KellyDizFan: My oldest DD is a senior Music Ed major at SUNY Fredonia! Believe it or not, Fredonia was at the bottom of her list as well. We almost did not even show up for the audition. She had auditioned at Eastman SOM the day before and we were waffling even going to the Fredonia audition when we got a call from home saying that the French Horn professor had called our house to say he was excited to meet DD the next day. Because of that we ended up going to the audition, my DD received a full tuition scholarship (academic), and the rest is history. The attitude of the Horn professor is extremely indicative of the attitudes of most of the staff at the school. There really is an atmosphere of caring and respect for the students there (particularly in the Music departments). I have never had an issue with anyone or anything at the college. If I have had a little blip or question (and that has only happened once or twice) it was resolved immediately with no red tape or any kind of runaround. DD also was accepted to Ithaca, NYU, and Potsdam and while she loved Ithaca and NYU she loved Fredonia as much and it made better financial sense for her to go there.
That said, back to the topic at hand: I have two graduating this year. My oldest is graduating college (which means graduate school auditions and applications) and my youngest DD is graduating from HS (which means college app fees and audition expenses for her too because she is a dancer). So far, for oldest DD I have about $200 in apps for graduate programs, spent $200 on plane/train tix for one audition, and will drive her myself to another audition at UMass Amherst (we live halfway between Fredonia and Amherst). However, she is applying for Fellowships so if one of these works out the payoff will be a paid for (with a paycheck) graduate school education so in the end I cannot complain!
For youngest it is weird. The way the dates worked out for two of her schools she didn't need to decide to put in the academic app until after she auditioned for their dance programs. She was accepted to both but ultimately decided that they were not for her (so all I was out was gas money and hotel for one of the trips). I paid $60 for another app plus the audition expense (which had to be overnight, plus a 5 hour drive). This was her first choice school. Another $60 to another college and we will have to do an overnight for that audition as well. I am bugging her to do another audition as well but she is being obstinate.
The huge expenses are yet to come...oldest DD's senior recital and all associated costs (reception, photos, invitations/posters, gifts for people involved with putting it on, a gown). At Fredonia they get their own recital. I know some schools they share a bill with another student.
That said, back to the topic at hand: I have two graduating this year. My oldest is graduating college (which means graduate school auditions and applications) and my youngest DD is graduating from HS (which means college app fees and audition expenses for her too because she is a dancer). So far, for oldest DD I have about $200 in apps for graduate programs, spent $200 on plane/train tix for one audition, and will drive her myself to another audition at UMass Amherst (we live halfway between Fredonia and Amherst). However, she is applying for Fellowships so if one of these works out the payoff will be a paid for (with a paycheck) graduate school education so in the end I cannot complain!
For youngest it is weird. The way the dates worked out for two of her schools she didn't need to decide to put in the academic app until after she auditioned for their dance programs. She was accepted to both but ultimately decided that they were not for her (so all I was out was gas money and hotel for one of the trips). I paid $60 for another app plus the audition expense (which had to be overnight, plus a 5 hour drive). This was her first choice school. Another $60 to another college and we will have to do an overnight for that audition as well. I am bugging her to do another audition as well but she is being obstinate.
The huge expenses are yet to come...oldest DD's senior recital and all associated costs (reception, photos, invitations/posters, gifts for people involved with putting it on, a gown). At Fredonia they get their own recital. I know some schools they share a bill with another student.
