<p>I'm going to attempt to respond to violinmom's question, since no one else has. I'm answering based on years of observation of my S's choices, beginning with his first programs in middle school, all the way through his current position as a grad student. </p>
<p>How many?</p>
<p>The first few camps he went to were not that selective, and he applied only to one each summer. The first two (7th and 8th grade) were local programs. It wasn't so much "applying for" as "signing up for". We knew nothing at that point except it would be a fun opportunity for him to do something in the summer. It wasn't until college that he started applying to more competitive programs and applied to multiple ones. This year he applied to 5, because, like college aps, there are no guarantees.</p>
<p>Reason for applying?</p>
<p>Referral, recommendation, reputation, remuneration (had to stay with the Rs)....</p>
<p>Initially, it was teacher recommendation through his band director. As it became clear that he was ready for "harder work", we began our education of what was out there. Following 8th grade he was recruited for Brevard (via his private teacher), but we weren't ready to send him away for the summer. He went the following year. </p>
<p>Learning about various camps has been a process achieved mostly via his teachers and networking. He attends one camp, and learns about others. He reads bios on performers and finds out where they spent time. One thing he hasn't done is go where his current teachers teach. He says his classmates are amazed that he managed to make it all the way through Juilliard undergrad without ever attending Aspen (also known as Juilliard Summer Camp ;) ). He specifically seeks out new teachers. </p>
<p>Off the subject, after a recent audition, he was explaining in detail various ways he played. I don't think he realized what he was doing, but as he was talking, he told me Teacher A had suggested to do this, and he learned this from Teacher B, and he practiced this the way Teacher C had explained...... He has a depth and breadth of knowledge that has come from subjecting himself to a variety of teachers. He is also, personality-wise, extremely teachable.</p>
<p>For the rest of high school, he attended another summer program recommended by his private teacher that came with a scholarship. That brings us to our second "reason" - money. Since 10th grade, he has attended programs that were either free, or paid him.</p>
<p>The third "reason for applying" has to do with what he gets out of it. He now looks for programs that he feels will further his abilities and marketability. Like with colleges, he looks for good teachers, and later success of those who attended.</p>
<p>And the fourth reason for applying answers the first and third questions as well: Once you reach a high level of selectivity, admission is something of a crap shoot. As I said, he applied to five programs. At the first two, he came away feeling really good about his audition. At the next two, he felt he did just "okay", and at the fifth one, he felt he did poorly, like he was sight-reading, he said.</p>
<p>He was accepted to one of the programs where his audition was "just okay", and named alternate for all four of the rest. Just before he committed to the one acceptance, he got off the waitlist -- for the one he felt was his worst audition. And that is where he will be this summer, because he feels it is the best addition to his experience and resume. </p>
<p>I'm purposely not naming the programs, partly to protect his identity at least a little, and partly because I think this list is mainly focusing on high school and undergrad students. But I wanted to give a stab at offering his reasons (as I understand them - which isn't always completely accurate!)</p>
<p>[Any typos are my cat's fault, who keeps climbing on my keyboard!]</p>