@MomofMTBoy thank you. I think my original post may have been misunderstood. I am mostly interested in whether or not the general demeanor, etc. of the auditor is a reflection on the way they treat their students. I think we all know that certain schools are known for their very positive auditions, like the ones I mentioned. I’m mostly concerned about the fact that D immediately took schools off her list where the auditors were not nice and if I should perhaps nudge her to rethink that opinion or if I should let her go with her gut.
@MomofMTBoy Thank you for that very useful summary. Once my S’s journey is over, I will provide a full school-by-school debriefing for those interested. (I know I enjoy such stories). We are currently in a major holding period as he has completed every audition but one on February 9 but of the 19 schools on his list he will not hear back from all but three until March.
@EastchesterMom and @collegemom2000: My D’s audition experience with Tisch ran both cold AND hot. It was at the L.A. Unifieds last year. The acting auditioner was downright rude and dismissive. But some big wig took my D aside and had a long conversation with her; asking what other interests my D had. Though my D was encouraged by that, she didn’t hold out much hope of being accepted.
My D was accepted for Acting, but chose to pursue MT at another school.
Conversely, the auditioners for 2 other “top” programs were faux friendly, and deadpan respectively. My D was not accepted by those. I think a clearer indication of a program’s suitability comes from actually visiting the program, and talking candidly (if that’s possible) with instructors and current students.
^^^Agreed! Nothing takes the place of visiting - especially after a waitlist or acceptance. Your student will see the program much differently and will likely feel more comfortable asking the hard questions.
@collegemom2000 - I think that the post above about the idea that the auditors are having LONG days of auditions is quite important. While I don’t think there is ever an excuse to be actively RUDE to students… we have to remember that the people in the room are, in fact, people - and can have moods etc. I don’t know that it is a reflection… but there isn’t always a way to tell. Accepted student visits can give a much more accurate barometer of the attitude of the program than audition days
I understand now, @collegemom2000 As for your daughter, she will go with her gut (as will you) regardless but I would encourage an open mind to a certain extent. I am thinking particularly of my son’s Hartt experience where the auditor made it seem like he thought my son was more geared to directing than MT, where the overworked administrator outside the door was nice, but obviously really frustrated by all the constant questions, and where the acceptance communication process was unnecessarily confusing. He said he would keep an open mind, but when we went to visit, he was pretty closed minded unfortunately. Despite my son’s experience, every single person I know at Hartt absolutely and over the moon loves the program and thinks they are getting the best, most supportive enriching experience. So yes, open minds are really important in this process. This is too competitive a process to cross schools off a list this early in the game. That being said, if the auditors did not seem nice, it may be helpful for her to mentally cross those schools off her list of top choices. This is kind of a mental game as she prepares herself for the eventual rejections. If she goes into March not caring about the school, then the rejection, if it occurs, won’t sting as much. Very likely, your daughter’s opinion of an unfriendly auditor school may change if that school accepts her, because that means out of all the kids they saw, despite their attitude in the room, they liked her enough to offer her one of their very coveted spots. So of course let her go with her gut, but maybe nudge her to keep an open mind if one of those schools ends up accepting her.
@collegemom2000 while I don’t have any experience with how the demeanor correlates to auditioned and current students, I’d encourage her to maybe keep an open mind for now. She may feel a bit differently after she’s had a day or so of space and time…then if her gut still says it’s not a good fit, then maybe let her go with her intuition. It’s hard, I know…hang in there…
BUT let the end of the story be written. It is really not possible to gauge with any accuracy how the students really performed. You can certainly have a rude auditor or a lousy experience but I find my kids’ judgments on how they did in the audition room are not necessarily accurate. At MWTA auditions a few years ago, S was having discussions with directors post audition. Two of them said they know if they want to see more in the first 10 seconds. That leaves time to check facebook :-))
@collegemom2000 if I read correctly you said your child had a slim chance at many of the schools she was auditioning for. I would caution your daughter to not take any schools off her list. Unless you have visited the schools and looked at their curriculums. I know it’s a difficult frustrating process but it’s probably best to see how everything shakes out. You’ll be surprised what the final decision is come May 1.
I agree that you can’t predict an outcome based on the reactions or comments in the room that come from the program directors, but it does affect student’s final decision, or at least it did in our house. There was a school that looked like a dream match on paper for my son last year, and we were convinced that were he accepted that’s where he would end up. But he was so turned off by the people that he met during the Unified auditions that it was an absolute NO for him, even when they offered a scholarship.
@collegemom2000 I’m confused by the idea that everybody knows which schools are rude and unfriendly. We didn’t have this experience. (Although now I am really curious about what you are referring to…).I am sure that for every person who has a negative experience there is probably someone who has a good one. I think it is important not to criticize programs. I know you said Tisch was a good experience but then someone else mentioned how it wasn’t. That is my point. Everyone has a different experience. I know several kids who loved their experience at Tisch and there are parents on here who are very proud of their children being at Tisch. My advice is just be patient. You really can’t judge a program until you have an in depth visit.
I couldn’t agree more. Not every program is for every kid. I keep trying to instill this in my kid. She keeps hearing things from kids who are in different schools. And until you are in the situation, you don’t really know.
Any info on William Peace University?
Anyone auditioning at Montclair on 1/27 receive a schedule yet? D is sending them an email to ask but was wondering if anyone received any info? (Good heavens, I hope we haven’t missed a requirement of some sort! 8-} )
Anyone know anything about Christopher Newport University and its MT program? Looks like a gorgeous campus and highly rated school.
I always give the same advice to people we know who are auditioning this season…forget about the audition after it is over. Try hard not to become the over analyzer. YOU forget about it, tell your kid to forget about it and move on to the next or if you are fortunate enough to be done, FIND A HOBBY! the next few months truly suck tbh. I mean you stalk the mailbox everyday, your kid will refresh their email on their phone EVERY 15 minutes and you will spend inordinate amounts of time trying to de-stress your kid, minimize meltdowns, maintain some semblance of normalcy for senior year and actually still maintain your current employment while constantly reading this forum for any hint of notifications going out for your child’s schools. Mt college admissions suck and that is that. We all signed up for it and I can tell you as someone with a D in a program now as a freshman…it is still a stress filled existence. Summer stock auditions, competition for roles at school, “Why am I not getting cast”…
not to be a Debbie Downer but… 
the good news is by May this will all be over!
Hi-My daughter has her UMich audition at 2:29 this coming Friday. But an 8:45 check in and 9:00 info session. Is that normal? Be nice to sleep in
Just received our Umich schedule. 11 days prior to audition. Just FYI
@collegemom2000 I’m looking for Christopher Newport info too! My D got an academic acceptance and has an audition Feb 3 (for scholarship) so I’m excited to see the school and learn more about the program! It’s our only non audition school on the list- I am so hoping we like the MT program so it’s an option!?
@Notmath1 - I’m sure those running the Tisch audition that day had no idea what those girls said. I don’t know what possessed them to treat my D that way, but they did. D wasn’t looking for "warm fuzzies " or a “family atmosphere”- but common courtesy would have been nice.