Daughter was recovering from flu and a little lightheaded and weak for her first audition. The 10am audition time we received did not specify if it was actual time to audition or a check in time, so we arrived 30 minutes prior to allow for traffic, parking, warm up. We were welcomed and informed they were running about 15 min behind and so she could expect to audition at 10:30. A student showed us to a practice room (no chair, no music stand) and indicated we could find audition room ourselves, although we had been told he would return for us to show us to audition room. (Practice room was locked, no key, waited while student went to find key). Student did return at audition time, had no idea where we could store her bassoon case or her guitar (needed for music therapy interview later) so I schlepped it all with me to lobby in music building to wait. Audition (only heard by director of bands) went very well, he indicated to her she would be accepted. After audition, she didn’t know where I was, waited in hallway for a while, was somewhat distressed, unsure where to go next. I went looking for her when I thought she would be finished and found her in hallway. We went back upstairs for theory test ( short wait in hallway) then waited some more for music therapy interview. She played and sang her piece on guitar for director of music therapy and that went well also, positive feedback from Music Therapy professor.
Overall, daughter was pleased. Although bassoon professor was not at audition, she has met and liked him at a workshop, and feels CSU would be good fit for her, especially in light of its affordability. The campus was much nicer than you might expect in an urban area, lots of recent building and investment. Student housing was attractive and spacious. One plus is that all buildings are connected via indoor walkways, a real advantage in winter on the north coast. Despite some seeming disorganization, everyone she interacted with was kind and helpful and positive, so it was a good first audition experience.