Starting the search

<p>arwarw, I would not let the supplements or the lack of a preapplication visit deter your D from throwing a few more darts out there. Not all the colleges ask a “why us?” supplement, and even if they do, it is pretty easy to cobble together an answer from the website. It’s not easy to come up with a particularly innovative answer to this question even with a campus visit…</p>

<p>a lot of these schools’ supplements are just one or two questions that aren’t that hard to write a short response for. There are a few colleges that really make you jump through hoops on the application. I think that these schools put supplements on the application to help with yield – knowing that if a student takes the time to answer an extra question or two, then they have at least some interest in the school and aren’t just applying to them bercause it is an easy application.</p>

<p>I second that. My basic feeling is that come next spring, she’ll want options, and it’s next to impossible to add them past about February. If you don’t mind spending another couple hundred dollars to hedge some bets, I’d do some sight-unseen apps and deal with the aftermath if needed.</p>

<p>Here are a few things we learned from a couple of rounds through this process:</p>

<p>1) When all is said and done, most colleges are an awful lot alike. You can be happy at lots of schools - while the details can be important, going to college is going to college. My D1 who went ED to her dream school has said she realizes now that she could have made many schools work out just fine for her (even the dreaded flagship!).</p>

<p>2) It’s amazing how little information most schools will use to decide to accept or reject you. Many schools surprised us that they didn’t even have supplemental essays. And I don’t think really any of my D’s schools cared particularly about how much you visited, etc. So I wouldn’t feel any guilt about throwing in an app to a school that is only asking for the basics anyway.</p>

<p>3) Lots of people really count on post-acceptance visits. It’s very common on this Forum, especially because of Unified Auditions. So if you can use spring break of senior year, you could have a cluster of schools that you’re prepared to take a trip to then.</p>

<p>4) Your D sounds really thoughtful. She’s really looking at everything - that’s great. But there’s going to be an element of a crapshoot no matter how careful you all are. The prof that really made her feel right somewhere might take another job. Students she met and loved will be replaced by a whole new crew in the fall, and might give the place a completely different ambience. Programs get changed, added and cut. </p>

<p>So why not apply to a place that looks good from your research? Now that she knows so much about what she likes and doesn’t like, I bet she could come up with some very confident choices to give herself just a bit more wiggle room than 4 schools (if you’re OK with the fees, etc.). No one’s going to force her to go to these schools - it’s just a question of adding options.</p>

<p>My D applied to 3 schools she hadn’t visited. She got into all of them. Two were safeties that we didn’t have to take a spring break to see, because she had other acceptances (rolling and EA) that she liked better. But the third one (Brandeis) was a serious contender until the very last. And because she knew just enough about it, she declined a quick (expensive) visit there. It turned out she chose the school she had spent quite a bit of time at, and that did make a difference. But I actually would have let her go to the unvisited school if she’d so chosen. </p>

<p>Actually, the main reasons why she chose against it had nothing to do with not having visited - she preferred an auditioned BFA near NYC by definition, and she got a huge scholarship at the school she is going to. Another reason she didn’t choose Brandeis could have been rectified by a visit - we were learning here and from people who knew the school that big changes were happening in the theatre dept, and she didn’t want to take the chance on a very unknown program. If she’d visited, they could have explained more, and she could have found that things would suit her very well. But she would have been in much the same position if she’d visited Junior year and then found out the next spring that much of what she had liked in the program was going to be reconstructed. So … again, no guarantees in this process. We all have to rely on faith to a certain extent, and to stay flexible, including AFTER they matriculate.</p>

<p>Thanks Emmy and others for your advice! Always helpful - I’m amazed and grateful at the lengths others here go to share advice with a total stranger!</p>

<p>My daughter will likely apply to several schools without visits. Maybe USC and Fordham as an undecided major. They have- I think - no supplemental essays and both have great theatre departments. Also, they have generous merit scholarships. Same with Northeastern. Best case is she could transfer in to the Theater dept. later; or Worst case - major in English, take theater electives, participate in student theater; and/or, at these great locations, possibly audition outside of school. </p>

<p>BU is another school she likely can’t visit, but, like NYU, they audition here in Atlanta.</p>

