<p>Coaching helps. Why wouldn’t it? These coaches have years of experience with thousands of students by now and they know the programs inside out. Maybe, it looks like they get certain kids into certain schools because they can pretty much look at you and say where you have a shot at acceptance. Of course, people get in without it but I think it helps narrow down and target your list so you’re not wasting time and money applying to programs where you have no chance. It also depends on individual goals, I mean, it’s less necessary for the schools that take big numbers and types and the less competitive schools obviously. About the ethical stuff, I have seen kids plugged into programs at the last minute that I doubt would have happened without the coach but I’m not sure that’s unethical, exactly.</p>
<p>GSA programs aren’t for everyone and they accept very few students scattered throughout the state. Some kids need to work to save money for school or even just to help their families. Some choose to do regional or community theatre work in the summer. Again, this isn’t about a particular person, it’s about access. If a PUBLIC school is hosting an PRIVATE audition and only opening to the few kids in the area that happened to go to GSA, I don’t see how that legitimizes using public facilities. GSA auditions ARE open to everyone.</p>
<p>And why are we talking about GSA programs? This thread is about the college audition process and what is ethical and not, and the part coaches play in the process.</p>
<p>I’m no expert but I think the point of colleges going to PAS’s is to audition a pre-screened applicant pool. It’s no accident that a large percentage students in the tip-top programs come from these places.</p>
<p>The auditions for GSA as well as those for the PAS are very much a “pre-screen” for the college auditions. Colleges come for a variety of programs including visual arts, instrumental music, technical theater as well as dance and MT. The sheer size of the undertaking makes it impossible to open it to everyone. </p>
<p>As far as it being held at the school, I guess you would also argue that any child of a taxpayer should be able to participate in everything that goes on there? I really don’t understand the hostility and need to type in all caps. This is a rough business our kids are wanting to enter. Auditions are the gateway to the next thing at every level. The kids participating here have</p>
<p>Sorry, hit the send button by mistake. My point is that the city wide and state wide auditions are what led to the opportunity at the PAS. Every kid in the state has a path to get there if they choose, but like everything else in this business they don’t all make it.</p>
<p>You are never going to understand my point and get back onto the original topic, so I’ll just leave it at that.</p>
<p>I’m glad to do that. In the future please don’t insinuate that a particular school is doing something unethical because you don’t like it.</p>
<p>Perhaps there needs to be a better way to communicate all of the different audition options to people. For example, Walker1194, I am from your state. Many of the schools that participated in GSA auditions also participated in an arts school fair the night before in Lexington. That was open to anyone who wanted to participate. Many also were at another arts school college fair in Cincinnati. And even more conducted auditions at setc which was in louisville. Our daughter did not go to GSA, opting for other summer programs. So she too could not participate in the auditions you mentioned. But she did take advantage of some of these other regional opportunities. To me it’s just like not being able to participate in the thespians conference or the jimmy awards because no schools or organizations we are affiliated with participate in those programs. I’m sure those would have been great. But we knew they weren’t options for us. So we sought out other opportunities. Not every opportunity is for every applicant. Just like not every casting for a show is open to everyone who wishes to audition. But I do understand your frustration knowing these schools were in your area but you couldn’t be a part of that day. I’d be happy to brainstorm ways to make families more aware of possible audition locations in our region if you like.</p>
<p>And getting back to the coaching question, one of the options we decided to take advantage of was using a coach because we did feel we would be better prepared and be more aware of audition opportunities. I do think there is a misperception about many of these opportunities and what sort of advantage there is though. For most students, the auditions you mentioned in ky and Moonifieds in Dallas serve mainly as in person prescreens. Students still must do another audition on campus or at Unifieds along with everyone else for many of these schools although a few do use them as final auditions. but for example, texas State, Penn State, Otterbein, Baldwin Wallace, Pace … all of these schools used these opportunities as in person prescreens … not final auditions. they still wanted to compare these students to the larger applicant pool before extending offers in most cases. and despite popular belief, Carnegie Mellon does not even attend Moonifieds so Moo’s students are auditioning for CMU on campus or at Unifieds just like everyone else. They get no special opportunities or treatment. People go to coaches like Moo and MTCA to be prepared as well as they can be. Some people feel they can do that on their own. Others feel they need the help of a coach. Neither way of preparing is wrong and none of us should disparage anyone for choosing to use or not use a coach. It’s just a personal choice based on your own circumstances. </p>
