<p>Hi everyone,
Hope everyone's keeping it together as we head to audition month. Question: My S has an audition at Depaul in Chicago at 9:10 a.m. Feb. 15. He has one in Cleveland on Feb. 16 (time unknown). Stephen Rose, head of violin department at CIM, can meet with my son for a consultation/lesson around 1 p.m. on the 15th, which obviously won't work because of DePaul. IF Rose cannot meet with him much later in the day (it's a 5-hour drive, right?) or anytime on the 16th or morning of the 17th (before we head to U Mich), should he not worry about the meeting with Rose? CIM is his top choice school. DePaul only has two audition days (Feb. 8 and Feb. 15), and S has been told he can't change his audition date/time.</p>
<p>If Depaul cannot change him to Feb 8, I would NOT try to schedule a lesson on the 15th in Cleveland. You need to factor in weather, traffic, finding where you’re going, and other factors into that drive–it most likely will be more than 5 hours. To try to do an audition in Chicago and a lesson Cleveland on the same day is just not a good idea. How important is it to meet with Prof. Rose?–I’m not sure as this is a different instrument than my son’s, who did not have sample lessons ahead of time. If Prof Rose cannot do the 16th or 17th, would it be possible for your son to make a trip there a different time?</p>
<p>I hate it when this sort of thing happens–! It could be important to meet with Professor Rose, especially if CIM, a small program, is his top choice. So he should write to Professor Rose and explain his predicament…BUT I’d first have him ask DePaul for a switch, even if they told him they can’t do it. I think it’s understandable they would say this as a general “rule” because otherwise everyone would be asking for a switch. This is a legit request because of the conflict, and it will not hurt to ask. The administrators are in charge of scheduling; asking won’t offend them or damage his application.</p>
<p>glassharmonica is correct. Right now, the Cleveland Orchestra, where Steven Rose is principal second violin, is in Florida, but they will be back early next week. If CIM is your son’s top choice, getting that meeting/lesson needs to be worked out and scheduled around. He’s a very nice man and I’m sure that he’ll be as accommodating as he can.</p>
<p>At that time of year, you can NOT count on how long the drive between Chicago and Cleveland will take. Normally, it takes me close to 6 hours, but the route goes right along Lake Erie and this year it’s has been getting slammed with Lake Effect snow which make the highway impassible- Indiana has closed it at least 3 times that I know of this month. In all honesty, I’d grab a Southwest flight from Hopkins to Midway; more expensive but safer and less aggravation and you can’t put a price on safety. Another caution, if you’re then driving from CIM to Ann Arbor, that route lies along the lake (blowing and drifting snow) and there is a lot of road work around Toledo. The highway once you cross into Michigan can also be nasty since there is open land on both sides and snow obscures the road.
Of course, it could be 45 degrees and sunny, in which case travel will be a lot easier, but with the winter we’ve been experiencing up to now, I wouldn’t count on it!</p>
<p>You may want to look over the list and consider dropping DePaul if there are many auditions /other options happening. Don’t do the woulda, coulda, shoulda . Rose is a great guy. Don’t skip the lesson and make sure your son expresses his desire to attend CIM as #1 school during the meeting.</p>
<p>I live out this way as well and the lake is “more frozen than it has been in 20 years” That is actually a good thing (for now) as it nearly halts all lake effect snow. March will probably be a beast when the lake defrosts, but that is not a worry for you. Depending on where you are coming from (if far) add 2 hrs to the trip. ODOT does a great job with I-90. </p>
<p>I would also consider dropping DePaul…but I know from previous posts that you were concerned about how competitive your son would be in the field. DePaul for violin is competitive than CIM, so he’ll need to think about the wisdom of dropping an audition that might be more likely to turn into an acceptance. Of course, all we have to go on is your posts, so it’s hard to know. If I had to choose for you based on what I know, however, I’d agree with those who suggest dropping DePaul in favor of a lesson with Rose.</p>
<p>Such good advice from everyone. It is kind of a dilemma. S decided to make sure Mr. Rose couldn’t see him on the 16th or 17th (unlikely, but doesn’t hurt to ask?), which would solve all problems. Then we thought we’d try to convince DePaul to allow him to change his audition date (they only allow one change, supposedly, but I can’t imagine they are eager to have people drop the school just to avoid making another change). If that works, he’ll make a separate trip on his own to Chicago, and we’ll still do a road trip together for CIM and U of Mich. Hope he hears from Rose today! I’d REALLY like to get this resolved. Thanks, everybody! Thanks SO much!</p>
<p>If he’s going by himself to a DePaul audition, you must live there or in the burbs? S is at DePaul in percussion-competitive and challenging but loves it. He was a last minute transfer and they were very flexible in how they handled the paperwork and audition.</p>
<p>Well, everything is okay. CIM’s Stephen Rose penciled him in for a lesson at the end of the audition day on the 16th, asking only that my S send a reminder email a week before, so we can keep DePaul and all our plans. Would have been nice to get the lesson before the audition, but S doesn’t think it matters much. Now if the weather will behave. Minus16 when I woke up this morning! Hawkrn – no, my S is in the Twin Cities, a senior at the U of M. I’m glad your S loves DePaul.</p>
<p>So glad it worked out, onekidmama! It’s good he doesn’t have to make a second trip for a lesson with all the winter weather going on. Hoping for good weather tomorrow as my S makes a cross-country flight for first audition.</p>
<p>He’ll love Steve Rose, onekidmama- he’s just one of those really nice guys.</p>
<p>Anyone auditioning in OH, IN or IL this week and next, please be prepared to deal with subzero cold, high winds and snow as we are getting hit again and the Alberta Clipper is returning and Cleveland is slated for snow this weekend and next!</p>