Has anyone heard anything about Webster?
@NYYFanNowMTdad - I know. We were concerned that maybe we missed something but they said the file was complete. I know people who got quick responses for academic and told me to follow up the first time. My daughter has a good GPA and SATs so I don’t know that that is a problem. I wasn’t calling to ask about artistic results just academic. It’s a mystery…
I agree with @owensfolks. Although I have no personal experience with FSU, I don’t think it is fair to bash an entire program because of the behavior of one or even two people that you run across. Even if the person treats you horribly, I don’t think it’s fair to bash the whole program. Now- if the program’s written policy was to treat applicants/students poorly to create more resilient performers, then I think it’d be fair to disagree with the program’s philosophy and obviously not send your kid there. But I strongly suspect this action was the act of a single very immature professional- and the program head is unaware of such actions.
So with regard to @MommyMT’s draft letter? Only send it after your D lands well and only if you can send it as an act of kindness to the program (which probably doesn’t know its auditor did such a thing).
@MomofJ5 I agree with you about not bashing programs. But I just want to clarify that @MommyMT’s anecdote never mentioned the name of a program. Others bashed FSU based on some sort of encounter, but that was not @MommyMT. I have no clue which school her D had that dance audition experience at. I also agree with you that the behavior of one individual doesn’t represent an entire program or school.
For those waiting for correspondence from Montclair, be careful what you wish for and I’ll trade places with you… my D was academically accepted a long time ago, but was denied artistically. But they mail every week, offering in-state tuition and touting other majors and telling her how much they’d love her to come… even after we emailed admissions and told them she wasn’t coming.
@soozievt -My bad. Someone else had negative things to say about that program. Apologies to @mommyMT. This group is so terrific about writing on this board each day that it’s easy to forget what was said three pages ago.
@AlexaMT I have a couple question about Coastal BA program. Can you private message me… I don’t have enough post to message you.
@owensfolks , I’ve had something typed up for a while too and kept debating whether to post it, for fear my comments would be misunderstood, but you’ve given me the courage to. 
To everyone who has reported bad experiences at FSU lately, I’m genuinely sorry to hear that. My D attended their Summer Intensive last year and it was wonderful…she absolutely loved it, and found all faculty and staff to be incredibly warm and caring, and to have a kind and gentle, but still constructive approach. As a parent I also had multiple communications before the program started with several administrative staff members, who were also always quick to get back to me and very warm and friendly.
Please don’t misunderstand – I am absolutely not doubting your stories about what happened…I hate it when people try to imply that what someone else experienced mustn’t be true just because it wasn’t the same as their experience. I just wonder (and hope) that there has been some change since last year, or if there is some other explanation for what happened. Every person D or I came in contact with was incredibly professional, and the profs there taught and advised the kids out of seemingly such a place of love and encouragement. I truly came away from parents’ day, and I described it this way to friends, thinking that the profs were just really sweet and almost motherly/fatherly to the kids, and I know my D would practically give her right arm to be accepted there, but the odds are so small that she knows it’s not worth getting her hopes up.
Again, so sorry for the bad experiences. I would like to think that maybe someone on staff at FSU was having an exceptionally bad day??? I don’t know…I am just really sad to read all this.
Edited to add: My D is only a junior this year, so she hasn’t experienced the BFA audition process at FSU yet.
@theaterwork Great post! You should be proud that your D is mature enough and knows herself well enough to make this decision about what’s best for her future. One thing about theatre kids – they are hard workers at whatever they try. She’s going to do great!
@Debolution wondering same thing! No word on Webster for my D
Well I don’t think anyone who’s waiting on Montclair (and it’s been an abnormally long wait with no contact ) should be afraid of being the “squeaky wheel” and contacting them to see if indeed something is amiss . You are not being unreasonable in my opinion if you are just checking in to see if indeed some paperwork’s missing from admissions or whatever. Esp seeing their history of disorganization.
I mean y’all forgettin you are paying for this gig…I really don’t anticipate the person you speak with on the phone writing down your child’s name and announcing “ we will not be admitting sally to the MT dept as her mom called for info as they have waited for 4 months with no contact from us”…
@theaterwork to add to your comment, at Montclair art day yesterday the program coordinator Kim seemed like a very reasonable, down-to-earth person and encouraged people to email her with any questions.
