<p>Where I teach students have to be accepted into the university and the program separately. So, a student who is accepted to the university but not to the MT Concentration could come to the university in a different major or concentration (currently there is no required audition for the Theatre Concentration, and many students who are not admitted for MT choose to come in the Theatre Concentration.) If a student is not accepted to the school academically they cannot be accepted to the program (obviously ;)).</p>
<p>All of the student’s financial information is confidential. We have no idea during the audition who has filed a FAFSA or not. Even at a school where the audition counts for 90% of admissions I would not imagine that the department would have the student’s financial information. </p>
<p>Some departments might be able to try to make an appeal to the financial aid office on the student’s behalf for more money, but when it comes to merit grants that are not based on talent but on academics and service, I cannot imagine the appeal would have a lot of sway. </p>
<p>Most financial aid packages will have aid (in the form of loans) that will need to be paid back. There are very few free “full rides” to college.</p>
<p>If finances are a concern (which they probably are for most families), it is important to have a few financial safeties on the list as well. These probably should be the same schools that are academic safeties. You would not want the financial safety to be a school you may not be admitted to, nor would you want your academic safety to be a school you may not be able to afford. </p>
<p>Here is a link to a long conversation on the MT forum from last year that might be helpful: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/638768-whos-generous-talent-awards-whos-tight.html?highlight=Financial+Aid[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/638768-whos-generous-talent-awards-whos-tight.html?highlight=Financial+Aid</a></p>