<p>I did not mind either in the least bit that students were sitting in on my audition. I actually didn't think much about it. I knew that they too were once in my shoes and that they know how stressful it was for them and that they could only be possibly rooting you on hoping that you have a good audition. I was able to talk to some of the kids during the dance audition before my songs/monologues..not knowing that they would be sitting in on my audition. they were so nice to me earlier that i had no other choice but to still fee at ease..even maybe a little bit more comfortable had they not been in there..so i guess it just all comes down to preference..but from me there is no complaints.</p>
<p>I wasnt bothered by it. All the students were really nice and welcoming. I can see how it can be seen as more stressful though. But ultimately it didnt really affect me</p>
<p>I can give another perspective on having current students in the auditions - especially if it is explained beforehand why they are there. </p>
<p>It gives the prospective students auditioning a focus and a cheering section. Often we (the auditors) are writing on our comment forms or looking at other materials periodically during the audition. The students who are not focused on us - or even aware of us for that matter, often do better. I think most schools really want to see the best a prospective student has to offer :-)</p>
<p>I agree that they all want auditioners to do well. No argument there.<br>
Both the places we went to where students sat in, there was no explanation given whatsoever. There were several students sitting in at one, and at the other, the student who brought my D in for her audition simply stayed in the hall while she did her stuff.
I don't think it threw her off much, really. I just don't like the practice.</p>
<p>On the flipside, I like sitting in on the auditions. It gives me a chance to cheer on all of the auditioners. Plus, there's always something to learn from watching auditions.
Also, at PSU, if the faculty wants to work with someone on their monologue or song, sometimes we are asked to come up and interact with the auditioner. For example, at one of the auditions, Cary asked if I would sit on the floor with one of the auditioners and for her to talk to me, using her monologue, as if we were two girls at a slumber party sharing stories. It allowed her to break out of her normal pattern and try a new situation where they could see her in her most natural state. It was really fun :o)</p>
<p>I got my letter today. I was rejected from mt, though it said that I should choose a different major. Is that like an academic, but not mt acceptance? I don't actually know much about even their mt program, and especially the others, as I did it as a walk-in. Does anyone know if mt is their only "triple threat" sort of program?</p>
<p>to soozievt - You seem to have a lot of good info. When my d auditoned
in NYC for Penn State I didn't realize they had callbacks, or did they?
She auditioned and at the same tim e was asked to sing one of the songs again "without acting" and was called to the table for an interview. Is the interview "a callback"? (She didn't get in, by the way) Thanks.</p>
<p>Songanddance,
I'm not Soozie, but I do know that people who have referred to Penn State callbacks are talking about the interviews that some students are asked to do after their initial auditions. Students who are asked to stay for an interview are those that the PSU auditors are considering for admission.</p>
<p>SongandDance,
Hi, my D auditioned for Penn State on campus, not at Unifieds. I am not absolutely certain the process that was followed at their Unifieds in NYC. On campus, everyone did the dance auditions first. Then simultaneously in two different rooms with two different sets of auditors, individuals auditioned with their songs and monologues. AFTER everyone completed the auditions, there was a list of those asked to stay for callbacks. If you were asked to stay, you were still in the running, so to speak, but not necessarily admitted. If not asked to stay, in effect, you were no longer being considered for admission. I recall approx. a dozen kids asked to stay for callbacks on my D's day, the last audition day on campus in late Feb. of 2005. Then, the students individually had to re audition with their songs and monologues because not every auditor, including the director of the program, had seen them the first time. A portion of the callback was an interview of sorts. </p>
<p>My D's friend who is the daughter of a poster on CC named Freelance, auditioned for PSU at NY Unifieds last year and was admitted (though is now attending CCM). She could tell you how it had worked for her D at Unifieds in NYC. The thing is, if EVERYONE at NYC Unifieds was seen by the director, they may not have needed to do a callback round there. But on campus, he did not see every kid on the first rouond of the singing/acting....just half the kids. Perhaps if your D had a little interview, she was in callback mode. Then again, there may not have been a true callback process at NYC Unifieds and only those there could tell you how that worked, not me. My feeling is you would have KNOWN if there were callbacks because this was explained fully at the campus auditions. If they did not explain that there would be callbacks at Unifieds, then perhaps it was not handled the same there. </p>
<p>I know of those at Chicago and LA Unifieds this year who auditioned for PSU who were asked to do callbacks ON campus which appeared to be due to the fact that at THOSE sites, there was no dance audition, etc. I found this an odd arrangement as did some of those involved because had they known that they might have had to go to campus for a callback, they may have opted to audition on campus in the first place and did not expect a last minute trip with very short notice to have to be figured into their schedules or budgets. </p>
<p>Again, check with someone who was at NYU Unifieds who got into PSU, like Freelance. But my feeling is, if they had a callback process there, you would have known it. It was a part of campus auditions and in that case, was clearly explained to all those present as to the procedure. My feeling is that it was a bit different in terms of process at Unifieds and perhaps the director saw every kid in the first round anyway. I can't answer with certainty, however.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Thanks, Susan. On the sheet we received prior to the audition it was stated that some of those who audition MAY be asked for an interview. I don't remember if it was referred to as a "callback" because actually they wouldn't
be called back, but rather just asked to approach the table for an interview
after the audition. Anyway, she was considered for the school as undeclared
but she wasn't interested in that. Right now, she's choosing among
Montclair, Hartt and Shennandoah. But she's leaning towards Montclair.
