<p>rejected from roosevelt. : ).</p>
<p>I have two sister-in-laws and a nephew who are MD's and they say that this is harder!</p>
<p>Boo Hoo
No Michigan. To those of you reading this for next year: Do Not have a dream school and make sure you have a wide variety of schools to choose from. Some that are less well know, some that are BA's (probably best to have audition and non-audition), and maybe a few theater programs if that's what you like. But you really have to do many schools. We did 12, with a variety, at the moment she has gotten into 2 BFA's, one BA, and 2 theater programs. I'm guessing that the rest will be rejections (4 are for sure). We went into this thinking she needed to get into a "big name" school. I feel that's a big mistake, not only does it probably lead to feeling really bad, numbers have become even more competitive from year to year, also you don't really know what a school is looking for. More and more we kept hearing that a school was looking for a certain look, type, ethnicity, gender etc. So you shouldn't set yourself up for being devastated or possibly being no where and if you really really want a BFA in MT only, then you have to do many schools and you need to start early and then you still need a backup safety. It's not only just your talent they are looking for. In some ways it's a crap shoot. You might have better luck in the lottery than trying to pick a "name" school.</p>
<p>I agree with shellipearl! Definitely start early and have lots of options!! I think that this whole process is even harder than getting cast in a professional production. At least then you know what type you are and the role you're seeking, here it's about what they're looking for, and you have no clue!!</p>
<p>Absolutely great advice! My d only applied to 10 schools and I wish I had known more at the time. In this profession, you have to be more flexible to increase your odds. Best of luck to everyone!</p>
<p>shellipearl, when did your D/S audition for UMich?</p>
<p>I agree wholeheartedly with Shellipearl! My oldest D applied to mostly top name schools and didn't get into any. It was devastating to say the least. So my second daughter has applied to a more well-rounded list (thanks to Soozievt) and has gotten accepted to three so far. You really NEED to be realistic about this whole process and have many different options. With D No. 1, I wasn't realistic. I just thought that because my D had a great voice and a LOT of community theater/professional theater experience that she would would get into one of her schools. We just didn't realize the magnitude of the competition that is out there. BTW, one of her best friends who had no professional theater experience got into Tisch. </p>
<p>On a postive note, D No. 1 is very happy in her BFA acting program where she is getting the acting training that she needed and has met her "soul mate." So things really do happen for a reason I guess. She is planning to get her master's degree so that she can teach drama.</p>
<p>I know I am naive and fresh and just looking at beginning this process but if you don't have a "dream school"...what's the point? I imagine working towards a dream school makes our kids better at everything else they do.
Our kids are ALL about dreams. They create them, work towards them, and if they fall short...they create another one. That's why they are so unique.</p>
<p>shelli, your comment was great and very true. It's good to have a dreamschool to "shoot for", which you'd love and be thrilled to get into...
but realize you can do GREAT things at any school and have success in theatre. applying for a lot keeps your options open. well, who am i to give advice, because i only applied to four!!! hehehe
but it only takes one acceptance. so, no matter the number, create a balanced list</p>
<p>Let me offer a contrasting view. The college application process in general is becoming like a pyrranic feeding frenzy. The media and colleges themselves are bombarding parents and highschoolers with the message that there are more applicants than ever and therefore ever increasing selectivity and competition. As a result, it is not unusual to see students applying to 10, 12 even 20 colleges and this is just for regular academic programs let alone highly competitive small programs, like performing arts, where you have a 3-5% acceptance ratio. The net result is a level of stress and anxiety over the college application and admissions process that is just plain unhealthy on many levels. (Just look at the almost paralytic levels of anxiety and stress oozing out of the CC message boards, not just MT but the academic sites as well.)</p>
<p>I think there is an alternative. Instead of applying to more and more schools so as to "supersaturate" the field, the key is to be smarter about selecting schools to which one applies. Start the ball rolling early. Scour school websites, get viewbooks, visit schools all throughout 11th grade. Talk about your students like's and dislikes, visions of college life, goals - talk a lot!! If you can and your kid has the interest, do summer programs at schools before the jr and sr yrs not just for the training but to also help dial in whether a particular school of interest is a good fit and to get a better sense of what a student likes or dislikes in a MT program. Make decissions up front about the type of school "profile" that matches your student well. Determine what the schools look for in applicants (level of academics, talent and what emphasis for each) and then try to objectively evaluate whether your student brings those things to the table. Be smart in choosing the schools to apply to. Don't apply to a U of Michigan or a Northwestern if your kid doesn't have the grades or SAT scores even if very talented. Don't apply to a CCM or CMU if your kid doesn't have substantial experience and preparation in performing even if your kid has superlative grades and SAT's. Select a variety of schools that fit the spectrum you have concluded could be a good match. You don't need a ton, you need to choose smart. You need a focused game plan, not a "throw the pot of spaghetti against the wall and see what sticks" approach.</p>
<p>In my daughter's case, she applied to only 7 schools. 1 BA school that academically was a safety but which required an audition. 1 BA school where she was towards the high side of the middle 50% on SAT scores and towards the top in GPA but where the audition was optional. 5 BFA schools, none of which were pure conservatories because my daughter's academics are a real strength and would not be given much weight at a pure conservatory. All the BFA's are programs in a college/university setting where weight is given to academics as well as to the audition. Each of the schools has a different balance given to academics and talent, ranging from a 50/50 weight allocation to an 10/80. All of the schools are schools my daughter could be happy at and at which she would thrive.</p>
<p>This type of approach worked well for my daughter. She has acceptances at schools she knows she could attend without any regrets. The process, while certainly daunting and very time intensive, was not overwhelming. By making a conscious effort to focus on narrowing the list of schools rather than expanding it, the liklihood of a positive outcome increased in my opinion.</p>
<p>shellipearl- I completely agree w/ ur "don't have a dream school" idea! because our field is soooooooo darn competitive, if u have ur heart set on one school, u have a 95% (or more!) chance of ur heart being broken!!!</p>
<p>gem- you asked "what's the point? I imagine working towards a dream school makes our kids better at everything else they do."
