<p>Hello, I'm just wondering what the deal is with drop in auditions at the unified auditions?
which colleges have them?
are they free?
do you still have to make the deadline?</p>
<p>also what hotels are best to stay in for chicago auditions? I've heard it's not best to stay in the ones that the auditions are actually at, just for relaxation's sake.</p>
<p>Any help would be loved, theyre coming up!</p>
<p>Here’s a link from the MT forum that discusses this issue:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1061118-schools-allow-drop-ins-chicago-auditions.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1061118-schools-allow-drop-ins-chicago-auditions.html</a></p>
<p>My D did LA Unifieds and lots of schools allowed walk-ins BUT the LA Unifieds are not as busy as Chicago. We did not pay any audition fees for walk-ins that I remember and then if you liked the school you immediately applied for admission if needed. </p>
<p>We stayed at the audition hotel in LA and it was great. She had one off site location but it was easy walking distance. It was nice to be right there so you could go back to the room for a quick break or to freshen up. My D hung out with a friend who was also auditioning so they had a good time being at the same hotel. I have heard that Palmer House in Chicago can get pretty crazy. But nothing is less relaxing that being at another hotel and trying to get to an audition and having issues due to traffic, weather, etc. You have to decide what is better for you.</p>
<p>I would encourage you to contact any schools you are really interested in walking in at Chicago and ask them. This info is from 2009 and things can and do change. And definitely check directly with schools that will be in Chicago but not part of the official Unified auditions if you are interested in any of those. Have fun and break a leg!</p>
<p>thank you so much!</p>
<p>It is very possible to drop in on some auditions at Chicago Unifieds - make sure you have extra copies of your resume, essays, and headshot. That being said, you will need to schedule audition times for the schools you are most interested in advance of Unifieds. Some schools are so sought after that they will not have drop in times available. Most auditions take place at Palmer House Hilton. Roosevelt CCPA will audition on it’s campus, DePaul at it’s theatre (that’s approx a 4 hour time commitment). Check with your schools’ drama departments to verify times and locations as some schools use unique locations for their auditions. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>alwaysinmycar (me, too ;0) – You suggest kids carry extra copies of essays in case of walk-ins – which essays (I think kiddo wrote like 19 between apps and scholarship requirements for her colleges!!) would you mean? She’s got headshots, resumes, extra rec letters and her h.s. transcripts…now tell me which essay she should dig out for a packet for walkins! Yikes!</p>
<p>Some schools ask for a “why theatre” or “why do you want to study what you want to study” essay. If your kid hasn’t written one yet, then don’t worry about it - they can submit it later. It’s silly to scramble writing one now, unless they really want to.</p>
<p>By now, my D does have a “why theatre essay” so she’ll bring a couple of copies of it, just in case.</p>
<p>Oh, yes…my kiddo has that one – will just have her print some out to stick in the bag with the other stuff. Thanks!</p>
<p>It’s just a good rule of thumb to bring your artistic essay with you - even if you have applied to the school already and have all your essays in! For some schools, eg, CalArts and the callbacks for Juilliard - you are asked to fill out forms that include questions which are very similiar to your Artistic Statement! It makes it easier on the nervous auditionee :)</p>
<p>Well said actingmom! I suggested the essay/personal statement for that very reason. Each school is unique and feeling was always better to be prepared. Most of the time, when my daughter walked in, she only needed the headshot and resume. Sorry for any confusion!</p>
<p>We stayed at the Wit hotel (it’s a Doubletree). It was equal distance from the Palmer House and the other audition hotels - about a 5-10 minute cab ride either way. Close to train/subway also. Within walking distance to auditions if no transportation available (but only as a last resort due to weather.) Stores within walking distance. We enjoyed being able to take a break from all the action.</p>
<p>The Palmer House Hilton is a very large hotel. We went there the night before auditions and found her schools so we wouldn’t waste time on audition day getting lost. We were able to find printed information listing the locations of each school’s auditions (held on many different floors.)</p>
<p>My D has a big concert on Monday night the 7th, so we’re going down in the morning. Her first audition is at noon. I decided to make things easier and stay at the Palmer House; 3 of her 4 auditions are there, and one is at 8 a.m., so that saves us time and worry. We’ll be there Tues-Thurs, because she’s doing 2 schools that aren’t “official” Unifieds schools and continue later into the week.</p>
<p>I don’t think my D will do any walk-ins, but she will bring extra materials. I think she’d be intrigued to audition for one of the UK programs if they had a slot open. But she has plenty of applications out in the US.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone else who is going! It’s very exciting to think that it’s almost here! I started reading CC around the time of Unifieds 2 years ago, and it’s amazing that now it’s our turn. Have a lot of FUN!!</p>
<p>EmmyBet - My D did a walk in for LIPA last year and really loved the audition and the auditors. Same kind of thought process - let’s do a walk-in for a UK school to see what it is like. But if you walk-in with them and don’t get accepted, they have possibly the meanest rejection email of all time so be prepared! We ended up using it for stress relief - reading it out loud in very bad British acccents LOL!</p>
<p>That is a riot - and thanks for the warning!</p>