@1bamom understand. Yes, there are other options. We’re just sharing our opinions. I hope that she finds a few more to cast a wide net. Columbia has always been a hot school for film/directing not so much for acting. Maybe things are changing. I hope so. It helps to get feedback from recent graduates. They post on google and yelp all of the time but it’s an option. I was hoping that someone could start the “it’s late but these schools have extended deadlines” for anyone needed to cast a wider net discussion for CO 2022
Loyola University Chicago has a strong BA in Theatre Performance with an Acting track. You can pair it with a Musical Theatre certificate. They have rolling admission and no audition. The faculty is very connected.
Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY has a BA with BFA option their Sophomore Year. Highly decorated faculty and less than 20 miles from the city. Rolling admission. No audition until Spring of their freshman year for the BFA track.
@MTMOM17 Hi! Yes, all first round acceptances were made a couple of weeks ago. But, I do know that there are several males and females who have turned it down, so fingers crossed for us both!! PLEASE let me know when you hear 
@nanamama thanks! I just started a new discussion. I will add those
I just cannot look at these boards anymore.
We are devastated and so discouraged with this whole college process.
My son found his passion for theater late in high school but when he did he has been cast as leads and has won awards at festivals. Parents of last year’s drama kids (whose kids went to top colleges) gushed that my S is so good-looking, talented, a boy, and a strong baritone that he will get in everywhere he auditions. We spent thousands on private dance and singing lessons, got a monologue AND audition coach, spent money on professional video for prescreens and headshots. Flew from CA to NY 2X and to the midwest 2X for callback auditions, applied to 21 schools, was booked with auditions at Unifieds, and he has only gotten in his safety school that has an MT program but is not a well-known school for it. I don’t know what else we could have done. Perhaps his grades could have been better but the schools said his GPA was OK and he was accepted to most academically before his auditions. I feel that the universe is playing a sick joke on us. My son is such a good kid and deserves something good and this has really shaken my faith and confidence. He didn’t even get on a WL.
A kid at the rival high school that is his type has gotten in so many places already and is showing the letters on social media like trophies. My son is embarrassed and our friends/family are starting to get judgmental about all this.
So BE thankful if you got acceptances and have choices. Each moment I am on these boards I cry thinking about the hopes we had for our son’s future. He cannot audition anymore due to his Spring musical coming up and he is the main lead. And I am sure everyone will ask what colleges he got in after each performance…I dread that.
The time, money, and emotional investment we have poured into this process in unreal. I just don’t know what else to say.
Congrats to all who have gotten where you want. It is truly a miracle, a lottery win, to say the least so please don’t take it for granted.
@HopeinMT I am truly sorry for the pain. I won’t try and ease the blow. But is he still waiting to hear back from any schools? There are many stories of kids not getting their first acceptance until late March.
@actingdreams You’re welcome! Also, Indiana University has a BA Drama program. No audition. There is a BFA MT program as well but audition based. With such a great music school, a Drama major can still take private voice. Soooo…not rolling but will accept applications on a space available basis.
@HopeinMT , my heart breaks for you and your son, and I want to give both of you a huge hug! I don’t believe that you did ANYTHING wrong at all, nor do I think your son isn’t talented or anything at all like that! These schools literally take 12 kids! 12! The odds are so slim, it’s ridiculous. I pray that he finds his place and that it all works out. But please, please, don’t think it’s because he wasn’t talented what I did anything wrong! This happens to talented kids every year and it’s heartbreaking.
@HopeinMT My heart breaks for your son and you! Sometimes things just don’t make sense, initially or ever! Your feelings are completely valid as we all know what this process entails but try to keep the faith and not be embarrassed. Hold you head up and be proud regardless of this outcome, does not define anything if you don’t let it. Virtual HUGS from the east coast!
@actingdreams @HopeinMT Ditto!
@HopeinMT - We were in your shoes 4 years ago, with only AMDA in the Yes column, until April 8 when we got the big yes from Molloy/CAP21. So I know exactly how you feel. If it’s really over - and we all pray for you that it’s not - go to the safety school and transfer if he doesn’t like it. Never give up, never surrender!
And to chime in, @HopeinMT, yes, to what everyone has said. Please don’t despair. I’d give you a hug too if I could.
@HopeinMT - like others, sending oodles of hugs to you. It sucks that this process is so public even if we choose to remain private because it is soooo out of our control. As for hometown folks - ignore anyone who isn’t genuine or supportive. They aren’t worthy of a moment of your precious time or emotions.
Thanks for sharing a journey that is not unique, simply because of the sheer numbers - not because of lack of talent or hard work. I am sure you give voice to many lurkers on the board. Hang in there!!
I love that you describe your son as “passionate”. That attribute is his fuel - not someone else’s curious probing or nuanced judgment. Don’t let them, his peers and random auditors steal his joy or how proud you are of him. Training is training – labels are labels. He will excel wherever he goes. Perhaps his safety school will provide individualized attention, be more affordable, and he will be the artist that shows others that it is more important to value the person and his work rather than artificial markers.
@HopeinMT , I’m sorry. But I am here to tell you that it will be okay…the situation you describe was our family one year ago. We were so sad and felt we had so much explaining to do to everyone who thought our daughter would sail into elite programs. It didn’t happen. I know EXACTLY what you are feeling–the money, the time, the emotions, all of it. But standing on the other side of one year, I can say with certainty that things work out the way they are meant to. After a gap year at junior college and another round of auditions, my daughter is stronger emotionally and in a better position to take on a MT program. We are still waiting for several notifications but she has some choices this year. I never thought we’d be standing in this spot, but we made it. If you and your son can get your heads around a year that looks different than you thought it would, and if he is committed to making this his life’s path, it will all work out. I promise. I’m so sorry for the disappointment. Believe me, I know it hurts.
