<p>For the top programs, I have no doubt that this happens, but it is probably relatively rare. There are hundreds of students auditioning for these slots with years of training. I would compare this to the difficulty of getting into a top college musical instrument program without significant training or a D-I collegiate sports team without having years of experience playing at a fairly high level. I would guess that a student would have to have a remarkable level of natural talent to beat the odds. Being a sought-after type no doubt would help. For programs farther down the pecking order, the odds would likely increase.</p>
<p>I am sure that there are anecdotal Cinderella stories out there, but it can be quite sobering to read the rejections threads here on CC.</p>
<p>I suggest reading the Final Decisions:Background thread from this year and before to get a feel for the training/experience kids have had, the acceptances and rejections and the process that led to the final decision. There are so many variables at play that predicting the outcome of auditions is often a wasted effort. Talent is essential as is audition preparation and a thoughtful list of schools, after that, it is truly a crapshoot.</p>
<p>I would do some research. A great non-auditioned for BA program may be a great option without the crazy pressure and competitiveness of auditioning for the top BFA programs. Based upon years of reading stories on CC, I believe there is a right place for everyone. You and your son just really need to do your homework and have a realistic range of options! Break a leg and keep us all posted!</p>
<p>@ParentTrip â I teach in an auditioned (approximately 12% - 15% admit rate) BA program. We have students in the program with years of training and experience, others who ⊠like your son⊠discovered a passion for theatre and musical theatre sophomore or junior year of HS, but showed tons of potential in the audition/ interview. </p>
<p>As others above suggest⊠there are so many programs, and most are excellent paths to education and training. Do not let posts you may see on CC discourage you and your son. Yes, there are some people with many years of training, experience, and professional credits going through the process of auditioning for programs, but there are also those with little to none. If the list of schools is balanced, all will find a place to grow and learn. </p>
<p>Work with your son to develop a well balanced list of schools with varying degrees of selectivity. There is no reason why he should not include a few âtopâ schools he really likes on the list. Make sure that a couple schools are non-auditioned academic and financial safeties that offer training and opportunities, that he would be happy to attend. All auditioned programs are a âcrap shootâ ⊠however, some may have a higher admit rate than others, pull from a more regional pool, etc⊠making them better âbets.â This is the same advice given to prospective students with years of training and professional credits. You really never know how it all will pan out in the end. </p>
<p>If affordable, the suggestion to work with a coach or college admissions counselor who knows theatre and musical theatre admissions is a good one. There is also a ton of great information here on CC.</p>
<p>Since this is the class of 2019 venting thread I have to share. I alternate between feeling very calm and confident, weâve got this, itâs all going to work out, weâre on top of things. And feeling almost sheer panic. How on earth are we ever going to get the applications, essays and prescreens done on time? How are we going to get all the auditions scheduled so that D doesnât miss too much school and I donât miss too much work? Not to mention the financial aspect of applying and auditioning to these programs. And my confident teenager is firmly limiting her number of schools sheâs applying to to 15. She didnât just finish reading the final decision background thread from last yearâs class!!! I keep encouraging her to add just a few more schools, and she keeps telling me she has the schools she would love to attend on her list, not interested in any more. I know its her journey, but Iâm worried. So, had to share. My friends who have rising seniors donât understand the additional stress of the MT audition process. Iâm hoping to make it through this coming year with my sanity intact.</p>
<p>@mtflmomof1â It wonât feel like it but you will come through with your sanityâŠeventuallyâŠlol. With a balanced list 15 is plenty. Many times if you are going to Unifieds kids will sometimes do walkins which will add to that number. My D did walkins to those schools that just didnât make her list. That way she knew about the schools and had an interest. The reasons they didnât make the original were varied but mostly it was distance and trying to make her list more manageable. More than 15 really does become too time consuming and many missed days of school and work. Best of luck and enjoy the journey!</p>
