Same here, @speezagmom ! We have the first audition in November too, and are praying for an acceptance - it would take SO much pressure off!
I am hoping D will be able to do 4 or 5 fall auditions. Not only would an early admit be WONDERFUL, early auditions also allow you to adjust your audition package before Unifieds. There have been stories in these threads of kids making minor changes and a year or so ago, a boy completely re-vamped his package and ended up with offers from Unifieds. Right now, she is focused on daily tasks. Trying to make progress (some days, just an inch!) every day.
My S has two fall auditions that he is shooting for. It would be amazing to get positive results, but I’m with you @artskids - and will try to get him to appreciate any negative feedback as well. They are much better off getting that feedback in November than February!
Hi to all! I’ve been a lurker for a while and have appreciated learning through this board. As things are getting “real”, I’ve decided to finally sign up for an account. I just wanted to say thank you to all the parents of past and present kids in this boat for all of your advice and information. Reading this board makes me feel a lot less stressed out! It’s nice to connect to other parents in the same situation as none of my friends nor parents of my son’s friends have ANY clue as to how involved this process is! I have a couple questions I’m hoping someone can answer:
- Does anyone know how long it takes for non-prescreening schools to contact you to set up an audition date (after applying/submitting materials)?
- Will LOR hold up anything if the school doesn't receive them before the application? I can see on the common app that my child's guidance counselor and one teacher has yet to submit a LOR. They both agreed to write a LOR when asked back in the spring but I know they are busy with a new school year. I'm sure it will get done, I'm just wondering if he needs to gently remind them (in order to get audition dates scheduled) or if they actually do have time to submit.
- If you apply to a school ED and are accepted but the financial aid package isn't favorable, can you defer acceptance until other possible acceptances are in? Or would you recommend just applying regular decision? How long do you have to accept an ED offer?
Having gone through this entire process last year, it is so fun to read all these posts this year! I don’t even discover CC until February 2017 when we were just about done with the process. Just a few thoughts…seems like alot of you are thinking NYU is top knotch…and for some kids it is exactly what they need. My S got accepted, but after touring and meeting with staff, we weren’t as impressed as we had hoped to be. Ithaca…he did not get in, but in talking to current students and alumni, the department is going g through some turmoil. So…as you go through this process, realize it’s the best fit for your student that is important, not the name on the door. Check out the up and coming programs as well as the dream schools. The connections you have in the business are just as important as the school on the diploma. Good luck. And have fun at auditions and Unifieds…so many good restaurants to be found.
@Alocka - you are very correct that fit is the most important characteristic. My kid has loved every minute of NYU, but it is different from many other programs. No program is right for every person. Research the heck out of schools, find what works for your kid, and don’t worry about other people’s opinion. There are highly ranked programs I wouldn’t have sent my kid to if they were paying ME.
Does anyone know when CAP21 will release it’s audition dates and what the application is like since we also apply to Molloy?
@PaMTmom , it’s my understanding that if you apply ED, you’re committing to accept the offer if they accept you. So if finances are an issue, I wouldn’t apply ED. If they have an option of EA (Early Action), that’s better, because it means you apply early and get an answer early, but WITHOUT the binding commitment.
@marysike CAP21 has a new recruitment coordinator this year and they also just moved into new space in Manhattan so they are probably still getting organized and working on the schedule. But as for the application process, it similar to most other programs in that you apply to Molloy to be accepted into the college and then you have to audition to get into the CAP21 program.
@Alcoka1 this is the third or fourth time I’ve heard something about Ithaca being in flux this audition season. Do you have any details? D and I did a tour right before school started and all seemed well. D has some friends there - she may need to do a little reconnaissance. There are definitely programs my kids moved off their lists after visiting - it absolutely comes down to fit!
Visits can give you a feel for a school if it includes talking to current students and sitting in on classes. The professionalism, and plain old common courtesy with which a school’s auditioners handle auditionees is also a good indicator of fit for your son or daughter.
My daughter’s experience with some “top” programs this past Winter, belied their informal ranking and popularity. Then again, some lesser programs were equally disengaged, curt, and dismissive. Would your son or daughter really be happy at a school that treated them as if “you need us and we don’t need you” right out of the gate?
