thoughts on deferring admission to take a year off and reapply?

College Majors Musical Theater Majors
1

<p>Hi, I was wondering if I could get any thoughts about this? This year, I had disasters of auditions, mainly from being extremely underprepared. Also, I ended up only auditioning for 3 schools because my parents did not agree to pay for flights, and I skipped some in the midst of stress and wondering if MT was what I truly wanted to do…last year’s auditions season did not occur at a good time for me personally. Therefore, I was unable to get into any of my audition schools. I was accepted into my safety schools, and wound up choosing UCI to attend. I still am not settled on going to UCI, though, and keep thinking of reauditioning to transfer next year. For weeks, I have told myself that I would attend UCI and transfer if it is not what I want from a college. However, I’ve started wondering that maybe I should defer my enrollment to the 2010-2011 school year. I can spend the rest of the year just putting all my efforts into training and preparing to audition. Maybe I’ll enroll in one academic class just to get credits out of the way. Also, this time around I’ll already have UCI as my guaranteed backup, and only apply to 5-8 audition schools. I’m just scared that my efforts will all be in vain if I am once again rejected to all my audition schools, except I know my chances of getting accepted will be far greater this time around…if I am rejected, I’d have to start UCI a year after everyone else and have to wait an extra year before graduating college.</p>

<p>I’d also use this time to do more shows and bolster up my resume, which currently is a very small list of perhaps 6 actual mt shows and then a much longer list of “theatre on ice” to make it look somewhat more impressive…</p>

<p>I wanted to know what thoughts any of you would have. I have just started formulating this idea in my head and am thinking it over before I approach my parents about it. They were not fond of my first round of auditions, and they hate it whenever I say I want to do it again to transfer. They just want me to go to school and still believe that I will change my major into something more “practical.”</p>

2

<p>It is easier to be accepted as a freshman than as a transfer – not that it’s easy in any case! If you really feel that you will be unhappy at UCI, you might want to consider taking the year off to train and save some money so you can afford to travel to auditions. If you do this, taking any college classes could endanger your status as a freshman.</p>

<p>However, it does sound like your parents might not be supportive of this idea. In that case, you could enroll at UCI and see how things work out. It’s important to go in with a positive attitude – you may find that you like it after all. Meanwhile, plan to spend the summer getting additional experience and training in case you do decide to re-audition.</p>

3

<p>Picking up on what onstage wrote, the odds of admissions into BFA programs as a transfer applicant are more difficult than the already difficult odds as a freshman applicant. If you enroll in any college this year, you will be considered a transfer applicant even if the BFA program has you start as a first year student upon entering. </p>

<p>You wrote that if you take a gap year, that you will graduate college a year later than those your age. However, even if you attend a BA school this year and successfully transfer into a BFA program, it is quite possible that the BFA program may make you start as a first year student and if that is the case, you will have had to pay for five years’ worth of college and still will graduate a year later than your age group. </p>

<p>In my opinion, the two options you have are good ones. A gap year where you train more and do some shows and work some can be a very awesome thing (but your parents may not support that idea) and then re-apply to BFA schools. However, attending UCI is also quite awesome because not only is it a good school academically, they have a fine MT program (unlike many BA schools) and you can audition to get into the upper levels and get some good training. So, if you go to UCI, you can study and train in MT (a BFA is not the only route to becoming a successful MT actress) and if for some reason, you are not happy at the school, you can transfer at that time and make a case for transferring to your parents at that time. But I agree with onstage that you should enter the school with a positive outlook because it may very well turn out terrific as they have a good MT program there and I think they even have a semester in NYC too.</p>

4

<p>I agree with everything that Sooze and Onstage have said…</p>

<p>I was interested so I took a look at the UCI website…</p>

<p>According to their website UC-Irvine now offers a BFA in Musical Theatre… although it appears that you audition after completing the MT Level II and III courses.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

5

<p>^^^That’s why it is still an excellent option for her to just go to UCI and audition to get into the upper levels…no transfer required and good MT training to boot.</p>

<p>She can go there next year and the audition to get into the upper levels and if she wants, put in at auditions for transfers both…a win win situation.</p>

<p>It would be a lot different if you had just gotten into a regular college without a MT major and then a gap year may make sense but now if you go to UC Irvine, you can study MT, audition to get into their upper level BFA track eventually and there is always the option of transferring if you are not happy there.</p>

6

<p>Yeah – it looks like a win win to me too! I have met and worked with UCI grads… I thought they seemed very well trained and loved the program at UCI.</p>