I think it's better to have a dream IDEA, not a dream SCHOOL. If we have our heart set on getting into some good theater/MT program (or maybe just finding a path to get to our passions), instead of relying on ONE admittance letter, we'll still be following our dreams (my cc id!) and also being more realistic. We still work toward it, but we're not setting ourselves up for what has a very high risk of a looong and painful fall. </p>
<p>For me, I almost fell into the whole "if I could just get into ____ school" (and I still haven't heard from them yet), but I've come to realize that I shouldn't base my dreams on that one acceptance/rejection. No matter what, I'm going for it! Sure, if I'm rejected, I'll be disappointed, but I'm not going to drown myself in depression just because of that one school</p>
<p>Yup, I totally agree with the whole "our field is harder" than Ivy league acceptances (in a diff way of course). they're two completely different fields (looking for almost entirely different aspects in students), but one just has to look at the statistics to see how much more competitive ours is!</p>
<p>for ex, my dad went to Stanford and Harvard Medical School and my mom went to UC Berkeley (Cal) and Boston U Psychology grad program and they're consistently shocked and surprised at just how tough it is for us</p>
<p>So, even if u haven't had the best news so far, keep fighting and following your dreams! I applaud EVERY SINGLE PERSON who's even considering going after their passions and not "playing it safe" -you guys are amazing and I'm so glad I'm going to get the opportunity to be with u or people like u!!!</p>
<p>I agree. My D applied to 8 schools 12 programs. She was accepted academically to 7 schools. Accepted to 2 programs and waiting on 3. This is the hardest thing I ever dealt with. She has a school with a large scholarship picked out. I think she will have great opportunity and great academics there. Althought I know if she gets her program at a lesser school she will take it. I am glad that I have no other child that is interested in this field. I think you are all amazing and thank you for all the advice.</p>
<p>I think it is different in each case. At most of the BFA programs, the acceptance rate is far less than any of the Ivies, for example, my understanding is that out of 1200 applications, only 6 girls were accepted. So applying to more schools that meet your needs and critieria does increase your odds. I agree that one can go overboard but I would have to say my recommendation would be to apply to a variety of bfa programs and ba programs with good theater which have statistics that dovetail with your students. The other important thing to remeber which I have seen on many posts and had personal experience with is that you may have an image of what your dream school is but when you get there, it is nothing like what you expected. So never forget nothing is permanent and many people do transfer. best of luck to everyone!</p>
<p>Thank You for that input. I have learned so much from the postings.</p>
<p>I like all of you, good choice. i lover you.</p>
<p>I must agree here with MNKat and say IMHO, it is research that will make this process easier. Just as you would NOT go on an open call as an actor where they were looking for 5’10” blond Amazons if you were a 5’1” brunette, why spend time and money applying somewhere that you are not a good fit for to begin with? Whether it is your GPA or test scores or just where your focus is (be it music or acting or dance), DO YOUR HOMEWORK first. My D is not a strong dancer but she is an incredible singer with advanced music skills. Applying to schools where dance is their focus would not be a great fit for her nor would she have had much of a chance of getting in. I am not advocating only doing what you are best at, but a realistic review of the school’s focus compared to your current skill set is a great starting point. My request was that she was sure that she felt she could be happy at ANY of the schools she was applying to. SHe had her favorites, of course, but any would be good choices. </p>
<p>My D applied to 9 schools with a 10th app waiting just in case ( a non-audition BA) and auditioned at 8. She had a mix of mor? conservatory focused and LArts blend programs on the list. She had researched the schools, the programs and the locations (she is pretty easygoing in terms of geography so location was not a big factor) before creating her final list. This takes time to do but it is well worth the effort. We felt it was a balanced list and although with MT programs, there is no reach, match,safety - it was pretty darn close to that.</p>
<p>My personal advice - do your homework and save time, money and heartache!</p>
<p>Best wishes to all as we try to decide,
MikksMom</p>
<p>MichaelNKat said:</p>
<p>"Don't apply to a CCM or CMU if your kid doesn't have substantial experience and preparation in performing even if your kid has superlative grades and SAT's."</p>
<p>I want to offer a clarification. I have had several students who have been successful with admission to the most competitive schools (especially CMU and UMich) without a lot of MT-specific training. What they all DID have was some experience in one related artistic aspect - a great and trained pianist who had natural instincts for acting and movement and showed great singing potential; a very trained ballet dancer who had not done musicals but also showed a lot of promise as a singer and actor...Often, schools (esp. CMU) prefer these "raw" talents to students who have done a tremendous amount of weaker MT training and have bad performance habits that cause them to be presentational rather than geniune in their acting. Just food for thought - I agree that one can pick a "reach" or "dream" school if you are aware of what that school looks for in general (fierce acting, developed singing, etc. :)</p>
<p>rejection stats:</p>
<p>CMU
BU
Emerson
Purchase
DePaul
Fordhams theatre program (accepted to the school)</p>
<p>thats half of my schools....and i have four more to hear from. </p>
<p>things are looking a lil grim.</p>
<p>ahh rejected from CMU...</p>
<p>whatever, ill end up somewhere.</p>