@Mr.Eggroll I completely agree. My daughter had the same experience. There were in particular a few schools that started out high on her list, but due to their dismissive and downright rude demeanor at auditions quickly were crossed from her list. And in three of those cases, she actually ended up getting an admission offer, but after the way she viewed their approach and treatment of prospective students, and not just her but others as well, she realized that they were not the type of program she was seeking after all. She actually received some of the most respectful, engaged and encouraging treatment from several of those “top” schools that made the contrast even greater when compared to some other schools where the experience was not so pleasant.
So with that in mind, remember, you are auditioning the school as much as they are auditioning you. It may seem they hold all of the power and all of the cards, but the fit for you as an individual is ultimately the most important thing. You have the right to be treated respectfully, with appreciation for your interest in their program, with thoughtfulness and consideration when you have paid a high price to apply and audition. If you find these basic tenants of mutual respect are lacking, if you feel uncomfortable asking questions or expecting them to promote their program to you because of an attitude that you should just feel lucky to be in their presence - then I would think long and hard about spending the next four years in that type of environment.
Look at this audition season as an opportunity for you to be looking at each school on your list for what it offers to you - remember, it isn’t one size fit all, regardless of how much hype any program has. Ultimately, you are looking for the glass slipper that fits your foot just perfectly!
@Alcoka1 and @artskids, I’m also curious as to what you were told about Ithaca “going through some turmoil” and “being in flux”? My S is a senior MT at Ithaca, and those statements surprise me – I’m not aware of any turmoil going on there! A couple of long-time professors have retired recently but that can and does happen at any time at every school, and their replacements are highly regarded. Of course, I can only really speak to my S’ experiences, but he’s flourishing, challenged, and excited for his senior year and to launch professionally next spring with the training and work ethic he’s gained at Ithaca. I’m also in touch with parents of recent grads who are having great success: booking auditions, getting callbacks, even being cast in national tours.
Granted, no program is perfect overall, or perfect for every student, but I encourage everyone to research each program thoroughly and ask questions when you visit or communicate with the school about whatever issues are important to you. I’d be happy to respond to anyone interested in Ithaca via PM and/or put you in touch with current or former students and parents.
Hello. I just joined CC today. So helpful. I have a S applying to MT programs. We have finished his applications and Get Acceptd apps so now we just wait. Anyone know how long it takes to hear if they want him to audition?
Schools applied:
CMU
Pace
Texas State
Marymount Manhattan
Rider
Baldwin Wallace
Elon
Emerson
Otterbein
Roosevelt
Northern Colorado
I am a little nervous that we don’t have a safety (non-audition) school.
I have to echo maMTma’s comments regarding Ithaca - the “in flux” comment has me scratching my head. Baby Magic is a senior MT there, and I’m not sure what that could be referencing (and I write that as objectively as possible). If someone has a specific comment or question feel free to post here or on the Ithaca board (Monkey13 did a good job of describing the program), or send me a private message. I think Catherine W. does a good job with that program.
@MtmomSF you need a safety 
Sorry, another question re requesting audition dates - do you wait until you get a notice you passed prescreen or do you email the dept or put it on your app somewhere the dates you would like? I read on this thread that auditions fill up early, How do we know when we can request a date? BTW my son has just completed his prescreen apps - how long does it take to hear?
Shocked to hear Texas State has already sent out acceptance and PH.
@MTmomSF In our experience last year specifically with programs requiring prescreens you were unable to secure an audition slot until you received notification you had passed the prescreen. Usually you will get an email of congratulations for passing the prescreen that includes instructions and links for scheduling the audition. We also found the timeframe for receiving a response in prescreens varied widely by program. The quickest was about a week, longest about 8 weeks.
For non-prescreen programs most just required a completed application and or Acceptd form to schedule an audition.
@MTmomSF my d didn’t have a non-audition safety school and it worked out ok. She was academically strong too. Your list looks balanced. Make sure you have a financial safety and make sure he’d be happy to go to any of these schools.
@Ducky312 and @MTmomSF - no safety can end up working out… but not having one really ramps up the stress level. Not that there is a way to AVOID stress in this process… my kid had 3 safeties (b/c I wanted her to have choices no matter what happened in auditions) and was still a wreck while waiting for results. But I had a friend who’s kid applied to ONE school that was taking 10 people total. (Music, not theater, but still. Kid really wanted to jump right into the biz, and parents really wanted college- this was the ONLY program he would consider) It was madness- but it worked out- kid is in his junior year there. Still… the poor Mom had the WORST senior year stressing about whether or not her kid was going to college. Extreme example obviously, but still