I know I am probably in the minority here in this opinion too but your child will need to advocate for themselves in MT. Always being respectful and professional but there are times when being the squeaky wheel will be necessary or you will end up missing out because of someone else’s ineptitude. Think of how many people as a parent your have to babysit on a weekly basis to get things done . Not to mention the fact that I am not sure why we expect less in the form of manners and professionalism from theatre people then we do from other professions and fields. I know you cannot burn bridges and the theatre world is small etc but anything done with respect and professionalism in contacting someone and calling them out on a wrong where you think they are truly in the wrong and people should know it happened is not wrong to do in my book.
I mean how many times did we tell our kids “ you have to be a professional and be a good person to be around etc” in theatre and in shows ? My D is and always was told to not be a diva , be respectful and a team player . Why are we expecting less from the people mentoring? Don’t tell my kid to be one way while you are another
I agree with @theaterwork, and I’ll also add that last year, as it got toward the end of March and we were waiting anxiously for a couple of schools, I did call the admissions departments and ask politely if they knew when the results would be sent. I was very polite and even a little self-deprecating about it, saying “I’m sorry to bother you, I’m sure you’re getting a lot of these calls! My daughter loves your school and is very anxious to find out if she got in - do you know when the results will be sent?” They were all very kind and helpful and not annoyed at all. Don’t be afraid to call.
And certainly in the case of a “rolling” school like Montclair that you SHOULD have heard from by now, it’s totally appropriate to call and ask if you’re missing any documents. Things DO fall through the cracks sometimes in this complicated process.
And I will also add as you start to realize how much money you have spent on this process and the realization of your future and your child’s unending money pit that will be needed for MT in college and beyond ( cause trust me the money spending isn’t over … if you choose to do summer stock auditions etc) well… you will indeed most likely become much more comfortable being the squeaky wheel and encouraging your child to be the same!
Just sayin
From some of the schools mentioned here, we are running into the issues with certain college admissions computer systems. The portal shows she is missing documents, and they are sending us emails saying they are missing documents. But when we call or email, provide additional copies, they assure us they have all the pieces and are reviewing. But it is taking awhile and the portal says still missing docs. This is from a school that has a BFA program that won’t offer artistic acceptance/rejections without admission acceptance. I know my D, even if she has 99% decided on her school, she won’t make a decision until she closes out the final 1% and gets every final NO, YES or redirect. I just want to help her close the door on some of these.
Can anyone share with me experience or knowledge you may have on someone who tried to pursue MT at UMich or PennS that decided to attend despite no artistic acceptance? What did they major in? Did they still stay part of a theater community? Is there fulfilling performance opportunities for nonMT/Acting majors? Maybe an alternative path? Private training/minors?? What career do they now have? The academic acceptances at these schools are such a nice accomplishment in themselves I want to keep them as an option despite the “no” for MT.
Do not hesitate to contact the department directly if you have questions or waiting on a decision. The admissions process for these programs is much different than most, and many theater departments will tell you that their university admissions departments don’t understand or have much knowledge about their process.
I know a current, working choreographer who attended UMich as a BA (I think Theater BA) and when you talk to her, she describes it as she “built her own major”. She’s had to work hard and hustle - but she’s been an assistant choreographer on a couple of Broadway shows now. She would have graduated from UMich at least 10 years ago. (She is an alum of the same HS as my girls - not a PA HS - is a dance coach for MTCA on top of her many choreographer and director jobs.) UMich does have a LOT of performing opportunities that are student run - that give performance opportunities to more than just MT majors… thinking specifically of MUSKET.
At least when my D went through the process (13-14) - your MT rejection did not turn into a redirect to another major at UMich - you had to apply separately to the LS&A if you wanted to have the BA option - and it may be too late for that. Kids I’ve known that were “UMich or bust” applied to BFA MT, BFA Acting and to LS&A so that they would have the BA option. (We are from Michigan - I live about 30 minutes north of the UMich campus)
Someone asked a question on waitlists on the class of 2022 board and I wanted to post this both places:
A reminder for those of you with multiple acceptances - PLEASE let the programs you are absolutely not interested in know that you’ll be declining their offer. Please let them know now - or as early as you can. There are wonderful kids waiting for slots and if you know for sure a school is no longer on the list to consider you do everyone a big favor when you communicate that promptly. It’s good karma too 