<p>I guess it varies though my D's experience was similar to several of her friends who also applied to UM. She sent her application in October 3. She got an email on Nov. 5 inviting her to audition. She had requested the Jan. 14 audition date as her first option and got it. The confirmation of that audition date came in latter December. So, from her experience and that of a few friends, it took a month from the time she applied until being invited to audition. Then at least another month to get confirmation that she got the audition date she wanted. </p>
<p>I HIGHLY recommend, since UM is rolling admissions (for the university itself), that you get that application in by early October. That was my child's goal and she did that application first. The first application is the most work and it gets easier after that. Also, if you ARE invited to audition, the sooner you get invited and can confirm the audition date, the better chance of getting the date you want. That is pretty important when you are trying to map out many auditions in a two month period and have to plan for the other schools and hope you get the dates you are hoping for so it all fits together. Each school handles lining up auditions differently and I highly suggest that in September, you go over the procedure for each school with regard to how the appointments get made, record this information on a chart with the appropriate dates and then call/write/online (or whatever the procedure is) on the first possible date it is allowed so that you have a chance to get your first choice. We got all the first choice audition dates we had hoped for when we had mapped out our winter. </p>
<p>Actually, I recommend that anyone looking at Michigan, get a copy of this year's app and look at it. Of all of our apps, this one caught us by surprise. First of all, he wanted the first audition, and we did not catch that 9/15 deadline until the very last minute, and thinking that because it was a state school my son underestimated the effort needed to fill out the app. It was a bear, particularly the performing arts resume. Not something to do on the fly. I daresay it was his most daunting app. The essay question caught him off guard as well--the one for performing arts. If you at least get started on their resume, it would be a huge chunk out of the way.</p>
<p>I agree that this application was a lot of work and something that should be planned ahead and have plenty of time to do well. There is the comprehensive app to UMich (several essays if I recall) and then the app package that goes to the music school. The resume needed for the latter is more comprehensive than the usual theater resume sent to other schools, plus a very specific format. Compiling the repetoire list was quite time consuming alone. I truly believe that the essays matter here. And yes, if you want the Nov. audition date you have get the app in by Sept. 15. My D did not do that for two reasons. She did not want the Nov. date because she did not want to do a top choice first, plus she could not make it as she was in a production that weekend of that early audition. She also never could have gotten that first comprehensive app in by Sept. 15. She had been away all summer, had just gotten cast upon returning in a show that had her out very late all night all fall and it just was not happening. We did our first visit to UMich right around that time as well. Also she needed to get her recommendations written and had put in her requests the first week of September and had to give folks time to get them done. She was able to get the application in during the first week of October which was her goal and what you really should do for rolling admissions there and to help hear back sooner (as mentioned, she found out if she was invited to audition by the first week of Nov.). </p>
<p>I auditioned on Jan 14 as well and spoke toa very nice girl from Vermont...wondering if it was your daughter as ia may be attending CAP in the fall...PM me or something. Hope all is well!</p>
<p>Cadget, before I go further, to make sure we are on the same page with who you talked with.....my daughter was there at UM on Jan. 14 but so was another girl she knows well from Vermont. The other girl is tall and blond. She did not get into UMich but is going to Emerson. My daughter has medium brown hair past the shoulders. She also spent a lot of her time with a very close friend, a boy from Florida who, by the way, GOT INTO UM and is going. So, if this is who you think you talked to, yes, that is my daughter and sure, you guys ought to connect....if you are going to CAP21, are you? She is. Have you joined facebook or anything yet? She has. Ok, let me know if you think it is same girl and if you are going to CAP and yeah, I can contact you, sure. </p>
<p>Some schools will set up auditions by phone, others by a registration form, and others still want the entire app before setting up auditions. Some schools want a 2 or 3 hour block of time, some only need 15 - 40 minutes. We scheduled 5 auditions for Sunday, and 2 for Monday. She also added a walk-in on Sunday. You audition for each individual school separately. It is held in a hotel at LAX in conference rooms. The larger schools that hold dance auditions such as CCM have a larger conference room. CCM had 2 blocks of time - in the morning or afternoon. They held their dance audition for the first hour, then gave the kids specific times to come back for their monologues/songs. Other schools held parent information sessions prior to the auditions. Some schoosl just had small rooms where you were just one on one. UArts had a small room, and she needed to choreograph a small dance routine for them. Most schools did have an interview with her after she did her audition. These were pretty informal where they just asked her questions about her resume and asked if she had any questions. They did not give her any indication as to her acceptance, but at some schools she did have a better feeling than others. We did spend the night at the hotel from Sunday to Monday and if you can do this, I highly recommend it. She could freshen up inbetween auditions, as well as rest. The auditions are all held on 2 floors in rooms right next to each other so you just go from room to room. </p>
<p>Syracuse had their audition at LAX in January, so you can get that one under your belt first if you choose to audition there.</p>
<p>I think the best advice I was given was by theatermom. She suggested taking echinacea and vitamins for a few months prior to the auditions. I can't stress this enough. My daughter frequently gets colds and loses her voice during the winter months (and also did for the CMU summer auditions) and I was very nervous about this going in. Well, she stayed healthy for every audition and while I know this is no guarantee, it couldn't hurt.</p>
<p>I hope I answered your questions, but if you have any others, ask away.</p>
<p>About the prevention of respiratory illnesses I strongly recommend waterless handcleaner and frequent handwashing along with the common sense stuff of drinking enough fluids and resting. Hard to convince teenagers of this but my daughter who also always gets colds and loses her voice during the winter did this last year and did not get sick. She was the only one in the February musical who did not get sick. Now she believes me about simple prevention. She carries waterless hand cleaner in her school bag.</p>
<p>Your information is very helpful. Now we wait until apps become available. I guess most of them are in August. What schools were represented in L.A.?
