@MThopeful99 D is still waiting on Elon.
Last year, Elon released all of it’s prescreen decisions (with the obvious exception of those who chose November auditions) en masse on whatever day their web site indicates. I think that this year it’s 1/17?
Elon lets you know on January 17, I believe.
Thanks @artskids Good to know someone else is waiting too. This one is an airfare situation for us and I’m watching prices rise. Lol.
Thanks @DramaMan and @owensfolks I couldn’t find a date on their website. That helps!
same nothing MT from Elon, Ithaca or Wagner
Wagner was one of the last schools we heard from our year.
A Little Freaked Out
According to people my daughter worked with on shows (has been on Broadway) and in lessons (experienced teachers and college counselors in MT), she has what it takes. She’s been in shows for years. Taken lessons for years. I know she’s good, but I also know being good isn’t necessarily enough. I have no knowledge of MT as a major or industry.
After a gap year, she applied to several colleges for musical theater. We were startled by the lack of callbacks for prescreens. No callbacks at Ithaca (not that much of a surprise, I know it’s very competitive). No interest at Syracuse. She applied at the behest of her teachers/college counselors. We thought Rider would be a good backup school, no callback for an audition. She received one offer for addition after prescreens: Manhattan School of Music. She will still audition for UA and BoCo, which don’t ask for prescreens. After Ithaca, Tisch is very unlikely.
I’m not sure what we to do if she gets in nowhere. Maybe she’ll get in at one of these straight audition schools, but I’m nervous.
Thoughts on context? Advice on my daughter’s situation?
Hi @NewEngMTDad I’m sure people will chime in with amazing advice. I would not assume Tisch is out because of these pre-screen results. My daughter did not pass Ithaca pre-screen (acting) and has been accepted EA to three great schools. Emerson MT, Elon (acting )along with Baldwin Wallace (acting). She also did not pass Depaul pre-screen. If I look at her pre-screens now, I can see that in our case they really did not capture her. We thought they were fine but looking back they could have been much stronger. Not at all assuming this is the case with your D but just sharing our experience.
MSM is a really strong and up and coming program! Some very happy super talented kids there.
People will have great suggestions but my little contribution is… don’t freak out. Assess that her choices are really bringing out her best and know there are many great programs out there. She will find hers.
Welcome to CC @NewEngMTDad. The audition process for MT BFA programs is a really, really tough process. The level of talent vying for the few coveted spots in these programs is something that most of us parents and our kids don’t always anticipate when they are coming from being big fish in a small pond to little fish in a huge pond full of other talented fish. Most of these kids have also trained for years, been doing shows since they were young on a local, regional and even professional level like your daughter. It is not unusual to find kids who have been singing, dancing and performing for the better part of their young lives. Many have naturally gotten lots of leads in their hometowns and are told by everyone they will get into every program to which they apply - no worries! And then they start this process and reality hits hard. It sounds like you haven’t had much opportunity to be exposed to this world and so it is no wonder you are now scratching your head and feeling worried. You are not alone. This is a rough competitive process and all these kids are super talented and driven and many of these schools take only a handful. It is especially hard for girls.
My first piece of advice would be to spend some time searching this board and reading through some of the historical threads. Loads of great information and advice to be found there. Your daughter’s list of schools is very short - you might want to cast a wider net - review the list of programs at the top of this thread, have your daughter do some research and consider adding to her list of programs with schools still taking applications and scheduling auditions. It’s not too late. And finally, consider enlisting the aid of a coach that specializes in this MT audition process. Many of the kids are well coached and prepared and it can be an advantage in making sure your student is presenting themselves in the best way, with the best material and with well matched programs. Finally, ask lots of questions here as you have them. You will find this a very helpful and supportive community.
Best of luck!
@NewEngMTDad - here’s a recent story that may make you feel a bit better. We know a boy who was super talented and there was no question he was going to be successful. However, when he applied to MT programs to start in Fall of 2013, many of the same ones you just mentioned, he was rejected by every school except one. He ended up going to that one program, and ended up having to miss the last semester of his senior year because he was cast on Broadway in one of this year’s most popular shows before he even graduated from college. I sometimes wonder if those schools who rejected him just a few years ago even realize they turned him down. My main point in telling you that story is to make you aware these programs don’t always get it right. And it really does only take one. I like to think you are just being pushed in the direction where you are meant to go. You know, when one door closes another opens, etc… I know the boy in the story above is now thrilled with the one school who accepted him. But at the time it was really, really tough receiving those rejections.
As far as prescreen results go, I know you have a lot of professional industry opinions, but from what we’ve seen, a professional actor or director’s idea of what makes good audition material is not necessarily what works well for college auditions. What is good for professional auditions is not necessarily what works well for college auditions. College auditions are their own special animal. I concur with @sopranomtmom that consulting with an experienced college audition coach and sharing your prescreen material with them might be valuable prior to any additional auditions you may have this year.
