happy to attend all 20+ programs they are auditioning for? For us that was a question that eliminated many schools from consideration, saving effort, money and time from the get go. It’s one thing to be accepted, another to really find your fit and of course, afford it. Good luck!
@NYDreammom Interestingly enough, she would be happy at all 26 she applied to. She’s a happy go lucky kid who said that where ever she lands she will be happy. She has NO preference of campus type or size or conservatory vs full college experience or anything that you typically hear about. She did research on curriculum and reputation, chose the schools and said that which ever school wants her and the money is right, she’ll be thrilled. So we did the “spray and pray” approach because of the crazy odds at each school and figured the prescreen process would whittle down the list. In retrospect I wish we had started with a smaller list. There’s no way to predict this kind of thing unfortunately. I know this sounds like a crazy stupid thing to complain about but time and money will not let us follow through on all of the schools and it feels like a big waste of effort and money.
@SavsMom @NYDreammom …my only counter point and Im not sure if my hypothesis will hold true, but does doing more auditions & hopefully getting more acceptances and maybe some nice scholarships from a few provide more leverage for scholarship money in the end? if one school you might eliminate might have been the most generous with scholarship money does that give you leverage with other schools? I dont know, its something we are debating right now since we have 3 acceptances already, we could eliminate some auditions…but the potential leverage/ scholarship money is what has me pondering what the right next step is…IF and its a BIG IF, but if that actually is true then it would more than cover the added audition/ travel expense…a bit risky, alot of conjectcure , I know…dont know the answer for sure but food for thought.
We had 19 auditions scheduled - once she got some acceptances early it allowed me to cancel some of the schools that I felt were not as good of fits as those I got into already. Then I juggled some of auditions around to get me down to only 9 more auditions
So for me auditioning a lot in the fall and casting a wide net proved to be worth it to relieve some pressure later.
@NYYFanNowMTdad I don’t have experience bargaining for more money, just my take is that how much a school wants you would be reflected in the initial offer. Then some of it really depends on the school’s budget- obviously not much room with public schools and there are some stingy private ones out there. For us we feel lucky that my D’s program really cares that these kids will be artists and financially strapped so they are very generous to the entire class that is accepted (Acting, not MT).
Good luck, hope your strategy proves useful!
After 2 early nice acceptances, we cancelled just a couple of auditions. My child wanted to cancel a few more but I am continuing, not to have leverage but to have options. I have learned from past experience that they can get in to their “dream schools”, do a visit and have a change of heart. I have also seen my kids get acceptances to schools that were completely off their radar and fall in love. It’s good to experience the campus and get to know faculty as there can be some that surprise them w a sense of where they belong. That is more important then reputation. I see too many kids not being happy w their choice. These schools are going to be where they truly bare their souls in acting classes. They need an environment w both faculty AND students where it is a safe space to be vulnerable. Comfort, a right fit, and a sense of belonging are greatly important in my opinion. What I think is a great fit for my kid may not be what they fee in their gut. Hopefully we all have some choices and options we are happy with.
As a note of encouragement… we have those early acceptances after MANY prescreen NOs so don’t let those get u down! ?. They WILL all find their place, just be open to unexpected opportunities.
SAVSMOM, it’s not ideal, but some schools will allow you to use your prescreens in place of a live audition if you live XXX miles from the school. Have you checked to see if any of the schools allow that? That way, you may not feel like you completely wasted your time and money. Some kids do get accepted places via digital submissions.
You are the family for whom Unifieds was invented.
I would rank order your options, start at the top, make a reasonable schedule, and then request accommodation from the rest. You can probably do 3 or 4 in NYC, 8-10 in Chicago, 3 or 4 in LA and the rest on campus.
If you don’t start ranking now, if she gets in to even 5+ programs, how are you going to select one in a month?
@SavsMom we are in the same situation. When we cast such a wide net never in our wildest dreams did we envision she would do so well on the pre-screens. She has 17 auditions scheduled right now but we are still waiting on 2 additional pre-screens results and to schedule 1 more non pre-screen school, so that could put us at 20 auditions.
She has only done 2 auditions so far and has 1 acceptance and she should have results on the other this week. Because she has a lot of lottery schools we need to do all of the auditions. We are hoping in the end to have at least 2-3 acceptances and then we will tour the schools and go over $$$ to make a final selection.
Called CCM today-they said they got so many applications they are still reviewing them and hope to have them completed by Dec 25.
@Melanie97 Montclair will notify within a few weeks