<p>To me. The advantage of these early prescreens being in person, both auditioner and auditor get a better sense of whether that student may be a fit for their program, more so than on video. You are usually auditioning in a smaller group of people. And you can get early feedback on your audition material so you have time to make changes if needed before the bulk of audition season hits.</p>
<p>OMG… I never insinuated that holding private auditions at public schools is unethical. Good grief. Way to blow things out of proportion.</p>
<p>Many states do not have a GSA or open access to PAS’s. New Jersey, for one. There is no more GSA and PAS’s are rare. I wouldn’t go by your own experience because that experience is unique to you. In general, statistically, the vast majority of American students do not have equal and open access to PAS’s or GSA’s. This is simple fact.</p>
<p>As far as coaches–coaches cost money. It’s totally fine to use a coach if you have the money and want to, but ethically here’s the problem: if coaches insinuate or openly advertise they have an ‘in’ with the school - which is operating with taxpayers money - then the colleges and possibly the coach are not being ethical. And I’m sure that the colleges <em>want</em> to be ethical. But it creates the appearance of impropriety that is increasingly disturbing to me. As far as students, if you have the money, sure, use a coach. But on the bigger scale, I think what we’re increasingly seeing is a system that very heavily tilts toward people who have more wealth and connections and ‘ins’, and is that really a good thing for the future of the arts? Isn’t it more vigorous for the arts to take from our entire population? What I see is a trend toward extremely polished auditions, heavily prepped --in a field that is supposed to be about talent and potential. I am <em>not</em> saying it is wrong for individuals to use a coach they love! This is more a comment on the ethics of the system itself–the private auditions, the wink/wink insider connections or claim thereof - in a system that is supported by taxpayers and that is supposed to be about talent only. There has been a huge change in just the last 5 years. I was at an audition in which I saw an exuberant and excited group of about 20 African American and Latino kids come in with their public school teacher from an inner city area of north Jersey. None of the kids was dressed properly for an audition, and none got a callback. Again, we don’t have a system for PAS or GSA, and even if we did, many are not easily accessible for students with low incomes or even middle class incomes. How is this situation ethical in public institutions? I totally realize that some BFA programs really, really REALLY try hard to correct for this situation, and I think that’s great. But I think the use of insider coaches, access to private auditions etc, really tilts the playing field away from families who already are under-represented. Finally, I want to stress this is not a comment on parents who choose to use a coach–I think using a coach is great if you find the right one. I think this is a larger issue that <em>colleges</em> should be more sensitive to because right now there is a real perception of impropriety. I’m sure that’s the last thing colleges want.</p>
<p>Excellent, connections! That is the intended gist of this thread, and I think you have made good points throughout your response. I believe it is the colleges that are fanning the flames about using coaches and giving the impression that you need to be super-prepared to even audition for their program.</p>
<p>I feel badly for the students you mentioned who were really under-prepared, but I also feel badly for those students who have been given tons of programs/coaching/lessons and still do not get into their first-choice schools.</p>
<p>Vvnstar wrote: “To me. The advantage of these early prescreens being in person, both auditioner and auditor get a better sense of whether that student may be a fit for their program, more so than on video. You are usually auditioning in a smaller group of people. And you can get early feedback on your audition material so you have time to make changes if needed before the bulk of audition season hits.”</p>
<p>Exactly, and that’s why some people feel this prevents the whole level-playing-field parity that’s intended by video prescreening. Not everyone has access to this advantage.</p>
<p>However, it’s only a level playing field if the technical quality of the video doesn’t influence the college–hence concerns over the relatively new phenomenon of coaching for prescreens! Schools usually try to reassure kids and families that they do NOT care about whether the video looks professional. Advertising the coaching service right on the prescreen company’s website implies the opposite. It all gets increasingly anxiety-inducing.</p>
<p>I went back and checked my notes from last year’s Moonifieds and wanted to correct one thing …Pace was a final audition there. But the others I mentioned were not. There were other schools there that did conduct final auditions at Moonifieds including Point Park, U Arts, TCU, Ohio Northern, Rider and Viterbo. I believe Coastal said there’s was a final audition but they did encourage most people to attend an on campus audition as well.
