<p>We returned from a beautiful weekend at Ithaca. It was cold but clear, perfect for traveling. Our experience was not what I had expected after reading some of the posts on CC. All of the Ithaca faculty and the students were warm and friendly. The audition procedure was the quickest and most organized of all (this was #5) of the auditions we have attended thus far. After some initial paperwork and a quick photo, everyone went into the main theater. Lee Byron (head of theater dept.) gave some remarks and info. about the different programs. He was gracious, funny and helped everyone to relax. He thanked the parents for supporting their children through this grueling process and profession. He held a quick question and answer session. We were then told the line up for the day. Our D was in the beginning of the list so the process went very quickly. She went off to audition. Freshmen & sophomores came in to talk to us about life at Ithaca and answer questions. They were all very "down to earth", funny, and articulate. The MT classes (freshmen - seniors) seemed to have high #'s of boys vs girls (just an observation). Anyone know?? I didn't have time to ask and there was no time to really talk to any other families auditioning because before I knew it our D was done and we left.<br>
D's impression was that the interviewers were very nice and helpful. The students assisting were the same. This is our D's top choice.<br>
I would like to hear other peoples impressions. Judi</p>
<p>Hoofermom,</p>
<p>I have several suggestions for you. There are several private services that travel regularly between the Detroit Airport and the Michigan campus. A round trip with one of these will cost you $40. (My daughter has used this service several times already and it is very reliable) There is also bus service available but I'm not sure about the schedules or where you have to get the bus on the Michigan campus. This service is probably your cheapest option. However, you can probably rent a car for the day for a little more than the bus and certainly less than the van service. Parking on central campus is not super easy but we managed to find a meter the day my D auditioned and there is available parking up at the Music School for a small fee as I recall. If you choose not to drive, make sure you stay in a hotel on campus (The Bell Tower or Michigan League) or stay at one of the hotels that provides shuttle service to campus.</p>
<p>Whatever you decide, if you don't drive, don't worry about getting around campus, i.e., from Central campus (where the morning welcome and dance audition activities take place) to North campus (to the Music School where the voice, piano, music theory and acting auditions take place in the afternoon). The bus ride is only about 10 minutes or so and the campus buses run between the two locations every 10 minutes or so; but I'm sure there would also be another family who is driving who would drive you up there if asked. There is enough time between the morning and afternoon activites for you to get there easily.</p>
<p>If you need more specific information or want the phone numbers of the private van services, just email me and I'll be happy to provide them.</p>
<p>Break a leg!!</p>
<p>Hey, Lynn, great! We'll have to figure out a way to recognize each other. We'll be staying Friday night at the Radisson. We may head home shortly after the audition (we live two hours away in Maryland), or we may spend a second night in Philly if my D's friend who goes to Bryn Mawr can join us. What's your schedule? Where are you coming in from?</p>
<p>Jacisme, My impressions of Itaca were very similar to yours. We were there in early December and it was our first but now that we have been to several more I still feel it was well organized, warm frinedly and efficient. </p>
<p>My understanding of the program is that they accept equal # of boys and girls. My S did not get in to their MT program but has recieved an acceptance to the acting program and he is really happy about that. It is a top consideration for him as well.</p>
<p>He went to Syracuse last weekend during the snowstorm and did not like the experince there much at all. He felt the students all ready enrolled were not friendly or professional and the dance he had to do was classical ballet of which he has no training. It was also just a gut feeling that it was not a fit for him at all. But then that is what this is all about, finiding a place that you want and that wants you!!!</p>
<p>Congrats MTwannabe on your son's acceptance. That's a big accomplishment. They accept so few. Our D thought that her acting portion went more smoothly than the vocal even though her voice is usually her strength! Who knows? The wait and auditions continue. Judi</p>
<p>Ann Arbor Transportation: My husband and D stayed at the Michigan League, which is right on campus, and in fact, the morning meeting is held there. My D used the campus shuttle bus to get to North Campus, which was very easy. It stops right near the Power Center, which is the theatre where I believe the kids do their dance audition. Because of timing, (they got in to Detroit very late) they took a cab both ways, and my H was delighted to not have to deal with a car. He was much happier being right on campus than staying out on North Campus and having to drive.</p>
<p>Syracuse: We were at Syracuse for the Friday audition. My D came away from it really liking the school. The head of the dept (I don't recall his name) spoke to parents and kids and I think set a really nice tone. Among other things, he spoke about not reading anything into the auditions--including stony faces, asking or not asking for more, etc. He also addressed the question of what are the four years of MT training worth if your child decides not to pursue it, and spoke about the wonderful skills that our children will develop as a result of their theatre training. Essentially his message was, don't worry, your kids will come out of this with skills that will enable them to do all kinds of things besides theatre. Of course he was preaching to the choir, but it was still nice to hear.</p>
<p>My D gets more nervous the more she does. I asked why and she said that you can hear people through the door and that there is an enormous amount of talent.</p>
<p>I can't wait for this to be over.</p>