For @HopeinMT and others…
We all feel for you and of course, hope that some results are not in yet and things will work out. While in the midst of multiple rejections, it certainly feels devastating. We all understand this. Once this period passes and if your child is not admitted anywhere (though you do say your son has an acceptance to his safety school which may very well are a good option)…hopefully you will be able to step out of the intense emotional ride and look at the BIG PICTURE. Life is not always a straight line. Twists and turns can be very common. When you are in the middle of it, it seems like everything is lost, but this simply is not so. Your son can still pursue his passion.
I am glad that others are sharing stories of rejections and how it is a year later, for example, after a gap year or after pursuing a BA path, etc. There are lots of options and it is hard to see that when you are in the midst of the college admissions process. Remind yourself: BIG PICTURE!
I’ll share one such case too. I have a nephew who was pursuing another field in the performing arts that involved auditions. He was closed out of all his schools. After that point, I stepped in to help him. He took a gap year which was great for him. I helped him in applying to internships in his field and he got a great one. He got more training. I advised him in this round on his college selection and admissions process. We created an entire new and more appropriate college list in his field. I counseled him on every piece of the application process and it was done differently than the first time. In this second admissions round, he got into all his schools but one. Things worked out. Things usually do work out, even if not the way you expect, and there is a zig zag path to the same goals!
Hi @HopeinMT , sorry you are feeling so down about the process. Sounds like your son has a yes, though, right? Has he already gotten all his responses? My daughter’s one “yes” is at a regional little-known program as well (she has 7 decisions still unknown, with 2 or 3 she is assuming are “noes.”). She really was happy with the folks at her “yes” school and what she saw when she auditioned. She liked the idea that she would get the experience of performing in pretty much every single show. In my opinion, I think that superb MT training can be had at these sorts of programs, perhaps with a less competitive “feel” as well. We actually have one of these (little-known, regional) right in our own small town, and I know for a fact that the top students go on to work in the field (our home-town program is one my daughter has not heard back from yet.)
I am thinking that this board maybe tends to raise anxiety for some of us, because a very small number of the programs (and mostly ones with extremely large numbers of people auditioning) are discussed, and parents start thinking that all is lost if their child does not get into one of these. I would be terribly anxious if my daughter did not have that one “yes.” However, I have also found a treasure trove of information here if you can keep yourself from looking at/caring about all the places that others have offers for!
When I discuss this with my daughter (who is in the same boat with only two acceptances, none from dream schools) I ask her “what is the goal?” She says “to be trained well so she can work in theater/Broadway.” No one needs a school for that. No one needs CCM or Michigan to accomplish this goal. I speak from experience in this field. This industry is what you make of it. Hard workers reach the finish line and there are many ways to get there, Casting directors don’t care where you went to school. They care you are trained, skilled and above all right for that part. Schools have made this a feeding frenzy for a goal no one can promise or deliver. It is up to the individual. Pursue your dream whether that is a gap year or a safety school or just getting in a car and heading to NY or LA. Work hard, harder than anyone else and you will achieve it. Working in your chosen field is the goal, not fame. Remember that. No one, no school holds your destiny but you. Go get’em kids! Set the world on fire!
@HopeinMT It’s not over! I am sorry that you’re feeling like this. You know who makes it? Kids like your son, not the popular kids who are getting in Everywhere. You only need 1. Apparently you didn’t get to read about the girl went to a school unheard of for theatre and now she’s a lead on an HBO Series and regular on greys anatomy. Please go back to that. You don’t want to go in debt either! I promise it works out. Your son will end up exactly where he’s supposed to be. Just know when it happens, he’ll realize why the others didn’t work out and will probably love it <3
So sorry @HopeinMT this is a difficult process for so many. Wishing you and your son all the best
@eks2018 for ball state does that mean if you haven’t heard you haven’t been accepted ?
@HopeinMT - I really feel how you are feeling and I understand. I can’t believe we are where we are as well. When my D decided she wanted to pursue the BFA I was hesitant and reluctant to support it- knowing how competitive it is…I checked with voice coaches and others who knew her talent and they all told me she should pursue it— I just sat in on her rehearsal last night for her HS show where she is playing the lead and cried at how impressed I was - but also because she’s been rejected from soooo many programs so far… it really hurts and frankly doesn’t make much sense. I keep trying to figure out why . I’m hoping we will get some good news but I’m nervous and scared. She has been really down because 2 h
Girls in our HS Have both been accepted to great programs- why not her? I think to myself how is she the lead in 8th grade always cast abd the leAd again as a senior (and out dir Doesn’t care your year- if you’re not talented enough he will cast a freshman over a senior -he did it in this show with a male lead )- we did training classes masterclasses summer programs- the works . And I’m also shocked she hasn’t been accepted anywhere - we have ZERO acceptances and only a few schools to hear from she wants to attend. I’m trying to remain positive but this is embarrassing for her too so I understand- and I’m also dreading that Q at her upcoming show
I refuse to believe she’s not talented enough and it’s just a matter of so many applicants and too few spots - maybe her songs at her auditions didn’t show them enough? She also did a community show while pre screens were due which took away from preparing although she did pass about 75% of them. Who knows/ she’s also white brown haired blue eyed girl and there’s tons at every audition. I’m not opposed to the gap year and I’ve been considering it. Also looking into programs still accepting.
Anyway you’re not alone there’s been other moms on here experiencing the same disappointment along with their children and trying to figure out what went wrong - I don’t think there is any figuring it out- if your S wants this there’s always next year and he’ll have another year to prepare since as you said he started late in HS- i know this feeling is terrible I’ve been having trouble sleeping and can’t think of much else- but this too shall pass and maybe our kids will learn from it . Hope that helped or you can just ignore me