<p>Love the fact that Ms. Rogers set the record straight about Pace’s program herself. Nice!</p>
<p>Hi OddDad,</p>
<p>I’m unable to reply to messages until I have made 15 posts on CC, so I’ll answer your question publicly.</p>
<p>Yes - it’s true that we had spots for walk-ins at our private Chicago BFA/BA Acting auditions and our faculty felt that it was necessary to be able see this population as other schools had been. Although they did get seen by our faculty on these days, we still required all to apply to the university, go through Acceptd, pay the fee, and upload the audition content. No one is considered for any of our programs without completing the required steps.</p>
<p>Please know that it is never easy for our faculty to say no after the first audition and that each program head personally reviews every single candidate on Acceptd.</p>
<p>I hope this helps in addressing your concerns.</p>
<p>Pace, are you still considered for the Acting or Film BFA if you don’t get a phone interview?</p>
<p>Hi PacePerfArts—thank you very much for responding to my concerns. I know how incredibly busy you must be. Obviously you know from my private message to you that I am disturbed by certain changes in stated audition policy. If a school goes to the trouble of establishing a prescreening policy, and an on or off campus callback is predicated on a successful video presentation, circumventing that stated policy seems unfair to the student who played by the rules. Just my opinion. Saying that a walk-in is still required to complete the Acceptd process after the fact doesn’t make me feel much better. If an auditor has listened to monologues, allowed a cold read, and passed that walk-in onward to a movement exercise, I have to assume that’s a very good sign for that student, and he or she will not likely be rejected on the basis of a mediocre video. I guess I could be wrong, but it just doesn’t pass the common sense test.</p>
<p>Please understand that I am not opposed to walk-in auditions per se. My own daughter was the beneficiary of a walk-in audition at Unifieds. My issue is with adjusting and changing the rules as it suits the auditor at any given location. This makes for an even more inconsistent audition process, which is already a somewhat arbitrary and inconsistent one. I don’t think it well serves Pace’s reputation to allow this to happen. </p>
<p>One last question. Can I assume that if a student is NOT called back for the movement exercise at Unifieds, that she is no longer a candidate for the BFA Acting program at Pace? I have had a difficult time getting a straight answer to that question, even on the phone. Thank you for your time and your comments!</p>
<p>OddDad…My S did the pre-screen and auditioned on campus but I see nothing unfair about Pace’s policy. Schools that institute pre-screens do auditionees a service by saving them the time and expense of visiting schools where they will have little or no chance of acceptance. Offering walk-ins to un-screened applicants at unifieds if they have time is a win-win for the school and the auditionee and I don’t really see how it would be unfair to pre-screened applicants.</p>
<p>Doesn’t Texas State do the same?</p>
<p>Actually, PelkyAgain, I almost completely agree with you. Almost. If Pace’s prescreen were purely optional, as is the case with other schools, I would have no problem with their procedural adjustments. Your explanation would make complete sense, and, indeed, it would be a win-win. At what point would you become uncomfortable with a school’s changing its stated audition policy in its pursuit of the best candidates? I dare say that Pace auditions a tremendous number of talented kids, and would have more than enough to choose from, even if they stayed true to their policy. Either make the policy firm or make it optional. Is that not a fair request?</p>
<p>I’m wondering if the auditions held in theatre Thesbian competitions and private coach auditions such as those held in Texas then count as the prescreen for Pace or if the auditors select applicants to return to Pace or to Unifieds for a full audition/callback. I think this will be helpful for next years pool of applicants for planning their audition schedule.</p>
<p>I can see why this would irk you and I was irked by Pace a couple of years ago when they put MT students through a ridiculously difficult dance audition because they decided to use that as screen for a new commercial dance program. I was also irked when they directed a group of parents to walk to the drug store to purchase money orders to pay audition fees. It was freezing. I had a check or credit card, for Pete’s sake. I also have no clue why they go to all of the trouble to figure out these big scholarship packages for auditionees. Nearly everyone had one. Yippee! During the presentation I recall more talk about students who did not attend school because they were busy being in this or that than anything about the training they offer at the school. I also remember it being impossible to call and reach anyone who knows anything. Not to mention the weeks of phone calls (after rejection) from students asking if she was coming. UGH! At that point it was laughable. </p>
<p>But fairness really does have to be the last of you concerns. It’s so subjective it simply isn’t fair. They could try harder to make it look fair, but really…who cares?</p>
<p>mom2gals- for the sake of those upcoming and not wishing to start a debate of ANY kind… Any time your child is seen by someone who auditions for college, it is an opportunity to be remembered (or written off). (you know who’s) auditions in Texas had some final auditions and some “live” pre-screens. Since many schools have added a mandatory pre-screen, many of the schools were using this audition to invite to the call back. Were there offers made? yes. Use every opportunity to get your child in front of these people but if they are not prepared or not what a school is looking for, the results will be the same however you do it.</p>