As far as your options, I have heard good things about Manhattan School of Music. So that sounds like an interesting possibility. BoCo and NYU both have large classes. So although they have large numbers of applicants there are also a good number o spots available. D had several friends that only got in NYU or only got in BoCo at the end of their audition season. I will also say they were 2 of the last schools to give their results which made the wait even more excruciating! So I think those are still good possibilities for you. The thing I would be most concerned with at Tisch is how your Ds academic numbers stack up. As I’m sure you know, at NYU, academics are weighted as much or more than the audition. I do not think there really is any comparison from Ithaca to NYU in how they select their classes. The two programs are selected very differently. So don’t assume NYU is out because of not passing an Ithaca prescreen.
As has been said, your list is pretty short and full of really competitive programs. There are many other programs out there you might want to consider. If you are close to the NYC or Chicago, I would definitely consider going to unifieds and see if you could do any walk in auditions. There are some hidden gem programs out there you may fall in love with!
Wishing you all the best. Hang in there. We look forward to hearing where your D ends up! And in the meantime, know there are a wealth of people here on CC happy to try and help and lend their support. You are not alone!
I agree with @sopranomtmom that you should think about casting a wider net, if it’s not too late. Look at schools that still have audition dates available where she can apply. This process is extremely competitive, especially for girls. Like yours, mine had professional experience as well and still got her fair share of rejection. But because we started with a list of 17 schools that she applied to, she at least had a few choices in the final analysis.
And remember, if worse comes to worse and she doesn’t like her options, there’s always next year.
Thanks for the words of wisdom and support!
I wasn’t clear about my daughter’s experience. She only has local experience. Her teachers have professional experience, one of who was on Broadway. She definitely lacks the summer programs and hard core experience many applicants have. I’m pretty confident of her talent, given the feedback we’ve had from professionals. I’m also musically knowledgable. My experience in other creative arts, however, suggests talent is only one ingredient for success.
My daughter is blond, pretty, and a soprano. She has a strong voice, but belting isn’t her talent. I have to guess that there isn’t a shortage of girls like her.
Once again, thanks for your comments. I’ll keep you posted on her progress and choices.
Who are the college counselors and teachers assisting your daughter? Are they national MT coaches who specialize in advising students for admissions to MT programs? If not, you might want to pursue getting additional assistance even at this late stage in the game.
It sounds like your D has been very successful on a local level, but I think you might need input on how she fares when competing on a national level. The schools she is applying to are high level schools that draw the best talent from across the country. You might want to include more regional schools that are less competitive.
Beyond that, you should have someone very knowledgable with college MT admissions review her audition material and discuss with you how she matches with the expectations of various programs. You mention that she is a soprano who does not belt. For some schools, her style and ability might not work. They might want singers who are more comfortable with more contemporary/ pop MT. Other programs are a better match for more traditional singers.
Good luck!
@NewEngMTDad - don’t give up; ever! Yes, this process is stressful - horrible, actually- but you and D will prevail! My D’s epic journey has been well catalogued on CC. She is now a senior at Molloy/CAP 21, one of the most unique programs out there, combining BYC-based MT training with a suburban campus experience, and offers performance opportunities not found anywhere else… It’s run by Henry Fonte of U Miami and Hartt fame. I encourage you to give us a look - I think you’ll like what you see.
Manhattan School of Music is a good program, very up and coming (and in the epicenter of the MT world). I wouldn’t discount it.
Agreed re MSM… a very talented girl from our HS is a sophomore there.
What auditions does everybody have this month? My D has UNCSA this Saturday and FSU on the 27th.
@NewEngMTDad - As other posts have mentioned, you may want to consider casting a wider net. College audition coaches typically recommend at least 12-14 auditions for ingenues consisting of a broad mix of nationally competitive, regionally competitive, and non-audition programs. Ingenues are probably THE most competitive type for college auditions.
Since the schools that you listed are all in the Northeast, here are some that you may want to consider - I have no idea how many may still be open for applications and auditions:
Hartt - application deadline is tomorrow (Jan. 8)
Marymount Manhattan
Western Connecticut
Temple
SUNY Buffalo
SUNY Courtland
Long Island University - Post
Molloy University/CAP21
Plymouth State University
Seton Hill University
University of New Hampshire
Desales
(I think Wagner is past the deadline, or I would have included that one)
I would recommend attending Unifieds and doing as many walk-ins as you can - Chicago Unifieds have the most walk-in opportunities, but, if you are interested in schools in the Northeast, NYC Unifieds would probably be a better choice.
I would try Wagner, Point Park, Montclair, Marymount Manhattan… Manhattan School of Music had prescreens?
I don’t think we sent one but are auditioning at MSM. Apply to a few more. It is brutal.