soozievt

BiGismama...
CC is very informative and by the sharing of information, we all learn a lot that is not in any brochure, LOL. I have had students apply to PPU in the past and a couple who are applying this year. I've learned stuff just on CC and I will need to pass on about this deposit procedure (it is NOT the norm at other schools), and also the misconception by many that they are accepted into a BFA program, when in essence, they are accepted into a BA and go through an audition later to advance to the BFA program. I do not think all applicants are aware of either of these things with regard to PPU.

PPU is not acting in good faith with regard to the students rights under NACAC.

PPU may be a GREAT school, and I am ONLY DISCUSSING this one issue, not the worthiness of their MT program itself (I obviously have suggested the school to many students......often either to ones who do not have a strong academic profile who want a BFA OR to very strong BFA candidates who need to balance out a list of competitive BFAs with a somewhat less competitive BFA).

Lastly, I do not believe a school can take your slot away from you once you are admitted as you have until May 1 to commit. PPU may instill fear that the program will fill up if they don't deposit now but in essence, an acceptance cannot be taken away prior to May 1. I highly doubt that happens. They are pressuring and persuading with a heavy hand but they would be breaking all admission rules to take an acceptance away before May 1.

One more thing....ED is the only program in which a student MUST commit early. Early Action, Rolling admissions, or regular decision do not require a commitment on the student's part until May 1. For a school to pressure a student to commit BEFORE HEARING FROM THEIR OTHER COLLEGES IS NOT RIGHT as it goes against the essence of regular decision where a student gets to weigh all their offers (both acceptances and financial aid offers). By requiring a student to commit before hearing from other colleges goes against the entire intent of RD versus ED. Only ED requires that kind of commitment. RD does not.

Also....PPU is asking for a deposit based on academic acceptance when the student hasn't even found out if he/she is accepted into the program they applied to. Most kids I know applying to PPU, are doing so for the MT Program or the Acting program, and would not otherwise have applied or attended if not accepted into those programs.

PPU is also encouraging families to act unethically by putting in deposits at more than one school to hold a spot which families should NOT do and it makes it unfair to others to have a spot held that may not be taken. Students should be enrolling in and making a deposit at only ONE school. PPU may say it is refundable but if every school made you hold a spot before hearing from colleges on April 1, a family could have $5000 held up in deposits and spots would be held that were not intending to matriculate....all against common college admissions practices. If my kid had applied to many schools that had employed such practices (luckily most do not), I would have needed to take out a college loan just to put down those deposits!

cawrd

I think the deposits are more common than you think. Last year as my S was applying to colleges (but not for MT), every school required a deposit in order to apply for housing. Freshman housing filled up at a few of the schools before the holidays and at all others, housing was filled before February. So unless he made the deposit, he wouldn't have been able to live on campus this year. We went ahead and made deposits at each school where he was accepted and he was able to get the housing reserved. Once his decision was made, he notified the other schools and received all deposits back. It seems to be a common practice at most schools--or at least every school where he applied.

soozievt

cawrd, perhaps this is the case at certain types of schools and thanks for sharing that. It was not the case at any of the 16 schools my two kids applied to or at the schools most of my clients apply to. At least at most pretty selective schools that I know, no commitments or deposits are due prior to May 1. HOUSING IS NOT at stake. All freshmen get housing and they deal with dorm selection and so forth AFTER May 1 when commitments to enroll are in, and not before. There may be schools, such as large state schools or other types of schools that do not work this way, as you are sharing now. But most selective private schools do not operate in this fashion. Everyone who matriculates gets housing at the types of schools to which I am referring. No money or commitment is required prior to May 1. Thanks for pointing out that there are schools that operate differently. I don't know which schools you mean but I imagine some large state schools may do it the way you mention. Most selective private schools do not even send out ADMISSIONS DECISIONS UNTIL APRIL 1. Housing at these schools does not FILL UP. Housing doesn't even get started until after May 1 at these schools. Housing is GUARANTEED for all freshmen at these schools. At schools that send out decisions on April 1, expecting commitments to enroll with deposits due on May 1.....they would consider it unethical for a family to put in a deposit at more than one school. Obviously the types of schools you are talking about work differently than I am describing.

