<p>Thank goodness this process and waiting is over. I think it was the most bizarre ( and for my daughter, heartbreaking) experience ever. She was rejected from all BFA (acting) programs that she applied to and wait listed on one. The bizarre thing is that several judges gave her reason to believe she had done very well - and then the reject letters started arriving. One woman from a top school actually sought me out in the hallway to tell me she had a great audition - this of course was totally unnecessary and in retrospect, rather cruel when the standard reject letter finally arrived in the mail. What was that all about?</p>
<p>The one (a top program) she is wait listed for has a small wait list so it is possible she will be asked to join, she just doesn't know if she wants to. This program is the only one she really has no feel for. She was looking for a specific type of acting training and this one does not have that. After her audition as she was asking questions, the judges actually laughed at some of them. This was the one audition where she felt no rapport with the judges at all!!! The school has great facilities and smart students and lots of performing opportunities - all pluses.</p>
<p>She would like to talk directly to some of the students in the program. Would this be seen as an improper thing to do? If not, how would she go about it?</p>
<p>Is a BFA program with opportunities to interact with other good actors better than a large school BA program (that is her only option at this point) even if the training is not the type she was originally looking for?</p>
<p>It is too early for her to think ahead to possibly auditioning again next year - although I know in the back of my mind this seems to be what lots of kids do.</p>
<p>Any suggestions/comments would be helpful.</p>
<p>With regard to talking to students--I think that is something that lots of kids do. You just have to talk to the Admissions coordinator for the acting program and ask for some contact info. I think it is a request that is made frequently, and I am almost certain they will have a student or two ready to talk to your D.</p>
<p>Did you see the Wait List thread? There are many suggestions related to being on a Wait List there.</p>
<p>stlouis, the only school we DIDN'T visit was my D's waitlist school...and I am DEFINITELY talking to graduates to try and get a feel for it just in case it turns our way. You can't just go by reutation...you learn a lot by talking with students. One well-regarded school we visited had been at the top of our list after talking with the admissions person...and then we toured with a current student and she apparently didn't do any of the really neat things we had just heard about.</p>
<p>stlouismom, your D may use the internet and facebook to her advantage here, by way of communicating with current students in the program to ask questions and so forth. I am not talking about communicating with other kids populating the newly created groups such as (making this up) "Conservatory X BFA Class of 2012." I am talking about seeking out already created facebook groups for students at a certain college. Mind you, it's not the same as talking face to face with students, but it is a way into the process.
Also, in regard to your question about whether it is better to be at a BFA program where she can interact with other good actors or a good BA program: it's anyone's guess which is "better." It depends on the kid, the school and so on. When I read Playbills and programs at good theaters, it seems to me an equal number of good actors come from BA and BFA programs. And if you talk with professional actors, you will get impassioned arguments for BAs and BFAs in equal number. :)</p>
<p>Facebook is a good way for prospective students to talk to current students. NMR is right - avoid the goups that are just starting, but look for the ones that have existed for a year or more. My DS actually ruled out one school after auditions when he went home and looked at the Facebook groups from the current and previous year. There was a vibe there that he didn't like - he'd sort of sensed it during auditions, and then it was confirmed by the tone of the groups. It's not necessarily a negative thing - just not him - if that makes sense. </p>
<p>Best of luck to her (and you as her cheerleader).</p>
<p>Thanks for the facebook idea. I will figure my d will know how to do this?? I sure don't.</p>
<p>stlouismom, I think your D will, indeed, know how to do this. If she doesn't already have a Facebook account, she can easily create one and there is a simple "search" function she can use to search out various groups. If she is more familiar with Myspace, there also are Myspace groups for various schools and their students, as well. Best of luck! It sounds as if your D already has some excellent options.</p>
<p>Facebook is an excellent idea. My D who wants to transfer said part of her final decision to apply for the transfer (she is not MT, by the way) was reading the Facebook stuff for the group of students at her other #1 choice (she had 2). She found that she wanted to join right in because she has so much in common with them. Just waiting now on the transfer accept/decline from the college.</p>