<p>I hope this is not a dumb question but my daugher is on the wait list at two schools. My question is this...IF she comes off the waitlist and is invited into the program, is there any chance of any talent scholarships?? I mean, by the time we get late into the year, is there any money left at that point? I know it probably varies by school but has anyone out there, in the past, been taken off the waitlist and received a talent scholarship?</p>
<p>CAST MOM - I know of some people who were accepted relatively late and still were awarded some scholarships. I do think, like you said, it will vary from school to school, and, in some cases, if the person who declines the offer was also awarded a talent scholarship (logically that money would become available, although it may be awarded to someone else too). I have also seen examples of people getting their scholarships increased as time goes by (and schools want to send an extra message they are wanted), as there is "left over money" from what a department was allotted.</p>
<p>Will keep fingers & toes crossed here :)!</p>
<p>Thanks...we are keeping our fingers crossed too!</p>
<p>As long as we're discussing scholarships, I'm hoping some of you have a lot more expertise than me. Webster mailed my D a financial package that was very detailed (including grants, scholarships, work study, and of course student loans). Question one: does this seem to indicate that she is being considered? We received several academic scholarship letters from various schools, but this was quite different. Webster had already sent my D letters about her academic scholarships, but this was an entire package. Just curious. Question two: D has been accepted to Baldwin-Wallace, which is awesome because it was one of her top choices; however, they only indicated the standard academic scholarship based on test scores and gpa. Do you think more money will be offered (i.e., talent/merit, grants, etc.)?</p>
<p>I don't want to spend too much time focusing on the money, but, well, it matters when you're trying to determinine the best school all the way around.</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me ramble.</p>
<p>I don't think Baldwin wallace has sent out the packages. If the scholarship you are talking about is the standard Merit amount based on grades, those come with the acceptance letters. The financial aid package comes later. At least that is my understanding.</p>
<p>Maybe someone from a college/university could address the question of scholarship (talent) money. We have been told different things about talent money. In at least one instance, we were told that once a sum of money had been offered to a student it could not be offered to a different student if the first student declined admission. The money was essentially "lost" in terms of use for performance admissions if the student originally offered it decided to go elsewhere.</p>
<p>I know that a couple years ago my son did accept an offer after being on that school's waitlist. He was fortunate to receive a strong scholarship from the school which is combined from a couple divisions within the entire department. I honestly don't remember for sure if it's considered a "talent" scholarship, but imagine it's comparable to those type at other schools. He had already received an academic scholarship based on his acceptance academically. He did receive a comparable package from his last acceptance school as well. These both came in the spring - so there was a wait, but it was worth it. Perhaps some of the programs offering fewer spots (8 - 12) automatically try to hold some monies aside for those spots no matter whether their first round offer is accepted or the second/ third student accepts. </p>
<p>I know Baldwin Wallace offers a very competitive academic scholarship, so not sure how far they can go to add to that once you find out you are accepted to the program. I know there are some active on this forum who were fortunate enough to be accepted there, but accepted elsewhere. Some were early on in the year, though. Perhaps they will comment on the scholarship possibilities. I believe a young man, a junior, could help you out with info on their subforum.</p>
<p>By the way, our son's best scholarship package came from his one non-audition school for a BA in theatre. It was an excellent academic scholarship and a small talent scholarship (for which he did send an audition tape.)</p>
<p>Good luck to all as you wait to hear.</p>
<p>SEATA - As far as Webster is concerned, I do know that they are very generous with scholarship money for those who qualify academically/leadership/community service wise. I also know that this is separate from the MT artistic evaluation as my D was offered this when she was accepted academically, which was way prior to auditioning. In fact this was one of the schools I referred to, as increasing the scholarship money as time went by. I am not familiar with their talent scholarships however (my D canceled her audition and retracted her application) or if they even offer some, but may be some current Webster parents could chime in. In fact, I went ahead, and copied & pasted this onto a Webster thread for you to see if someone 'in the know' perhaps could help out :).</p>
<p>MTgrlsmom, thank you for your help and for copying your response to the Webster thread. As always, we must wait and see.</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>SEATA- We received the same package from Webster and I don't think it has anything to do with your status to the program. They are simply taking the FAFSA numbers and the academic numbers and giving you an idea of your cost. All I can say is I hope there is some talent money because the cost was around 4K more than what it said on the website. What we are about to pay for college (any college) is obscene.</p>
<p>We got the financial update from Webster as well. It was just based on the FAFSA info. When my d and I went to Webster for her audition, I went to the parent meeting and was told that freshman do not receive any talent scholarships. They save the talent money for upper classmen who (in their words) have "proven themselves." I was surprised, and honestly disappointed to hear that. As much as I wish money had nothing to do with a final decision it really does play into the decision factor.</p>
<p>The vast majority of universities have a dollar amount that they are granted by the institution to give out as scholarships. Much of this isn't really money, it is a coupon for a certain amount off of the tuition. There are, of course, endowed scholarships, etc. But most are just "coupons." </p>
<p>That having been said, how we are allowed to use this money varies tremendously from school to school. Private schools have (in most cases) more leeway to use the coupons and money they do have. Public institutions have rules that govern all kinds of things. </p>
