@toowonderful @Onourown @DramaQueen219 @MTdreamz Thank you for sharing your stories and all your encouragement… And @MTdreamz you sound like you have quite a wise daughter 
Every once in awhile I forget my now 18-year old D is an adult now… but she always does or says something to remind me. I recently overheard her in one of the many conversations where adults/friends are asking where she is going to school. She told them about the process and the comment was “I can’t believe you got into X school, but not Y school - you’re so talented, I assumed you’d get into anywhere you wanted.”
She told them even when it’s the same couple of songs and same couple of monologues, even when they happen on the same day, every audition is different - just like every performance is different. Sometimes you nail it and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes the audience (or auditors) bring energy to the room, and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes something is just a little off - but it all works out in the end.
This is not something we’d discussed directly - after almost every single audition when we’ve asked how it went, the response was “It was OK I guess.” I was really happy to hear her perspective on the process and helps me realize why she’s handling the “no” responses so well. Even if this performing life doesn’t work out, I’m more confident whatever her path she will be resilient enough to handle whatever is thrown at her.
@pegski - we are auditioning for MT at OKCU this weekend too
@CaMom13 I live in an area and around people who are starting to crow about their kids’ admission to “prestigious institutions.” Because my S will likely go to a school that none of these people have ever heard of, and would NEVER send their children to, it’s really made me think about the fact that this is my son’s ride, not mine. As much as I might like to crow, that’s all about me and my need to show what a great parent I am. It’s a bit humbling. My S is experiencing this at school as well (“You got in WHERE?”). It’s something that seems unique to MT (or maybe to the arts in general).
@DramaQueen219 I think the “no news is good news” refrain is something I’ve been telling myself to make the waiting more bearable. But, below the surface, I know that it’s a fallacy. We already went through it once with one of his top 3 choices. Lots of rejections going out, but S still “in the running” … until he wasn’t. It makes me wish they would just announce rejections all at once. Sort of like when you’re dating someone in high school who’s not that into you. Just break up with me and get it over with, lol.
My hope is that whether a kid ends up at their first choice, or at a school they had never heard of before doing a walk-in, that the place they land ultimately becomes their “dream school.”
@“boola boola” we tell ourselves so many things to help us get through this process. Since many of my d’s decisions were late ones (historically), we knew this to not be the case.
I do love the break up analogy though :))
@afterp89 dealing with friends and family is worse. They don’t get why their talented niece, grandson, or neighbor did’t get in, since they are ‘so talented.’ When the dings come right around spring shows, it’s even worse (my d’s HS musical is mid-March), as you’re standing there during intermission either lying, or attempting to explain the process. And ‘nailing it’ can still yield a rejection; if you’re not what they need for the next freshman class, it doesn’t matter how good you are.
A couple of people have already brought this up, but I think the important thing to realize through all of this is that everyone’s path is going to be a different. Our kids may not all apply at the same school (for a myriad of reasons). Some will be accepted everywhere and some might be fortunate to get a single “Yes”. At the end of the day, however, we as parents have been fortunate to have been given the luxury to have this forum as a way of making contacts and sharing information. I can’t even begin to imagine what this process would’ve been like 20-25 years ago. I also firmly believe that things have a way of working themselves out and wherever your S or D ends up will be the right choice for them (and hopefully also for you). So THANK YOU to everyone who has shared info, CONGRATS to those who already have acceptances, POSITIVE KARMA for those still waiting, and HUGS for those who have received a NO. Continue to stay positive and set a great example for your kids. Even though you may not think so . . . they are always watching you.
Agreed 100% with all of you…I remember well the dumbfounded stares when family and friends found out where D was going to school. Several actually said, “but she’s so smart, and you went to an Ivy,” and, even worse; “why are you wasting your money on a BFA education?” Well, just ignore them, as I did…the proof is in the post-grad bookings!!
Agree with all, this process is not for the faint of heart! D just got another no today, her 4th but no yes to break it up, so it continues to be pretty devastating around here. I think I may be taking it even harder than her - she’s got the spring musical to keep her mind occupied, but the evenings are full of body blows! For a smart, talented kid who got every positive sign during auditions (sing the extra song, sit down and chat, try it this way - when others did not, we surely had optimistic hopes that there would be JUST ONE positive by now!
@MTBackstagemom Sorry to hear about the no’s. I know it’s hard, but try to stay positive. Sending you good vibes for a YES to come to you soon!
@MTBackstagemom I hear ya, and I’m sending you a giant virtual hug. This was us a year ago. Not sure who handles it worse (I’ll argue that it’s still harder on them, they are just better ‘actors’ and are learning to be more thick skinned, to prepare for the future).
@Mark80, one comment of yours struck me: " I can’t imagine what this process would have been like 20 or 25 years ago." But 20 or 25 years ago, there WAS no such thing as a BFA in musical theater! People who wanted to be in musicals on Broadway just took lots of dance classes, singing lessons, and acting classes, and then hit the audition circuit.
I think that’s worth bearing in mind, because as someone said above, you don’t need a BFA to make it on Broadway! As long as you get your training one way or another, you have just as good a chance as anyone else!
So no one should think that their future career depends on getting into X school. As so many have said, there are many different paths to take in this journey!
@MTBackstagemom my daughter’s first yes came on March 14th. It was to Point Park and I found it in her spam folder. I thought I was going to die from anxiety from the her last audition until the day that first yes came. And to tie into what others are saying about family and friends…I told her H.S. drama teacher about this yes and he said, “Oh…I knew she would get in there, PPU was her safety wasn’t it?” I never felt sooooo alone. She ended the season with 4 great options and an unbelievable scholarship to the school that ended up being her favorite one of all. Hang in there Parents!
LOL - “safety” audition school? SMH… they just don’t know. And even if they “knew” 5 years ago, they don’t know anymore.
Is anyone doing the UCF audition date which is is the last weekend in March? Seems awful late in the game but my child is very interested in that school. Hope that they dont start the offer process before that.
@Boola Boola we have the opposite issue on this side as my D attends a performing arts HS so these kids are all going for the same schools and it is so hard when the kids around her start getting acceptances (and a lot have) and she is still waiting and waiting and waiting…
This is one of those “If I had a dollar for every time I” kind of things. I can’t even imagine how many times I explained this process and how hard it is to get into any of these programs when we were going through it last year. The only way to get it to resonate with people was to explain how many kids auditioned at each program and how many spots were in each class. I could have paid for the BFA with the dollars earned doing all those explanations. lol!
My D Auditioned for CCM and never received a response. She has emailed them twice, and her application still says “pending”. frustrating
Thank you to those coming back from last year and sharing your experiences. When the rejections start rolling in, even though there’s still so many schools to hear from, I get a little panicked! When you say “we didn’t hear until end of March or April and my child is in the perfect place for them” it’s comforting!! Although every time I read that I’m wondering “well where are they???” Lol!!! My daughter got an early acceptance in December so she was confident she’d get more…and now her bubble has been burst with the no’s. It’s just not a easy process!!! Sending good vibes to all!!!
Same day. Did not love it there, though. Wasn’t as hard as the other no, which she loved.