<p>We (my D and I) were also at Syracuse this past weekend and felt equally impressed. The chair was informative and also realistic (he is ALSO the Dad of a MT wannabe) about this career choice. I also learned a great deal about this program. There was a good sized crowd there--mostly MT and acting candidates--a few stagecraft kids were in the mix. They split the performers into two groups, A & B. My child was in B; her best friend from another state (another CC member) was in group A. The dance part of the process was pretty thorough and geared towards "real" dancers. Both girls had different auditors and slightly different experiences. Unlike her friend, my D was not asked many questions or asked to sing scales. Again, the caveat by the Chair (Prof. Clark) rang in my ears '"Dont read into any of this". My D was finished with everything by around 1pm. While my D was auditioning, I attended a tour by an acting major. He really loved the program. We also got to have lunch in one of the dining halls with a MT student that my D knows from her summer performing arts program. All the students at lunch had only positive things to say. Overall, it was a very good experience. </p>
<p>On a practical note--we stayed in the Genesee Grande, which is only two short blocks to the drama school. This was a great place. Their own website had a very reasonable rate of $99.00 with a continental breakfast.</p>
<p>I'm auditioning for UArts on Feb 5 as well. Very excited to check this one out, I feel I know the least about this school and don't know what to expect, as far as campus and students, etc. Well I'll be the small black one with curly hair and freckles. Generally not hard to miss! :)</p>
<p>Michigan
Thanks for the transportation hints, both public and private. I've booked with a shuttle service and we're staying at the Michigan League, so I think we're ready (or at least as ready as any Texan can get when facing winter weather up north). Thanks, Y'all.</p>
<p>Did Ithaca or Syracuse accept music in a three ring binder with sheet protectors (for the accompanist)? has anyone encountered a school where that was not OK? thanks....</p>
<p>My D flew into Pittsburgh this last weekend to audition for Point Park on Friday. She was fortunate enough to stay with a girl she met last summer at CMU. They picked her up from the airport, took her to the audition, etc. and I can't thank them enough. I told her mom about this board, so if you are listening, thanks again! Newmtmom, my D seems to get more nervous as the auditions go on too. Maybe if she was in somewhere at this point, it would be better. But it is also a very exciting time. Hey, if nothing else, what great auditioning experience they are getting. </p>
<p>As far as Point Park goes, she says everyone was very nice. She was surprised that they had a nice spread of bagels, etc., for them. This was a first. And they gave them Point Park clocks...all I can say is that they truly tried to make them feel welcome. She was talking to some freshmen there who were accepted last year into the straight drama program who were now auditioning again for mt. So I guess that is a possibility as well. There was a large group there and they divided them into 2 groups. She was 2nd to go. She sang first and did her monologue after. She thought her monologue went better than her song, which is surprising as it is usually the opposite. They were video taping. She then went for the dance portion and said since she had gone 2nd, she had plenty of time to warm up. She said it was pretty easy. </p>
<p>Point Park does not do the unifieds in Los Angeles, so when she had this time off of school inbetween semesters as well as the invite to stay with someone, we took advantage when they were able to squeeze her in for this audition date. It was only 1 1/2 weeks ago that we found out she was going, so it really was a last minute thing. She got a taste of winter, and came home with the flu. I don't think I was ever so happy to see her get sick...it's excellent timing for auditions! She doesn't have to audition at the unifieds until Feb. 13 & 14! Gee, I hope I haven't jinxed it now. Oh, well...gotta keep a sense of humor in all of this. </p>
<p>I find myself looking for more and more schools that are still accepting applications, for fear of her not having anywhere to go. Anyone else feeling this way too? I'm sure it's just panic mode...</p>
<p>catsmom said:</p>
<p>"I find myself looking for more and more schools that are still accepting applications, for fear of her not having anywhere to go. Anyone else feeling this way too? I'm sure it's just panic mode..."</p>
<p>This is how my daughter ended out applying to Otterbein. We started looking at every one of the colleges mentioned in CC, looking for one with a later deadline and if it didn't have an essay, that was a plus.</p>
<p>Panic is a normal feeling for the next couple of months.</p>
<p>Peg</p>
<p>Is anyone out there auditioning at Elon? My daughter is going on Friday for acting, not MT. This will be 3 down, 3 to go.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say D is in full panic mode, but it's getting close. Ugh. She's been engaged in this process since September and has one deferral, one rejection and no acceptances yet (news on the next round of decisions won't come til March at the earliest). She is looking around at other schools now. I am counseling her to wait a year if she doesn't get in to her original set of schools and try again. She learned so much about the audition process this year that she can use if she does this again. And she could spend an entire year auditioning for/working in the numerous local productions that she usually can't do because of the heavy high school workload.</p>
<p>Artsymom and lynnm--</p>
<p>I'll be auditioning for UArts on the 6th, so I'll miss meeting your kids by a day! I haven't heard much about the UArts audition process, but I am excited. I have my CMU audition later that day. </p>
<p>This is my first post, but I've been reading the boards for a while.*As a Canadian with absolutely NO support from her school's guidance staff (they are completely incompetent unless one is pursuing a status quo path-- becoming a doctor or lawyer and going to McGill or Queen's), this board has been a blessing. It's the guidance counsellor I never had!</p>
<p>*--R</p>
<p>September - Good luck at your auditions and welcome aboard!</p>
<p>September, the Feb. 5 gang will get UArts warmed up for you. Thumbs up for you for having such initiative with this, and break a leg!</p>
<p>How do otheer people think the thread system is working these days? I find myself jumping from one to the other....something I'd no doubt do anyway, but I feel I have to because I don't know which one will in fact address the topic I'm looking for.</p>
<p>That would be "other," not "otheer." A trivial correction, I know, but I've done too much work as an editor to let it just sit there unfixed!</p>