@ParachuteBoy - You make an excellent point, and I’ve been trying to persuade our D to package herself as such for years! 
@MomCares’ daughter has no need of platform heels or a voice distorter!
I hesitated to post - been a lurker here for the most part. But several folks on this forum were very helpful with PMs and our story might benefit someone else in future years, so here goes.
S decided sometime during junior year that he might want to apply for MT programs. H and I were not convinced that this was the right track for him, but were willing to support him through the process. S said he wanted to try it so he wouldn’t have any regrets later on. We did the research, contacted a coach to help him pick out the material (we are clueless here). Did the prescreens and headshots by ourselves (he did the prescreens, we did the headshots). He chose the schools to audition for. I suggested several schools, learning about them from the forum, but he had a clear idea of where he wanted to apply and yes, his list was top heavy. He was very realistic about his chances. He had a completely parallel list for “regular” schools - not schools for MT.
The whole application/audition process was new to us. Pretty exciting. Going to an audition for the first time reminded us of how many many folks are out there trying the same thing (reminded me of D going to an AAU basketball game - she gave up on wanting to be a professional basketball player dream after that!). S did fairly well - passed his prescreens, got into his early audition school with a significant scholarship. As expected, with his list being top heavy, most of the other schools were rejections - but he did end up with a couple of different options for MT - one with a full tuition scholarship and another with a half tuition scholarship.
Came down to decision time. He had to first choose which track - MT or “not”. He deliberated about this for a while and although it hurt to turn the schools down, he decided to go with his “regular” dream school. H and I are more disappointed than we thought we’d be - we were looking forward to seeing him on stage more. But after thinking things through, he decided that he would be happy doing theater as an EC. He quoted one of the first things I had told him after researching this - “CC folks say that if you can see yourself being happy doing something else, go do something else”, He is very happy with his decision, no regrets on having tried the audition route - he says he learned so much and made so many new friends.
Oh my @toowoderful I never ever meant to imply anyone was a fool. We have spent a boatload on some top schools for fine arts and philosophy majors and thought the schools were valuable and important for our kids education. This was my reply to your orginal post before I read your 519 post. I agree with you @toowonderful 
I just think kids need to really want what any school can offer. So
if you love academics or the arts and want that top school education and opportunities it can give you then go go go for it. But if you can’t get in or afford to go then do not assume all is lost. I do think certain schools really can offer better educational opportunities and connections than others. I think this is true in the Arts also. I just get sad hearing so many kids feel as though life is lost because they did not get into Princeton or CMU. We are hearing this at my kids school from many great kids so I am sensitive to this issue.
@arisamp - I love hearing about kids like yours! I suspect there are as many successful actors who wonder how their lives might have been if they’d become brain surgeons as there are successful brain surgeons who wonder how they might have fared as actors.
There is truly no “best” career choice, and different people crave very different things from their lives. I know kids who have a driving desire to become famous, while other (more introverted like our D) actors don’t crave that at all. I know very successful actors who decided they preferred spending time with their families or simply grew tired of the gypsy lifestyle. It’s a big world filled with lots of different people, which is only part of why there is no “best” school for every aspiring MT, nor any single best path to follow after they graduate.
Well to answer your question @monkey13 I’m on this forum to get information in general for MT college programs and of course we all think it matters which college our child attends . I think @sbc is thinking like me, that kids shouldn’t have to think if they can’t afford or don’t get into a top tier school that they should just bag it and go to school for business ( no offense in advance to business degrees!). I am just that person that roots for the underdog I guess. I love it when I see these kids from “X never heard of school” on Broadway… I love it .
My daughter attends a no name school and I know for certain she will be successful. For her success will come in many forms. I am certain of it. She is making amazing connections in all aspects of theatre yet her school is never talked about on here. We have no worries at all. @theaterwork Don’t fret it will happen for your girl.
YES @bisouu - I have enjoyed your daughter’s journey!
@bissou, great reminder that the power to create a great career lies within the kid, not in the school
Thanks @claire74 and @artskids I have always believed that the student has to be proactive, aggressive and driven. The place where this happens can vary and should vary depending on the individual’s needs. And a little brag moment, my daughter was just nominated for two “Cheekies” her university’s version of a Tony for set design and props. This is happening tonight! She went in as an acting major and because her professors encourage their students to be well rounded in all aspects of theatre she has found a love in stage managing and design. Go figure…
@bissou, and wouldn’t Broadway shows be a bit same-old same-old if all the actors graduated from the same three MT programs with the same mix of influences, skills and experiences.
@complacent - since today seems to be a mea culpa sort of day for me… I wanted to say publicly that I got some more information - and you/your journey are legit. My apologizes.
With all due respect to @bisouu and her amazing daughter, I don’t think any of us can expect to be certain about our kids’ success, no matter where they go to school or even how hard they work. (Though working hard certainly increases the odds.)
I think all of us define success differently and I have no doubt she will be successful.
In a bit of a dry spell over here success-wise…may be influencing my outlook.
I’ll consider our kids to be wildly successful if they are healthy, busy, operating within the law, mostly happy and able to pay their own bills.
Amen @MomCares !!
@MomCares - with a son Hopefully graduating college in a few weeks, just about a week after my D will finally hear from her WL school and we’ll resolve where she’s going and hopefully have the emotions subside-- I can shift focus to another kid, I mean adult, I mean kid: I hear you, I hear you, I hear you!
@MomCares
Hee hee.
Feels so good to be done :-"