<p>You all are very sporting! I’m about to leave for a trip so I’m going dark on the subject but keep the torch burning 
For me the part that I keep getting stuck with is the denominator in the acceptance rate calculation (schools accepted divided by schools auditioned at.) Many circumstances influence the denominator including the previously mentioned “timing of notification” where one could stop early. How about logistics and the actual audition dates that the various schools make available? One might set up their travel plans in a way where they hit certain preferred schools but then “while they are at it” they hit a couple of others because they are nearby or in a connecting city or because it is the only audition date that school has made available that is logistically possible without messing up access to anothers school’s audition date. Another reason why you can’t say that these auditions are entirely independent events. I don’t know about the rest of you but I have something that looks a little like an air traffic control board that laying all of these “independent yet dependent” events out so we can figure out how to pull it off. Have fun and all the best!</p>
<p>EmsDad: Just think of the revenue flow if you can design an App for this!</p>
<p>@santefedad - hilarious! The sad truth is that I actually could design an app for this (I have an MS in Computer Science) but I am too busy assisting in all the stuff associated with the crazy world of a dedicated MT kid (and she is only a freshman in HS!) and then doing my day job with the time left over (I guess I would have more time if I weren’t OCD about accumulating information for her future auditions).</p>
<p>I am really enjoying this! Sometimes you have to just step back and laugh about this whole nutty thing.</p>
<p>I should never have read, “I Got In!” “Accept My Kid Please!” and “Crazy U.” It was all so innocent, all I was trying to was kill some time in airports. Sometimes having a Kindle is a curse…</p>
<p>Do it for straight acting majors next time you’re in an airport, Emsdad! </p>
<p>(Someone asked D what major she was applying for and she said, “straight acting”…conditioned by years of acting vs MT. “Oh, is there a major for gay acting?” she was asked.)</p>
<p>Too much for me! I wouldnt put so much thought into it. Your brain will hurt and it really wont get you anywhere. Either you will be accepted, or you wont. And lets say that what you worked off of is true and somebody gets into a prestigious program and they actually dont have the talent to hold their own. That’s worse than not getting in. </p>
<p>I would always advise against people going to over 10 auditions. </p>
<p>And if she is a freshman, I would reaaaalllly advise against worry about it for a couple of years. Its a big source of stress with lots of expectation and disappointment attached. I didn’t even decide to audition until september of my senior year, and I did just as well in auditions as anyone else I know. But that whole time I was so stressed about the whole ordeal, and never would have wanted to drawn it out or thought about it more than needed.</p>
<p>Entertaining thread though!</p>
<p>Just my 2 cents - My D did more than 10 auditions and did fine with the process. She did a combination of on campus and unifieds and videotaped. It worked for her as she has a variety of acceptances in the end and she ended up at a school that is a great fit for her. No one can tell you what is right for you. There are too many variables for each person auditioning. So I think you just have to read and research and follow your instincts. Then go out and have FUN at the auditions! Best of luck to all!!</p>
<p>@ Gwen, hilarious comment on the straight acting! Always having to explain when I say MT!</p>
<p>Gwen, that is funny!</p>
<p>I agree with austinmtmom. In fact, even when advising students, I have no magic number of how many schools to apply to. It is quite individualized depending on many factors. However, I can’t think of anyone ever needing more than 14 BFA/BAs combined at the most (and auditioning at 10 schools at the most) and even that is a lot. But the number of schools applied to is quite variable among students with whom I work as it is a very individualized process when it comes to college list building.</p>
<p>Also, while I applaud Emsdad for learning all he can about the schools and this crazy process, it is REALLY early to think much about this for a freshman in high school beyond planning out artistic training for the next few years, high school academics and activities, test prep and plans, and summer plans. Knowledge is power but it is very early to be talking that much about college specifics at the start of high school when the focus should be planning the next four years for now. It is good to be prepared and do well in school and get good training in singing, dance, and acting and also in piano, but getting into nitty gritty about colleges is very early and could begin in junior year in my opinion. It might be kinda stressful to deal with this college process for four years! :D</p>
