<p>I have a strong passion for MT, and I have been doing it all my life, but I have to say that the small number of students who are accepted into these programs sort of scare me. I am currently a high school junior, and I’m starting to look at colleges. So far my top choices for MT are UMich, Syracuse, Ithaca, and Cornish. These are all selective programs and it seems as if only 10-20 people get in each year. I am NOT a super soprano, I am a mezzo with a unique voice…I dont really sound as broadway as some of the girls in the Umich Videos on youtube… I just want to know if I should be put off by these statistice because I have passion and drive for this, I’m just worried about being rejected :(</p>
<p>Well if it helps the class sizes are typically 20-25 and the accepted amount is 40-60. The numbers of accepted wind down as people choose to go other places or just decline the acceptance.</p>
<p>The range of acceptances can vary from about 3% to 9 or 10% of the number of applicants at audition based programs, depending on the school. The yield i.e. the percentage of accepted students who accept their acceptance at these schools also varies which, in conjunction with the size of the program and the number of applicants, impacts on the acceptance rate. Add into the mix that not all students apply to all the same programs while, at the same time there is often overlap between schools being applied to by students in a particular geographic region. It can become pretty complicated to try to figure out your “odds” of acceptance into a program on your list which is not the same as the acceptance rate at any one particular school. While the statistics for any one school may be very daunting, if you put together a smart diverse list of schools, include in the mix a couple of excellent non-audition based programs for which you are a strong academic match, the odds become much better that at the end of the day you will be accepted to a school at which you will receive excellent training and with which you will be very pleased. Of course, you need to come into the process as prepared as you can be, both artistically and academically, but the odds of a good outcome can be greatly increased over the bald faced statistic of very slim acceptance rates. Read through the thread titled “Class of 2009 -2010 -Preparing to Apply”. There is a lot of good information from many parents, students and educators about how to put together a good diverse mix of schools on your list, how to prepare and how to navigate the process.</p>
<p>Just one point - if you’re worried about being rejected then maybe this is the wrong field for you. Rejection is far more frequent than acceptance!</p>
<p>Sydney – and don’t forget, those kids from Umich have the benefit of several years of intensive college training – I’ll bet they didn’t sound like that when they were juniors in high school! My D is a mezzo like you, about to graduate from Syracuse. Her voice has changed dramatically since high school.</p>
<p>I also think being a mezzo with a unique voice is quite a strength. Many of these programs are looking for individuals with their own unique style, not cookie cutter performers.</p>
<p>Go for it!! Just remember to have a backup plan and backup safety schools.</p>
<p>There is a school/program out there that will want YOU! Our son auditioned at 10 schools and got accepted to 5, then the schools were at the mercy of the stats as he could only pick one, the other 4 schools had to go to other candidates. You will do fine.</p>
<p>Like I told my daughter as she was auditioning last year: “Somebody’s got to make it - it might as well be you!” She went into auditions with a great attitude and had a lot of success. Be positive and have fun.</p>