How competitive is Duke Ellington to get into?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not true that they only take maryland residents if there are no DC residents who have applied. They routinely reject qualified DC residents and then let out-of-state residents into the program.

Not true

I find this hard to believe. Everyone at the school that I’ve talked to say they only take MD/VA students if there’s space. So I assume in those cases, there aren’t enough qualified DC applicants. So I guess my question is, how high is the threshold for “qualified”?

There is no designated "space"for out of town students. Students are auditioned without looking at residence or grades, only talent. Those who pass the auditions are those who pass, period, without regard to residence. So if a DC kid did not get in at that point, they didn't get in because of qualifications alone. If you make it beyond callbacks, then they look at recommendations, grades, residence, etc. and people from DC are the priority and there is an absolute cap on how many can come from outside. Like maybe 1 or 2 per department. So after they look at the list of proposed acceptances and see, say, 3 from out of town, then two have to be replaced by DC --but from the waitlist of people who passed auditions. The school is allowed to accept 10% (across all grades), but in a freshman year it is only going to be as many (or less) than the number that graduated. And while everyone defaults to thinking people are from MD or VA, you get a number of students who live in PA, NY or out of the country even, but whose parents are relocating and they will only decide to live in DC, or move to a certain neighborhood. if they get into the school. Those people are also a low priority opposed to people who already live in DC. Hope that helps.

This is very helpful, thank you. But still doesn’t answer why they are leaving spaces open after auditions. They have announced, “we still have spaces available in the following departments: Dance, Instrumental Music (oboe, flute, bassoon, tuba, strings), Theatre, and Vocal Music.”

Expected yield. People can apply to two departments, so there are a considerable number of duplicates, people who passed both auditions. So at this point they are taking up two potential slots but can only choose one. That leaves slots open. Also saying yes to a student does not mean the student will also say yes. Families move or a student did not choose DESA as their first choice in the lottery, and by rules they have to go the their first choice. So you have to overshoot the target a bit to get to your target.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not true that they only take maryland residents if there are no DC residents who have applied. They routinely reject qualified DC residents and then let out-of-state residents into the program.

Not true

I find this hard to believe. Everyone at the school that I’ve talked to say they only take MD/VA students if there’s space. So I assume in those cases, there aren’t enough qualified DC applicants. So I guess my question is, how high is the threshold for “qualified”?

There is no designated "space"for out of town students. Students are auditioned without looking at residence or grades, only talent. Those who pass the auditions are those who pass, period, without regard to residence. So if a DC kid did not get in at that point, they didn't get in because of qualifications alone. If you make it beyond callbacks, then they look at recommendations, grades, residence, etc. and people from DC are the priority and there is an absolute cap on how many can come from outside. Like maybe 1 or 2 per department. So after they look at the list of proposed acceptances and see, say, 3 from out of town, then two have to be replaced by DC --but from the waitlist of people who passed auditions. The school is allowed to accept 10% (across all grades), but in a freshman year it is only going to be as many (or less) than the number that graduated. And while everyone defaults to thinking people are from MD or VA, you get a number of students who live in PA, NY or out of the country even, but whose parents are relocating and they will only decide to live in DC, or move to a certain neighborhood. if they get into the school. Those people are also a low priority opposed to people who already live in DC. Hope that helps.

This is very helpful, thank you. But still doesn’t answer why they are leaving spaces open after auditions. They have announced, “we still have spaces available in the following departments: Dance, Instrumental Music (oboe, flute, bassoon, tuba, strings), Theatre, and Vocal Music.”

Expected yield. People can apply to two departments, so there are a considerable number of duplicates, people who passed both auditions. So at this point they are taking up two potential slots but can only choose one. That leaves slots open. Also saying yes to a student does not mean the student will also say yes. Families move or a student did not choose DESA as their first choice in the lottery, and by rules they have to go the their first choice. So you have to overshoot the target a bit to get to your target.

Yes that would be logical but doesn’t seem to be what’s happening. They seem to be under shooting. Students got through callbacks in these departments and then were rejected only to hear that there is still space.

[Anonymous]

Why does DE not make its stats available every year. How many kids applied for each division? How many from DC vs. MD and Va. How many were accepted?
How many accepted students actually enrolled? Waitlist movement every year. Why is there no transparency? This would be helpful for parents and students rather than trying to guess.

Also, does DE have a fall open house where students and parents can visit and check out the different programs? I understand the last two years would have to be virtual if they had them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does DE not make its stats available every year. How many kids applied for each division? How many from DC vs. MD and Va. How many were accepted?
How many accepted students actually enrolled? Waitlist movement every year. Why is there no transparency? This would be helpful for parents and students rather than trying to guess.

Also, does DE have a fall open house where students and parents can visit and check out the different programs? I understand the last two years would have to be virtual if they had them

They had a virtual open house this year, and then small group tours that you had to sign up for. I tried to ask those questions during the open house and was told that they are unable to disclose that information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does DE not make its stats available every year. How many kids applied for each division? How many from DC vs. MD and Va. How many were accepted?
How many accepted students actually enrolled? Waitlist movement every year. Why is there no transparency? This would be helpful for parents and students rather than trying to guess.