<p>Flossy—thank you for your comments, and for bringing this conversation back to the real world. I really don’t care if a school establishes a prescreen, postscreen, or even a midstream screen requirement. The key word is “requirement.” We all know there is plenty of maneuvering and prevaricating within the college audition business. It’s aggravating, but most of us accept it, sort of. Fairness may well be a relative term; rules may be made to be broken. However, that doesn’t mean that individuals (parents, coaches, and students) shouldn’t speak up. Change, as you imply, is unlikely, but there are many people trying to navigate their way through this process who will likely appreciate the attempt.</p>
<p>Odddad - I appreciate your candor and calm statements. It is good to give feedback to these schools as we all know how grueling this process is. I agree with the concept of keeping the process “fair” by having everyone play by the same rules. Frankly, my issue with Pace is that they had 2,200 applicants and have only 14 girls and 14 boys join their MT program - and I was told that next year’s numbers would be even greater. Given that, why in the world would you audition even more (who did not get their packets in on time) via a walk-in basis? But hey - go for it Pace. Since the school seems to be reading these - here is my suggestion. Again, with the overwhelming numbers of applicants - please don’t spend the program information meeting telling everyone why this school should be their FIRST choice. I saw many students leave the auditions in tears as they did not get callbacks. It is fine to make the choices the school makes on their talent pool, but there is no need to “sell” the school when the numbers are what they are. Just explain the program and let the chips fall where they may. Be kinder to those who had you as their number one choice - but did not get a chance to continue through the process.</p>
<p>Personally I am numb to what might be called fair in this process or in this entire industry. I’m not even irked. I’m just curious, got into this process real late in the season and wasn’t able to take advantage of any earlier venues for auditioning but, future applicants can do that if they choose. Theatre college admissions is not regulated by a governing body that has to subscribe to whether the strict requirements were followed. If an auditor is impressed with a candidate and offers them a spot in their program does it really matter if their video is still reviewed or not? I am hearing that in the instance of Pace that they ARE still requiring videos to be submitted and that they are reviewed. In general, an auditor could be blown away from seeing a high school performance and choose to admit someone on the spot and what are we going to do about it if it didn’t strictly follow the stated “requirements”? Are we going to protest someone’s admission? It really is up to the Department Chairs to build their class. All we can do is support our own kids to put their best foot forward and follow the rules that are stated which apply to our kids and hope for the best. I don’t begrudge anyone’s opportunities.</p>
<p>Mom2gals—if you choose to be numb to the fairness, or lack of, in this process, you have that right. You’re likely to lower your anxiety level. Without getting too caught up in the semantics of the moment, I do choose to take the phrase “prescreening requirement” literally. Any given school can play fast and loose with the auditioning process to whatever extent satisfies them, but I think it is perfectly appropriate to call them on it. If they choose to defend themselves, it’s up to each one of us to decide whether we approve of that defense. Then, let the chips fall where they may.</p>
<p>mom2gals. you are a smart theatre mom. This profession will never be about the rules. There are back room deals and pre-cast shows. The kids get over it. We belong to a theatre program that “requires” an audition to be in the show- even the ensemble (everyone gets in). Often kids look around the room and think “I got this”. When the cast list comes out, several of the leads weren’t even at the audition. Accept it or move on. The kids always stay and have a great time. They also grow up a little faster. You will never know who followed the “rules” and who didn’t when the college acceptances are given. The rules are there to help streamline the process and I think it works. But there will always be kids that are recruited outside of the rules. (insert your own sports analogy here)</p>
<p>theatremomma----thanks for your realistic comments. The world outside of theater is also filled with back room deals. What else is new? And, yes, the kids must realize that and learn to accept it, typically the hard way. My D certainly has. But, not to put too fine a point on it, there is a vast difference between accepting it (which I do) and approving of it. At the very least, we should recognize and acknowledge when it happens.</p>
<p>Whether we approve or not is moot. The selection process and outcome, whether for college BFA programs or professional gigs, is out of our control. I’m a strong believer our kids will end up where they are supposed to be.</p>
<p>NightOwl2—Perhaps moot for the reason you stated, but not irrelevant as individuals evaluate the various programs. Thank you for bringing this thread full circle!</p>
<p>Oh, my!! The negativity baffles me.</p>
<p>Though my S went through the audition process last year, I vividly remember that each school had their own requirements and that there were always exceptions. Many, many schools required prescreening, and many had call backs after auditions leaving very talented kids disappointed! It’s heartbreaking but unfortunately reality!</p>
<p>Why such negativity that Pace has adopted a very common process?</p>
<p>My S is currently a 1st year MT at Pace and is very happy! It’s a great program with great faculty!</p>
<p>You’re right, most of this had nothing to do with that great school. The topic migrated to something totally different and just happened to be on the Pace page.</p>