@FourStars Thank you for sticking around, I have learned so much from you and you 2022 friends.
Thanks for the Elon tips SoCalPops. Will plan accordingly. Also, I have totally found Chelsea at MCA out of Boston an invaluable resource and would encourage anyone who is looking for guidance to reach out to her. Her team/group offers many services and workshops that will even help my D after this is over! The photographer who works with Chelsea doing headshots is exceptional (Nile), not that you need professional headshots. And my D’s monologue coach is great too. It was very helpful and took a lot of pressure off of me! With my D’s schedule being so busy she was able to stay on track with MCA. I am not being paid to say this, just very grateful to have found them!
Good luck to all!
I wanted to share some thoughts about auditioning on campus versus auditioning at Unifieds. I learned a lot about this subject from talking to the very wise folks at MTCA, who we used for BFA Acting prep. I also learned a lot along the way. And I think others can chime in about what they have learned. In Summary, it is perfectly fine to audition either way and in MOST CASES it does not impact the outcome. I think there are specific examples of schools who prefer you to come to on campus - U Michigan comes to mind - but I welcome others to chime in on this. There are also examples where perhaps you get MORE TIME at the audition on campus, but again, that is case by case. A wise lesson I learned is to consider your child and how he/she will respond to auditioning on campus. It can be good, and motivating to see the school, but, falling in love with the school, right before or after you audition can be … tricky.
My D got acceptances from both on campus auditions and auditions at Unifieds. Furthermore, although we originally planned a mix of on campus and unifieds, we made a decision in late December to CHANGE two auditions from on campus to Unifieds. We actually managed to make this happen, just in time. It was BU and UNCSA. My D was accepted at UNCSA. So don’t obsess about this subject, other than creating an audition schedule that works for your family - budget, travel, mindset, calendar. All thoughts and questions welcomed!
Agree with @FourStars about certain schools wanting on-campus interviews (and in my D’s case, portfolio reviews). We found this particularly the case for UNCSA as the faculty wanted to see the interaction between D and current students, which simply isn’t possible when interviewing off-campus. (She also was able to see a show in tech the night before her interview, which she LOVED and she was able to discuss in her interview.)
Again, this was the case for a theatre tech student vs. BFA Acting. YMMV, etc.
Happy New Year. My S was accepted at Elon Early Action and he auditioned on first day in Fall they had auditions, but his letter didn’t say acting, should we call? Is there a second notification around the BFA?
@Bbmama2019 Check your Elon portal. I think it shows in there. My D also got accepted from the October auditions (I think we were 2nd weekend). She got an email from the Dept of her BFA acceptance back in November. Then the Academic school acceptance came in December. I don’t think her school acceptance letter specified Theatre either. But I’m pretty sure the portal shows it.
This year USC started an new BFA MT program. As part of their application process, prescreen videos were required. For the BFA Acting program, there were no prescreen videos required this year, or in past years. I expect that for class of 2024 applying Fall of 2019, USC will likely require prescreen videos for BFA Acting degree as well. In a few years, probably all programs will require prescreen videos.
Before I start driving them crazy - has anyone talked to USC about the MT weekend and how that’s going to work? I was wondering if I send D solo if there’d be an opportunity to share a room with someone, etc…
@theater9969 - generally hotels won’t rent to someone under 21. I’ve done it before with my 19 year old S who has big muscles, so looks older and I called and spoke with the hotel on the night he was arriving to give them my credit card, but it was a very risky thing (I didn’t know the rule at the time). I was lucky they didn’t refuse him.
It’s the hotel on campus, so I was wondering about that. I’ve already emailed them with a couple of questions, so I don’t want to drive them crazy - guess I’ll wait for further details.
@theater9969 Although most hotels have a minimum check-in age of 21, there are exceptions, especially near colleges. Some hotels will let 18 year-olds check in. The best thing to do in my experience is to call the front desk (not central reservations) of the hotel directly and ask the minimum age and if any special arrangements can be made. You also got a good suggestion about the Hilton app, and there are a few other chains that have online check-in now, but I would definitely put your own name on the reservation, as well. Airbnb is also more flexible, but I would be careful about an Airbnb location near USC. Lastly, if you know another parent who will be there with their own child, you could ask if they are willing to have their name on your D’s room and check in for her.
@theater9969 - glad the USC hotel worked out. I’m going to try on-line check in at Hilton next time I stay to see how that works. (Technology isn’t always my friend.). That’s a good idea for locations with nearby Hilton’s.
Has anyone started a BFA Acting acceptance thread this year?
I haven’t seen one, @AustinMomof4
FYI - my D got an email yesterday afternoon via Acceptd from The Hartt School. They made an error in charging a $30 application fee when it was supposed to be $70, and to please pay the $40 balance to complete the application.
Hi: My D submitted her prescreen in November and we just heard that she passed. No news was good news for her - Good Luck!!!
Son just auditioned on campus at Michigan and Minnesota. Michigan was a fun day with lots of information and interaction and the auditors were engaging. Minnesota was a “walk in, do you monologues and walk out” experience. He thought they might ask for him to sing or something but he got no reaction at all. Totally crestfallen. It was his top choice. Anyone else have a kid that auditioned this weekend? Same for them or did they get some connection? Those were the only two BFA programs so now wishing he had applied more places. Just had no idea the level of formal training other applicants would have. Hard to compete as a public school kid with kids with arts boarding school productions and audition coaches. So maybe a BA program will be the plan.
@TravelMom402 It’s good to get on here and share your stories because you are not alone. I am a parent from last year but I can tell you that my daughter had the same experience at Minnesota. They said NOTHING. She did sing as well as her two monologues (but she is a singer and it says so on her resume). While her pieces all went fine, she said “100% I am not getting Called Back.” And she did get called back. If you can make it to the Call Back, your odds get decent, especially if they know it’s your first choice. Just try to relax, and wait for the follow up. They communicate fairly quickly after auditions, I think about 7-9 days? You can look at our thread from last year, and our Acceptances pages, to see the dates of notifications of Callbacks and Acceptances. Oh, and there were a lot of rejections in there too. But it only takes ONE.
@AustinMomof4 Hello. I am a parent from last year BFA Acting Class of 2022, so here is 1 of the 2 Acting Acceptance threads. As reference for how to start and maintain one, and as reference just for information!
@TravelMom402 There is honestly no way to read an audition. Some schools are known for a “cool” and neutral approach, it is what it is. I do hope your son will be able to continue researching some schools and attend Unfied auditions! He can do “walk in” auditions there. It is not too late! My S attended a Catholic Prep school that prided itself on athletics and offered only a small performing arts program. As a first year BFA acting student at a very competitive program, he has been floored by his fellow first year students previous experiences and training level. He has said that he estimates close to 70% are out of a PA High Schools, however, there are a few like him and a few that took a “Gap” year to gain further training and experience and a few that left less rigorous BFA programs after a year or so. So, it is just so hard to predict the outcome. So glad you shared your story! This is such an exasperating time for kids and parents. Hang in there and see if there aren’t a few more programs he can go after. Best of luck!!