Also, does DE have a fall open house where students and parents can visit and check out the different programs? I understand the last two years would have to be virtual if they had them

They had a virtual open house this year, and then small group tours that you had to sign up for. I tried to ask those questions during the open house and was told that they are unable to disclose that information.

On the “Decision from Duke Ellington?” thread, parents are trying to compile this year’s stats for future applicants. Since auditions were managed through the Acceptd platform, the numbers for auditions and callbacks are visible. We have numbers for 4 disciplines so far…

[Anonymous]

PP said "Yes that would be logical but doesn’t seem to be what’s happening. They seem to be under shooting. Students got through callbacks in these departments and then were rejected only to hear that there is still space."

But if they actually "got through callbacks" they are still waiting for a family interview. Perhaps you mean they were rejected after being called back. That would leave an open slot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP said "Yes that would be logical but doesn’t seem to be what’s happening. They seem to be under shooting. Students got through callbacks in these departments and then were rejected only to hear that there is still space."

But if they actually "got through callbacks" they are still waiting for a family interview. Perhaps you mean they were rejected after being called back. That would leave an open slot.

Students who auditioned, were called back, then received rejection letters that mentioned there were spaces available in the very departments they auditioned for. The school doesn’t seem to be planning to fill available spots with those who actually auditioned?

[Anonymous]

If you had a call-back, doesn't it mean you are auditioning again? I'm guessing call-backs are for vocal, instrumental, acting and dance. I assume call-backs are used to further cut people.

If you make it through after call-backs, then yes, you still have to go through the family interview.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone whose student got through the audition process received any information on either the family interview or the placement exam date?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone whose student got through the audition process received any information on either the family interview or the placement exam date?

No. The email I got said we would get an invite to the family interview by 2/28 (today) so hopefully that happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP said "Yes that would be logical but doesn’t seem to be what’s happening. They seem to be under shooting. Students got through callbacks in these departments and then were rejected only to hear that there is still space."

But if they actually "got through callbacks" they are still waiting for a family interview. Perhaps you mean they were rejected after being called back. That would leave an open slot.

Students who auditioned, were called back, then received rejection letters that mentioned there were spaces available in the very departments they auditioned for. The school doesn’t seem to be planning to fill available spots with those who actually auditioned?

Which department was your kid rejected from? People may have more insight for you. DE is a "pre-professional" program. My kid plays an instrument. The kids we know have had YEARS of formal training. My kid does individual lessons in a well-regarded studio, in addition to attending DE. I don't know that much about the other disciplines, but, I would assume dance and theater are similar. It is possible to audition and not fit in with the talent level of the curriculum and current students, so, I would imagine that it is very possible for them to leave a spot open rather than just take everyone who has auditioned (regardless of their talent level). Maybe they did a callback because they were low in numbers and wanted to see if maybe your kid was just having a bad day. I do see how being asked for a callback got your kid's hope up (and your hope up), but, remember, performance-based careers are typically more about being able to handle rejection than feeling the joy of winning a part.

[Anonymous]

This is my impression also-that the school would leave a spot open rather than fill it with a student who just won’t be able to keep up with the other students in the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is my impression also-that the school would leave a spot open rather than fill it with a student who just won’t be able to keep up with the other students in the program.

This is correct, but more than being able to "keep up", it's about who wants it. It is not at all unusual for DE to take a less-talented kid with hustle, passion and curiosity above the more experienced kid who will tell you-- alarmingly honestly-- in an audition that their parents make them play/sing/act/dance/write but they want to go into psychology, or they don't like to practice, don't like to read, never tried to create outside of being assigned, etc...
Other times it's just a matter if fit with the cohort. You want a mix of leaders, followers, team players, individualists..they have ti work together for four years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP said "Yes that would be logical but doesn’t seem to be what’s happening. They seem to be under shooting. Students got through callbacks in these departments and then were rejected only to hear that there is still space."

But if they actually "got through callbacks" they are still waiting for a family interview. Perhaps you mean they were rejected after being called back. That would leave an open slot.

Students who auditioned, were called back, then received rejection letters that mentioned there were spaces available in the very departments they auditioned for. The school doesn’t seem to be planning to fill available spots with those who actually auditioned?

Which department was your kid rejected from? People may have more insight for you. DE is a "pre-professional" program. My kid plays an instrument. The kids we know have had YEARS of formal training. My kid does individual lessons in a well-regarded studio, in addition to attending DE. I don't know that much about the other disciplines, but, I would assume dance and theater are similar. It is possible to audition and not fit in with the talent level of the curriculum and current students, so, I would imagine that it is very possible for them to leave a spot open rather than just take everyone who has auditioned (regardless of their talent level). Maybe they did a callback because they were low in numbers and wanted to see if maybe your kid was just having a bad day. I do see how being asked for a callback got your kid's hope up (and your hope up), but, remember, performance-based careers are typically more about being able to handle rejection than feeling the joy of winning a part.

Interesting. Vocal program expressly forbids outside vocal training for its students. Not really enforceable but strongly discouraged. My student continued individual instrument training in addition to voice which Vocal program permits.

[Anonymous]

If your child doesn’t get a callback for theater, does that mean they will not be accepted? Their wording and explanation of the audition process across documents and information sessions/workshops were not consistent. It’s unclear to me if everyone that is being considered to move through the process is called back and if the call backs are a progressive process.