@BWmama my daughter has used that part to say that her test scores don’t accurately reflect her ability. She is a terrible test taker! We tried one last time for a higher score this month in order to be able to submit to Michigan, and it just didn’t happen.
@carriemc95 I feel your pain!
@MTMom2019 - SO sorry but maybe, if the rejected prescreens got you thinking about what kind of college experience she wants instead of focusing on “best”, those rejections were a blessing in disguise. It’s all very well to say “apply to all of them and figure out fit later” but really - the applicants put their heart and soul into every one of these applications. If you think a prescreen rejection is hard, try the rejections that come after super-positive in-person auditions. This process is HARD on them - it’s so important to know what she wants and where she’ll thrive so you aren’t chasing schools your D would ultimately be unhappy attending.
@afterp89 - so hard. I wouldn’t let my D visit many schools before auditions because I didn’t want her falling in love. Happened anyway - fell in love with a program and didn’t get in… such a painful process. Just have faith that ultimately most people end up very happy with at least one of their options and keep plugging along.
@collegeboundSam - whoa. I can’t imagine. 28? Glad you’ve gotten lots of yesses mixed in there.
@artskids we had no clue either!
@artskids It did not include any audition, she had sent them videos on Acceptd
It amazes me how the numbers keep growing. I know this is not like other processes I applied to 3 schools - reach, match, safety - that can’t be a BFA pattern. My D’s year (2014) she had a dozen schools total - including several BA safeties… and was right in the “average” number of places people were applying. (go back and read the final decision thread and you will see http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1616849-final-decisions-background-class-of-2018-p1.html In fact - I strongly recommend reading any/all final decisions threads - they provide a fascinating window into the randomness and patterns of things.) Then the number crept over the next few years through the teens until applying to 20ish schools has become the “new normal”. Now we see have a poster with 28 applications … I think I saw one over 30 elsewhere… I can’t imagine what the next few years will bring. Will it top out? (there HAS to be a natural feasible limit - doesn’t there?) Where? 35? 40? More?
@toowonderful Goodness let’s hope not. This path is already in many ways for families of means.That increase would make it even more out of reach for many folks in application fees alone.
The increase in the number of schools using pre-screening videos allows for a broader approach at the front end, especially if the cost for applying is not an issue. If my daughter applies (and submits pre-screens) to 20 schools and gets passed through on all of them, we can then make the decision on which to schedule live auditions with.
@toowonderful , I just wanted to say I’ve been reading all those old final decision threads, they are awesome, but what I wanted to say to you was how appreciative and impressed I am with parents like you who keep coming back to pay it forward AFTER they endure this process, so thank you and several others who know who they are.
One Catch-22 is that the more schools kids apply to, the more applications each program gets, which means that the acceptance rate decreases… but seeing the acceptance rates being so tiny causes people to add even MORE schools to their list the following year!
Yes adding more schools (which she did)does increase your chances of more acceptances…and wait lists and rejections. March is a tough month no matter how many schools you apply to. Staying strong is essential. Just keep repeating"This will all work out and they will end up where they are meant to be"
Anyone that has heard from a prescreen to Shenandoah…How much time elapsed between submission and notification. Anxiously waiting with my son here!
My daughter submitted to Shenandoah on 9/17 and heard back on 10/11. Hope that helps.
That’s awesome @mindatwork . Thanks for the compliment. What’s your son’s first name. I’ll tell Sam. Dance is a stress point for us. He just isn’t that sharp, only mediocre. Acting and vocals we hope can carry him through this stressful time. Are you going to Penn auditions? we are doing it Dec. 1st.
@toowonderful . It was so hard for me to apply to 28 schools. But we decided that his desire to get into a BFA conservatory took over our practicality. Once they get a taste of conservatory and love it (he went to S.T.A.T.E. LAST SUMMER), it’s hard to deny them the chance to get into that type of program.
We are applying to 17, after reading all the posts I am starting to think we should add more to the list.
@MTMom624
We’re at 13 (maybe 14)! We’ll only add late admit/audition schools in the event none of the originals work out.
Hi other stressed parents! I have a question about scheduling auditions. We’re west coast and my daughter is planning to do New York Unifieds, a couple on campus auditions, and LA Unifieds. It’s not feasible to go to Chicago. I’ve heard that LA is harder in that schools are kind of “done” by that point (“done” as in tired, exhausted, burned out). My daughter has some choice schools that we plan to schedule for LA and I’m wondering if auditioning in LA will hurt her. We’re trying to do only 4-5 at each city (NY and LA) to prevent over scheduling, exhaustion and to allow for a walk in if necessary. She’s applying to 12 schools total. Does anyone have any info about this? Thank you so much!!
@CaliMTdreams We are also West Coast, and my D would like to do LA Unifieds. Her coach (one of the national coaches often mentioned here) told her that their kids have had many acceptances from LA Unifieds over the years. I am also interested to hear what parents from past years think. Are the schools “done” at LA Unifieds?
@CalMTdreams – I can only say that these schools would not spend the time or money to go to LA Unifieds if they were not serious about seeking people for their programs. Most programs do not choose to whom they will extend offers until all auditions are done. Or possibly only extend a few select invitations and save most of their offers for the end of audition season. Point being, they would not come to LA if they didn’t want to find prospective students there. I am sure there are examples here on CC of people who auditioned in LA and were accepted by many wonderful schools. I have actually heard some say they like the LA site better because it is a little less stressful/not as chaotic as the other two sites. So I think you will be ok.