<p>Hello,
I'll soon be auditioning for quite a few theatre schools on the east coast, i.e. CMU, NYU, Boston, and Emerson. My original plan was to schedule auditions in L.A. with representatives from those schools.
Recently, I heard something about there being a significant advantage for those who audition on the school campus, rather than through a representative in another major city. Is this true? Or are auditions treated the same across the board?
Thank you for all your help.</p>
<p>I’m curious as well. My daughter scheduled most of her auditions in NYC.</p>
<p>We did ask that question when we visited Michigan, and they assured us the percentage is the same whether you audition on campus or at unifieds. They said the actual audition is slightly different however. On campus it is by a group of auditors and at unifieds it is one person. And they don’t spend as much time with you before the audition. But if the odds are the same, I wouldn’t spend the money on flights, hotel, etc. My kid is doing it at unifieds.</p>
<p>Anyone know about other schools?</p>
<p>Auditioning on campus is always an advantage, for many reasons, but I’ve never seen any evidence that your chances of admission are better.</p>
<p>It really does depend on the school. Some only send a representative to Unifieds, while others do bring a group of people. I am a freshman at Ball State University, and I know that they bring the department head, recruitment coordinator, and the option (Acting, Musical Theatre, Dance) coordinators to Unifieds. The auditions on campus are different, as they always are: all of the teachers and professors from the department are in the house and watch the auditions. </p>
<p>Schools do Unifieds and on-campus auditions because every person’s audition and school-choosing agenda is different. If you are auditioning at a lot of schools that you aren’t completely in love with or don’t know that much about them, I would say audition at Unifieds. Then, you can always get a feel for the schools’ vibe there while talking to the representatives and go visit the schools you like the best. But if you already know a lot about a school and you don’t need to go on a tour to find out more, I would advise you to audition on-campus: you can at least see the school then!</p>
<p>I think it differs from school to school. Some schools bring less staff to the unifieds, but, the ultimate decision maker is always at unifieds.</p>
<p>In the case where only the decision maker is there (ie.head of the department) it SOMETIMES may benefit you if the dance head is there as well and you happen to be an exceptionally strong dancer. She may really push for you.</p>
<p>I had assumed that, if anything, schools would grant a slight edge to those who took trouble to visit the campus for auditions, but a representative from one school we visited explained that colleges pay so much to participate in Unifieds that they need to justify the investment.</p>
<p>The biggest advantage to auditioning on campus is that the student gets a feel for the type of students and student life at that particular campus. Having said that, it is really cost-prohibitive to audition all over the country. We will audition at those schools we can easily and cheaply get to and audition the rest at Unifieds. Most students I know wound up going to schools that they auditioned for at unifieds so I don’t think there is a selection advantage to on-campus auditions.</p>
<p>I have done extensive reading in the archives of this forum, and I have been participating in the forum extensively during the last four years, and I have NEVER heard anyone say there was ANY selection advantage to the on-campus audition.</p>
<p>I personally would never use the words “never” or any". Not sure which archives you looked up but the on-campus/unified discussion has been debated on several occasions the last 4 years. I happen to agree in “most” cases it does not matter. But it will and does make a difference when more faculty are involved on campus versus instead of just a department head at the unifieds. You “may” have a faculty person pushing your acceptance.</p>
<p>I preferred unifieds. My campus auditions were frightening and often had me singing before 10:30. At unifieds, I could schedule it how I wanted and there was rarely an intensive dance call. I actually only got into 1 of my 3 on campus auditions, and had incredibly better ratio at unifieds. The atmosphere was also better. </p>
<p>Unifieds are more on your terms, and are much more personal. You go into the room alone, get to make a personal connection with the auditors, and then present your material. Personally, I think the strongest part of my audition was the connection I got to make with my auditors when they sat me down and talked to me before my audition. This may freak some people out, but I really am a people person. I didnt have this experience on campus. Feel free to ask any questions about my experience at either.</p>
<p>I have not done any extensive reading in the MT forum. It may well be that there is occasionally a selection advantage to a campus audition for MT students.</p>
<p>For one thing, I believe I have read that the spaces the dance auditions are held in on campuses can be vastly superior to some of the places they are held in at Unifieds. It is conceivable that this could lead a student to dance better at an on campus audition.</p>
<p>Possibly if there is some sort of problem with an accompanist it would be easier to find a good replacement on campus than at Unifieds.</p>
<p>MT auditions and Acting program auditions are quite different. I have never heard anyone urge students to audition on campus for an Acting program because of a possible selection advantage. </p>
<p>Many, many, many students are accepted into programs based on their auditions at Unifieds. I would hate for anyone to make extreme sacrifices to attend on-campus Acting auditions in the belief that it might give them an advantage.</p>
<p>I want to be clear that I am not saying there is an advantage one way or the other when the same school staff attends both. However, there are some schools (I assume because of budget) that cut back the amount of faculty they send on the road trip and that should be investigated and weighed into your decision. Obviously the ultimate decision maker or head of the department would be at both. </p>