<p>These would be back-up schools if none of her core 4-5 schools admit her. I hope (pray) that doesn’t happen. She’s chosen schools where her little Naviance dot seems to track in or just ahead of the pack - but who knows?</p>

<p>BU is another school she likely can’t visit, but, like NYU, they audition here in Atlanta.</p>

<p>USC does require a supplemental essay for theatre and, if I remember correctly, several short answers. ( My D applied this fall but pulled her application when she was admitted to Tisch ED).</p>

<p>Sent from my DROID BIONIC using CC</p>

<p>USC also requires an interview for BA and BFA applicants.</p>

<p>Understood - that’s why she would apply to USC as a non-theatre major.</p>

<p>For any potential theater search, I would offer the advice to have a number, not just one, of non-auditioned safeties that your child loves. The reality of this process is that you can research and visit a ton of auditioned-theater schools, and you can come up with a list of programs that your child loves, but for the vast majority of kids it is not really up to the kids where they will choose. It’s an unfortunate truth, and I think the more a parent is prepared for that, the better the outcome will be. The odds are so staggering that I think it is better to approach the process preparing for artistic no’s, and knowing you have to love what you are left with. Perhaps that is a message for the parents to know, and not necessarily to defeat the child going into it, but there are countless kids who work really hard all year, and end up with no acceptances, or only their 5th choice. If you have a number of schools that do not require audition and that your child really loves, then the process will be really protected. The last thing you want, at the end of a very grueling year, is to have your kid saying ‘well I could go here if I have to.’</p>

<p>My son and I were just dialoguing last night about how glad we are that we shot arrows in many directions - some known and some unknown. He started out emphatic he wanted a BFA MT program at a Division 1 school with great sports. Our first college trip included primarily those type of schools. He ended up getting into several that fit his requirements, but quickly discovered that he was more concerned with the quality of the BFA program than all the other things on his list. I was emphatic that he hadn’t cast a wide enough net and he applied to some schools that we knew VERY little about at the time. Yes it cost several hundred dollars more in application fees - but in the end…best decision we made!! He hasn’t made his final decision but he has it narrowed down to two (barring a miracle call from a dream school - and we aren’t holding our breath by any stretch!). Neither one of those two schools were anywhere on his radar - other than sure I will apply because I need more options as these programs are so selective. The two he is considering now rocketed to the top of his list after he visited post-audition. AND he is now almost certain he is going to pursue a BFA Acting degree instead of MT. Bottom line - encourage your kids to stay open to all possibilities. In hindsight he wishes he would have looked at conservatories as once Unifieds came and went he realized he would have been very happy to be in that type of environment.</p>

<p>Thank you SO much for your post actandsings! I am trying to get my DS to narrow down what is the most important thing he wants in a school and program. He found after visiting a school last week, that as much as he really loved the acting program he didn’t really like the school. But, he still wants to apply, because a lot can happen between now and then. I don’t think he has visited enough schools. He has yet to visit a BFA conservatory school, although he did do a summer conservatory type program at Cal Arts, so he has a little idea of what it’s like. I am adamant that my S apply to a wide range of schools and programs so he will have choices next year in case he changes his mind in any direction. Right now he is all over the place, but thinks at this point he wants a BFA program in a small school. We all know how fast that can change:)</p>

<p>^^Just a quick “me too”–I also asked my son to apply to a range of schools, and am glad that he did (and so is he). The school that has remained at the top of his list (and where it looks like he’ll be going in the fall) is not one that would’ve been on his radar if he had only looked at bigger, competitive, urban schools. And when his first two answers from auditioned programs were “no,” he was glad he had several non-auditioned options in his pocket, places he would’ve been happy to attend. Seeing and liking a lot of different kinds of schools really helped him figure out what he wanted and where he could thrive. 5boys, I applaud you for getting off to an early start!</p>

<p>I think my daughter has pretty much finalized her list, and is working on essays now.</p>

<p>All BA programs - in no particular order:</p>

<p>Brown ED
UNC EA
Northeastern EA
Northwestern RD
Fordham (undecided major) - Fast app
USC (undecided major) - RD
Williams - RD</p>

<p>This is her priority list. If time allows, she may apply to a few more schools.</p>