7

<p>Yes, I am aware about the BFA and the process it takes to get into the program. However, you only know if you’ve made it into the BFA program during your junior year, which is something I am not too particularly fond of. I won’t get private voice until then either. Also, I can’t help wondering what the outcomes of my auditions would have been had I auditioned for more school and had been way more prepared…I had not taken a dance class since sophomore year, only been taking voice sing the beginning of the school year, did not spend enough time searching for material, and stupidly switched audition material the day before auditions without learning it with a teacher (I basically had to stop and start over one of my pieces 3 times before I could sing it all the way through). I just spent all my efforts convincing my parents to let me apply for MT schools. And like I’ve heard over and over again, it is more difficult to transfer than to be accepted as a freshman. I think if I take a year off, I won’t have any distractions from college life that will affect training unless if it’s a part time job to help pay for the costs of travelling and applying to college. I just want that second chance to do what I should have done last year, so I may be able to have options in picking schools. I pretty much had no choice to choose UCI because there was no other MT program for me to attend. And I will only do this if UCI will guarentee me a spot in the 2010-2011 freshman class.</p>

<p>I guess I’m pretty much set on this path once I talk it over with my college counselor at school and contact UCI to find out the necessary steps to take if I want to defer…and of course getting my parent’s consent to go through with the plan.</p>

8

<p>As someone who went through the transfer process after completing a full year at a university, I spent the last YEAR prepping for my auditions this past winter. I chose to audition for only three schools (the ones I felt were the best fit) and was accepted at two, which was amazing considering the usual transfer odds. Having parental support for MT is also a huge factor. I think you should sit down (with or without your parents) and really figure out if this is what you want to pursue as a career.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, most MT programs are not transfer-credit friendly, especially if you are looking for a BFA. Even if you were to only take a few Gen-Eds at UCI, it is unlikely that a BFA program would take the credits towards your core classes. In the end, the money could be better spent on training. Both of the schools I was accepted at offered me freshman status, as opposed to taking the two years of credits I have accumulated. We’re talking 60+ credits down the drain, all to get a BFA. As a transfer auditioner, you really need to ask yourself if you’re willing to sacrifice a whole year to get into MT program. There are a lot of compromises you have to make.</p>

<p>For me, I decided to graduate on time (if not a semester early) from my currently university with a BA in Theatre. I’m going to continue to seek outside training to keep my skills sharp so I’ll be ready to hit the pavement when I graduate. I really disliked my program the first semester, but some INCREDIBLE opportunities came my way once I committed. I’m going to be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and they invited me to audition for the newly-approved BA Musical Theatre program, the only one in my class.</p>

<p>Honestly, the best advice I can give is to suggest that you give UCI a chance. It appears they have a MT program, which is what you’re looking for. College is what YOU make of the experience.</p>

<p>If you end up at UCI, try to go in with an open mind. A willingness to learn can really make all the difference.</p>

9

<p>Hi Vivian !!!</p>

<p>I am so sorry you are going through all of this. My random thoughts…</p>

<ol>
<li><p>MT is a young person’s career. I have heard this many times. You look younger than you are. Your short, petite stature will help here. Graduating a year later will not hurt you appearance-wise.</p></li>
<li><p>UCI is tough. Getting in to the MT program is not easy. Your student teacher at school, who is very talented, dances great, sings great, acts great WAS admitted to the MT program at UCI BUT was not allowed to take past MT Level 3.</p></li>
<li><p>A friend of my daughter went to UCI and participated in the NY Experience. SHe said it was one of the most fabulous experiences of her life.</p></li>
<li><p>The productions I have seen, both MT and straight theater, at UCI I have seen have been fabulous.</p></li>
<li><p>You have indicated earlier that you are also interested in becoming a straight actor. If you do not get in to the MT would you be happy just being a theater major?? You can take dance and voice on the side. There are hundreds of dance studios and vocal coach in OC.</p></li>
<li><p>Now let’s talk about your parents. Please remember why it is so difficult for them to accept you having such a non-practical major. Your parents have gone through a lot to get your family where they are.<br>
I went through the issue of ‘non-practical’ major with my own daughter. It was hard at first for me to think about all of the other educational opportunities (due to her great grades and test scores) that she was turning down. I was doing some volunteer work for the elementary school and I ran across the following quote from John Adams and it all made sense to me. My husband and I had worked hard and saved for college so she could study what makes her happy and to allow her the opportunity to live her dreams.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”</p>

<ol>
<li> Another John Adams quote (who knew I was such a fan) that you might think about:</li>
</ol>

<p>“There are two types of education. One should teach us how to make a living, And the other how to live.”</p>

