<p>@dreamgirl1 would it be alright if I printed your story for our College Audition Seminar. We have so many kids in Atlanta that have your background who think it will just go great. They are going to a six week “college audition” program at a “top 3” school and have convinced others this is the best way to go because they have all gotten state level awards and done NYC auditions. There are so many that just don’t get this process and we are trying to get the kids to start wrapping their head around the strange beast that college auditions are. I think you have an amazing story and one that NEEDS to be heard by this group. Also, anyone else that has good and bad experiences at some of these “college audition prep” intensives PLEASE we would LOVE your feed back. We want to steer our kids in the RIGHT direction for them. Many have very limited budgets and spending $10,000 on a program will not allow them to get coaches BUT if the program really does all they need then we want to help them make it work. ANY help is appreciated!!!</p>
<p>@NAtlantaStudio my D’s friends in this year’s group of BFA MTs will be going to CCM, Texas State, Pace, Rider (2 of them), Otterbein and Ball State. Only one of them did any Collge Summer Programs. ALL of them did college coaching. There is no way any summer program can prepare you better than hours of individual coaching. You can buy more hours than you could ever use with 10K.</p>
<p>Of course! I was hesitant to post because I didnt want to come across as someone just bragging about my D. I posted because I hope that reading our story will help others. Feel free to share it</p>
<p>@evilqueen we completely agree with that thought process. 
We preach it until we are blue in the face but sometimes the parents think we are “just saying things” to make hype to sell the program. Unfortunately, by the time they figure it out it is a bit too late. We have a couple of the moms this happened to speaking this year. That should help. I have just loved the information here…I give it out to ALL Our parents and tell them to make sure to go even if they don’t post. The information is invaluable!!!</p>
<p>Great and valuable story. Awesome writing of it as well! Congratulations to you and your daughter! </p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Excellent post, @dreamgirl1! Congratulations! We just loved BoCo too. Love that city!</p>
<p>“There is no way any summer program can prepare you better than hours of individual coaching” That is probably true, at least in terms of the actual audition. And don’t get me wrong, I think intensive, individualized preparation is KEY. But in terms for being prepared for the BFA world- I think a college program is invaluable, because it shows the kids what the next phase is. As noted in other posts- my D is graduating from a performing arts HS, and a large number go on to top programs. One of the things my D’s teachers said last year was that getting IN to the program shouldn’t be our 1st and only priority- we should worry more about her being SUCCESSFUL where she ended up. Lots of kids drop out of BFA programs, and a major reason is b/c they don’t understand how tough it’s going to be. A summer program gives you a glimpse inside the world- with the caveat that you need to choose a program run by the school’s actual faculty- rather than a “camp” held a college. (not bashing on those types of programs- D did one a couple years ago, had a blast, but it had nothing to do with the real deal) ALSO- if a good program is available at your kid’s top school, you have a 3 or 4 or 5 WEEK audition, where teachers can get to KNOW your kid, rather than 5 min in a room. There are several well known programs where going in the summer really expands your kid’s chances of getting in to that particular program. Again, don’t get me wrong- coaching is HUGE- I firmly recommend it, but I would say college programs have strong value too. </p>
<p>@toowonderful - well said. Wish I had known about either of them at the time; it might have alleviated some of D’s anxiety and lack of confidence…not that I could have afforded it!. But I have heard of kids who did both and still had trouble getting in. Let’s face it, if we knew exactly what these schools are looking for, we wouldn’t need CC!</p>
<p>@dreamgirl1 - wonderful narration of your incredible journey! While your comments about UArts did make me cringe and second guess my D’s decision (since she’s chosen that school for BFA Acting), the lessons learned are invaluable for those that come behind us. Congrats!</p>
<p>@annelisesmom please don’t cringe! I was only speaking about my D’s personal journey and in no means was I saying Uof Arts is not a great program! It just isn’t the right program for D…But she has friends who attend and love it there! </p>
<p>AND we could get filthy rich selling our intel!!!</p>
<p>DREAMGIRL1 - CONGRATSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! How wonderful for the decision to be made and after all her years of hard work for you/her to have to decide among such wonderful options - and coming down to the school that is perfect for her. This is so wonderful!!!</p>
<p>Kategrizz’s- D</p>
<p>Applied: Baldwin-Wallace, Ball State University, Carnegie Mellon, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Coastal Carolina, Illinois Wesleyan, Indiana Univ, Ithaca, Michigan State (Non audition safety), Oakland Univ., Ohio Northern, Otterbein University, Point Park, Texas State, Uarts, Univ of Michigan, Western Michigan University</p>
<p>Prescreens: 8 Coastal Carolina, Illinois Wesleyan, Indiana, Ithaca, Otterbein, Texas State, UArts, Michigan - Passed all prescreens</p>
<p>Auditioned on Campus: Point Park, Baldwin Wallace, Ohio Northern, Michigan, Illinois Wesleyan, Indiana, Western Michigan</p>
<p>Auditioned in Chicago: Ball State, Carnegie Mellon, CCM, Coastal Carolina, Ithaca, Otterbein, Texas State, UArts</p>
<p>Walk In at Chicago Unifieds: University of Northern Colorado</p>
<p>Academically Accepted: Baldwin-Wallace, Ball State University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Coastal Carolina, Illinois Wesleyan, Indiana Univ, Michigan State (Non audition safety), Oakland Univ., Ohio Northern, Point Park, Texas State, Uarts, Western Michigan University </p>
<p>Accepted Artistically: Ball State University, Illinois Wesleyan, Indiana Univ, Ohio Northern, Point Park, Uarts, Western Michigan University, University of Northern Colorado (never applied academically)</p>
<p>Cancelled Audition: Oakland University</p>
<p>Waitlisted: Baldwin Wallace (eventual acceptance) and Texas State (eventual rejection)</p>
<p>FINAL DECISION: Baldwin Wallace University!</p>
