<p>Well, my D got her first rejection today in the mail, and it was from her #1 preference - University of Minnesota. It was at the top of her list by a long measure. She is "stiff upper lipping" it, but I know she is very disappointed. It is unfortunate -- but maybe harder on the parents than the kids? It is so hard to see them not get what they want so badly. But I am so proud of her -- she has had a great attitude about this whole thing -- maybe it will happen, maybe it won't, but you gotta try and then accept what happens. Here's hoping for better news in the next month or so!</p>
<p>IMHopeful, so sorry that it didn't work out for Minnesota. Rejection is never fun. It sounds like your D is taking it well and will likely quickly move on, emotionally, to the schools she has not yet heard from and is hopeful about. (And yes, I think sometimes that this stuff is harder on us than it is on them .... Hang in there!)</p>
<p>Hugs. Good things are on the way.</p>
<p>It is very difficult to go through this. I hope your daughter has some other schools she likes. Your daughter might want to consider calling U. of Minnesota and find out what the transfer policy is for next year. Many state universities accept transfer students. You might even be able to get her to a local community college, save a lot of money on tuition, and then transfer to U. of Minnesota with top grades. This might be a good back up plan.</p>
<p>I have been preparing for this at our house too. Juilliard was the first rejection. A friend of mine reminded me of the "things happen for a reason" speech. She said that our kids end up at some school. That will happen. They will be rejected by others, and that will be heartbreaking. But they will find a school, and this is the school they are probably supposed to be at, for some reason, which we cannot appreciate now. Perhaps they will meet someone at that school....a contact that helps them get their first jobs.... a best friend.... a spouse. Whatever it is, there is a path they are supposed to follow, and a reason for the school they end up at. Looking at my own life, I see this is true. I didn't get into UCLA or Berkeley's law schools and was really bummed. I ended up at UC Hastings in San Francisco. But because I did, I met my husband of now 19 years. And I have my two wonderful daughters, a great career and great memories of living in San Francisco. In hindsight, I wouldn't change it for anything...... This is what I will say to my D on those sad days at our house that I know are in the very near future. Am thinking of you......</p>
<p>IMHopeful-
I remember these days all too well from last year. Feb. & Mar. 2008 seemed like the longest months of my life. D did not get into what she thought was her top choice at the time and was waitlisted at #2. She ultimately ended up getting in where she was meant to be. As the months went on and she talked to people who are at her "#1," she knew it was definitely not meant for her. Please know that I am sending good thoughts your way. There were some wonderful CC parents who helped me through Feb. all the way to August when D went away to school. Brighter days are ahead, I'm sure.</p>
<p>Thanks all for the support. I greatly appreciate your words of wisdom. Its nice to know that there is a large group of us who are all in this together. I feel fortunate that my D has several schools where she feels she could be quite happy. Hopefully one will come through! It was torturous with my oldest because she had her heart set on one school (which was quite selective), didn't want to go anywhere else, wouldn't even consider other possibilities (although we forced her to apply to a few other schools) and we were living in absolute terror that she would be rejected and life would be over. Luckily, she did get in and it was an unbelieveable relief. But that was a huge lesson learned -- one that the younger seemed to have learned either directly or by osmosis.</p>
<p>IMHopeful, your D auditioned for the BFA in acting at the Minnesota/Guthrie program, correct? I had assumed so, but someone above mentioned reapplying with higher grades, and I am guessing that that particular poster did not see that this is a thread about (mostly) audition-based acting programs and though grades play a role in even that admissions process, the role is far smaller than it would be in a non-audition based program.</p>
<p>In any case, getting "no" is never easy, and especially not for kids who have had some level of success in acting/musical theater/performance in their own local circles. Suddenly being surrounded (at auditions, especially the big Unified gatherings) by kids <em>all</em> or most of whom have also been "stars" can be a kind of rude shock or awakening. </p>
<p>I remember a few years ago when a friend of mine was going through the audition process with her very talented and beautiful (and nice!) daughter. They began very confidently and the girl was only auditioning at five schools, one of whom was Juilliard! During New York Unifieds, I got an urgent email from my friend, who said "I had thought that my D had an excellent chance of getting into all these schools, but --wow! -- now I am scared, because I see there are hundreds and hundreds of other girls who are just as talented and pretty as my daughter. I hope she gets in somewhere!" </p>
