Audition travel/ weather/ cancellations

Our first audition is this weekend and we will be traveling from Tucson to Indiana University in Bloomington. Weather is not an issue where we live, but I know from living on the East Coast that it can wreak havoc on travel plans. Can someone tell me what happens if your flight is delayed/cancelled due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances? Does the school reschedule? What is the protocol if travel plans change? Should we call the music school? Thank you.

You should call the school music admissions department and they will give you the scoop as to what happens when your flight is delayed or cancelled.

My son auditioned at Eastman (Rochester, NY) last February while the east coast was being hit with a bad winter storm. We were originally supposed to fly through Philadelphia, but I called the airline the day before and they changed our flight so that we went through Chicago instead and got there with no problems (coming from TX), but people coming in from other east coast locations were having trouble getting to Rochester. For those who were just delayed, they moved their auditions to later times that day to accomodate them and I heard talk at the time that those who couldn’t make it at all would be able to send in video auditions.

I’m sure it’s different for each school/situation. I would just watch the weather reports and if you anticipate a problem, call the school.

We’ll be driving across upstate NY, Pennsylvania (three times) and through parts of Ohio. I’ve already put the school’s numbers in my phone in case we run into problems.

we’re driving too. My husband was surprised we’ll be leaving the 2 nights before my son auditions. I I explained to him that a 12 hour drive (not counting bad weather) will cut into his practice time and that he needs time to relax and get into the groove of things.

The day we were to fly out last year for ds audition at hartt our flight was cancelled. I was able to get us re routed into Pittsburg (the closest airport open at the time) and figured I could drive from there. We live in california…but I’m originally from the east coast so I’m comfortable driving in snow. While in Chicago we flew standby into Boston. I called the school the moment our flight got cancelled and told them our new schedule. They were so accommodating and set up a special audition the following Tuesday. It was my d and another applicant. The audition lasted about three minutes, but in the end she was accepted with scholarship and is now a very happy freshman! Anything happens call the school/conservatory.

Words of caution for those driving the upstate NY-PA-OH roads: The NYS Thruway can be a disaster in places even when it looks fine in others. The state used to require that farmers put up snow fences but abandoned that several years ago so you may suddenly drive into a white out from sunshine. It can be especially bad between Buffalo and the PA border in the vicinity of the Seneca Resetrvation and SUNY Fredonia. Pay close attention to the electronic signs along the PA highway- when they say " There May Be Black Ice On Underpasses", they mean it. Those suckers can be dangerous and you can spin out very easily. Ohio doesn’t bother to plow but the locals drive like maniacs anyway- the lines on the road can be buried in snow but some fool in a pickup will barrel past you going 70mph. You’ll find him in a ditch a few miles up the road!
Because these areas sit along the Great Lakes- Ontario and Erie, respectively- the region is subject to a phenomenon unique to the area, called “Lake Effect” snow. Even though nothing major may be called for, “Squalls” may develop in isolated areas (that area southwest of Buffalo, Erie County in PA and Ashtabula & Lake Counties in Ohio) and several feet of snow may get dumped while a half mile up the road gets just a dusting.
Load some weather apps onto your phone (and the Storm Shield App is worth paying for!), keep it charged in your car and drive with caution, allowing yourself plenty of time.

This thread is making me glad that DS flew into “sunny and 63” for his audition today. B-)

Listen to Mezzo’s mom! The NYS thruway can be a disaster during the winter months. Lake Effect snow is very unpredictable, and if it sets up in your path it can sit there-- for hours or days. The thruway has already been closed twice this year near Lake Erie, and my brother in law was stuck on a closed thruway between Rochester and Buffalo for 18 hours a few years back! Watch the weather reports but know it’s also unpredictable, a slight shift and there’s sun in Buffalo and four feet of snow in Syracuse! That being said my experience with the Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse airports is that they know how to handle all but the very worst of snow emergencies, and places like Eastman, SUNY Fredonia and SUNY Potsdam must be used to it causing problems with auditions. There is a stretch of rt 81 to Potsdam that closes regularly. Last week this area got 5 feet of snow in two days!

We drove on the NYS thruway last February for college visits, and we were surprised that we had way more snow at home than they did! Of course, last year was a horrible, horrible, no good, very bad winter, my fingers are crossed, I’m praying to each deity in their preferred way and considering sacrificing some small animals in exchange for no precipitation!

Did anyone who had a Jacobs audition hear their results yet? This waiting time is killing me.

No. They told us the earliest would be 3 weeks. We auditioned on Jan. 16. What did you audition for?

DS auditioned at Jacobs last year on Feb 7 and received his acceptance on Feb 28. You won’t hear anything about scholarships until April 1. He is now a freshman at Jacobs so if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to PM me. Good luck.

Thank you 2015Lalo and BCVIOLINMOM for your helpful replies! I auditioned on Jan.16 too. I was wondering whether the results would be sent through mail or email?

leel59820–The Dean at the information session we attended on audition day said the results come in the mail (good old fashioned snail mail). Financial aid information comes in April via email. You have until May 1 to accept admission.

2015Lalo–Can you please leave a note when you receive your results so I would know when to expect mine? Thank you very much!