<p>Just make sure 1 of those 15 schools is a safety she would be happy to attend and you will be fine. I think that is the hardest part of this whole process.</p>
<p>mtflmomof1 - Iâm sure Iâm not the only 2018 parent who felt as you do at this time last year. The anticipation was awful, and I felt much better once the process really began, ie. sending in the applications, scheduling auditions, etc. I canât wait to watch the class of 2019 boldly go into the fray, and make it out the other end as CC MT/Theater Application/Audition Survivors!! :)</p>
<p>Thank you all for the encouraging words. 2 of my D schools are non audition but neither are true academic safeties. She did say she would consider going to our state school as an undeclared major if she didnât get into any MT program, but our state school is also one of her top MT choices, so I donât know if she will still feel like that next spring. Sigh. I know none of us want any of our kids to feel too much pain of rejection during this process, and I also know its inevitable. This feels hard, and it hasnât even really started yet. Oh well, forging ahead, and as I learned from reading previous threads, they end up where theyâre meant to be. Takes a whole lot of work to get there tho.</p>
<p>@mtflmomof1 - I fear the possible disappointments along the way as well. It is really tough to get our d to get interested in her safety schools. No matter how many carefully-crafted rationalizations her teachers, counselor and parents come up with, I know that she will feel that she has failed if she does not get into one of the auditioned programs on her list. Her high school has been awesome, but I never realized the downside - a largely unavoidable build up of expectation that comes with being able to be part of a BFA-like program in high school and training intensively with a cadre of audition-program-focused peers.</p>
<p>I hear you about scheduling, I get stressed as we try to lay out an audition schedule and work around all the variables, including colleges that havenât posted dates yet, yet-to-be-determined rehearsal and performance schedules, a list of schools that may change pretty radically based on prescreen results, etc. I wish August had an extra week or two in it so that we had extra time between the start of applications being available and school starting.</p>
<p>But as I watch her work with obvious passion and determination each night as she prepares for the next dayâs fall musical rehearsal, I know it will all work out in the end.</p>
<p>We are narrowing down the ever-changing college list as we have a time scheduled to record pre-screens next week. I am having trouble finding the pre-screen requirements for FSU. I know that one is required, but donât know the specifics. Does anyone else know?? Do I need to sign into Getacceptd first? Any help would be greatly appreciated! :)</p>
<p>MTmom2015, couldnât agree more. D hates the essays even more than I do, told her I wish I could write a few for her, but that one is all on her. My job is just making sure she does it. No fun.</p>
<p>We are managing it with a certain amount of time per day devoted to âcollege tasks.â There are so many things to get done simultaneously (we have ACT prep for September in process as a bonus) that there is a variety of things to get done and it gives her some feeling of control over what she is doing. Seems to be working ok so far.</p>
<p>The essays suck, @MTmom2015â ⊠But D was able to get by with 3 core essays that she customized for each situation. I did a whole spreadsheet (surprise!) just for essays to help her manage⊠</p>
<p>Keep up with this essay/app/recording schedule you will thank yourselves later! There is a new post about the entire you, its a great read and VERY honest. All the 2019 members should take the time to read it! From MyPennyx2</p>
<p>One thing I was thinking of that you may want to be aware of is the type of auditions the schools hold. I assumed all of the auditions would be just the applicant and the auditors. Otterbein split the the applicants into groups, S auditioned on the stage and his group was in the audience watching. Her preferred this style. Just wanted you all to be aware that school do this so you arenât surprised. Iâm not sure if any other schools do this or not.</p>
<p>And the Otterbein audition at Unifieds was the more common applicant and auditors only, unlike what their mode on campus. Read the audition reports, but keep in mind the schools could change their methods. Two years ago Pace did âcall backsâ for MT following the initial on-campus audition, but did not do call backs this past year, though they did for Acting.</p>
<p>Our journey ended far earlier than I expected. My son attended the summer program at University of the Arts and fell in love with it. He auditioned, and they accepted him for this fall. There goes the gap year . . . We have less than a week to get him ready. Now that the finances are resolved, the biggest hurdle is the physical that is required.</p>
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