<p>This sight is so full of helpful information that I am depending on it more and more. This brings me to this inquiry. I am hearing and reading that schools will accept DVD and video auditions (either as a screening process, or to replace the live audition if going to the campus is not possible). Do you think we could begin a list here so we can refer to it and add to it as other families find more schools that will allow this? It may be a factor to determine which schools my son decides to apply to, and we sure could use the input from others. I hope this is ok to ask for.</p>
<p>But if you can audition in person that really is the best option. The auditioners can a true sense of your child by asking questions in person. I understand you can’t possibly make all auditions in person by that’s what Unifieds is for. Good luck to your son!!</p>
<p>Of course it is better to audition in person, but if you absolutely cannot and the school will accept a DVD submission then go for it.</p>
<p>Coastal Carolina University accepts DVD submissions under certain circumstances:
“In certain situations, it is possible to send audition material to Coastal via DVD. However, this is not the recommended route and will not showcase the student to their fullest potential. Please contact Ken Martin if you wish to send material rather than be a part of the live audition process.”
[CCU</a> Department of Theatre](<a href=“http://www.coastal.edu/theatre/html/auditions.html]CCU”>http://www.coastal.edu/theatre/html/auditions.html)</p>
<p>I believe very, very few have been accepted this way, but my D was one of those so it is indeed possible. </p>
<p>Texas State University uses a DVD pre-screening process:
[BFA</a> Musical Theatre Auditions : Department of Theatre and Dance : Texas State University](<a href=“http://www.theatreanddance.txstate.edu/department/Musical-Theatre---auditions.html]BFA”>http://www.theatreanddance.txstate.edu/department/Musical-Theatre---auditions.html)</p>
<p>Best of luck to your S!</p>
<p>James Madison will accept DVD submissions, but it is more difficult to be accepted this way, and scholarship consideration is also less likely. Out of th 40 students in the program I believe 4 were admitted from DVD auditions. 2 seniors, 1 junior, no sophomores, 1 freshman. </p>
<p>Feel free to contact me with questions.</p>
<p>Last year Shenandoah allowed DVD submittions, but the director recalled only one person being accepted that way, and he was from North Africa or there abouts. Don’t try it if you are within a few time zones! :)</p>
<p>Modify to JMU Dvd admits above… There are 5 out of the 40 current MTs… 1 sophomore as well… Although she had already visited the program, and interviews. The reason she was unable to attend a live audition was because of a snow storm on our final audition day.</p>
<p>Of the other 4 MTs accepted by DVD most all visited and interviewed before accepted to the program. The exception has generally been for students living abroad.</p>
<p>I believe that most students will be more competitive if they can attend live auditions because of the interaction, but this is not always possible which is why some schools will accept DVDs.</p>
<p>Some schools the I believe pre-screen and invite you to campus for a live audition… Indiana, OK (I think), Otterbein (new this year), and Shenandoah (I believe they may also be going to a pre-screen this year… But check the website to confirm).</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I believe CCM is beginning, this year, to use DVD submissions as a pre-screen only - you still need to physically audition - check their website in about a month. I just want to throw out there that DVD auditioning will diminish your chances of being admitted to most programs. It does work out at times (like a consideration given to out-of-country folks). In general, try to audition in person. Also, I believe CCM has some specific software they will use - it is very important, if you go the DVD route, to check each program for their specific parameters. I think using DVDs as a pre-screen might catch on - as many of the good programs would be glad to embrace an idea that would reduce the numbers of live auditions they need to sit through - if you could go from seeing 600 to seeing 200 (without diminished incoming class quality) - that would make many faculty folks very happy.</p>
<p>Thank you for this valuable information. If it is permitted, I will begin the list here. Should it be noted when the DVD is for screening purposes?</p>
<p>Indiana U</p>
<p>Oklahoma U</p>
<p>Coastal Carolina</p>
<p>Texas State U</p>
<p>James Madison</p>
<p>University of Cincinnati</p>
<p>Shenandoah Conservatory</p>
<p>Just a quick mention. Some schools will allow DVD audition if you are a certain distance away (ie - 300 miles) - therefore your actual place of residence will impact whether or not you can send a DVD to some programs. We auditioned by DVD for 1 program, went to 1 campus and went to unifieds for the rest. We are from Hawaii and could have auditioned by DVD for most of the programmes. I am glad that we were able to get to the unifieds and audition live - well worth the travel!</p>
<p>Just so we are clear. Coastal Carolina University accepts DVD auditions “under certain circumstances.” I don’t make it clear what those circumstances are on the website because I don’t want to answer questions like, “I’m 247 miles away, can I still send a DVD?” For CCU you must have a good reason to send us a DVD rather than coming in person. While we have issued invitations to the company through DVD auditions in the past, it is far less likely to happen (there were none for 2011 incoming class.) And I seriously doubt that CCU is in the minority in this case. There was another thread about this recently. As I stated there, interaction between director and student, and audience and actor are part of the process. There is no way to get that via DVD. It isn’t impossible, it is just far less likely to be cast via DVD.</p>
<p>It looks like more schools may be going to a DVD pre-screening system - which will mean that more people will need to be considering this option just in order to apply.</p>
<p>It would be a great help if post 8 was edited to show which schools have video prescreens and which schools allow video auditions under certain circumstances. These are two entirely different beasts, as it were. I’m all for a prescreen if everyone has to to it, but I’d do my best to avoid a video audition for the “real thing.”