I also don’t want people to think these early auditions are available only to certain students. I know some of the same schools that were at Moonifieds participated in the North Texas Drama Auditions that same week. Just as I suggested to walker1194, there are many places to meet with schools and do in person auditions without going through a coach. Also - many of these schools have early on campus auditions as well for which you could sign up. So don’t feel left out if you aren’t working with a coach. Look for what opportunities are open to you. And don’t make others feel bad for participating in options they have found. There are lots of places to audition that you can find if you do your research.<br>
Re: marketing: I don’t think anyone working with coaches is under the impression that their coach can guarantee they will get in their first or even 2nd choice school. It seems to me that it is people not using coaches that are assuming this is the reason people hire coaches. I can guarantee you one conversation with Moo or MTCA or other reputable coaches would make you realize that none of them suggest they can do that for any student. All they are saying is they know the college audition landscape, they know what different mt programs look for in their applicants and their experience and knowledge can help your student be as prepared as possible for auditions. If you read into their website or advertisements that they are suggesting anything else, you need to do more research. This is just not the case. As for quoting mt program heads - I would think it would be strange for someone who has worked in this field for 10-20 years to not know some of the major players in the field. Knowing our coach was familiar with these people did make me feel confident that our coach did know what was happening in the world of college auditions.
As for the prescreen preparation video - Mary Anna gives amazing FREE tips on how best to shoot a prescreen on the Acceptd site. I would encourage everyone to watch that because it is great information. They are trying to help. This is still a relatively new concept for schools and students. You can get great tips by watching the short video on the acceptd site without buying the full video. But if you need more info, you have the option to purchase the more detailed video. Again, I see nothing wrong with this. Coaches are providing valuable information and services and they should be compensated. This is just an option for people who feel they want more info. But it certainly isn’t necessary.
My last suggestion, if budget is an issue, you can buy Mary Anna’s book for under $20 and get great information about the entire college audition process. Other coaches may have books or videos out there as well that would also be cost effective sources of information. Getting advice from these knowledgable professionals does not have to be expensive! But again, for those who want to take it a step further and have more personal coaching, it is ok. It is their choice in how to prepare.</p>
<p>Coaching is just one aspect of the audition process that is available only to those who have available funds to pay for it. (Although I acknowledge that some people pay for coaching via sacrificing other “luxuries” and it is not an easy choice for many - I don’t want to imply you must be wealthy to afford it). How about programs that require travel to their college in order to audition? That is one of the most expensive parts of this process. And how about families that need to have their teenager work during the year and therefore miss out on the opportunity to perform or take classes. And those families who live in communities where there is no performing arts programs in their public schools and just can’t afford to pay for any classes at all? And can’t afford so many regular and supplemental application fees and sending all those test results? Students whose parents have never been to college and live in an area where their guidance counselors do not have the ability to help an arts student? Whether or not you feel coaching or private auditions provides an “unfair” advantage, it is just one piece of a bigger problem. The system as it is does not provide equal access to students from poorer families.</p>
<p>I find it plausible that the colleges are unconcerned about video quality. Years ago I worked at a symphony orchestra that used prescreen tapes to narrow down audition invitees. Often the musicians who listened to the tapes would take them down to their cars in the parking garage to listen to them. I remember a number of people who came to the auditions who mentioned to me that they had recorded them in their dorm room, or in a bathroom, etc. It really wasn’t necessary to rent a recording studio, though some people did.</p>
<p>Still, it’s always a good idea to read “tips.” Take what you can use and ignore the rest.</p>
<p>Also just realized you can see the full prescreen video tips video on Acceptd through August 31. Go watch it. Free advice!</p>
<p>regardless if you are coached or not-it appears some schools are looking for a more polished performer than one that has potential. Other schools I’m sure want a balance…some polished and some they feel they can train. I think the real advantage goes to those kids who are lucky enough to attend a quality performing arts high school and those that live near great regional theatre and have the opportunity to perform with them. I feel coaching helps but I don’t know that it could “polish” someone enough to get into the schools that already want you to be fully polished</p>