BFA Acting Pre-Screen and Auditions. Class of 2022 - Sharing!

@Noreplays2018 - see post #1879! @proudcalidad just posted about this very thing!

@Noreplays2018 my daughter is has been signed with a top NYC agent since she was a sophomore in HS. Her agent flat out told her to get a BA in ā€œwhateverā€ and keep auditioning. Her agentā€™s LA counterpart told her to move to LA and go to Santa Monica Community College and keep auditioning. My D really did want a college education but was unsure whether to take the BA or BFA route. Her agent did say that if she were to be accepted into a tippy top program then fine she should go but truly was discouraging it. Try to find my final story last year for the details because there was even more to the story. She did end up going the BA route. Interestingly enough, my Dā€™s agent has her BFA in MT from Pace! And she told my daughter during the whole audition process last year that she goes to the Juilliard showcase every year and maybe takes one personā€“same for CMU. She told her she would rather have her, than any of themā€¦college or not. So there you go! Oh and one more thingā€¦I have an old friend I grew up with who owns a casting agency in LA. We had dinner last year and I asked that very question. He said sure, he does glance at what training an actor has had and/or what school they went to. It may get them a bit more consideration in being called in to audition but itā€™s not getting them the job.

@Noreplays2018 - I answered on the MT thread regarding your question. I work in Principal Casting.

@Noreplays2018 - ditto to what @marg928 said. My older D just graduated with her MT BFA from a very good (2nd tier?) - not tippy-tip program. Some of her fellow alums are on Broadway, and some (like her - haha!) are working survival jobs & auditioning. D2 is currently auditioning for Acting programs and her manager in LA, as well as a very good friend who is a successful actor (mature adult) both told her to move to LA, audition & take acting classes, and if she wanted to go to college, to take classes at a community college. She decided she wanted to get more training before moving to LA, and really wants a college degree. Another good friend of D1 is very successful (young 20-something) and he moved straight to LA after high school (I think he took a few CC classes). Heā€™s already been on Broadway, as well as in numerous tv shows & some movies.

Thank you all for your inputā€¦I knew I wasnā€™t barking up the wrong tree LOL

After a very long string of BFA rejections and disappointing outcomes in her school and community theatre auditions, my D was accepted by two schools today. She got into Point Park for BFA acting, and Northeastern for BA theatre.

@diamondparent Congratulations ā€“ wonderful news!

@stagedoormama Thank you so much. I answered on the MT page.

@diamondparent Woohoo!!! Dreams do come true!

@marg928 Thank you for the thoughtful and detailed response! Really appreciate the insight from your personal experience.

@MTmom2017 Thanks for the response and stories. Sounds like the bottom line to all of these threads is that it may or may not help get into the door, but it NEVER seals the deal.

@collegeadmiss I am happy to answer your questions. My daughter went to the International Thespian Conference and it was amazing! We didnā€™t know much about it because no one from her school had ever gone. As for auditions, you sign up to audition and then you have one audition in front of about 40ish schools. After the audition, each school will post or email callback lists. Some schools are a real callback, others just talk to you and tell you about their school. Unfortunately, most of them donā€™t count for an actual audition and you will need to audition again. Marquette and Miami of Ohio counted as her audition for the school. She made callbacks for Depaul; however, didnā€™t pass the prescreen. Her friend didnā€™t make callbacks but passed the prescreen. One of the schools that she received a callback from kept in touch with her and she auditioned again at Unifieds and was accepted with a nice scholarship. Some schools may video and look for the growth when you audition again. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

@diamondparent - congratulations!!! I am so happy for you!

Letā€™s be honest there is know rhyme or reason to this process! I believe itā€™s talent, timing and a whole lot of luck! My D auditioned right out of H.S for M.T. Got into a few good schools a couple on the spot acceptances one university even offered her a choice of either Drama or M.T. Great right nope my D took a gap year! Most of her friends went of to their dream BFA Colleges have recently graduated and are now nannies and bartenders! Very few are working actors some are dancers on broadway in shows that open and close! My D did audition again a few years back got into DePaul her audition parter was to become Chiron in Moonlight so some talent there right! She was also waitlisted for Lamda and again decided to pass on school said she didnā€™t feel there was a fit .So now she has a L.A agent and many paided shows under her belt, she has her own theatre company in conjunction with our city, directs does costume and set design and just auditioned and is on hold for the National tour of Les Mizs! So there you go you never know where this crazy business will take you so as parents just sit back and try and enjoy their ride, it WILL all work out in the end!

Congratulations @diamondparent !! You guys must or so happy!!! Two fantastic programs!

Congratulations @diamondparent !

Congrats on PP and Northeastern( GoHuskies!)
Does Northeastern do the Co-op program for BA Theatre? If so that is a tremendous opportunity to be actively working in real jobs with alternating quarters in the classroom. Many Co-op students have full time work lined up before they graduate!
Congrats again!

@diamondparent so nice to hear of some acceptances! Congratulations. Two great programs.

@Londream2 you just explained how every path to the same destination is different. Thanks for sharing your story! Your daughter has to be talented and brave and had a little bit of luck. A thestre group sounds exciting. She seems like shes very business smart!

@mumssm it may be a good sign that you havenā€™t heard from Ball State for BFA Acting, my D received an email deferring to BA on Friday March 2

Rumor has it that Emerson drops today. I donā€™t know if that is actually true with the INSANE AMOUNT of SNOW Boston has had these past two weeks and all the snow days. Anyone in-the-know have info?