When I walked into the choir room for my very first Musical Theater Club meeting as a scared little freshman, almost every chair was taken. I took the very last seat in the front and watched as freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors alike expressed their deep interest for the club. However, after the roles were given out and we started rehearsals, we soon realized that there was a clear lack of leadership and not enough money to buy the rights...

There are so many reasons to love Syracuse, especially the sense of community and top-notch facilities. However, the deciding factor for me was the amazing theater program. I love that in my freshman year, I would start by building an academic foundation. I wouldn't be able to perform in productions, but I'll have opportunities to work behind-the-scenes and learn from my peers. I'd also start to pick up courses, both in the program and in the liberal arts, to help...

Theater will always be a part of my life and I want to use my love for theater to create positive change. As a person of color, I am excited to see that Hollywood and Broadway are both moving towards deliberate casting. I grew up wanting to see people like me on Broadway, and finally, that is starting to happen. I'm even more excited to use my passion for performing to create theater for everyone, regardless of their gender, sexual...

I'm interested in inclusive theater. As a person of color, I believe that it's very important for diversity of all types to continue to grow in the theater. I am excited to start researching the history of theatrical diversity and, through my research, discover ways to continue expanding on it. To do this, I would explore the professional theaters around the DC area and perhaps, even secure funding from AU to travel to LA, New York or London to continue...

Just because I want to be a musical theater major, doesn't mean that I don't want to learn in a classroom. I want to explore all aspects of learning, not just performing. When I told my counselor that I wanted to attend a strong musical theater program, she recommended Emerson College. I was excited to learn that there are a variety of classes that musical theater students must take - everything from World Drama to Stagecraft Laboratories to private vocal...

All of my life, I've made bold choices. I've known exactly who I am, and I've never been afraid to express it - sometimes, to the contrary of what is expected from me. I'm stubborn and persistent and I stand up for who I am and what I believe in. I go after what I want, no matter what people tell me. From embracing my non-traditional cultural identity as a Filipino-Chinese-American to my passion for theater and performing, I've always...

Through my essays, I really tried to inform colleges and universities of my personal identity and my passions. For me, that was really important. I wanted colleges to know that I had a lot of passion for what I wanted to study, and that I've shown a great deal of commitment and raw love for what I love to do. For me, theater isn't just a hobby -- it's my life, and as cheesy as that sounds, I really do...

If I could have, I would have researched my schools more thoroughly. When I was deferred and denied from my EA schools, I absolutely panicked. In the end, it ended out working out for me, and I'm going to a school that I absolutely love, but I wish I had looked into more schools and programs. Being a theater...

I did use a private admissions counselor, and honestly... It was the best decision that my parents and I could have ever made. My admissions counselor and I really became friends, and I credit him for why the process of applying was so smooth. He actually introduced me to several of the schools that I ended up applying to...

Fordham is just such a wonderful place. I really, really do love it. From the minute I became interested in the school, I felt that there was such a strong sense of community, and I really loved that. I love feeling like I'm a part of a...

After I was deferred from SCU, I sent in...

Haverford -- My interviewer was AWFUL. I don't know if it was just her, but I did not enjoy my experience at all. Not only was she clearly not interested in me or in anything I had to say, but she looked bored the entire interview, which is probably why it was only about 15-minutes long. I loved the school a lot when I was still in my search, and do think that it's got an excellent program for some people, but because of this experience, I was kind of deterred from the school and ended up not applying. Bryn...

I was in a very complicated situation. Not only was I interested in theater/musical theater -- which, I have to admit, is a very niche market -- I also was not able to audition live because I live overseas. I was also discouraged from going into a conservatory program by my parents. This meant that I had a laundry list of requirements -- theater/musical theater programs, online auditions and liberal arts. My list of requirements made it fairly easy to research schools. It...