@peacemama, congratulations on your decision. Sounds like your son is wise and customized what is right for him! Love how you supported him along the way 
@peacemama , Congratulations on your talented son’s final decision! It sounds like he has found the perfect home! I’m sure it was not an easy decision because he had so many wonderful choices!! What a relief to all of you that he has found his next home!
@peacemama Kaitlin Hopkins is a mom to all the Texas State kids. She will take care of your S. He has found an amazing place to land
@peacemama - Congrats on surviving the gauntlet and getting to that final decision (and yours was tough with those great choices). Best wishes to your S !
@peacemama What a great handle ? I’m sure you are feeling peaceful right about now! What a great outcome for you and your kid. Question: when you visited the Cincinnati campus what were they saying about the new head of the program to replace Aubrey Berg?
@Notmath1 Regarding the CCM department head’s retirement, the students and faculty overwhelming believed it was a good thing. It felt like there was good energy around being able to bring innovation to and update this long standing program.
@Notmath1 CCM also said they were still in the process of interviewing. There are a few rumors but nothing official.
@peacemama Thanks. Guess we’ll have to settle for rumors
Oh it’s so nice to be writing this!! 
Programs Applied to: University of Northern Colorado, University of Utah, Kent State University, Ohio University, Montclair and Webster
The leading factors on school selections were: Strong musical theatre programs with ties to solid regional theaters that were affordable (under $100K for 4 years incl. fees/room/board – with scholarships).
Prescreens: None
Artistically and Academically Accepted to: University of Northern Colorado, University of Utah, Kent State University, Ohio University
Rejected from: Webster & Montclair - but at least we got socks!! ?
Wait-listed at: None
Coach: None
Summer Programs: None
Training: 4 years at a performing arts academy (through our public high school district) – musical theatre major/dance minor. 18 mos. private voice. Some private dance (tap) and acting (for audition monologues).
Background: Although my son was in glee/choir in school he was mainly into baseball and soccer. When he was 12 I heard that a local community theater was casting for Oliver! so he spent the weekend learning “Where is Love” and he sounded pretty darn good! He auditioned and got cast as Oliver – needless to say he was ecstatic and hooked! He then decided to audition for our local high school’s performing arts program and was accepted as a musical theatre major. He was still playing soccer and after going out for the soccer team but not making it, decided to focus on performing and switched from his PE soccer class into a tap class (which counted as PE)! He’s never looked back! His first performance in high school was as Theo in Pippin. This year he played Bert in Mary Poppins, Buddy in SideShow and just finished his final show as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera. The final performance was attended by no other than the original OG Michael Crawford who came on stage and commended the professionalism of the cast, orchestra, costumes and crew! Quite a way to go out!
All of his auditions were at the LA Unifieds, with the exception of Kent State (offered on-campus only). Ohio University was added that day as a walk-in. He felt that all of his auditions went well, except for Kent State as it was the only one that had an accompanist and he had messed up on the mark-up of his music! Although, he did feel really good about the dance call there. The only negative experience that he had with the whole process was with Montclair (which I previously vented about on CC!).
His first acceptance was University of Northern Colorado, followed by Ohio, Utah and finally Kent State. We had visited Ohio Univ. when he auditioned at Kent State and met with the department head Alan Kenny. We were very impressed with Alan and his vision for the program, especially that they were encouraging students to take a minor. S observed an acting class, which he enjoyed. The town of Athens is a small quaint college town with brick streets. We attended a play at there that night which was very good. We also visited Univ. of Utah and were equally impressed with their faculty, facilities and program. We decided against a visit to Univ. of No. Colorado after returning from Utah and S deciding that he wanted to be in more of an urban location.
Final Decision: Kent State University - go Flashes!! This was tough for him. Although he loved the head at Ohio University and his vision, S was concerned about the newness of the program and the location of the University – he favored an urban setting, closer to regional and community theaters. As he wrote in his email to Alan “It’s like finding a perfect house, but it is not in the right location”. Through a mutual friend he connected with actress/KSU alumni Tee Boyich and was able to ask her for her opinion of KSU’s program and her thoughts on OU’s new program. She had good things to say about KSU, but bottom line told him to go with his gut! She also advised him to not make the theatre program his entire world and that if he does his world will feel really small. She had joined a sorority and met many friends outside the theatre program, which she said was a saving grace for her sanity!! Great advice for anyone!!
Fabulous @UKTOLA ! Lovely that he had multiple good fit acceptances and so nice that you guys started with a well curated list. He will do great - so happy for you all!
Congratulations @UKTOLA !
@UKTOLA congrats!! my non-musical theater Daughter is a senior going to KSU for fashion & Costume design so they will surely cross paths, KSU was very generous with academic merit for others who follow this for next year and its very transparent, you can calculate exactly what you will get on their website…go flashes!!
@UKTOLA CONGRATULATIONS!! So glad he found his fit! And I love the analogy of house and location!
Congratulations @UKTOLA !! Thanks for sharing your story! And I second the advice about expanding your circle! ?
@UKTOLA so glad your son made his decision ! I know we spoke before and I just messaged you . I’m sure he will be happy at Kent and he should feel free to reach out to my D . She is still a theatre minor and will be a junior in the fall &of course still hangs out with the MT students. So great he got to talk to Tee also. Plus having Porthouse is awesome for summer stock auditions in the future. Several of my daughters classmates are cast there this summer.
Kent itself has a nice downtown too! So cute snd lots of shops and restaurants. Plus what has been nice for my D is since she is switching majors in the fall, it was nice to already be at a large univ where there were so many of the majors she was interested in. Plus I agree with Tees advice to do other things for a break from the MT dept. and kent has SO many options for this.
@UKTOLA congratulations on your son’s decision!! I’m sure he will be so happy at Kent!!
Thank you everyone. Although I found this group late in the game it has been nice to share in everyone’s experiences with this crazy process! It’s hard for non MT people to understand what our kids have to go through!
Just bumping this up. Can’t wait to hear everyone’s stories.
D decided this afternoon… not ready to share yet until the financial aid appeal goes through and she contacts the schools, but it is a day of great joy in our house.
@afterp89 Congrats. Can’t wait to hear your story. We are down to 2 with one visit before the big decision. Let another school ( one with a waitlist) go today with hopes that someone moves up