<p>Let me give an example of what I am trying to convey. If only the head of the MT department goes to unifieds and you happen to be an extremely talented dancer, but a so-so singer or actor, the MT head may reject you. If the head of the dance is at the on campus audition she can push hard for you. If she is left behind for monetary reasons, you just lost your best advocate for admission.</p>
<p>Again, beenthereMTdad, with regard to ACTING auditions, to my knowledge the head of the program (school of theatre or theatre dept) would not necessarily be present at either Unifieds or on-campus auditions.</p>
<p>(In the case of the BFA Acting program my son is attending now, I know that the director of the School of Theatre does not attend Unifieds, and I doubt that he is present at on-campus auditions.)</p>
<p>Rather, a student will audition for one or more faculty members. It is my impression that the faculty members then report back and a decision is made based on their reports and other factors.</p>
<p>I wish someone who is more of an expert on Acting auditions (as opposed to MT) would chime in here.</p>
<p>I was under the impression that this thread was related to MT unified auditions, if not then I acquiesce.</p>
<p>I’m not an expert on acting auditions…but it seems clear to me that if more people see your audition, you have a better chance. Art is subjective–if only one person sees your audition, he or she may not be someone who recognizes your talent particularly. If you audition in front of a group of faculty, there’s more chance that one of them will click with your audition, and become your advocate.</p>
<p>Clearly lots of people only do Unifieds, and do very well. So there’s not a reliable ‘home court advantage’. But I can’t help feeling that the more people see you, the better your chances are.</p>
<p>I have heard that auditors can tell within the first 10 or 15 seconds of a monologue whether an Acting auditioner “has the goods.” That is one reason why it doesn’t matter whether your monologue is a little bit shorter than the suggested length (one minute as opposed to two minutes is probably fine…even appreciated!..in most instances).</p>
<p>When it comes to the reasons why a student auditioning for Acting programs will be accepted at certain schools and not others, I think it has mostly to do with the following:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>At some of the auditions, the student might have been having an “off day.” It happens.</p></li>
<li><p>The school is looking for variety and will not accept too many students of the same type. This is not as critical a factor in Acting as in MT, however. In MT, which is generally discussed on CC in the MT forum rather than here 
there are more variables.</p></li>
<li><p>Schools differ in their selectivity and the caliber (and number) of students auditioning. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>Gwen is right that art is subjective, but I really do think that Acting auditions are a little bit more of an exact science, in that the auditors are looking for a readily recognizable mix of ability and personality/potential. </p>
<p>All of the auditors are presumably going to have the requisite experience and knowledge to spot students quickly whom their program would find desirable. If your audition clicks with one auditor from a given school, it is overwhelmingly likely that it will click with any auditor from that school. </p>
<p>What may seem like a very good audition - to a parent and/or someone who is not part of the professional theatre world - may indeed be quite good, subjectively speaking, but it may not fall within the narrower parameters of what auditors are looking for.</p>
<p>This “exact science” aspect of college Acting auditions is one reason why so many people on this forum recommend that students work with a coach who has experience in preparing students for college auditions, if at all possible.</p>
<p>Help with choosing monologues may be one area that a coach is a good idea because that coach may know monologues which will better suit a particular student’s acting style, etc. But I think auditions are about natural ability and potential and evaluating how “coachable” and “giving” an actor may be. That is why colleges do not accept DVD’s from performances which are polished and finished materials. When you walk into an audition, it is virtually impossible to know exactly what the auditors are looking for, so you might as well just be yourself.</p>
<p>CollegeMom08, this has been discussed again and again on this forum…whether coaching is advisable or necessary. There are two camps, with strong feelings either way! </p>
<p>People can tell anecdotes about students who have been accepted at fine programs with no coaching and little training. However, this is probably the exception rather than the rule.</p>
<p>Soozievt, an extremely knowledgeable long time contributor here, has stated emphatically that auditioned theatre programs are so insanely competitive these days, with so many well trained auditioners who have attended intensive summer programs and/or arts high schools, that it is a bit risky to rely on your natural ability and potential carrying the day.</p>
<p>The right kind of coach does have a very good idea of what college auditors are looking for and also knows how to let the student’s personality and individuality shine through.</p>
<p>In a testimonial that my son wrote for his beloved coach’s website, he stated:</p>
<p>“Rather than fitting me to an idea of what an ‘actor’ should be, who would be ‘likely’ to get into good schools, she simply found out about me. She got interested in who I was, what made me tick, and then channeled my own loves, hates and habits into monologues (pulled from a gargantuan library of plays) that enticed me, excited my imagination, and showed me off. Channeled is the word. She did not make me, she helped me make myself.”</p>
<p>Just a general comment about the coaching issue. I think it is extremely unfortunate that so many of these coaches ‘assist’ to the extent that they do with the search for appropriate monologues (and songs for MT applicants). This is a process that students should ideally be doing themselves, almost entirely. It’s a learning exercise and it’s a shame that so many now allow a coach to do the research for them.</p>