Do we have a thread about tips for making videos? Please everyone promise me, don’t try to do this by singing into your laptop! :)</p>
<p>classicalbk. Amen to that last sentence. My advice. Get a great microphone, and find someone who knows how what to do in terms of sound and video. The cell phone videos won’t do you any good.</p>
<p>This may be worthy of its own thread, just because of the magnitude of the change, but the University of Michigan has just added a <em>mandatory</em> pre-screening via DVD to its admission process. Only after your DVD performance is considered worthy, will you be invited to a live audition. WOW. [UM</a> School of Music, Theatre & Dance - Department of Musical Theatre - Auditions & Interviews](<a href=“http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/mustheatre/auditions.htm]UM”>http://www.music.umich.edu/departments/mustheatre/auditions.htm)</p>
<p>perischack, thanks for sharing that. I had heard that some schools were considering this change in policy, but I didn’t know if it was for this year or next. I can’t say that I’m surprised. With the increase in the number of applicants each year, it makes sense that schools want to cut down the time and expense of auditioning hundreds/thousands of applicants, many of whom would not be competitive candidates.</p>
<p>I think the pre-screen is a win/win for schools and students, and always figured once a few places started it, many more would jump on board. I don’t love video as a selection tool, but think it works well as an elimination tool.
On another thread, someone mentioned a school eliminating some of its audition days - I’m assuming that is because they will be pre-screening, thus needing fewer live spots.</p>
<p>Pre-screening by video is a huge game changer! It will be interesting to see how it plays out overall. So many impacts… 1) auditionees have to be ready with their audition material much earlier. You’ve got to be spot on for the video otherwise you may not get an audition. 2) Changes to application/fees for MTs? I’m sure there will be schools that students wouldn’t apply to if they were pre-screened out by video. Do applicants need to go through all the effort and expense of applying if they’re not even going to be granted an audition? 3) College audition pre-screen video services! For those who don’t have the proper equipment. Talk about a business model! And of course, the requirements won’t be standardized from school to school. So the videos will have to be different for each school.</p>
<p>UMich did eliminate their November audition day in light of their pre-screen video deadline of 12/1. </p>
<p>I do think it’s a good move. The “Glee Effect” did increase the number of applicants. At least this will save some people the cost and time of traveling to schools they might not really be competitive at. </p>
<p>But as much as I think it’s good (and I wouldn’t be surprised if more schools did it in the future), I’m glad my D didn’t have to deal with it. </p>
<p>Even CC will change. There will now be posts titled “Prescreened in!” and “Prescreened Rejections”. It’s really a shift in timing, cost, maybe even emotionally for a lot of people…</p>
<p>Indiana U, prescreen</p>
<p>Oklahoma U, prescreen</p>
<p>Coastal Carolina</p>
<p>Texas State U, prescreen</p>
<p>James Madison</p>
<p>University of Cincinnati, prescreen (voice program)</p>
<p>Shenandoah Conservatory</p>
<p>University of Michigan, prescreen</p>
<p>Otterbein U, prescreen</p>
<p>Tisch/NYU</p>
<p>Please add on as you learn of more
Thank you. This is very helpful</p>
<p>Great thread. Thank you.</p>
<p>Adding . . . (I would also say double-check dates as I would hate to give someone bad info.) </p>
<p>Illinois Wesleyan (if 300+ miles away) - due Jan 1st
Stevens Point - due Dec 1st</p>