Acceptance to the school itself

danielrowan · 02-12-2008, 12:02 PM

I was recently accepted to the musical theatre program, but they still have to wait on my transcript from the university I'm at right now.

Is there a larger chance for someone to get accepted to Penn State, the university, because they were accepted into the musical theatre program?

NotMamaRose · 02-12-2008, 12:16 PM

danielrowan, I am interested that you have already heard from the musical theater program. Is that how it works at PSU: kids get an acceptance from the dept and need a separate acceptance from the regular admissions office? Love to know if anyone can answer this.

nydancemom · 02-12-2008, 01:31 PM

Perhaps this situation is different because he is a transfer student. Or maybe our D was just an oddity. Last year when D was accepted to MT she received a huge envelope from PSU admissions with "congratulations" written across the bottom. Inside, there was a folder with lots of PSU information and a letter saying she had been accepted for the BFA in MT. It came from the main university admissions office. She did receive a separate letter about a week later I think, from the MT department, telling her she was admitted for MT. So not sure if she should have gotten that lettter first, but got the main admissions one quicker because she had applied to the university in early September, but didn't audition until late January, so the early "rolling admission" decisions were already made (and she was pretty well qualified academically for PSU), but they hold the admission letters for the theater kids until after they audition. So as soon as they got her name from the MT department they sent it right out. Maybe? Did that make any sense? I hope!

ttmom · 02-12-2008, 06:34 PM

My D, a fr MT at PSU, applied Labor Day Week-end to the University. She auditioned at the very last audition date, Feb. 24, 2007. She got her acceptance letter to the BFA program on Feb28th but did not receive her acceptance to the University officially until a few days after that. My understanding (like nydnacermrom's) is that the admissions office keeps on file the kids they will accept if those kids are accepted to audition programs. The head of the audition program(VP, BA Theater, BFA) then notifies the admissions dep't. to accept the student for the audition program. If denied admission to a specific program but accepted to the University, as happened to a good friend of my D's, the applicant will receive offer of admission to the University and the opportunity to choose another major. One does have to be admitted separately to the University. Hope this helps.

NotMamaRose · 02-12-2008, 07:14 PM

I was wondering about this because my kid was a walk in to PSU during Unifieds. She sent her electronic application in a few days after her audition at NYC Unifieds and according to the online tracker, they have received it (obviously) and even have her transcript, which means her guidance counselor was very prompt! In the case of a kid who has not applied way in advance of the audition, I wonder how it works ...

danielrowan · 02-12-2008, 08:02 PM

Yeah, the MT department called me early this morning and told me that I was at the top of their list for admission to the musical theatre department and that they loved my audition, just that I needed to send my transcript in as soon as possible.

of course, I jumped up then and sent out my transcripts.
I called right afterwards and asked, in regards to my acceptance into the mt program, if there was anything else that I needed to do, and they said no...so, I don't know if that's a yes or a no.

I auditioned less than a week ago in las vegas...I believe on thursday afternoon.

I'm very excited. especially with all of the attention the university is getting now because of Natalie Weiss. She and I have been talking a lot about the university.

words cannot express my excitement and honor.

psucat · 02-12-2008, 11:49 PM

Hey everyone...the MT program notifies admissions of who they have accepted and who they have not but sometimes the MT program jumps before admissions has a chance to send out their big CONGRATS packet. Therefore sometimes, like ttmom, the MT letter comes before the big University packet. NotMamaRose, you did the right thing by applying as soon as you could to the University. Therefore, the admissions office might be a little behind if your D is accepted to the program in sending out the big info packet.
If you are accepted into the program, you are already accepted into the University. The head of the program has already checked on the application in admissions--admissions is just SO busy and bombarded that they may take a little longer than the program in sending out official mailings.

ErWill · 02-13-2008, 01:57 PM

Is there a pretty set length of time after the auditions that people hear or does it vary from student to student? I auditioned in NYC at Unifieds on Feb. 4th. I have read that some people hear as short as a week after, and it takes longer for others. Anyone have any insight into this?

psucat · 02-14-2008, 03:26 PM

I just spoke with Cary (the head of the program) and he said final decisions from Unifieds aren't going to be made until the end of February after all of the auditions are finished. There has been an overwhelming number of auditioners and very few spots, so they are not going to make any further decisions until then. Patience will be your best friend in this process

)

flhope · 02-14-2008, 04:58 PM

Would that then imply that PSU's going to wait until then to send out rejection letters too?

Yep, would that we could all be patient ("A handful of patience is worth more than a bucket of brains....")! But I'd never have thought that this whole process would be so nerve-wracking. arghhh.

NotMamaRose · 02-14-2008, 05:32 PM

Thanks, psucat. That makes sense from the school's point of view, to be sure. Of course, you and Natalie need to inform Cary and the powers that be that YOU TWO are Penn State's secret PR weapon. I defy anyone to spend any time with this dynamic duo and then NOT want to attend Penn State. Just ask my kid!

ErWill · 02-14-2008, 07:30 PM

thanks so much psucat!

sualabama · 02-25-2008, 09:22 AM

PSUcat - do you think all letters, whether good news or sad, will go out this week? Thanks!

sualabama · 02-25-2008, 11:50 AM

D received acceptance phone call this morning! She is thrilled beyond what words can say!

NotMamaRose · 02-25-2008, 12:19 PM

Yay for your D, Sualabama! That's terrific. Was she there to get the call?