<p>It takes all kinds. One thing dd and I both learned from many years of tournament softball: the best prepared team is usually the winner, you really can’t over-prepare, and the best teams are incredibly well-prepared. However, I certainly don’t expose my dd to any of this stuff, she would only think I am even crazier than she already thinks I am. Heck, she may decide to go major in pre-law or whatever. At this time, we only focus on the basics, which, for my part, consists of transporting her to and from various lessons, rehearsals, and performances and applauding (not too loudly) at the appropriate moment (and writing lots of checks). However, whenever she decides to start her college prep, I won’t be up all night cramming to catch up to the process if she decides to do MT (which I just finished doing with my S and HIS college entrance adventure, although that one was in a different field).</p>
<p>She does attend a PA HS with a pre-professional program structure, where they do begin to prepare the kids for college BFA programs in their Freshman year.</p>
<p>I totally agree! I, too, am VERY comfortable being OVER prepared! You should see me plan a trip to Walt Disney World! My son is a junior and I have been at this since freshman year. We have had master classes with people from all his first choices. I feel very comfortable that I know a lot about the process and I have already seen many others who are applying and can gauge the competition. All in all, there is sometimes no apparent reason they take not not take a kid. And starting early has made me realize and accept that. I think the people on this site enjoy the process and sharing their experiences. It’s fun!</p>
<p>@theatremomma - I have to confess that I also have an incredibly complicated WDW spreadsheet (we go every year - I think that may be a part of why my kid wants to do MT, she has been exposed to what is basically the world’s largest theatre production for a week every year since she was 3 - Disney provides 6 percent of all Equity work-weeks).</p>
<p>Sorry- OT- OMG! I do the spreadsheet! We went every year for about 12 years. We were kind of burned out so stopped a few years ago. But my son went to Broadway Theatre Project this past summer so we decided to go again after his show. I didn’t forget a thing!! Love the planning as much as the trip!</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the math equations…I should bring this to calculus tomorrow. I am applying to 11 so I hope that my chances are a bit higher because I feel like I have been debating this chances thing way to much. I just don’t want to be one of those kids who gets into zero MT schools. and @theatremomma you should come to Disney over spring break I want to see your s again! (BTP buddies)</p>
<p>Gabbadabadoo- Good Luck! That was a great experience for him! He made so many friends!</p>
<p>Just to clarify, one should start early in their MT training if possible for sure. I was just referring to the nitty gritty college stuff and I don’t think one needs to start on that in ninth grade but that is my personal opinion. My kids did not. I also don’t recommend waiting until summer before senior year either! :D</p>
<p>I agree that no one needs to begin the college search in earnest in freshman year of high school. My advice would be to focus on training, which it sounds like she’s getting if she’s at a good arts high school, and to perhaps schedule some college trips when you have the opportunity to do so. These were things we did early. You don’t need to have formal visits scheduled but a tour, speaking to some students and making informal contacts with some staff or administrators, maybe even having your D (not you!) sitting in on a few classes if possible, are all worthwhile things to do. We started doing this in sophomore year and it proved useful, both in removing some schools from consideration and pushing others higher up the list.</p>
<p>If your D is still interested in pursuing theatre in college by the time she’s starting junior year, then you can begin the real research of each school, its curriculum, be in touch with current students, visit to see productions, and begin thinking seriously about finding good audition material. Chances are good, as with many kids who as freshmen want to act professionally, that she may have changed her mind by then and want to pursue something else. By then, you’ll still have plenty of time to get going, and the information will then be current and more useful than a lot of what you’re looking at now. If there’s one other thing that is very useful for theatre kids, and I’ve mentioned it often on CC, take your D to see as much theatre as possible. It’s an important part of any high school theatre kid’s education.</p>
<p>Threads sometimes wander off course, and I think this thread is headed down the wrong path at this point. My d is not beginning her college search in earnest and neither am I and this thread is not about what parents should or should not do during the Freshman year of HS.</p>
<p>EmsDad, when you’ve been around CC as long as I have, you see that discussions wander. It’s the nature of the beast. You also see that, even if you personally don’t feel that you need advice, there are likely others both currently and in the future who may read the discussion and find the wandering conversation and resultant advice useful. No need to get snarky.</p>