@artskids, Last year my son passed the prescreen and waited for the Chicago audition. It turns out that all the kids that made it into Penn MT had auditioned early on campus. They had no slots left for the Chicago audition. Only if some of the kids had declined the early acceptance would they have moved on to others. Oh well, he love Shenandoah’s MT (2021) and it is a wonderful school. Whatever is meant to be will be!
^^^I would not worry too much about that, as perhaps that was just that one year. The year my kid got into Penn State’s MT Program, she auditioned on the very last audition date on campus.
Also, there is something odd about what was written above. Students have until May 1 to decline or accept offers, and so I can’t imagine the slots in the class were full prior to Chicago Unifieds because nobody would have committed yet to attend. Most colleges put out more offers than slots in the class, to yield the number they ultimately hope to have in the class. Also, I believe all the admissions decisions for Penn State came out at one time, shortly after their final audition date.
@artskids My D did the earliest December on campus audition last year and we did the campus day too. Honestly, we agree it had nothing to do with audition results so I wouldn’t worry it will hurt her outcome by not going, but it was a pretty awesome glimpse into the program. We sat in on 2 classes I think but the one that we really loved consisted of the seniors singing through the original musical that was being written for them. We also were able to talk to them after and ask questions - 2 of them walked my D and her friend around campus a little after and then that night they gave us comp tickets to the show. It was not the MT musical but it was still a glimpse into how things go. It was a big group of us though and no real personal interaction with professors. If you prefer to not have your D miss school, I’d just do the audition and then come back for a day if she’s accepted when she could sit in on what she wanted and get lots of personal attention. In terms of when we were notified, penn st was rolling last year or at least we were notified fast. Our audition day was actually quite awkward and I believe they changed the format for the later on campus audition dates but we all had instant feedback actually. The kids did the dance call and ran their packages and then a callback list was posted. They kept 6 guys and 6 girls. The rest were done. That’s where it got awkward since they had told us the list would be posted at a certain time and then things must have moved faster than they thought so they actually posted it about an hour earlier. The problem was that a lot of parents had left and gone to lunch and the kids who were cut came flying out all upset and wanted to leave and had to wait for their return. It was super cold out so everyone was sort of stuck waiting in the lobby and there were tears and unhappy campers. Yikes! We had ridden the hotel shuttle so I had stayed and then we were lucky since both my D and her friend were among the 12 kept. They then had to take a music theory test and sing again and do an interview. Those 12 knew they were still in the running that day and the rest knew they were out but shortly after they were all officially notified of their status and of the 12, I know for sure one offer went out and was eventually accepted and several were wait listed. There may have been others that we didn’t know about. Several parents were very upset and vocal about it in the lobby that day and it was just uncomfortable. A friend of ours did a later date and said there was no callback list that day so it sounds like the format changed. Anyone else do a later on campus date last year? Anyway, I have no clue when the program filled its slots but I do know early offers were made last year. Good luck to this year’s auditioners and I wouldn’t worry about the audition timing - if they are still seeing kids, you still have a shot!
Interesting @ourturn2. As it turns out, there is no school on January 12 for our district. I was online searching for a planned absence form and it is a professional development day. I must have missed it when I was putting dates in the calendar. SO - she’s going. I always like them to have the opportunity to meet current students and sit in on classes - I just usually like it to happen after a waitlist or an acceptance.
D knows a few kids who auditioned in the Fall but is not sure if they have received early offers/waitlists. I would be surprised if they completely filled their class from the fall audition, yet continued to view prescreens and accept students. I’ve not been on a tour of the school or facilities so am looking forward to seeing it. @ourturn2 - the parents were able to stay with the kids throughout the day on Friday? When we visited CCM, D was invited to spend the day with students, parents were invited to spend the day elsewhere (touring, shopping, Starbucks, etc).