letsfigureitout

On a more positive note. . .the auditions at PPU over the weekend were very well organized. There were 5 acting students auditioning and 29 mt students. The staff did an info session, students gave mini tours, and the auditions began. My son auditioned for acting, which consisted of a warm-up class (the auditors were watching and taking notes!) and then the two monologues. My son was called BACK into the room to receive some feedback (very positive) and to have a brief interview. Although nervous, he felt very comfortable and he really liked the faculty. The MTs did singing and dance auditions in the morning, had a lunch break, did the group dance audition, and SOME were called back for a master class. Everyone who wanted tickets to the Conservatory show that is currently running was able to get them. It was a world premiere, with a lot of potential.

There has been a lot of talk about dress for auditions on CC. At PPU, most students were dressed neatly (long-sleeved collared shirts tucked in for boys, no sneakers or jeans, girls in dresses or skirts), although there were a FEW exceptions (jeans). The female mt applicants tended to be dressed up a bit more, usually in strappy heels (which made the walking tour interesting).

Students hear some kind of feedback (a yes, no or maybe) within 3 weeks. There was some talk about the deposit, and the word from the PPU folks was that the program fills up, usually before April 1st, and if you want to reserve your spot, you should pay the deposit early. The housing cannot be arranged before the deposit is received, either--however, there was conflicting info presented, with one person saying housing fills by early May and another saying that all Freshman were guarenteed housing until July 1st. Note that all students are admitted into PPU as BA theater students and must audition for the BFA at the end of Freshman year. Students told us, however, that no matter what, you take the same courses.

Overall, it was a very positive experience for my son. PM or e-mail me if you want more info.

beriglour

We sent our deposit last year for my son and it was promptly returned when he decided to go elsewhere.

MTgrlsmom

I learned that PointWeb (Point Park's community) just updated their "last contacts" info under your admissions. Those of you waiting to hear can check whether you were sent a theatre scholarship award letter, which I would assume means you were accepted Good Luck!

letsfigureitout

Thanks for the heads up! Good news for us! Friday should be a great day for the mail!

BriBris Mom

Is anyone lurking about who was at the December 1st audition? My daughter auditioned and got into the Master Class. There were told several times that they would hear this week. I was just wondering if anyone else out there was at that audition and if so, if you've heard? I'm going to have an ulcer by the end of the week!

nydancemom

Last year you could get onto the oline site and looking at your own profile, could see what the most recent mail was that was sent to you. If it said something about a scholarship from the conservatory or an acceptance to the conservatory (I forget exactly-sorry), your acceptance letter was on its way. Not sure if that will help you this year, but give it a try! I know the waiting is KILLER!!!!! Good luck to your daughter and congratulations to her for even getting into the master class--that's an accomplishment in itself!

BriBris Mom

Thanks for the help, I did check, but either she didn't get in, or they've gotten smarter. It just said that a letter was sent. I guess we're going to have to just have to wait. Hopefully we'll hear today.

BriBris Mom

Still no letter, but we just checked the site today and it says a Theater Scholarship Award letter was sent on the 7th...We still want the letter, but I think she's in! WHEW.

MTgrlsmom

Sounds like good news will be arriving soon

letsfigureitout

She's gotta be in--sometimes the mail takes soooo long!

letsfigureitout

Well, we sent in our deposit to "hold" a spot in the acting program at PPU. Thanks to everyone who weighed in on this issue. My S plans to visit again, and attend classes, in January/February, to further check out the program. While he already knows that he could be very happy there, he had good auditions at two other schools and has 8 more auditions to go! Truthfully, he won't be able to make a decision about where to go until April, as the other schools do NOT have rolling admissions.

So, now we're getting housing questionnaires and health forms and meal plan info! And, requests for more deposit money for room and board, and such. I suppose we just let those pieces of mail sit for awhile?????

BreatheEasy

We did the same thing last year- sent in the deposit- but then let the other requests for housing deposit, etc. sit for a while. As it turned out, my S chose another school in the end, although he would have been very happy with PP. The initial deposit was returned promptly.