<p>@dramamom0804, I can relate to your situation. my older D (high school class of 2010) told us in her junior year that she wanted to go to an all-women’s liberal arts college. she was dead set on it. she applied ED her senior year, was accepted with a generous scholarship by Thanksgiving, and we were done! easy peasy! fast forward to winter and spring of her freshman year…hours upon hours of tearful phone calls where she told us that the traditional college path was not for her, that the only reason she was doing it was because she knew it was what was expected of her, that she didn’t want to waste our money, and just begggggging my H and me to let her drop out. Ultimately, she researched programs in Europe and presented us with her plan: she would take a leave of absence from college, take a gap year, backpack and work on organic farms in Spain, France, and Italy, and basically “find herself.” She didn’t want to carry more than a backpack the entire time. She said she would work full time all summer to save the money to do it. She got a nannying job that summer and saved a few thousand dollars and she did it. Long story short, she came back and decided that she wanted to go to art school. She applied to several art schools and was admitted to CalArts, Pratt, Cornish, and SAIC, and that’s where she is now, a happy thriving art student at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. My husband and I had to force ourselves to be calm, we had to talk ourselves into believing that a year or 2 off from school would not be so bad, that her path was just not as straight as others…the moral of the story is to try to stay calm and level-headed and try to listen to your daughter but at the same time set some parameters and I am confident that together, you will figure it out! Also, I do think that Muhlenberg is a good place for her to enroll for now and see if she can be happy and thrive there. If not, transferring is not the end of the world! Good luck and I will have a glass of wine with you too. Ahhh parenthood…</p>
<p><a href=“mailto:AHHHH@dramamom”>AHHHH@dramamom</a>… Thankfully my S had this sort of realization BEFORE we went through the audition process. I am beyond thankful that he gave me that gift:)… and @connections, my S had the exact same thing happen to him, but at a summer program. I know everything WILL be ok. My S is taking a gap year… just got his approval letter from Kenyon. If your D heads in that direction I have a lot of advice and support. My DS’12 also took a gap year. Both saved every penny they have ever recieved to pay for it. They also both worked in the summer during HS. I think you will be happy she had the nerve to share this with you. It actually shows she is mature. I also believe that there is no set path to get anywhere, and so waht if she takes a year off to " find herself". or whatever. </p>
<p>The more I hear about kids taking gap years, the better it sounds! We had one of those near-miss scenarios that some of you have described. During spring break of my S’s sophomore year, we started looking at schools with Music Industry programs. S attended a Music Industry summer program at NYU Steinhardt after Junior year. He had a great time exploring the city…but came home feeling less than excited about his choice of major. When November of senior year rolled around and it was time to actually apply to schools, he admitted that what he really wanted was acting, but that somehow it just hadn’t seemed “serious” enough. We supported him in his choice, but it was a scramble to get out and visit a few schools before he had to apply, sign up for auditions and send in pre-auditions. It all worked out in the end. He’s been admitted to his top choice school (USC), where as a Theater BA student, he’ll be able to pursue acting, but also take film and music classes and join the Trojan Marching Band. So glad this part is over!</p>
<p>My son finally decided to spend a few minutes looking at CC with me. He took one look at my profile pic and told me that was from his middle school years and must be replaced! So I’ve uploaded an equally unrecognizable but much more recent photo of him. pfft. </p>
<p>@bromquest my daughter had committed to Mason Gross last year after admitted students day and before her LAMDA admission. We did negotiate a further talent scholarship with them after the merit scholarship which made the price tag really palatable. So try it. You never know. </p>
<p>Update after Wednesday’s craziness - my D seems to be slowing coming back around to her previous thinking. (Wanting to major in acting) She had a good talk with her dance teacher today. I don’t know what was said, but I am guessing another artist is best at helping a fellow artist work through the angst of truly committing to a life in the arts. </p>
<p>My son has always had a variety of artistic interests and was undecided as to his focus when he applied to colleges. We suggested that he consider what he wanted to learn NEXT. It helped him decide among acceptances and choose drama. The funny thing is that he still uses and grows in dance/acting/choreographing/graphic art/playwriting, and assists a sculptor! He may eventually get additional formal training in another discipline, or maybe not. Maybe your daughter is scaring herself by thinking further ahead than is possible. I bet she finds a way to combine her passions whatever her major.</p>