Good deal @artskids! We really did enjoy our campus day and yes parents were with the kids the whole time so we got to observe as well. We saw a voice and movement class I think and then the senior workshop. It was funny - we know it’s an awesome program but my D really wanted a smaller conservatory experience so we did penn st early on since it wasn’t at the top of her list. She was still trying to figure out her package and changed one of her songs the week before so hadn’t spent a lot of time on it. After hearing the MT seniors - they were absolutely incredible - penn shot way up in her opinion and we were sorry we hadn’t waited to do them later when she was more comfortable with her material. The program was amazing though and we were impressed with what we saw. Enjoy your time there and good luck to your d!
Thank you @ourturn2. D hasn’t quite worked out what she wants. She’s loved the smaller conservatory schools as well as the large schools housing conservatory-like programs. She also went through the “package revamp” after some early auditions and is VERY glad she didn’t push Penn State in the Fall!
My D has a former classmate who is in PSU’s current Freshman class, and he auditioned at Chicago Unifieds.
@ginag01893 Is Muhlenberg on your nephews list? I know that your nephew was only allowed to apply to five schools, but could his parents be persuaded to allow him to apply to one more? Perhaps he could pay for the application fee himself? It is a BA in theatre at a liberal arts program that is very strong but does not require an audition. It is very possible for students to get musical theatre training there. It will give him a non-audition option, and with his stats, it is very likely he will get accepted. It gives him an option to major in performance regardless of his audition results, and perhaps a BA would be slightly more appealing to his parents. Just a thought, but I definitely feel for him, I have a friend who’s parents weren’t supportive. She’s majoring in music ed, but you can tell her heart just isn’t in it…good for him for going for it!
@artskids The descriptions of the MT audition day on campus at Penn State are similar to the experience I observed when my D auditioned there. The parents also could sit in on the class. The class we saw was more like a rehearsal with seniors, possibly for showcase…it was that style of a rehearsal class, not a show with roles. When the kids were in the dance call, there was a session by the program for the parents. Then, while the kids had their individual audition slots for songs and monologues, there was a waiting room for the parents and many hung out there, including myself. And yes, then a callback list was posted. I am sure this was uncomfortable for those who were cut on the spot, but then again, they had their answer quickly. Kids did come into the room where the parents were (those who stayed) and told us their outcome. Mine was fortunate to make the callback. It was the last audition date for that cycle, the end of February. The decision came pretty soon afterward, but I think that was due to it being the last audition and then all decisions were released. D got the acceptance via snail mail.
While on campus, we did see their musical production. As well, we knew a student in the program and so met with her and her mom to talk on campus. My niece was a Penn State student (not in MT) at the time and so we walked around campus with her and saw her dorm, etc.
@ourturn2 OMG that sounds awful!
@fancetheatrekid - agreed!
@fancytheatrekid it was our “Welcome to college auditions experience” lol! One mom I talked to during callbacks had been at lunch with another couple when they both got called by their kids just as their food arrived. Her d was called back but the other was not as lucky and was like “come get me NOW” so the dad was frantically trying to get the check and pay and then got the “what the heck - where were you” treatment when obviously they were planning on being back by the time we were told. Anyway, we all survived and ended up where we should I think and you all will too - just remember to expect the unexpected (and stay close to the audition locations if you can!)
^We were there that day too, @ourturn2 . Fortuitously(?) I had a bad feeling and was waiting in the parking garage. D did not get a callback. That was a long 8 hour drive home.
So sorry @owensfolks! I swear moments like that are as hard on the parents as the kids! At least those lows make the highs that much sweeter though and I’m glad you were there for her.
@owensfolks - I remember that pain as though it were yesterday. Some things never leave you. But it did make the ultimate victory all the sweeter!
Seeing this late - but I would rent a car - we relied on shuttles and Uber but I think we spent more money on those than we would have if we’d rented a car!!
We saw Come From Away in it’s pre-Broadway run in DC -it was fantastic!
Does anyone know if Penn State has an accompanist at Unifieds or if they require recorded accompaniment? I don’t see it on their website anywhere, but maybe I’m not looking hard enough :-*
@raddyjo Your student should have received an email from the department. My D sent me hers and it indicates an accompanist IS provided.
For those of you who applied to Elon… do you recall how long it took before you heard anything?