Anonymous wrote:The way people vote. Duh!

And how the way people vote in Winchester affects Shenandoah University how? The conservatory only plays John Philip Sousa marches?

The way people vote. Duh!

Anonymous wrote:Ohio University is a great liberal university. A very different student would attend compared to Christopher Newport, or Shenandoah. Know your politics.

Huh? What politics?

Just recently a local theater professional I know was singing the praises of University of Maryland's stage management and theater tech programs. But it looks like from your list of schools that you are a Virginia resident, so never mind.

VCU has a very well regarded theater program, so does Muhlenberg and Temple. Temple also has a big media/communications school and is pretty generous with merit aid for kids who apply early (or at least used to be). Kind of a rough neighborhood, though.

Anonymous wrote:Muhlenberg in PA is very preppy (at least it was when I was in HS in Philadelphia).

That was not what we saw on recent visit

Ohio University is a great liberal university. A very different student would attend compared to Christopher Newport, or Shenandoah. Know your politics.

Thank you for all the great advice! DS will have a busy summer.

Muhlenberg in PA is very preppy (at least it was when I was in HS in Philadelphia).

Rochester seems least likely to give a lower cost. Baldwin Wallace would get you near the state prices. Very good option. Everything in midwest is just less expensive JMU may be iffy on getting in. I would add High Point because they will like the ACT. Bump up the grades a little bit and Miami of Ohio will be option at low rate. Alabama and low tier SEC schools also good choices for low cost. I have had similar male and ended up with numerous private options around $30-35k/year net cost but that's higher than sticker at most VA publics.

I'm the PP.

Baldwin-Wallace, UNC-SA and SUNY Purchase are all excellent choices for theatrical careers. Look especially closely at BW, which may not have the name recognition outside of the Midwest and offers decent merit.

The nice thing about the high ACT is that he can comfortably apply Early Action everywhere, so try to convince him that it is not only possible but advantageous to have the CommonApp populated and all essays written BEFORE school starts. Just knock out the main essay over the summer and once you've narrowed down the list, know what schools will require additional essays. Most are 200 words or fewer, so they won't require a ton of extra time, but they do require thought and revision.

You have most of the VA state schools listed and I'll say again that they do warrant visits so you can get a feel for each one. I liked them all but my son had very definite preferences after the visits, and you can't go on DCUM's assessment since they're all so unique.

My son had similar stats and got into several schools on the list. I will warn that merit is very unlikely for anything in-state. He got $20-$23/year from private universities (including a few on your list) but minus the high GPA to match the ACT, our seesaw kids aren't really in contention for the top merit for the schools you're looking at. You may also find that Honors program acceptance isn't a sure thing despite the high score; my son got Honors at a few but the GPA was again a problem.

He's happily enrolled at one of the state universities (with a little bit of merit) on your list that is really a perfect fit, so try to get those visits in.

so, honestly, merit will be tough, but not impossible with a 3.4 gpa. Aim for VA in state schools or fill out survey about your student on the college board website and see if you get some nibbles with the 34 ACT from some mid tier OOS schools. Really encourage your DC to strive for As ist quarter so that you can show an upward trend when applying.

VCU has stage management program and merit is likely.

I only know Mary Washington. A friend went there and had a good time and got a decent education. Went on to grad school in planning. It's close.

Opinions on these schools? Major is undecided -- might be stage management, might be digital media/communications. Money is a factor; on the search for merit.

Allegheny College
Augustana College
Baldwin Wallace University
Christopher Newport University
Coastal Carolina University
College of Charleston
George Mason University
Goucher College
James Madison University
Juniata College
Longwood University
McDaniel College
Montclair State University
Muhlenberg College
Ohio University
Old Dominion University
Otterbein University
Radford University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Shenandoah University
Slippery Rock University
SUNY - Purchase
Susquehanna University
Temple University
University of Cincinnati (CCM)
University of Maine
University of Mary Washington
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
University of Rhode Island
Ursinus College
Virginia Commonwealth University
Wright State University