<p>I feel pretty good about her list. </p>

<p>Any fatal flaws?</p>

<p>I’m sure this thread will quickly sink to the Paleozoic layer of College Confidential, but I wanted to add a final comment to sort of help me bring closure to this journey with my daughter. And, maybe pass along a few suggestions to another parent or student– I don’t know. Also, I hate reading these type of threads and never knowing whatever finally happened with the kid.</p>

<p>My D’s list remained the same as in my above post except she dropped Northeastern and added U of Minn and Barnard College. She was fortunate to get admitted to her ED school, Brown – so her search is now over.</p>

<p>A few really random thoughts on the process:</p>

<p>As per NJTheatremom’s suggestion <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/14777869-post21.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/14777869-post21.html&lt;/a&gt; My D did meet with theatre departments and attended classes. Most schools were so welcoming and accommodating. No surprise, I guess, the Theatre departments actually want theatre students. It was really easy – we just emailed and called the departments well in advance – and they would help us plan out our day on campus. It was so much more informative than the generic campus info sessions. It also helped my daughter write her supplemental essays knowing what each department was about.</p>

<p>Perhaps not relevant advice for the BFA seeking student, but for my daughter it really helped to have a small list with the conventional mix of safe/target/match. It set her mind at ease that she would land somewhere she liked and enabled her the time to really craft her applications. </p>

<p>She filled out the common application and some of the supplements as soon as they became available which allowed her a couple of months to mull over and tweek them a little bit each week, right up until the deadline. We (mom, dad and her English teacher) really pushed her hard for the truth. We asked why do you REALLY want this or REALLY like that. To me, her truth always sounded much, much better than what she thought the colleges wanted to hear.</p>

<p>Whenever possible ,she sought out and chit-chatted with the regional reps when they visited our town – realizing these people are the ones that would or would not advocate for her to the admissions committees. She also sometimes left behind her theatre/academic resume and followed up via email with thank you’s and questions.</p>

<p>Books that really helped me understand the admissions process so I could help her were: A is for Admission, The Gatekeepers and Crazy U. My copies are now dog eared, highlighted and beat to hell.</p>

<p>I really appreciate (and read intently) the advice I received here on CC from the students and parents who took the time to answer my questions and sent me lengthy and information-rich emails. Thank you!</p>

<p>Best wishes to all!</p>

<p>Congrats, arwarw!</p>

<p>Happy for you Arwarw! Congrats.</p>

<p>congrats on the Brown accceptance. thanks for unearthing this thread. it has been a great read so far and I plan to look it all over at some point!</p>

<p>Thanks guys!</p>

<p>One other random thought. When we toured colleges I scribbled down some of my D’s random impressions. Some of these notes really helped her in writing her essays, which in some cases were written a year or more after the visit. I wish I had done this more. </p>

<p>If your kid gets really excited about a school during the visit - ask why and record it - it may help latter. I’m sure some will say ‘have your kid take their own notes’, but I think kids might miss recording some of the really random stuff that could be good essay fodder, like “cool! this college flies the pirate flag!”</p>

<p>you are welcome and if I can jump in for those still looking, for mine, the college visits helped solidify what he wanted in a school environment. for example, during one trip, we realized he was big city or bust, while out in Cali, we realized how hard it was for him to stay in touch, even with texting, with his E coast friends due to the time difference. That turned out to be turning factor in his process that he does not want to start school in Cali. He at least initially wants to stay in touch with friends while he makes the college adjustments. He visited an Ivy and realized he liked the feel of a huge state school way more which played a role in not even applying to Ivies or other smaller schools. We had talk that it was not a matter of finding the “best” school in the country, rather we were looking what was the best school for him. Ur kid will have different experiences but what they learn other than the actual campus visit while doing the tours can also be invaluable. one random thing for him was he saw a lot of happy dogs and committed dog owners in Philly. this may sound totally random but for him, it was not as he realized how hard it would be to have a dog in an urban environment and people taking these extra steps not only to have dogs but take them to a park and play with them(without 300 signs in the park that prohibited dogs) made a good impression on him and gave Philly a + mark in his book.</p>

<p>Congratulations with your Ds achievement! Brown is a great school. I wish my D had academic credentials to apply there :)</p>