Did you daughter audition at any school campus? How did you feel the unifieds were as to acceptance? The idea of staying in the hotel is great. We will plan on that. My d. too always looses voice, cold, etc in winter months. She is always taking things to prevent colds. It seems everytime she is in a production she starts to get one. I suppose it is because she gets run down trying to keep up with everythings. She is also in her schools performing group so they are busy all the time. I hope her school plays do not interfere with auditions. Now that her jr. year is over she wants to try out for everything (she goes to an art school). Again, thank you for all your help.</p>
<p>Our auditions at Elon will be October 28th, November 4th and 18th, February 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and March 10th. These are all for departmental scholarship consideration and you do not have to know whether or not you have been admitted to the university to audition on those dates.</p>
<p>After you separted classical and M.T. was there any particular order you listed material (composer) plays, etc. This is something we can at least get a jump start on. Fortunately, her classical teacher has kept a running list on material she has studied and performed but as far as the M.T. goes, looks like we'll have some work cut out for us. Please forgive me if you told me already, but is your daughter going to Michigan. How did she feel the audition compared to other schools? My daughter tried out for the summer program via video and did not make it. She was a little disappointed but got over quickly. She is just concerned about auditioning for them for college but they said the summer program has nothing to do with college admission. It would seem you would have a much better chance if you did summer.</p>
<p>Thanks for you valuable info!!
Lexismom (Debbie)</p>
<p>Hi everyone:) so exciting to see schools are posting their dates!</p>
<p>I was wondering again about unifieds...sorry for all the questions.</p>
<p>If a school allows walk-ins, does this mean a student has to have applied for the college already? Or can they literally just come off the street? I'm assuming you have to apply and be accepted....but everything is always random in the theatre world. </p>
<p>Yes my D has just finished her freshman year at Michigan and loves the program! I've read so many posts about how difficult the UMich application is, but I think the temptation is to give more information than they really want/need. Yes, there may be more essays than some other programs, but none of the responses need be really long and my D was so relieved to be asked what she thought were very interesting, thought provoking questions. They did give quite specific instructions for the repertoire list but as I remember, a lot of it was geared to instrumental musicians also. I'll be totally honest here as I just went back and looked at what we sent to UM (yes, I am keeping a copy of that application along with her acceptances to the University and to the Music School.....) and we were not nearly as specific as they requested. Also, as I have often "confessed" here on CC, my D did not have years and years of MT performances to report - actually much more dance training and performance than MT - only a year and a half of private voice training and no acting training at all outside of Drama class in high school and her summer at CMU. So again, our list didn't even have the potential to go overboard. She listed her Classical Repertoire first (why? I don't remember) - that was maybe 6 - 8 art songs and one full aria (all learned for her submission to NFAA) and her repertoire from having had the lead in a production of Dido and Aenaes. Listed in no particular order. We then listed the three musicals she had been in (yes, only three, but fortunately she had the lead in all of them - it's a small high school ;) ) Lastly we listed some MT repertoire (outside of the three musicals ) that she had worked on with her teacher, at CMU or just on her own for auditions. She listed 14 songs with the idea that she might be asked to sing any of them on the spot at the audition (she didn't have to, but had the music for all in her book) Again, we listed these in no particular order and, god help us, we FORGOT to put the little M or P after them (to indicate they were memorized and /or sung in performance). Mea culpa......That's it!</p>
<p>I know others may disagree with me, but I think you can drive yourself nuts thinking that lists like these or the resume they ask for are CRITICAL to acceptance. I believe you have to make a best effort to present information in a professional manner that gives the auditors the best opportunity to get a sense of the training and performance experience of the candidate; but worrying about the order the songs appear, categorizing and alphabetizing things to the nth degree is really not necessary. Do it if it makes YOU feel good, but I really don't think it is what drives an admit decision, even as a a so-called tiebreaker. Just my opinion........</p>