<p>So – this is the thread the past two years that I read with the most interest. After 2 summers with very mixed results with auditions for summer programs, we entered this process with our eyes wide open – which is why D had such a long and varied list. She will also tell you that her crazy mother had her add 2 schools after list was finalized based on personal recommendations from friends made through this process AND encouraged her to do a walk-in at Unifieds (but I could only convince her to do the one.)</p>
<p>We did two fall auditions, hoping for that early acceptance so we could enter the main audition season relaxed – but what we yielded was a wait list (from BWU) and a decision that was delayed and delayed and delayed from PPU. It finally came (after being lost in the mail), the first day we were at Unifieds – but D wouldn’t allow it to be opened, and didn’t look at it until we came home. (and it just so happened that her last audition of Unifieds week was also her last audition of the season). It was an acceptance – but we didn’t find out until after all auditions were done – so much for an early acceptance!</p>
<p>We were unprepared for what happened next. Her next 6 decisions were all yeses – NOT AT ALL TYPICAL FOR THIS PROCESS OR A GIRL!! We went from being giddy at first – to feeling guilty as others we knew had the rejections piling up! We did finally get some rejections – all of the big 3 – but they didn’t sting so much.</p>
<p>I cannot tell you why my D was successful when others with similar training were not. She has danced since she was 4 – but never competitively – so while she never considered herself a “dancer” most of her peers at auditions did. She did participate on the Varsity Dance team Sophomore-Senior year – despite several people trying to talk her out of it due to time commitment – and also because of the “parallel” dance style that typifies pom – some were concerned it would affect her overall dance. She stuck to her guns, and credits the time on the team with her stamina, flexibility, and ability to pick up choreography quickly. She has worked hard to be sure that the sharpness that is so valued in pom didn’t creep into her other dance styles. She also values the friendships she made and she earned a Varsity letter. She has been in private voice since she was 9, and taken acting throughout high school We focused more on training than performing. She did many community youth theater productions throughout middle school, and then in HS just did one HS play, and all of the HS musicals. She never auditioned for any community theater after entering HS because her schedule just didn’t allow for her to be available for rehearsals. Her HS Drama Advisor was much more flexible in working around her dance/acting/voice classes/lessons. She also participated in Symphonic Band all four years of high school, playing the French Horn. This was THE MOST commented on item on her resume. The fact that she plays the French Horn.</p>
<p>When discussing this late in the process – why had she been so successful – she said – “I don’t know mom – but I know before I went into each audition – I focused on being ME – and making sure the auditors got to see ME – not who I thought they wanted to see.” She is 5’7” blonde, thin and leggy – and absolutely beautiful. (I was NEVER that beautiful) – but she is quirky and goofy and a bit of an introvert, despite wanting a career in the performing arts. She is extremely passionate about MT – and I guess she was able to communicate that to most of the auditors. </p>
<p>So – if you are a Junior or a Sophomore or younger – read the other threads – they are far more typical of what the audition process is like – and much closer to what we expected to happen. But maybe, just maybe – you’ll be the one that grabs the attention of auditor after auditor. Who knows? </p>
<p>This number of acceptances is a blessing and a curse – it made her final decision that much more difficult. Which programs do you let go of right away (because you KNOW others are waiting for wait lists) – which programs do you hang on to? She made so many “micro” decisions along the way – and the final decision was the worst. During the decision phase – after receiving a full tuition ride to a very respected school – following a visit and then some parental pressure to really consider the “debt free” route – she collapsed in a puddle of tears on the floor (This is VERY Atypical behavior for this kid – a product of the stress I’m sure)– “But I don’t WANT to go there – I tried to love it, but I just don’t” While her Dad and I just looked on helpless! Then there was the school she really liked – but they couldn’t give her enough scholarship money – and her Dad and I had to say – this one’s gotta go! Then there was the dream school – that she was wait listed for – and communicating with the head of the department (whom we respect immensely) – hoping to come off – but eventually finding out that she would not come off. Then there was the wait list that we had all but forgotten about – because she was put on it back in December… when she came off of that – you would think it would have been easy – but no… she had done so much research by that point on the other programs that she felt like she couldn’t make a snap decision on that school… so it took her over a week to finally commit.</p>
<p>I want to thank everyone on CC past and present – I started reading the boards when D was a sophomore. For 2 years – I had to quit reading the board in April when the rejections seemed to dash dreams – but I would come back in May – and read the final decision threads. I could hardly believe it last June when we started the Class of 2018 Sharing/Venting thread that it was finally us. I wish the next wave of MT hopefuls all the luck in the world as they enter this crazy, stressful, but very rewarding year. Shoutout to other Sophomore and Junior Mom’s who left in April and just came back to read this thread after the fact! I know I’m not the only one! </p>
<p>Congratulations kategrizz- great story, and great decision!!</p>
<p>Please do not assume that all summer programs are unaffordable! There are several that have scholarship money!!! Just do your research as to which ones. Some give more generously than others but you won’t know until you try!!!</p>
<p>Great story Kategrizz. I’m glad I got to meet you and your D on the audition trail. I look forward to hearing about her experiences at BW!</p>
<p>Great story @ Kategrizz it was so great meeting you and your daughter in person at Michigan. Everything all worked out how it was suppose to be!!</p>
<p>Great and thoughtful story kategrizz </p>
<p>Congrats Kategrizz and D - now let the celebration(s) begin!!!</p>