I think we are done!

chelle · 01-17-2008, 06:16 AM

D. has been accepted into her two top choices OCU and CCM. We still have 2 auditions to go : NYU(TISH) and Boston. We are considering cancelling both. (They are the same weekend in NYC in Feb)

Part of me thinks we should play it out and see what kind of scholarship she gets from the other two schools, if accepted. Once she sees/hears about the programs close up she may really like them more.

On the other hand D. says no way would she consider NYU or Boston over her top two. In that case perhaps we should save the money, time and stress. (Also, I have my doubts that we could afford, NYU.)

She already has a big choice to make. The decision to continue auditioning or not hers. Any thoughts would be helpful.
Chelle

musicmom1215 · 01-17-2008, 07:42 AM

Since she has been accepted into her top two, I say scrap the February auditions while you can get your money back. If she truly does not want to go to NYU or Boston (if choosing among the four), then I would spend that money visiting the top two choices again to help her make her decision. Maybe she could sit in on some classes if she has not already done so. Just my thoughts.

MichaelNKat · 01-17-2008, 07:49 AM

If your daughter is satisfied that she has investigated the schools in enough depth that she is convinced that she would not attend either NYU or BOCO and is fully confident that OCU or CCM is the school for her, then why bother with the other auditions. Unless the speculative possibility of scholarships at NYU or BOCO is of compelling and determinative significance, then let it go. It's going to be her college experience, she's got to be invested in her school choices, not you (as long as her choices are not irresponsible ones, which is hardly the case here). Sometimes there's a tendency to feel an urge to "collect" acceptances even though in your heart you know that a decision has been made. Talk to her to satisfy yourself that her thought process is well reasoned and based on a sound evaluation of the schools and if so, give her the trust and confidence she will thrive on as a new chapter of her life unfolds.

MTgrlsmom · 01-17-2008, 10:04 AM

chelle - first of all congrats on your D's acceptances! On top of that, to be accepted into her top two choices is wonderful. I totally understand your "dilemma" as in a different way I just went through this with my D, and am actually really feel weird about not traveling to auditions anymore.

NYU, my D's first choice and where she will be going, in all fairness is not really known to be particularly generous when it comes to scholarships (except in SoozieVT D's case

), Boco on the other hand might come through. However, I think your D was offered some scholarships at OCU too if I remember correctly and if OCU and CCM are her two top choices, why really bother with more auditions/expenses/decisions to make? Once my D started to receive acceptances and scholarships to schools that were "higher" on her list, she eliminated auditions to schools that were still pending.

My D sent emails to the schools she had been accepted to and "pulled her applications" and she also sent letters to the schools that she had not heard from (artistically) "in case she was being considered". Then she canceled the auditions she still had pending. In all cases, she received the nicest emails back, telling her how much it was appreciated that she let them know right away and wishing her well.

If your D really feels done, then just follow her lead

, even though it is easier said then done

.

llong39 · 01-17-2008, 10:45 AM

I know CCM doesn't have a lot of scholarship money to give out, but there may be something available from them as well. Are you instate? And what about the Cincinnatus competition? It gives an automatic $2000 and you can compete for more money.

soozievt · 01-17-2008, 11:12 AM

I feel if your D is already accepted to her first two choices, there is no need to do the remaining auditons. The only reasons I can think to still do them are if you need to compare financial aid packages (or scholarships) in order to decide where to matriculate or two, if your D has not fully explored her school options enough to know for sure which are the best fits and would need the visits to compare them more fully. But if she has truly explored her schools and knows for sure these are her favorites, she really has no need to do the remaining auditions if she is SURE she would pick OCU and CCM over those schools. Why bother? I have a client who got into one of her favorite schools early on and she has chosen to cancel several auditions at schools that she knows she would not pick over this one particular school and is still doing some other auditions since she is still interested in some of her remaining schools. That is the beauty of hearing early from a favorite school with a positive result. So, I would support your D's choice to cancel her remaining auditions unless she must compare financical offers in terms of her final decision or unless she hasn't fully explored the school options. But if money is not a deciding factor and she is positive she'd pick these two schools over the remaining ones, why not just be done and save the travel, money, and angst. Be happy you may be done sooner rather than later! Congrats on her getting into her favorite schools!

srw · 01-17-2008, 12:08 PM

My S did the same thing, had had a couple of auditions, we accepted to both programs, one was his top choice (OCU) so he cancelled the rest and things have worked out well. I don't know your financial circumstances, but for us the money we saved came in very handy, college is expensive and there's lots of "hidden" cost, particuarly in a music program.

Mikksmom · 01-17-2008, 06:32 PM

Ditto to all of the above comments. If your D is positive an NYU or BOCO acceptance would not change her mind - or her order of schools-, I would not bother as it obviously involves travel(and big bucks in NYC) and more importantly time(which is pretty precious). I like the idea of a futher visit to her top 2 if she needs it - although I think she had gone to OCU for summer??? She might also do a closer curriculum comparison to see which program fits her preferred focus better.

You have a challenge that I am sure most CC'ers would love to have. Be sure to enjoy the freedom to choose!

MikksMom

chelle · 01-17-2008, 08:40 PM

How do you choose between two great schools? It is going to be difficult, but you are right, Mikksmom, she is lucky to have the choice.

DR3mtAZ · 01-17-2008, 08:42 PM

Three years ago we went through the same thing. My son was accepted at his first choice, OCU, before Christmas and we cancelled going to Unifieds for more auditions. He had a little regret later, but only a little. He loves it at OCU and I really doubt he would have received enough scholarship money to entice him to change his mind.

soozievt · 01-17-2008, 09:42 PM

Chelle,
They are two great schools but very different. Your D should have her personal set of college criteria and preferences and determine which school most closely correlates with as many of those criteria she has. She also can compare the two schools in several aspects. Then there is the "gut". Plus there is talking to faculty and current students etc. Examine the curriculum. One is a BM, one is a BFA. The locations are vastly different. One has cuts, one doesn't. One has a showcase, one doesn't. Look at everything. She should also be able to say why she prefers these over NYU and BOCO. She should know these schools quite well enough to have come to that conclusion and now she should discern which of her options most closely fits her own personal set of college criteria.

cartera45 · 01-17-2008, 09:48 PM

Do MT kids ever take sample lessons with teachers like vocal performance kids do?

MichaelNKat · 01-17-2008, 10:19 PM

My daughter "sat in" on dance and MT vocal performance classes. I put it in quotes because she did very little sitting and a lot of participating. The exception was freshman acting studios where because of the emphasis on breaking down barriers and building trust at the early stages, no visitors were permitted to observe.

soozievt · 01-17-2008, 10:24 PM

I haven't heard of kids taking sample lessons for MT. I have heard and recommend sitting in on classes if possible.

triplethreatx3 · 01-18-2008, 05:06 AM

My D managed to arrange voice lessons at 2 of the schools she visited last spring. I don't know of anyone who has tried to arrange a lesson during audition visits. I suppose it's possible....
She also sat in on acting classes, but I don't recall if there was any participation on her part.