<p>I'm glad to hear that you are still interested in UM. I would believe them when they say the summer decision will not affect the audition/application decision for the regular program. Wct tells me your D has a beautiful voice and I'm sure she will find the right program for her. If I can help with info about UM at any time, please do not hesitate to email me. Hope this info helps a little.</p>
<p>I will have our new audition packets ready in about two weeks. You can either call me at (336) 278-5600 or email me at <a href="mailto:krippy@elon.edu">krippy@elon.edu</a> and give me the students name, address and phone number and I will mail them an audition packet. They then pick a date and return the forms to me at least two weeks before the date they want to audition. On the audition date we allow them to participate in an Acting class, have an information session with the Chair of the department and current students (parents come to this also), have a ten minute private rehearsal with the accompanist and then their audition. We also try and set up the audition dates so that they coincide with Admissions events or a department production.</p>
<p>My son did not go into the nth degree on the UM app, partly because that is not his style particularly with paperwork, and partly because he was rushing to meet that midnight deadline to complete it. WHat was difficult with the Michigan app, was it did ask for info he did not have on hand as it went into classical repertoire,dates, and who wrote the pieces he performed. He really spun off all of his other apps in no time as he had completed a common app that summer and all of his basic data was right there and he had a set of essays he could pull. UM was the only app that went way beyond his prep. </p>
<p>Am impressed with how early Elon is preparing for the new year. And the format sounds great. THough the on campus auditions did allow us to look at the schools that S had not yet visited, few permitted a peek at an actual class or a rehearsal with the accompanyist. I know at some of the schools, an earlier visit allowed S to visit a typical class which was valuable in seeing what the atmosphere would be in the program. Hard to judge that in audition mode.</p>
<p>I just re-read your post abou the UM application and realize I didn't answer your question(s) fully. Sorry....</p>
<p>With regard to the order of things, we really didn't even send a repertoire sheet that was separate from the resume, just listed repertoire at the end of the resume. Because this was a resume for college admissions opposed to a theatrical audition resume, we listed Training first then Performance Highlights, Other Experiences and Skills (e.g., directing, playwriting, dialects), Awards and then Repertoire at the end. Single spaced with somewhat narrow margins, the whole thing was perhaps 3 pages long.</p>
<p>This listing actually reminds me of something we did that I want to mention. My D's Honorable Mention in the NFAA competition came long after all her applications had been sent in (they are not announced until December). I sent a copy of the press release announcing her award (NFAA provides this to all the awardees) to all the schools to which she had applied along with a cover letter asking that it be added to her file for review by admissions. So don't worry about the resume/repertoire sheet being "finished." If your child has other information or a significant achievement that you feel would really strengthen their application, do not hesitate to send it to the schools AFTER the rest of the information has been submitted. I would think this is would be especially valuable if the student has been deferred or waitlisted.</p>
<p>Theatermom brings up an excellent point about updating schools. That is a common strategy for deferred or waitlisted students. However, in the case of these BFA applicants who submit their applications in the fall but sometimes do not audition until a few months later, they certainly can mail in updates. My D did that for a few schools where her app went in fairly early (like UM's went in first week of October) but some significant achievements came later. So, like TheaterMom's D, she wrote a letter to those schools with updates like her NFAA award, as well as other achievements not on the original resume sent in with the application. Of course, at the audition, the theatrical resume that gets passed in can be updated as well. </p>
<p>I agree with Jamimom that what was a bit time consuming with the repertoire list was not just compiling the list of songs learned and performed but finding all the composers as well. This was not needed for resumes to other schools and was just one added thing. It actually was a bit fun to reflect back and compile the list but again, one added task. </p>
<p>If a school allows walk-ins at the unifieds, you do not need to have an application on file. They just expect you to submit one shortly after. By the way, there were quite a few schools represented at the unfieds that are not on the official Unified Audition list.</p>
<p>drum87-
So glad you have joined us on this forum! Hope to hear from you often as you go through the process. You have much to offer to the discussions on this thread.
Also glad that Otterbein is on your list!</p>