So sorta last minute here but I wonder if it’s too late for us to consider going to Chicago Unifieds? We just started thinking maybe we should go for a few schools but I’m thinking we’re too late to the game now… thinking there’s probably no rooms left at the Palmer house even if a few schools that D is interested in still have open slots … any thoughts? NYC is out since we can’t go that weekend.,
Remember that staying at the Palmer is not a requirement for unifieds… so if you can find a reasonable hotel and airfare, and schools you want to see have slots…
Palmer might or might not be an option, but probably not too late for the auditions. It will depend upon the school. Some want you to apply first then reserve a time through them ahead of time. But other schools let you sign up for walkins once there. We scheduled 2 in advance and my D signed up for 2 while there. But you probably will want to schedule what you can in January. I think at one, maybe both, of her scheduled times were finalized in January.
It is pretty easy to commute to the Palmer House from anywhere downtown. The L runs right by the hotel.
Good point @EmsDad. We were there for a family vacation about year and a half ago. In addition to the L there were trollies. They were more tourist-focused, but if you bought a package you could take them around town. I assume they would run during the winter too, but it is something worth checking. The one we used was actually based in the Palmer so there was always a stop there.
Ok someone refresh me … Point me to the list of schools that are at the Palmer house… I feel like the list on the Unifieds site isn’t all of them?
Also no accompanists there either?
We actually wouldn’t fly we’d drive.
And it’s several days but we couldn’t stay all those days so I guess we’d have to try to knock out the auditions the first couple days…if possible
My D has a senior recital that weekend following yikes
As with everything, the list changes from year to year so you will need to check with each school in which you are interested to make sure they will be there this year. I did find a couple of old lists @EmsDad posted from previous years. Hope it helps!
Schools at Palmer House.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18929126/#Comment_18929126
Walk Ins
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19094128/#Comment_19094128
@theatrework:
- Note that there are more schools than those that hold auditions at the Palmer House: Roosevelt and other Chicago schools, as well as Syracuse and some out-of-town schools hold auditions on-campus or at studios in the theatre district. There are also auditions at the Hyatt which is a couple of blocks from the Palmer House.
- Some schools at Unifieds have accompanists, many do not.
- In previous years, a couple of Chicago area schools held auditions on Saturday, a few held auditions at the Palmer on Sunday, and then the bulk were held on Monday and Tuesday, with things tapering off on Wednesday (some schools left on Tuesday night and many left by noon on Wednesday). With the "official" schedule expanded to Thursday this year, more schools will probably stay at least through Wednesday.
- There will be lots of walk-in opportunities, but they can fill up quickly, so, if you are interested, prowl the lobbies and hallways early each morning, mid-morning, and mid-afternoon to see what schools have sign-up lists out. Check the bulletin boards and tables in each lobby for announcements and flyers. The schools are kind of hap-hazard about when they put notices out, so it is best to check back a couple times during the day, especially on Monday - some schools don't arrive until Monday morning. Some schools will post notices beginning on Sunday. Some schools only put notices on the floor where their audition room is, so it pays to check each floor. The Palmer House will have a list of schools and their audition rooms, they usually put these out in the main lobby on a table by the elevators on Sunday night and Monday morning. If you don't see any copies of the list out on Sunday or Monday, ask at the main hotel desk for a copy of the list. Note that the list from the hotel may not show all the schools that show up, I think the list gets printed before all the schools finalize their appearance.
You can download maps of the audition room floors (3-7) from the Palmer House website here:
http://www.palmerhousehiltonhotel.com/meetings-events/tools/floorplans/
The meeting room floors at the Palmer House are a rabbit warren and you will need a map to navigate to “Burnham 3’” and “LaSalle 4.”
@EmsDad you are always so helpful! Thanks so much. Not sure if we’re going but we will decide this week .
If you can afford it, both in $$ and timewise - go.
I’m positive you can squeak in some auditions of schools that are on your radar right now - and I bet you can also do some walk ins on schools that end up as possible contenders … ones you never crossed your mind or made your list.
But honestly, in my humble opinion, the best reason to go is to have one last adventure with your daughter. I can’t say enough how I absolutely treasured the time with mine and would do it over again in a hot minute.
Go. 
Edgewood College (Madison, WI) will be there as well. They are offering walk-ins. They are a small liberal arts school who only offers a BA.
Does anyone know where Manhattenville school of music is and if they are taking walk ins?
Oops sorry I meant Manhattan School of music
@EmsDad I took a screenshot of your post and sent it to my D in Chicago. You are always so incredibly helpful-and this control freak mom who can’t be with her kid this week is very grateful!
@Jkellynh17 in regards to previous post going back and reading all your posts about CCPA! Loved the facilities and the kids
Oh fantastic, my S landed in a very good spot there, I think, and it’s getting better all the time. A girl who was a year ahead of him in MT just got called into the NY production of Ride the Cyclone a couple of weeks before Christmas about a day before it opened, performed opening night for the critics, and got crazy good reviews. (She’d been in the show in Chicago, but they cast someone better known for NYC…who ended up not working out.) And you can hardly go to a show anywhere in Chicago without seeing a couple of CCPA grads or current students. Good luck to your kid!
owensfolk, I was a newby to the MT audition process, but learned so much on this forum. I was super organized, scheduled all the auditions for both NYC Unifieds and Chicago Unifieds, etc., and was crushed that I was not able to accompany son to Chicago. His dad went with him instead. I got them tickets to see Phantom of the Opera and they had a ball eating their way down the Miracle mile. Son ended up with acceptances to his two top schools from that trip. In our case, I think he was probably more relaxed having his dad with him. Dad winged it, and saw the trip as a great bonding experience. I on the other hand tend to get a little high strung when anxious, lol.
@musicmama123 I got this from the Accptd blog for Manhattan School of Music during Unifieds:
American Rhythm Center
410 S. Michigan Ave., 3rd Floor, Studio A
Chicago, IL 60605
9AM – 5 PM
Totally, @entertainersmom. Thank you. She is in good hands; and she does indeed sometimes get nervous or distracted from my energy. She and I have been to 5 on campus auditions-so I feel like we have definitely made memories! It will be interesting to see if she does better without me this week (I suspect that may be the case)!
I’ve seen posts on FB this afternoon by 3 different friends from MT schools at Unifieds - all posting how happy they are to be there and how great the positive energy is. And funny - one called it “AuditionCon” 
BREAK LEGS TO EVERYONE!!!