<p>Momsinger,</p>
<p>My D did two college auditions two years ago in which current students sat in: Penn State and Florida State. Several of her teachers had told her that some schools encourage current students to observe auditions. I'm sure that Florida State and Penn State are not the only schools that do this. My D was not the least bothered by the idea, though I can see that some students would find it uncomfortable. My D is now a sophomore at Florida State and sits in on the auditions. All MT students at FSU are welcome to sit in on both the vocal/acting auditions and the dance auditions. My D, in fact, often assists at the dance auditions by demonstrating the combinations. </p>
<p>The reason that current students are allowed to observe the auditions is because it is a learning experience for them. It is another opportunity for them to see first hand what works and what does not at auditions. The faculty sometimes ask the current students to comment on what they have observed after the H.S. auditioners have left the room. I believe that the analysis is very beneficial. I would venture to say that students in any theatre program are going to be asked to critique each other's work. Analysis of peers' work and feedback regarding one's own work is an important part of the learning process. </p>
<p>Of course, I realize that the college auditions are a bit different situation. The high school students are experiencing a different sort of pressure than that which they will experience in a college acting class or a studio voice class. I can understand that for some, the additional number of people in the room could add to the pressure. I think it's a situation that students need to be aware of. I think that for most of us, if we know what to expect, it's easier to cope.</p>
<p>I must add that my D found the Penn State auditions to be very friendly. The students were welcoming and very friendly. I enjoyed the fact that Department chair, Cary Libkin, took time to talk with the parents while the students were learning the dance combination. I felt that he gave us parents more information about his program than any other school representative we had contact with. At some schools, we were told virtually nothing. </p>
<p>I was a bit surprised to hear some posters talking about a "walk of shame" after the PSU auditions. I suppose my husband, D, and I were a little confused about exactly what getting called back for an interview meant. D was asked to stay and interview 2 years ago, as were several other students. I recall hearing some other students telling their parents that they had been asked to return for an interview. I heard other kids tell their parents they were finished with the audition process. No one seemed to know exactly what any of it meant. ( I do recall that the callback announcements were not done publicly. I think the kids were either asked at the conclusion of their acting/vocal audition to stay for an interview or they were thanked and told that they were free to go.) All of us there that day seemed to be a little uncertain of whether or not geting called back for an interview was significant or not. In my case, it may be because my D's vocal coach, who was associated with CCM for 10 years, drummed into our heads that we could not attach any meaning to whether or not auditors chatted with our D, asked her to sing additional material, change the way she performed a monologue, or not. We thought maybe D's getting called back to interview was a sign that PSU was still interested in her, but we weren't sure. From the conversations I heard around us, many others were unsure also. </p>
<p>I understand that those of us who read CC, know what the callbacks at Penn State mean. At the time D auditioned, CC was still pretty new. I think I was the 1st poster to describe an audition day at the school. I can certainly understand that armed with the knowledge that no callback means the faculty is no longer interested, the PSU experience can be tough. I can see both pros and cons to their methods. My D enjoyed her audition at the school a great deal and was one of the lucky kids to get an acceptance from them. She has told me that she had a much better feel for the MT faculty at Penn State because of her interview. She did speak with faculty at other schools during her auditions, but not at the same length as at PSU. We felt that the interviews were a good way for the faculty and the auditioning student to begin to sense how they might work together.</p>