What do you do if there’s a conflict in audition dates? Do you ask for a different date, or do you just prioritize schools and take some off the list if there’s no way around a conflict? We’re finding that audition dates are the same three Saturdays in February for most of the schools on my son’s list.
Before taking schools off your list I would inquire if there are any other options outside of those dates due to conflicts. Some schools may be able to make some accommodation and probably have encountered this before. If there’s no way around it you may need to prioritize. Are there prescreens involved with any of the schools? I wouldn’t take anything off the list if there are prescreens involved until after those results are in.
Thank you, @cellomom2. I wasn’t sure if it was ok to request another date or not. None of the ones that are conflicting have pre-screens. Only 1, maybe 2, schools will have pre-screens. Still waiting for two schools to post their dates, as well. We’ll prioritize. Thank you!
BTW, is it ok to do video auditions if they allow it? That would help resolve several of the conflicts. These are schools that are 400+ miles away.
- Wait for prescreen results (perhaps not a factor here)
- Prioritize programs. Place schools that are considered a better fit, and reachy programs towards the top.
- Contact programs where there is a conflict. Sometimes, programs will make a special arrangement for you to visit and audition at a different time. SOMETIMES! Larger, more competitive programs often cannot do this, but may offer regional auditions or taped auditions. This can be instrument dependent, as well. For instance, it may be easier for the oboe department (1-2 teachers plus a conductor, maybe) to hear your S or D at an alternate time than the violin department (5-8 teachers, etc…)
My D had two onsite auditions that were not on the usual audition weekends, and it’s a challenge for faculty, I am sure. In both cases, 6-8 faculty had to convene just to hear D, and a faculty accompanist was provided. It definitely takes some organizing on the part of the school and the student/parents. Both schools were smaller programs, and D was committed to auditions on the other side of the country during their standard audition weekends. So, they were very understanding, and really went out of the way to make it work. Of course for vocalists, video auditions are not generally recommended (if it can be avoided), so perhaps this sort of arrangement is more common for singers.
We managed to do seven remote auditions and one local regional audition in 5-6 weeks while the auditioner was rehearsing the school musical. It was a feat. I only have a couple tips-
- Make a spreadsheet or chart listing all the schools and all the possible dates.
- Plot your ideal path through the audition season ( if it were up to you), prioritizing your top choices.
- Get your applications in ahead of the official deadline. A couple schools explicitly stated that earlier submitted applications have a better shot at their first choice audition dates.
- Wait for the prescreen results to come in, and turn around any reply forms as quickly as you can.
We were able to get our first choice dates by doing the above, but my impression is most music schools will try to get your kid heard if they possibly can should the official dates not pan out. Good luck!
Thank you very much for all the suggestions. I am the spreadsheet keeper and the schedule keeper, so I’ll keep working on this. It would really help if the last two schools would post audition dates. At that point, we can then know if my son needs to request other dates.
Some schools will accommodate, so it is worth asking. Schools are very aware of this problem for applicants 
S’s teacher said get the applications in early for best audition dates! So far we got one EA date and have requested three others. Even in a best-case scenario it’s a sick amount of driving. Can’t wait to enjoy Ithaca, Syracuse, Rochester AND Boston in dead winter!
@akapiratequeen, just curious; how many schools is your son applying to? My son’s submitted some applications, but it’s going to take a while for them to be processed because we have to send 4 transcripts (3 different colleges and his high school), so it’s going to take a while before they all arrive. I also just went ahead and sent his old SAT scores even though he’s a transfer student because at least one school asked for them. So these apps won’t be in before October. Chapman doesn’t even open their fall 2019 app for transfers until November 15th.
@sbjdorlo so far six. Three accept the common app and three, including our state school, do not. Of the six, he’s done everything he can do for five: completed the app and any supplemental essays and requested transcripts, test scores and recommendations. Three of those allowed him to set up an audition at that point in the process, so he’s done that, too. For the rest, he’s either waiting for scores etc. to come in or planning to record a prescreen in November (its due Dec. 1). He’s also written to faculty he met either on tours or through summer programs — he’s seen every campus but one (Lawrence—would love reports from those who visit).
I definitely oversaw this process — the biggest thing we did was allow S19 to take a month off (no job) in August after his last summer program, on the condition that he get all the essays etc. done before school started. He played a lot of video games but also practiced a lot, and he did get them done. I think I learned this from another CC parent and it’s turned out well, especially as he’s so crazy busy this fall.
I finally just made a master list of audition dates and was pleasantly surprised to see 10 dates for 6 auditions so it should be workable (it helps that two schools are within an hour of home) Of course, the actual applications need to be submitted before any of that can happen - hopefully he’ll be ready to hit send by next weekend. My understanding is that most schools will accept music applications/audition requests once the school application is accepted (but it doesn’t need to be complete with transcripts, LORs, etc.)
As of now, my son is planning on one video audition to avoid the expense, missed school (2 days), and just general inconvenience of a 12 hour drive each way with 3 nights in a hotel for a two-day audition process. It’s a very reach-y school anyway. He could add one more video-audition school, but I think he’s sticking with his list of 7.
@eh1234, did your son do the standard “reach, match and safety” plan? 7 schools seems so reasonable, and my son’s list is much longer than that because he’s terribly iffy/unconventional academically, and that is a huge concern. He’s already heard from several cello professors that they’d love to have him in their studios, but I don’t know what the colleges will do with his sketchy background (he has a number of W’s and isn’t currently taking any classes as a transfer student this semester). Ugh. He plans to take courses in the spring, but we’re really, really hoping his cello auditions can overcome his academic record.
@sjdorio I don’t know if there is really a safety for him. His academics are quite good, but I’m not sure anyone would “love” to have him in their bass studio. He kind of got a late start. I’m thinking it might be more like “I’ll take you off a waitlist for my studio.” I think if he’s lucky, he’ll get in to one or two schools. I would consider two of the seven big reaches in terms of the music program. So, maybe he should have more schools, but 7 is what’s been settled on. He may add one more video audition. Or he may not apply to college at all since he doesn’t seem interested in doing anything about his applications!
He’s mainly applying to music programs at public schools that are academic safeties and hoping to save a big chunk college savings for grad school. Not really the typical College Confidential musician, I guess.
It’s funny, @eh1234, since my son has sort of the opposite situation- no academic safeties that I can see. but plenty of music choices if my son’s playing was the only factor. Having that winning combo of both the academics and the music can be a challenge!
I’m sure your son will get it together on applications; it really is a lot of work and I’m sure he’s tired after being in school all day. I’m doing a lot for my son in terms of making the spreadsheet and looking for schools, and my son’s not even taking classes this semester. At some point, though, he’ll have to write those essays, record his music and go on the auditions. We’ll see how many schools actually stay on the list after we visit 3 of them for free trial lessons.
Like others have said, do the spreadsheet. Also, if you’re ready with the prescreen videos, submit as early as possible - audition dates are typically first come first serve (your S/D may not be ready or willing to do this, as they attempt for perfection).There could be exceptions to first-come-first-serve - the audition panel may not be available on one or more of the dates specified by the school. So don’t depend on it (UCLA builds their violin panel based on the professors you’ve requested, USC has all professors available at the auditions irrespective of your preferences).
If at the end of it you have a conflict, request the school (UCLA declined a change because of the aforementioned panel problem), however, to avoid this we converted one to a video submission (prioritized UCLA over BU).