<p>The good news is that she several admissions offers and is studying happily at one of them. But seeing all of those kids, all of whom had the same goal (admission to those schools) was a shocker for them.</p>
<p>One great thing about being here on College Confidential is that it in some ways prepares kids and parents for the level of competition they will encounter. Last year at Unifieds, I talked to a number of parents who had never found this board and who (along with their kids) were startled that so many kids were there and so well prepared. You could see the worry on their faces.</p>
<p>In any case, the process is not easy for anyone, kids or parents alike. As parents, we have to remember some excellent advice offered by another CC parent a few years ago:</p>
<p>Be your kid's soft place to land when things don't go well. Don't offer criticism and don't remind them of how competitive or difficult is the road they have chosen. Just be their port in the storm. </p>
<p>Hang in there, everyone. You will get through this and will be here, next year at this time, offering much-needed advice for the parents and kids who are going through it.</p>
<p>Yes, she did audition for the Minnesota/Guthrie program, which IS all about the audition. She has very strong academic credentials and test scores -- had already been admitted to the University in the Honors program with a wonderful academic scholarship. The auditors asked her about her test scores, and she said that it was the only thing in the audition that they reacted to -- with a "wow"! But that doesn't count for too much in many of these programs.</p>
<p>You are also right that CC is an incredibly valuable resource for parents whose kids want to pursue acting or MT. I started by reading all 12 threads -- a bit overwhelming, but worth it. I thought I was prepared for the competitiveness of these programs, but I have to say that even reading that much about it didn't fully prepare me for the reality of it. I am so glad that we took the advice of so many before us . . .
1) She applied to 17 schoools, believe it or not
2) 11 BFA acting programs with auditions (there are 3-4 of those that she would be interested in attending even if she didn't get accepted into the BFA)
3) 2 "safety" programs with BA non-audition theatre programs where academically she should have no trouble getting accepted and would be OK with attending -- not thrilled but OK
4) 3 high end academic colleges/Ivies that are a long-shot, but what the heck?
5) And in and among all of these, 3 schools she auditioned for music composition/theory programs</p>
<p>It seemed a bit extreme to start with -- and boy, what a lot of work with all of these applications; essays; recommendations; auditions to schedule, prepare and attend; and music audition CDs to create. Thank goodness for the common application -- AND STARTING EARLY. But I have to say in retrospect that I am so happy that she put in the effort to pursue many options. The key, in my humble opinion, is finding at least a couple of non-audition safety schools that are a strong academic fit and D/S would be happy to attend.</p>
<p>But your last point IS THE MOST IMPORTANT</p>
<p>Hit send too quickly . . . .What I was going to say is how wonderful I think it is that our kids are putting themselves out there. I marvel at how brave they are. They are learning such valuable life lessons about success, failure, picking yourself back up and keeping at it. All we can do is support and hug them, console them, and celebrate with them. They are amazing!</p>
<p>Rejection letter #2 today -- Otterbein. This one wasn't a major surprise given the very small number of actors they accept. Onward through the storm . . .</p>
<p>IMHopeful, you are right: these kids are brave as can be. I could never in a gazillion years put myself out there the way they do. That's why it ticks me off when people say that actors have big egos: I think that actors probably hear "no" more often than people in any other profession, yet they keep on keepin' on. If an actor did not have a well developed ego, he or she couldn't keep doing what he or she does.</p>
<p>Hugs to all of you going through this. The finish line is in sight.</p>
<p>In the mailbox today: my daughter's rejection from Univ. Minnesota. </p>
<p>True Story: she opened it, knowing what it was, and starting laughing hysterically, along with her friend that was with her. I couldn't imagine what was so funny...until she showed me. There were 2 unmistakable smears of blood on the page, I kid you not! So appropriate as that audition became quite notorious for the rancor involved in her interview...she swears they hated her the moment she walked in the door. She said the appointment only went downhill from there. </p>
<p>Just had to share this with you!</p>
<p>Mamabear, how bizarre to find blood on the papers inside your D's letter but how wonderful that she could laugh at it! That's the spirit.</p>
