@theaterwork: Well said—“I want my D to be more well rounded.” “…we really need to let them decide…” and “Enjoy your senior moments the next month or 2! It is so fleeting.”
We parents can only and should only guide and support our children as they find THEIR way and calling. Add to that a LOT OF LOVE. The ultimate goal is THEIR happiness; not Broadway.
Unfortunately, their happiness IS Broadway. Or just to perform.
(FYI … my post #3582 was actually written as a response to another post that has since been deleted. I didn’t just lose my mind randomly. Though that has been known to happen occasionally.)
Fortunately for my daughter her college experience opened her eyes to many ways to be artistic. She found the love of playwriting and stage managing as well as acting. She now has more than one way to feed her soul artistically and has expanded her financial earnings.
@birdygirl it is a play called “It’s Pinocchio” - it will be at Theatre 54 (Shetler Studios) in July. You can find it on FB 
Can anyone tell me the difference between being an alternate and being waitlisted?
My D found out she’s an alternate at the University of Central Florida today.
Alternate means that someone of her type has to decline before she moves into the spot.
@MTMOM17 every school is different and calls the waitlist different things. The only school where there’s a difference that I know of is Pace (at least 4 years ago). The alternate was like an understudy for a specific person accepted. The waitlist was kinda more general like if the alternate didn’t work out they’d hit the waitlist.
That is the tough thing. We want what every parent wants – for our kids to be happy – but our kids, god bless them, require some very difficult things to be happy (BFA program, summer stock, at least sporadic employment in theater after graduation). You don’t want to be greedy, but it’s…omg, I hope he gets a slot/gets a cb/gets cast/gets reviewed/gets reviewed well/gets an agent/gets some film opportunities/gets a bigger part…etc. etc. etc. it never ends.
@fancytheatrekid: Then we have to try with all our might to help our children expand their definition of “happiness.” To so narrowly define “success” or “happiness” as performing on Broadway is asking for a lot of heartache.
Doesn’t have to be Broadway. Just a working actor/singer is what she wants and knows the hard work it will entail. She just wants to go to college to pay to get training.
@fancytheatrekid: Yes. Easier said than done I know. Especially at this time of year; at this stage in the game. Best wishes to your daughter and you with her 3 decisions yet to be made.
@lojosmo That is true - I heard that at many schools where D auditioned. They have a “Formula” that they would Accept a certain percentage more students (some schools it was twice as many as they wanted), knowing that they would get many who would not accept the offer. It backfires on them, too, which is why Rider’s class of 2021 was 45 instead of their usual 30!
My D “just wants to make art”: Yet another pro of her having taken a growth year. A year and more ago, she had a Broadway or Bust mentality. Now, after a humbling year of working at CVS, she just misses creating. She is doing a little-but she cannot wait to dance every day; take private voice as part of her curriculum, do a full day of classes, go to rehearsal or the set-building shop; and then-limp home at 10:30 (11?) pm to start her school work.
I highly recommend that these prospective theatre students do NOT have this as their definition of happiness. The vast majority will never been on Broadway and to focus on that very slim possibility is likely to bring disappointment. An expanded vision of their future goals will enhance the possibility of a happy and successful career.
How about a dream of loving well, having friends and family, and doing sonething jobwise that you are passionate about…being men and women of character…broadway is just an address on a street sign…wonderful art is being made by performers all over the world
I can echo what @owensfolks said. After a gap year of working a couple part-time jobs and not performing at all (or training except for an occasional voice lesson to get ready for auditions) - my D is SO READY for training/performing on a daily basis again, and I think has things in perspective.I realize how lucky she was to get a couple of offers since she hasn’t been (on-site) in high school since her sophomore year; thus has only done an occasional community theatre show (although really great roles) and semi-regular voice lessons since then. Will share in the final stories thread soon!
Long-time reader here (I did musical theater in high school and ultimately ended up in a path that does not involve theater other than seeing it) who finally decided to pop in. I just wanted to say that everyone will end up where they end up, the Twin Cities is a fantastic place for theater (but I’m also from there, so I’m very biased 
), and I can’t wait to see where everyone ends up in the final stories thread!
Just looked back at the final decision threads from the last couple of years. If we follow years past, we should start seeing a lot of activity on final decisions next week and the week after. On behalf myself and all the other people with kids on wait lists, I can’t wait!