<p>I don’t think you will be happy if you dont at least give this MT thing a try. And you might graduate and find you are unable to find a job. But there are engineers and computer analyst out of work also. Is there something on the side that you could study that would supply an income? </p>

<p>You have rec’d some valuable input above from some real smart people - a college professor, a college admittance counselor and a student who has gone through it. If you should decide to reaudition next year, please give me a call. I would more than happy to help. I went through it this year and I understand many of the ins and outs.</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK SWEETHEART…you are a wonderful young lady and deserve the best.</p>

10

<p>Before i forget, i’d like to thank everyone on their advice. My parents were not fond of my desire to change my college plans so abruptly, but they told me to concentrate on getting done with school and grades before talking it over seriously with them again.
I wound up talking to my college counselor about it. He was very understanding because his wife is also a performer. We talked over my options, and he told me that I was a standing sophomore in college basically as it is because of my AP credits and other college credits I have from local colleges. I really only need one year of community college to be a junior transfer to a university. If I took one year off, without taking ANY college classes I’d still be able to graduate in 2013 or 2014 (depending on how long it would take to complete my major requirements) from UCI if I didn’t get into any auditions schools again…my local community college guarantees admission into UCI if I complete all the required credits.
And I do also believe that college is what I make of it…I just feel like I’m settling because UCI was my only true option :[
And another thing. I feel like UCI’s program is good, but I just have this feeling that even if I went to UCI, I’d need a significant amount of more training after graduation…there are so many years of training I still have to catch up on since I started theater so late. But maybe a year off to just train intensely will change that so that I will be ready once I graduate. A year off also seems like a good opportunity to do more shows and auditioning for some regional theater without having to worry about balancing rehearsal schedules with school and extra training.
I am going to email all the colleges I’m interested in and ask if taking perhaps just one writing or one math class will affect my chances of gaining acceptance. I figure that shouldn’t count against me because every school has at least a writing and math requirement, even CMU which has like 2 writing and 1 math requirement?</p>

<p>Enjoytheadventur, I was advised once to try to supplement my performing career with a technical one. I think it’d be wise for me to develop my sewing and makeup skills, things that I’ve been able to self teach myself quite easily. I have some level of talent in the costume and makeup area I think…I was one of the main designers in the Hurley fashion competition that my school won this year, and it was the first time I had really created any finished garments. I know it’d definitely be hard being a designer, but I think I’d be able to find work as some sort of seamstress to help fashion or costume designers if worked on honing my sewing skills. And freelancing as a makeup artist seems like a good option…the only thing is creating a kit. I have other options too I think. If anyone can come up with ideas of flexible job options that involve math or writing or editing (writing), that could be options for me. </p>

<p>All in all, I really believe a year off is in my best interest. I can really reevaluate myself to make sure this is what I want–as of right now that is a yes, but a year off will help me know for sure. And the extra training to reapply will help me in the long run. I won’t get distracted by college. I just have to prove to my parents that I will be able to handle school when I start college after a year hiatus. They think that taking a year off will ruin my drive…I don’t think they realize that my ultimate goal for the next 5 years is to go to college. I cannot imagine otherwise.</p>

<p>Once again, thank you everyone who has posted replies. Every piece of advice has helped me become more informed about this.</p>

11

<p>Yeah i Disagree with that whole, harder to get in as a transfer thing</p>

<p>If you are willing to do all four years of course</p>

<p>I’m sure most of you have read “son of tranquil’s” success story</p>

<p>and Ive been talking to a kid who is also going to NCSA next year</p>

<p>he took a year off
and got into Carnegie Mellon, Purchase, Rutgers, Royal Scottish, and UNCSA</p>

<p>so it seems like it paid off</p>

12

<p>^^^Nick, some kids DO get in as transfers! And they are often better prepared and so on. Even though there are those who succeed at transferring into BFA programs, that doesn’t mean that it is not harder to get in as a transfer to these specialized degree programs. The odds ARE tougher overall for BFA transfer admissions than for freshmen admissions statistically. Still some make it in that way. Same idea with freshmen BFA applicants. Anyone will tell you that BFA admissions have low admit rates but some people DO get in! The transfer admit rate is even lower but SOME do get in! But people should be informed going into either the freshmen or transfer admissions process to BFA programs as to the odds. I have met far too many people who do not have an understanding of the odds of admissions to BFA programs and create unrealistic or too short or unbalanced or inappropriate college lists for themselves.</p>

