Is it a good idea to let the school you are applying to / auditioning at know what other schools you are applying to?
It is an optional question on a School of Music applications my D is currently filling out. She asked me if she should leave it blank or fill it out.
Also, her list (with current maybes) consists of 10 schools. Should she list them all or choose maybe the top 3-5…
Any suggestions / advice appreciated. She is super behind in this whole process.
Thanks!
Another question: What about listing “teachers you have studied with”? Again an optional question.
She has 1 that may be possibly “well-known”, but not sure. She doesn’t currently study with him.
The rest (including the one she’s been with the longest) I’m pretty sure are not going to be “known”.
Then another one that (in this case) is a former student of the school to which she’s applying. However, this one she’s using to prep her for auditions and film / record prescreens. She has only had 2 lessons with her to date.
Ugh!
Thanks!
We were wondering the same thing about whether to list ALL of the school’s D is applying to or just a few. Strategically is there a benefit to listing only the most competitive or the least competitive?
List the teachers and list the schools —if space doesn’t permit list the top 5-6.For my D in both grad and undergrad apps the schools were referred to when some of the financial offers were made. Honesty over strategy (in short I believe that you are over thinking this which is something we ALL do) 
Maybe someone else can weigh in with a “secret” formula?
BTW–someone helping her prep for auditions might be considered more of a coach than a teacher, but you might ask that individual. For example my D has one current teacher but if she is preparing rep for an audition or a performance she will have a few sessions coach who specializes in that particular oeuvre and she would never list that person on her resume as her teacher.
Thanks.
It was her first SOM app. I am absolutely positive we are overthinking everything! There were a lot of optional questions!
She still hasn’t decided whether or not she’s applying to a few schools. She only listed the ones she was sure of.
She listed her teachers, but not the “coach” as I think that is a good description of her at this point.
I think listing the schools and teachers is fine too.
A few “experiences” for perspective:
We had a meeting with the head of the MT program at a school (when my D was set on doing MT) and he asked her what other programs she was looking at. She gave the names and he said “yea, that all makes sense.” They were all LACs with one big university. He explained they were similar programs except the one and gave a little pitch on LAC programs and his program in particular. It was the only time I saw the question asked directly. But my D said in MT auditions she often got asked the question. I think it was a mix of seeing patterns of interest (big vs small - regional vs national) and maybe “seriousness” - you are auditioning other places, right? And if they really like her they will know there could be competition. This could impact scholarships when/if negotiating. Best to list them now.
I would be honest and not try to “game” it in anyway (not suggesting you were). Honesty in all matters of auditioning is soooo important. You don’t want to get tripped up bc you’re thinking to hard for the right answer. If she has teachers, list them. If only to say, yep I have a private teacher.
Interestingly enough, almost every school we’ve visited has asked us where else she’s looking. Also, almost every one of them has had something negative to say about another school! I have been surprised by this! It’s not like they’ve ranted on and on (bashing away) but little comments were dropped or maybe they would tell what they perceive as “flaws” in anothers program, etc.
I always just hope my D can remember the names of the schools. She knows the ones we’ve visited, but the ones that she’s only looked at on paper (or screen), she has been referring to as " the one in ________" or “the one with the really cool ___”. I always know what she’s talking about, but…LOL! She is more laid back about this process than I am. I need to follow her lead, because I’m too stressed! She hasn’t done her essay or picked out all her audition material yet and she just asked for a second LOR from school today. UGH! She knows she’s down to the wire at this point, and she keeps putting these things on her “to do” list, but they keep getting “bumped” for a test or a project, etc.
Someone on here once recommended a glass of wine every night to get through this process. I just poured mine!
Sounds like the schools are just trying to (clumsily?) differentiate themselves by pointing out other program’s deficits. Could be helpful info.
My son is also the relaxed sort. But he appreciated my help in organizing each school’s audition/application requirements. It’s a lot, especially when I compare it to his older siblings’ application process
@drummergirl Yes, it is sometimes helpful info. I have found that it at times has given D things to think about in terms of what a school has to offer - which usually means further research assignments for me! lol
My D definitely appreciates the help. I don’t think she’d have more than 2-3 schools to apply to if I hadn’t done an awful lot of research.
Looking back, I think we could have narrowed down our focus (and auditions) if we had visited more schools beforehand. One of my son’s friends took the time to visit many programs and ended up with 4 schools that he applied to (we had twice that). And I guess I wanted my son to have options in case he didn’t get into his top choice, or in case he changed his mind. I think some of the earlier auditions served as “practice” for the later ones but it was an awful lot and he was getting bored of his audition repertoire by the end
We have decided that she will apply / schedule auditions in “waves”. So, the first three schools she has / will apply to are 1 reach, 1 match, 1 safety (as we see them - if there were such things). Once those are all set as far as scheduling the earliest auditions available, making travel arrangements, etc. She will move on to submitting applications for 3 more - also 1 of each category. Then, there is a third set that…well…if she never makes it to the submitting the application, she can live with that. She completely cut a 4th set…realizing it’s just not reasonable.
There are 4 schools (of the 9) that she will not have visited first. 3 of them in the first 2 “waves”. So, it does make us nervous that if she ended up not liking them, she could be left with few (if any) options.
As for the audition repertoire, my D has yet to choose / learn all that she will need! I think we determined that she will need a total of 6 songs. I think she has 3 down so far. Fortunately, she can get through the first 2 auditions with those 3. So, I don’t think boredom will set in. I think stress and exhaustion may take over, though!
@dbandmom, as the parent of a string player, I can’t even imagine not having audition repertoire all set by now! I envy your shortened if no less stressful audition process!
It is really stressful. I hate to wish the time away, but I’m really looking forward to it all being over and done. I certainly hope we can enjoy some of the trips. We’ll see!
@dbandmom Do try and enjoy your time together at auditions! My son ended up only applying and auditioning at his top two schools. I loved every minute of the time we spent together so much that I wish he had wanted to apply and audition at other schools. Good luck to you guys and don’t overthink everything (easier said than done). Sometimes the threads on here are way over the top so don’t get overwhelmed by others comments My son ended up at his dream school and am sure your daughter will end up where she is meant to be also!
I so agree with everything rockinmomab said: enjoy your time together at the auditions and step away from this forum when you start to get overwhelmed!
On topic- one of my D’s prospective schools asked about other auditions just to make sure that she wanted a conservatory environment rather than a university.