<p>What should your student say in a reply? D got an email from the professor saying that her regular acceptance letter would arrive next week. I assume some kind of polite reply is in order, but I don't think it's wise to jump out there and indicate any kind of commitment. This is one of D's top choices, but she is waiting to hear from 2 other schools anyway, just to finish the process. She also has met this professor and worked with him in a music camp a year ago, so it seems like since they kind of know each other it would be expected that she reply but I think it has to be pretty neutral. Advice?</p>
<p>A simple reply acknowledging the email with a “thanks for the heads up”, plus a promise to followup after the official letter is in hand would be appropriate.</p>
<p>It certainly merits a response, but you should feel no pressure to make any sort of commitments. The professor is simply eager to reel you in. </p>
<p>Congrats!</p>
<p>Experienced Parents, HELP! D has completed all auditions. She received an email from one teacher, lauding her audition and making it quite clear he would like to have her in his studio. Also received one email rejection. Yesterday at her final audition, a competitor of D’s blithely informed her that SHE had received an email from D’s first choice teacher and school. D was devastated, and it didn’t help that this took place at the Curtis Auditions (oh the head games!). Does this mean that D will NOT be accepted to First Choice, or do these emails only go out to the instructors first pick, and everyone else hears later? Really, it’s like reading tea leaves.</p>
<p>Oh gosh, Marjecat, I feel for you and your daughter. The girl who told your daughter about her email was playing a cruel head game. I don’t have anything helpful to say except that many of us are in a similar stew. My daughter played her first-choice audition and felt it wasn’t her best. Results are not released officially until April 1. Friends whose teachers are connected with the school have been posting cryptic celebratory messages on their facebooks, but my daughter’s teacher only sent her a message along the lines of “You worked hard and that’s what matters.” Does not sound encouraging, but you’re right, it’s like reading tea leaves. I think the advent of electronic media, text-messaging, and social networking has made this process much more painful than it must have been 10 years ago. My daughter has not received any feedback from teachers post-audition.</p>
<p>Oh, your poor D. What a mean thing to do! I do have to ask…Are you even sure the girl actually received the email…or was that just part of the “head” game? Tell your D to hang in there, you just never know until the letters arrive.</p>
<p>GlassH and Flute, thanks for the commiseration! Yes, we are sure Mean Girl was accepted. She’s in the finals at Curtis too. And we know she has no intention of going to D’s First Choice School! D is holding up very well though, so proud of her!</p>
<p>These emails and such are maddening. They seem to give the student (and parents) a nice lift in spirits initially, but at what cost? </p>
<p>My son received a phone call the other day from the head of MUSIC admissions at a university-based music program telling him the guitar faculty were very impressed with his audition and giving the university admissions department their “highest recommendation” for him. While it was a great call to get and seems very encouraging, this school has a dual admissions process, so anything is still possible. (I recall a discussion somewhere in here from a flutist who was contacted and accepted by a professor at another university only to be denied later by the school.)</p>
<p>Now if my son does not get accepted to this school academically, he will be more devastated than if he hadn’t gotten the call!</p>
<p>Add to that the stress caused when students start comparing notes on “contact” they’ve received… I’m just not sure what the point is. If they’re in such a hurry to win favor with certain students, why not just move up the notification dates by a couple of weeks? It seems many music programs already do this, anyway. Then there would be no need or temptation to email or call anyone.</p>
<p>jazz/shredder: I think the music departments have influence. As I recall, your son has a good academic record, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed!!!</p>