<p>To be accurate…he chose theater.</p>
<p>So I’m pretty sure today was supposed to be the last wave of Syracuse notifications…and I still heard nothing (nothing in my spam folder either). I’m thinking I should probably call them?</p>
<p>So excited…my daughter has found her roommate for college because of CC! A mom on here and I touched base and began talking. Now our girls have connected and are going to be roommates! </p>
<p>I just want to take a moment to say that the support that one can get from CC doesn’t have to end with the college acceptances. My daughter is on her way to a callback for summer work 3000+ miles away from me right now. So I’m kind of useless. It’s raining and she’s worried about getting there on time and not entirely sure which train station she is more likely to find a cab at. Asks me what to do. I tell her to call a CC mom friend of mine who lives in the area for advice. This mom doesn’t just give advice… she hops in her car and is picking her up right now to get her to the audition from the train. It takes a village. There is wonderful advice to be had in this forum, but there are also very good friends to be made too. I feel extremely lucky. </p>
<p>She can call me anytime she’s in Philly!</p>
<p>Same amazing CC mom is now WAITING for my kid to get done. Calling me from a nearby mall to ask what kind of sandwich she might like knowing she’ll be starving when she gets out and worried about her sitting by herself on a NJ train platform. </p>
<p>I would ABSOLUTELY do this in return for any thespian who needed it but there hasn’t been the occasion to test it. I am beyond humbled and grateful. It takes a village. Let’s always be good to each other. I’m not naming her because she wouldn’t like it if I did but I will say this, New Jersey Moms rock my socks!!! </p>
<p>@dramamom0804… putting you on the speed dial :-)</p>
<p>I don’t know what I would do without some of you ladies on here….</p>
<p>Great story, halflokum. I’ve met amazing people during this audition tour…both here on CC and in real life. So much time sitting and waiting, so many wonderful moms (and dads, I’m sure…I just didn’t happen to bump into any). New Jersey moms in general must be awesome…during a lull at USC I was talking to a NJ mom who insisted I take her phone number so that my son could call her if he needed anything since he would be traveling to Rutgers alone the following week. She wasn’t even a theater mom…just wanted to make sure I knew that someone would be there for him if he needed ANYTHING! So cool! </p>
<p>Brought tears to my eyes, halflokum. Any CC kids at Texas State or in Austin need anything, let me know!</p>
<p>I love your story halflokum! What an amazing gift of support.
And to dramamom0804…I know what a journey this is for your family! My son was all about MT and we lined up the typical big names and safeties as well as a Music BA program where he knew of couple of students as it would allow a double major. Two early MT auditions were a yes. Next audition up was the BA Large University. Shocked us when he decided on the spot that was where he wanted to go as observed a couple of seniors performing in class that were amazing and thought he really wanted a double major in Environmental Science. So we canceled our flights and hotel to Chicago for Unified Auditions. His choice was a bit of a surprise as the program was Voice Emphasis and not what we had expected but full tuition! So we were on board!<br>
Surprise phone call end of October…he wasn’t so sure he was on the right path as had been taking dance class at local dance studio and wanted to switch to dance major. What? And give up full scholarship? And what about all of the nights he had played hooky from ballet class in high school? But he did his research,auditioned for a few Dance programs for Sophomore year as transfer and ended up with a great dance scholarship in a great program. He has no regrets for any choices that he made…but absolutely loved University #2.
Age 17-18 is still young and so hard to for these multi-talented and smart kids to know for sure what direction to go. And a good ending to this story…he is still dancing, still involved with MT as a choreographer and very involved with outreach. (But never did double major in Environmental Science!) </p>
<p>Boarding a plane to revisit schools with my son. Two fingered typing. Thanks all for getting why this was cool. More another time but again … I am so lucky and we should all take care of each other. I’ve got Seattle covered. Just ask.</p>
<p>It’s so hard turning down some of these offers of admission. These kids worked so unbelievably hard to get into these schools and invested so much emotionally. Schools that they’ve dreamed of for years. It really hurts to say no, thanks, and close the door forever. Not to mention some school’s faculty were soooo nice. </p>
<p>bromquest - I am not looking forward to the decline part of this process. I know my part of the process (administrative) is over, but I’m having trouble letting go. My son on the other hand, is being very clear and businesslike about his decision making. </p>