13

<p>Nick - many of the schools you mentioned (CMU, for example) don’t consider any applicants to be transfers, regardless of how many credits they’ve already amassed, so anyone auditioning for those programs is placed in the same applicant pool as high school seniors. However, many other schools mandate that a student with college credits (beyond a certain minimum number) be considered a “transfer,” even if the student says “but I’m willing to a be considered a freshman.” In that case, it’s MUCH harder to get in than it is for incoming freshmen. Several of my students were in this situation this year, and the ones who had the most success at the schools which treat students as transfers were those that had the most rare combination of type and talent (for example, a girl who is a professional-level dancer and is transferring from a college program where she was a dance major into CCM’s MT program). Others who are also wonderfully talented had a much harder time at the schools where they were considered transfers - again, because they were competing for only one, maybe two transfer spots. </p>

<p>This distinction has been discussed at length here but it’s really, really important for potential transfer auditionees to understand. Like soozie says, making an appropriate school list, where you know exactly how each school will deal with the “transfer” issue, is of utmost importance.</p>

14

<p>I had a similar dilemma as you. Only instead of you, I was thisclose to auditioning for BFA programs my senior year of high school, was working up monologues, filled out apps, etc., but come like January (after many apps were already submitted), I canceled them.</p>

<p>I didn’t want my college selection to be based on a very highly selective audition process. I ended up going to Syracuse because I liked the school very much.</p>

<p>After my experiences freshman year there as a non-drama student, I want to give you some quintessential advice though: go to UCI, don’t take time off. Regardless of your plan to transfer.</p>

<p>You’re going to learn so much more in absolutely every single area – intellectually, artistically, SOCIALLY – by attending a year of college (and fortunately, although I don’t know your financial situation, if you live in California UCI is not very expensive compared to most big universities) that you’re going to really regret it even MORE if you don’t go.</p>

<p>If you have the resources, it’s much better to take a fifth year than delay four years, in my opinion, especially in your situation. Here’s why:</p>

<p>After attending performing arts schools all my life, all through high school, my first year of college was the first time I got to truly meet and interact with people that were not involved in performing arts. I really came to know more about myself, become more in touch with myself, and it truly helped me grow as a person.</p>

<p>I ALSO was not sure about whether or not wanted to be a Performing Arts major.
That first year, which allowed me to take a range of courses in many different areas, helped me discover I DID want to be an actor, not just because of my love for it, but because I had some initial experience diving into other areas and discovering I DIDN’T want to them. </p>

<p>When I began prepping monologues to transfer, I was better than I was straight out of high school. I got a lot of help from current drama students in my monologues, which helped me tremendously. At the same time, I was always seeing Drama shows and the like which helped me figure out that this is really what I want to do.</p>

<p>Honestly, the opportunities you are going to get to enrich yourself and help yourself in absolutely every area – academically, artistically (don’t forget the wealth of teachers and students you’ll be able to seek out at UCI and ask for training and help from), socially, are so much more infinitely better than just taking a year off. There is no opportunity you’re going to get in taking a year off that wouldn’t have been trumped by going to a major university – with tons of performance opportunities there, I’m sure. I also want to tell you, a year off is a long time, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t know how I could have held off my burning desire to go to college for an entire year.</p>

<p>Go to UCI. Use that time to figure out what you want to do. At the same time, extensively research all the BFA programs you’re thinking of, their odds for transferring, etc.</p>

15

<p>Are there any financial ramifications at most schools for taking a gap year? Would you be put into the freshman applicant pool and given the same scolarship and financial aid opportunities as everyone else?</p>

16

<p>for me personally it depended on each school. some schools i was only eligible for transfer scholarships (if they did freshman and/or transfer scholarships) and then other schools just gave me random scholarships based on gpa, test scores, and extra curricular. so in my situation it helped to check out each school’s finaid website so see what my options would be. I did notice that with certain schools that they had more scholarship/grant opportunities for high school seniors than transfers. One school i applied to senior year of high school gave me a significant amount of scholarships and grants when i was a senior and then barely gave me anything the following year when i was a transfer.</p>

17

<p>This is DisneyDirector’s daughter and I wanted to comment of this because the same thing happened to me. My senior year I was shocked that I did not get into the only school I had ever thought of attending. So I prepared for Unifieds very last minute and didn’t get into any of the programs I auditioned for. I was going to attend Rollins College for a year and try again, but decided against it. 1. I wasn’t a fan of Rollins and 2. my dad thought it would be harder to get in as a transfer.</p>

<p>So I took the year off completely and applied to about 15 schools and spent two months driving around an auditioning. I did make it into two programs and I received the same financial aid opportunities as everyone else. </p>

<p>I should also mention that I did end up transferring anyway and still made it into another BFA program and the same financial aid was available to me as everyone else, though it was not that way when I transferred to University of Alabama so it depends on the school.</p>