<p>I am surprised, however, that you report that she felt "rancor" at her Minnesota/Guthrie audition. Do you care to elaborate? My D and her classmates who auditioned (my kid and another girl last year and several kids from her school this year) all thought their Minnesota auditors were among the nicest, friendliest and most interested they encountered. </p>
<p>Of course, sometimes the chemistry (for lack of a better word) between people just isn't there. Can't be explained. But I have never ever heard anyone say they felt rancor in an audition and I am sorry to hear that. I think a lot of Minnesota's program.</p>
<p>I don't want to give a lot of detail because she would easily be identified. I reported what she told me regarding the "rancor"...the flip side of the story has to do with hormones, jet lag, no breakfast, and traveling with a dad who spent his time prior to the audition on a conference call. </p>
<p>Frankly, I think they were interested because they spent 1/2 hour with her but she interpreted it as "drilling her" and suspicion. I think it was just an off day for her and now in retrospect she agrees. So I put that out there so as not to cast aspersions on the program but to just share as best I can what transpired for one kid.</p>
<p>The lesson learned: make sure you have plenty of auditions scheduled so that your eggs aren't all in one basket. Also, do NOT have all your auditions at the same time...spread them out to account for not only possible illness but some of the other factors I mentioned above.</p>
<p>Agree with so many responses here so just chiming in to confirm that my D had her hopes on the school that sent her the #1 rejection letter. She wondered how anything would be right after that. She ended up at her perfect school that she loved much more than what she thought at the time was #1 and since that time has learned things about what was her #1 that makes her very very glad they didn’t accept her. It really all does work out for the best. Hold in there.</p>
<p>Good news and Bad news today – rejection from Evansville, but her official acceptance to Point Park in acting. D had been told at her Point Park audition that they wanted her for the acting program – but didn’t feel totally confident in it until we saw it in writing.</p>
<p>Point Park is a great school. People have told me about this program. It is one of those schools which a lot of people have never heard of before. Though, most people love it if they have heard of it. It reminds me of another school in Florida, Flagler College. It’s a great school, but not many people have known about it outside of Florida. This is what happens when you go to a smaller school. But I think it’s better. You get more one on one attention. NYU may have a better program, but may not give the attention each student deserves. I think that is the pro in this case. Good Luck!</p>
<p>early_college…please be aware that the size of a program doesn’t reflect upon individual attention. Tisch is a big school but the classes are 15 and under, just as they are in smaller programs. There is plenty of individual attention. My kid is a senior year there and every class has been small and her teachers know her very very well, and she works on individual songs, monologues, and scenes in class with plenty of 1-1 attention.</p>
<p>I think it’s just the atmosphere. A smaller school will be different than a bigger school. I have heard pro’s and con’s of NYU. I know someone who only got a $3,000 scholarship for dance at NYU. I think financial aid is one of the most important things. PP is a lot cheaper and just different. You don’t need to go to school to be an actor. I just think it’s ridiculus of the tuition. In Harvard most of the people are middle class. I know now that I will never take out loans to be an actor for school. It’s not like a doctor or lawyer. Acting is all about if you fit the part, and luck.</p>
<p>Wow, early_college, you do have strong opinions! If you don’t think one needs to go to school for actor training, what are you doing on this thread on College Confidential? I am asking seriously, and not at all sarcastically.</p>
<p>You might be surprised that a school that looks super expensive at the outset (just by looking at tuition and fees) can end up being less expensive in the long run than a school with lower tuition and fees. I say that because some schools (NYU included) give kids scholarships and grants (as well as loans) that make it possible for families to manage the tuition. That was the case for my own kid at NYU. She certainly didn’t get a full tuition scholarship, but she got two very nice talent scholarships (one from Tisch and one from a donor) that allow us to send her to NYU/Tisch for less than it would have cost us to send her to a less expensive program where she was only given, say, $5000 in scholarships. </p>
<p>My D loves NYU/Tisch, but I am the first to say it’s not for everyone. Living in New York as an 18 year old requires a level of self confidence and self organization/self starter-ness (for lack of a better word) that is not easy for everyone. But for the right kid, it’s magic.</p>