<p>I have to say that PSU did run a well organized audition and my D actually liked the school and program lots more after visiting than before hand. She did get to mingle with current students and also we sort of knew PSUCat before hand and she really added to my D's experience. The Q and A session for parents was well done, including with current students' parents and the director, considering some schools like Emerson offered NOTHING informative on the audition day. My D liked Emerson and it is a fine program...I am only talking the facts of the audition day (which basically is not how I judge a program....afterall, I have critiqued some improvements that I think Tisch could make to their audition process even though I think the program itself is great and my kid is happy there). </p>
<p>I do have a heart, however, about the finding out on the spot if one is sort of "cut" or not. It is that way at real auditions. I know other colleges didn't do it this way though. I guess each way has its plusses and minusses. Some say they liked knowing so soon. But on the other hand, the letter of rejection could just be mailed a few days later too. CMU has a way of having more auditors see a kid, including the director without there being an "observable" cut that others are aware of. Like for the singing AND for the monolgues, for each of those portions, my D saw 2-3 different people, doing it over again for each one....same idea but just one on one and other kids were not as aware of that....like no annouced call back list. </p>
<p>Obviously at PSU, my D didn't go through the "no callback" part so my child's experience was positive but I do understand how tough it was for those not called back and even at the time, my heart sank because the day is so full of anxiety and they do find out rather publicly. I know there was a waiting room for the parents and I stayed in there the entire time, not wanting to even be a part of that stuff. I know when my child found out she was called back and came into the parent room to tell me, she tried to do it with little emotion and to be discreet because she was VERY conscious that other parents were in there, some kids, and it just didn't feel right to display any excitement. So, I do understand all the feelings being discussed here. </p>
<p>I do think the program seemed really good. I like that we were able to see a production and observe a class....which was not possible at some schools on the audition weekends. They made an effort to have current students and parents available....some other schools also nicely did this, but not all. I do understand Melsmom's point about not informing kids of being cut from the running right on the audition day. I have mixed feelings about it.....I don't think they HAVE to do it this way as other schools do not, though I do think it helps to get results quickly (much easier for the kid in private, I agree). This procedure, however, is one they will have to grapple with a lot in the audition world (I understand this is college, though), just saying. My D has been through that before. I know it is hard. At some point, you just have to almost toughen up inside and while disappointments are so difficult and kids really have a right to feel badly, they also have to eventually just know that this field is so many "no's" to get the few "yes's" and it goes with the territory and is not a sign that they are not good enough but just that they the odds are so difficult and that there will be many no's along the way. As I said, my D has gone to auditions outside of college where it is done just this way. Whether colleges should do it this way, I can't say, but it definitely will be the typical experience every other place. I know my D was at an audition when many many hundreds were trying for it. While she is a confident person overall, she also is realistic and knows how unlikely it will be to get whatever it is. Sure, if she is on the lucky side and makes all the cuts, it is clearly a happier feeling but she doesn't come to expect it and so you almost need to just pick yourself up and go onto the next one. I think my kids didn't get upset with a college denial because they knew how unpredicatable and difficult the real selective ones would be. But granted, as you say, Melsmom, it was in private. Just saying, they didn't get worked up over it in private but it is easier in private, for sure. The rest of their theater lives will involve cuts on the spot, just like in Chorus Line. I can tell you that's the experiences she is having in the audition world. And yes, it is exciting to be on the side of having your number called for a callback. However, I am sympathetic for when that moment comes and someone doesn't have their number called right in front of others in a line up (it is SO like Chorus Line). I expect my kid to have the latter happen way more than the former. </p>
<p>I do understand all the sides of the issue. I did think overall that PSU did run a good audition day. I know that may appear because my D had the callback experience plus felt real positive about how it all went but just saying as an outside observer, having attended 8 different college auditions, it was one of the well run ones relatively. </p>
<p>Susan</p>