<p>There are no rules that adhere to all institutions. As for us, we recommend talent based scholarships to the scholarship office. From there, they determine if the student is academically eligible, eligible for other scholarships that may supersede what we have already recommended (minority scholarships or presidential scholarships) and they then send a letter to the student. </p>
<p>The money portion of college is complex to say the least. Particularly for private institutions. Get them accepted, then get on the phone with the financial aid and admissions folks - ask them to explain it all until you really and truly understand the picture. If you don't feel like you are getting the best deal, tell them. They may help.</p>
<p>I know this post hasn't really answered your question, but each and every college has a series of arcane and complex systems and rules governing money, then added to that is the Federal Government's own set of rules. </p>
<p>Call the college (not the department) they are there to help. And the vast majority of financial aid and scholarship officers have no intimate contact with the selection process, so absolutely no harm can be done.</p>
<p>I wish you luck.</p>
<p>Cast Mom - Thanks for the info. Has anyone out there attended Webster and received any additional money over and above their statement from the FAFSA? </p>
<p>So if we get in not only do I get the opportunity to not watch my child perform her freshman year I have to pay a lot more for the privilege! OUCH!</p>
<p>This also begs the question how many and how much do they award the upper classman?</p>
<p>MTDad, you may wish to alter your mind set on this stuff. </p>
<p>For one thing, your child gets in, not "we."</p>
<p>Second, colleges do not owe anyone a scholarship. Decide whether you can afford a college education, how much you can or are willing to spend on it or go in debt for it, and hope to get some need based aid if you quailfy. Scholarships should be seen as a bonus or gift, but not as expectations. They don't owe you one. They do owe need based aid if they are need blind in admissions and agree to meet 100% of need (based on their formulas). Scholarships, particularly merit based ones, are a privilege, not a right. </p>
<p>My children were need based applicants and receive need based aid. ANYTHING we got we were and continue to be, grateful for. My older D's schools, for the most part, do not give out merit aid because they were highly selective colleges and those schools do not award merit aid because frankly, every applicant has a high degree of merit. My younger child applied to only BFA schools and we were not aware at the time that they gave out merit scholarships on top of need based aid. Needless to say, we were delighted and thrilled (but not expecting) when she was awarded very substantial merit scholarships at many schools, including the one she is currently attending. We didn't expect it but feel lucky. I say you may wish to approach merit aid in this way. </p>
<p>As far as paying for school if your D is not performing.....you are paying for an education, not any guarantees of performing. She is there to learn. I hope you feel her freshmen year will be worthwhile even without her being in a show. At my D's BFA program, no freshmen can be in productions. There were other opportunities she had to perform in and out of class but not in school musicals. Her education that year was VERY worth it. She felt it was even good that they put off performing so that they could concentrate on training and also not to overload the schedule which now that she is no longer a freshman, is extremely intense, day/night/weekend. The concept that having to pay for college even if your D is not in a show, is not going to end up being a positive for you or your child because you are paying for her to get the education. The performances are on top of that, when and if she is cast. You pay the same at these schools no matter if your child is cast in zero shows, one show or lots of shows. Please realize this. Decide on whether the price is worth it even without shows or without merit scholarships. Neither should be expected. Both, if they happen, are nice "gifts" on top of the education.</p>
<p>Chiming in here (though nobody asked me!): while I understand that various BFA MT programs have differing policies on freshmen performing and that both approaches have their so-called "cost benefit ratio," I tend to think it is best for freshmen NOT to perform that first year, at least. A year off from performing in a musical or play not only gives the students time to adjust to college life and the demands of a vigorous BFA program, but also allows that year's MT class to get to know each other and appreciate each others' strengths without the added stress of competition for roles, etc. In addition, not performing outside of class (cuz they <em>do</em> perform in class, all the time) puts the kids' focus on the <em>training</em>, which, in my humble opinion, is where it should be at this point in their education. Just my two cents. :)</p>
<p>My d won't get to perform in a department production for two years but nonetheless I feel her education is definitely worth the money spent! She does a lot of performing in her classes and actually doesn't mind not being able to be in a CMU performance this year. It lets her have the opportunity to really work on her training and work as a team with her fellow MT's and Actors without that competitiveness. Although it's not everyone's cup of tea so to speak, it works for her and I feel that with all the different classes she has this year, I am certainly getting my money's worth.</p>
<p>My post was taking way out of context. I did not state that we deserved anything and I wasn't trying to get into a philosophical discussion whether students should perform their freshman year. Also I'm not implying that a good education is not valuable or worth the money. I'm simply disappointed that Webster does not award talent scholarships and I have found that most schools do. And I doubt that I'm alone on this one.</p>
<p>MTDad777-
Webster may not award "talent" scholarships, however, their academic sholarships were very very generous towards my D.
Perhaps you will find same.
Good luck!</p>
<p>I'm with you MTDad777...although the academic scholarships are wonderful (my d has been offered one from webster)and we are so thankful for them there is nothing wrong with hoping for additional talent scholarships. Next year we will have 3 in college and although we wish it weren't so, scholarships are part of the decision making process in our family.</p>
<p>Maybe those reading this in anticipation of going through this with their kids next year can make a note to inquire ahead of time (as part of their pre-application research) whether talent/artistic merit scholarships are part of a particular school's offerings, as well as how each school handles financial aid and what is available. I think this information is relatively easy to obtain BEFORE applying and that way, there are no unpleasant surprises when the envelope arrives. It is also useful to find out which schools (and there are some) are committed to meeting 100% of a student's financial need, and which are not able to do so.</p>