We looked up faculty on websites for the ones we didn’t know. Fortunately, almost all of ours had photos of faculty so we were able to figure them out.
My son sent handwritten thank you notes to all. As soon as he left the audition rooms, we scoured the school’s website for pictures of faculty and that covered most of the schools where the auditors didn’t introduce themselves. For a couple, he didn’t have all of the names and he addressed them to the one auditor he had the name of.
I think thanks you’s are always nice – but I worried it might look like "sucking up"in this situation. In the end I don’t think it will make or break whether or not a student is admitted. It is the nice, polite thing to do - I agree. Not sure I can convince my D to do any, though.
My D sent handwritten thank yous to all of the schools she auditioned for. They were printed on Shutterfly using her headshot (yes, we had permission from the photographer as we purchased the jpg.). To our surprise, she received positive remarks on them from several schools. I don’t think they tipped over any scale but I’m sure they didn’t hurt either. The day a Thank You Card becomes “too much sucking up” and is no longer considered just plain good manners is the day I say this world is changing too much, and not to my liking! That being said, I do not see them as a necessary thing. Schools will recruit the most talented kids that are a fit for them, Thank you cards or not, imho.
I am a major proponent of thank you notes in general and not emails. I still remind my D to send written thank yous for gifts etc. In this case though , even though it is always gracious to thank someone for something and it is never WRONG to do so, I think along the lines of “why are you thanking the auditor?” They are being paid to see you and it’s sorta their job…you paid to be seen in most cases with your application fee etc. it’s almost like a business transaction lol. I seem to remember reading that YOU are interviewing their program too and it’s not all about them. It’s a two way transaction. I think saying “thank you for your time today”
as you exit the audition is perfectly enough and is leaving with good manners. I do think notes are sucking up just a hair…but if that note hits just the right person at just the right time …say when they are about fed up with the audition process , it could make that faculty member happy which is positive. I’m sure a lot of them are pretty worn out by this as much as the kids are at the end of the day.
Now I will say if an auditor went above and beyond with you and took time to make a connection at the audition I would definitely say that warrants a note as they most certainly don’t have to do that and they found the time to do it which is going above what is expected. That is what a thank you note is for in my opinion, going above and beyond and you send them for
someone doing something for you out of kindness etc. I know I discussed with my D the need to send thank you notes to those adults giving her letters of recommendation etc. and for those taking the time to do things for her in that regard. Adult mentors that are helping her with material w/ no compensation etc.
My husband tries to say it’s like sending a thank you when you have a job interview and that she should send them after auditions but I don’t think that’s the same thing. In a job interview you’re trying to work for that company and get them to pay YOU. In a college interview really you are interviewing them too! You’ll be paying them to teach you and a pretty penny too…
I agree with Addicted2MT. I think it could work to your favor when it comes to schools that see 500+ people, it could remind them who you are and of your audition so you aren’t left lost in the clutter of the several hundred auditioners.
D wrote thank you emails to four of the five schools she was very interested in attending. Emails got replies from all but one person. I think the email made it easier for them to respond quickly, unlike a paper note for which that can’t be done.
One person emailed a very kind note back letting her know she was not to be in that program. It didn’t say no outright but it was thoughtfully worded which one would have to be quite dense not to get the idea. She was disappointed but glad to know where she stood. And it was very nice. Since it was “unofficial” I can’t say where because that might cause a problem.
I was just wondering about the whole rider letter thing. I haven’t received a letter saying that I’m being considered for the BFA program, and my portal still says “under review”. Should I just write this off as a no?
Last audition for D this weekend at BW! Wish we were done already, but so glad to be finished soon. Then more waiting and just praying for just one acceptance!
yes @stagedoormama! - waiting and more waiting! It is maddening. At least we can all wait together.
Believe it or not this is my first post here. I have been reading these post for many months as my D is a Senior trying her darnedest to get into a BFA-MT like many of you. We just arrived home from Chicago Unifieds and had a great experience. I will say we learned a lot. She auditioned 11 times while we there, and we had already gone to Belmont about a month ago. We are going to on-campus auditions for Montclaire, Manhattan SoM, and Western Carolina in the next few weeks. The process is just that, a process! The waiting is hard. There were def some schools that we were unaware of that peaked some interest for us that are not the typical MT programs, but we had the mentality that she should get in front of as many panels as possible. You have to be seen to be seen! The 3 schools that I would like to get some feedback on are 1. Drake U BFA-MT, 2. SCAD-BFA-Performing Arts, 3. Dean College-BA Theatre MT Concentration. My D was accepted and given an on the spot scholarship by Dean. Any feed back on these schools would be helpful. Also interested in feedback on schools that house programs so new they do not have a graduating class yet ie…University of Alabama Birmingham and Temple. Also, as I am sure many of us passed each other, spoke to each other, ect…I am curious of others experience in various auditions. My D had issues with the accompanist at the Ball State and in Nashville at Belmont both played her song too fast even with proper instruction she just rolled with it. My D found that some schools she thought were in her top choices her opinion changed after the process. Below is a list of schools she has or will be auditioning for we were hoping for a good mix of schools with some safeties…maybe we met you there 
Belmont U
Roosevelt U
Hartt
Point Park
Ball State
Cap 21
SCAD BFA Performing Arts
Drake U
Dean College BA Theatre
Montclaire U
Western Carolina
Temple U
Manhattan SoM
Southern Methodist (Acting w/minor in MT)
University of Alabama Birmingham
We know people who have gone and do go to SMU and all seem to really love it. They seem to have many possibilities to explore different areas of interest. We also know people who like Drake a lot…although I do not know specifics. Hope that helps a little. You seem to have well rounded list. Did you look at Webster or Univ of the Arts? My D has been impressed with both. Good luck to you.
Does UArts have monologue time limits?
For acting the guidelines are that the combined total time for both monologues shouldn’t exceed 3 minutes. And they requested two contemporary pieces
My D has a good friend who goes to SMU and loves it. Friend was one of those who was offered a spot and a full-ride at SMU during the audition. My D had a good experience with a walk-in for SMU but decided it wasn’t for her. It is quite spendy.
Good to know about full ride at SMU. While I am sure that is rare, I know they have been very generous with scholarships for the kids we know who have gone Thx for the info My d got in after thescon and we r waiting on financials.
UAB is a very strong program. The school is in downtown Birmingham and has an incredible new performing arts’ theater (Alys Stephens). Don’t know much about MT at Western Carolina but you probably can’t find a more beautiful setting for college. Best wishes!
Hi everyone! I auditioned for Ithaca MT a couple weeks ago and I was just wondering when the notification date for that program is?
The head of MT at UAB is enthusiastic, personable, and well-connected to the industry. I’m sure students in the program get a lot of personal attention from her; I can’t speak of the rest of the faculty. They seem to admit only the number of students they want for their program (12 last year), then operate off of a deferred status or wait list.
@craz4mtsmom what were your thoughts on Belmont? My D has taken interest in that school recently. She is a junior so making list right now. Also I was wondering about the accompanist issues at these auditions…
Please post your experiences with Manhattan school of music and western Carolina when you go too!