I guess I was just curious if she was "in the running" with Penn State so to speak and she had a good feeling about the audition. I guess you can't count on feelings! (lol)</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. I think it'll make her feel good that she was at least considered.</p>
<p>Just one minor difference this year in how the on campus audition went for my daughter (in November), compared to what Susan's daughter had last year. </p>
<p>This year, they immediately (within seconds!) after the audition either asked you to stay or not stay for the interview. There was no time that the auditors consulted each other. It was as if the head of the program touched his nose a certain way and the grad student who was escorting the applicant knew immediately whether the person was wanted for an interview. </p>
<p>I found that process very strange. The head of the program made a VERY big deal about how 6 or 7 people would hear the audition. But in the end, it was very apparent that he was the one "touching his ear." </p>
<p>A process where the "team" consults seems to me to make more sense.</p>
<p>to Nytheatremom - it sounds like that's the way they did it in NYC too
this year. Unless they all touched their noses!</p>
<p>Unfortunately PSU doesn't seem to think anything is broken over there, and it is doubtful that they will fix anything. I'm really impressed at how over on the Webster thread, a couple of people, either parents or applicants, voiced their opinion on how they weren't pleased about the wording of their rejection letters, and immediately their opinions were taken into account complete with public apologies. Gotta love that power of the people.
No such luck with this program, yet. I just hope the kids that do get in aren't dealt with in as arrogant a manner as the process tended to be. I wish them luck!
Hopefully I don't sound like sour grapes, I honestly don't believe I am, just voicing my take on the overall vibe of "the man" and "the experience."</p>
<p>Melsmom, I agree with you 100 percent. My post was deliberately phrased delicately.</p>
<p>I was kind of hoping mine was at least a little general, I was going for the 60's theme, no huh?</p>
<p>We felt that way especially about the Ithaca auditions. Prior to the auditions in NYC there was a presentation for parents and students - presented in a very negative way, pointing out minute details, early hour classes, consequences of being late twice, cut-backs, being un-invited if
"you don't seem to be growing sufficiently in acting skills", and, basically,well if you still want to come here go ahead and audition! Even though many places may have some of these rules - and they did seem to be more stringent here - I think it is counter-productive to present them right before auditions.
Then they had warm-ups for everyone ,but since they went in alphabetical order many of the students auditioned one to three hours after the warm-ups - so why warm up? Anyway, by the time our d's audition took place
she was both discouraged by the speech and UN warmed-up...</p>
<p>Of course this is the right thread to put in all our audition "grievances" from other schools, but I can't resist mentioning how U Miami at NY unifieds was so pressed for time that at a certain point they decided to have 2 auditions at the same time, each with one person. One person was presumably the drama or voice person; the other was the dance person. </p>
<p>My daughter got the dance person. When my daughter asked her a question about the school (specfically about summer opportunities), she said that she had only been there for a few months and didn't know the answer but she was sure there were some. This was one audition where my daughter rejected the school.</p>
<p>Wow - did those auditions take place in the same room? Even if in differernt rooms that's not enough people conducting the audition.
Speaking of the right thread - I think acceptances - where's your d planning on going? Does she know yet?</p>
<p>She is going to Uarts (broadwaywannabe)</p>