Maybe @mom4bwayboy will see this and help. Her S is a student there.
Got it. Question answered on the WSU school thread.
We all think our children are amazing and I of course do too! But after being at CMU this summer my daughter is now super aware of the depth of talent out there. Her words" mom all the things I’ve done that seem so special, every one there has done that , and even more". I tried to explain to her that talent is a lifelong growing process and all you can do is be your best you can at that moment. I truly believe they want to see true talent that is there, but can be developed to higher levels, and a student that is willing to work hard and grow. If you have nothing to learn why would anyone pay for the bfa? My problem is my d is so busy, getting her to understand these timelines is hard. Her classes at school are intense, she is in hours of rehearsal till late at night. These are teenagers ! They want to see a movie and have a sleepover every once in a while! Last night she practiced everything for prescreens and wrote two essays, today we do apps all day, and clean up the essays. At some point she needs to do act prep… and lots of homework. As one person said earlier, it’s a flurry then it’s over. I think the auditions are way more fun and easier for these creative kids to do for then these applications!
Let go of your concerns about talent, accomplishments, etc. Your S or D needs to worry about bringing the best him or her to the audition and that’s it. Be authentic, open, prepared. The chips will fall. There are far too many variables to know what a program is looking for in a given year. Most programs are building a CLASS, an ensemble, a team. In D’s class, every kid is different. Some are better at dancing, some at acting, some at singing. Some are good at all three. Some have written complete musicals. Some have won national voice competitions. Some haven’t done any of these things, not ANY. Some did every musical in high school. Some did one or two. A couple of common threads among the students would be kindness and commitment. I’m not sure how the auditors sniffed out these attributes but they seem to be universally present among the kids in her class. Good luck everyone!!
Thanks Haooy Dancer! I loved reading your story and I agree with everything you said!
I agree! HappyDancer98 nailed it!
HappyDancer98- from your mouth to the auditors ears. I just want her to have be in a mental place where she can do her best & enjoy (?!) the process.
I just wrote this article about what I’ve learned about college auditions since going to actual college! Check it out 
And feel free to contact me if you have any questions about UArts! https://www.theodysseyonline.com/7-bfa-program-taught-musical-theatre-college-auditions
@MTMHopeful That’s another important facet of this process – your child knowing/learning his or her limits and listening to his or her inner voice. What does it take for him or her to be in good mental and physical shape? Every person is different. But this career path demands so much that I think it’s something they have to figure out to be successful. Our D has remarked that she has to “bring it” every day – bring all she has to every class and every opportunity that’s she’s given within her program. She can’t “phone it in.” There’s no daydreaming or zoning out or missing a class because she is tired. It’s very different from her friends who are pursuing other college majors. They have downtime, more flexibility. They can get notes from classes that are missed, their minds can wander during a lecture, and no one would know. That wouldn’t work in a performing arts class, particularly not in MT or Acting. You have to be ON all day. It’s exhausting. She absolute LOVES it but it’s exhausting. So I think these kids need to find a way to have peace with the process, with all that is involved. It’s a lot. It’s a ton of work. So many essays. So many prescreens. Choosing material that shows the auditors who you are. Choosing audition clothing that reflects your style, makes you pop, but isn’t distracting. Scheduling. Juggling your high school coursework. Keeping healthy. Casting the right sized net. Deciding where to apply. Coach or no coach? ALL OF IT. But I think it’s just the beginning. That’s my sense based on what I’ve observed so far.
MTVT2015 I remember you from the 2019 threads! Great article- thanks.
Thanks @MTMHopeful ! Good luck this year!
D received her first academic acceptance yesterday! It wasn’t unexpected (grades and test scores are solid), but still, it was nice to receive some good news and validation, given the hours and hours of work put in on applications, essays, prescreens, etc.
Us too @owensfolks ! Nice to get the first acceptance letter even if the audition still needs to be done! Makes the whole process of me sending my only kid to college more real …sigh…
I remember that feeling – congrats and enjoy it!!
@owensfolks @theaterwork Me too! I received three academic acceptances from Kent State, Viterbo, and Point Park! It feels good to just focus on auditions now!
Great @WhiteRaven1 , just put those puzzle pieces together! That’s the way we’re looking at it. I told my D " well at least you have schools you can attend regardless" …unfortunately D did not care for that comment lol. “Mom I only want to go to those schools if it’s MT!”
Yeah yeah…
My D just had her first crying jag regarding admission. Nothing bad happened- I think it was standing on this side of things she suddenly felt overwhelmed. Between school, sports, shows,applications & audition prep etc etc- it’s getting the best of her. I absolutely agree with celebrating every victory (large & small) because it’s a long wait 'till March.
@MTMHopeful we had a mini-crisis early last week (and by “we”, I mean my D): She has solidly recovered, and is more determined than ever…but I know that there will probably be more of these 
As for me-I don’t know which end is up! D is doing everything (except $$, lol), so I don’t even know which schools have prescreens, which schools have separate academic & artistic acceptances, which schools have rolling admissions, etc!!! Just trying to take it day by day…Break a Leg!!!
Thanks @owensfolks! You break legs too! And if the only thing you’re doing is the dollars- that’s plenty! It’s really flying out of the account & we haven’t even left our living room! My D doesn’t really want any help either- except when things go wrong or there’s a problem. I think she has my credit card memorized at this point.
& PS… in our small town the very idea of applying to so many programs is viewed as an indictment of her skill level. I’m really over explaining that these schools are a hard admit- for anyone. (Edited to correct my poor typing)