Early auditions...

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>Currently, I am finishing up my junior year. I live on the west coast, and as most of the schools that I am interested in applying to are on the east, I am trying to just do a little research on travel expenses and approximate dates. I have found that some schools, like Michigan, have auditions starting as early as November. Other than the benefit of (somewhat) more bearable weather, (which is a HUGE plus!) is there any benefit to auditioning at such an early time? It would mean that some auditions could be done earlier, and there would be more time throughout the year for other auditions, but is there a plus as to auditioning toward the beginning or towards the end of the audition season? Are schools with rolling admissions (like Michigan) more likely to keep you on a "hold" rather than accept you or reject you soon after your audition, if on an earlier date? Towards the end of the season, do they just start accepting and rejecting quicker? If you have the option, is it wise to try and knock all your auditions out ASAP, or to space them out and do some in late February? I would love ANY input that I can get! Thanks so much!! </p>

<p>-E.J.</p>

2

<p>My daughter wanted to do as many early auditions as possible for a variety of reasons – weather, health (winter is sick time…and if she was ill during an earlier audition, at least there would be hope for rescheduling!), spreading them out, knowing SOMETHING sooner (in some cases). Her first audition was the end of October, at a school w/rolling artistic admissions, and she had that “yes” to carry her through her 9 other auditions. Doing auditions early left some “wiggle room” – if it was Feb, and she was sitting on all rejections, she could have added more Unified auditions, etc. (Fortunately, she ended up with choices, and cannot wait for college to begin in the fall.)</p>

<p>She did do the UMich November audition, and was deferred until the end of the tour (ultimately rejected). Her friends who also auditioned on that date received their “no” answer very quickly – and that can be an okay part of the process, too – you know if that school is out of contention, and you can move on (deferral from November to the end of March was hard!). </p>

<p>It depends on the school, as far as speed of acceptance/rejections – some wait until the end of the tour to do anything, many willl let you know quickly if it’s a “no”. Some will give some indication (“hold status”) if you’re still in the pool as they move forward.</p>

<p>Now…if you’re going to consider auditioning early, there’s some other things to consider. First, you need to be READY early. (Another huge advantage of taking the first audition times is that there are fewer kids who are there…less crowded, faculty seem more relaxed and more able to spend time w/kids.) Besides getting your artistic materials really, really ready (and this includes your audition outfit, cuts of music, etc) you need to make sure you’ve got your applications to the school in general done – including hounding teachers for early recommendations, transcripts, etc. </p>

<p>Kid did one October audition, 3 in November, 1 in December, Unifieds and 2 on-location in February, 1 in March. She also was the lead in the fall play and spring musical in her school, and is finishing up 5 AP courses…this year has been INSANE!! Spreading out auditions was very helpful. She did miss a lot of school…so that’s something to think about, too.</p>

<p>It’s good that you’re looking at these things now. Talk to your family (or whoever will be helping w/transportation and general support), your school, your teachers whom you might ask for a recommendation, your private teachers to see if they feel you and your rep would be ready for an early audition. Research what the colleges require now (and some are putting up dates for next year). Do the Common App and any other applications you can at the end of summer (no matter when you schedule your auditions…so you can get all those dang essays done before your brain is fried!). Make calendars, and see what’s doable from a travel/home commitment standpoint…and be ready to change. </p>

<p>But if you really want a certain date, be sure to get your act together quickly to request it, as slots do fill up.</p>

<p>Too much information? Glad you’re researching now!! </p>

<p>Signed, A Surviver’s Mom :-)</p>

3

<p>Music Man,
We also live on the west coast and ran into these issues this year while auditioning. What I would recommend is to do things in the following order:
1. Looking carefully at all the info here on CC, especially the advice to juniors and the MT college big list, make up a possible list you would like to audition for, making sure you include some nonaudition BA’s that you are sure you would get into academically. I would advise having 15-20 at this early point.
2. Look at their websites and see if you can figure out when they held auditions this year. It would most likely be repeated at the same time next year. Make a pretend calendar for next year. This will automatically cause you to make some decisions between schools on your list, as some will be on similar dates.
3. Look up the Chicago Unified Audition dates. I know they are up. I recommend this over or in addition to the LA or Las Vegas Unifieds as more schools attend, they are earlier and so auditioners are not burned out, and they stretch over 3 days rather than 2. The majority of them are also held in one hotel, Chicago Palmer House, so you are not running all over like in NYC. Also, they are individual school auditions, unlike Las Vegas. If you email me off my name here on CC, I will send you a list of all the schools that were in Chicago last year -50 of them- way more than the ‘official’ ones on the UA website. The official ones are all very selective, so it would do you well to add a number more from the unofficial ones. I would say that with careful planning, and probably some telephone calls, you could do as many as 12 auditions at Unifieds. You can also audition for Michigan and a couple others as early as on Sunday of the auditions. You can also make reservations, prepaid, at Palmer House right now on their website, which will give you a HUGE discount, more than under the Unifieds discount that will appear much later. You will have as much chance being admitted off of Unifieds as you will off of campus additions! I know lots who were this year!
4. Plan a couple November or January auditions that you travel to, so you have some practice before Unifieds, as it will be in early February.
5. You will find that many schools have auditions the weekend before or week after Unifieds, so you can make one big trip, and then maybe just 1 or 2 in the weeks following.</p>

<p>I can’t reiterate enough how important it is to have nonaudition schools in your plan! The competition is huge and getting bigger, and we had some tongue biting moments with 7 rejections before admittances to 3 BFA and 1 BA rolled in. (14 auditioned for)</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

4

<p>Thank you both!! I am gonna keep all that advice in hand! </p>

<p>Christie2, as I do live close to LA, the LA Unifieds seem very practical to me. My ONLY fear about doing MOST of my auditions at Chicago Unifieds is that I am one who ALWAYS, without fail, gets sick during that time of year, and I would HATE to be sick and have, possibly 12 auditions!! YIKES! I think that if I space them out, some in LA and MAYBE others in Chicago, but probably on-campus I will be much safer. </p>

<p>I hate to hijack this thread to cater just to me, but I am going to! I have made a (tentative) list of the schools that I plan on applying to, and I have placed next to them all the locations at which I can audition for them, or if I can submit a recorded audition. This is the list:</p>

<p>University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI – UNIFIED NY, CHICAGO
Carnegie Mellon University – Pittsburgh, PA - LA, NY, CHICAGO
New York University – New York, NY – LA, NY, CHIGACO, SAN FRAN
Cincinnati Conservatory of Music - Cincinnati, OH – UNIFIED LA, NY, CHICAGO
Penn State University – University Park, PA – UNIFIED LA, NY, CHICAGO
Syracuse University – Syracuse, NY – LA, NY, CHICAGO, TAPE
Elon University – Elon, NC – ON CAMPUS ONLY
Baldwin Wallace – Barea, OH – ON CAMPUS ONLY
UCLA – Los Angeles, CA – ON CAMPUS ONLY
Indiana University – Bloomington, IN – ON CAMPUS ONLY + DVD PRE-SCREEN
Hartt School – Hartford, CT– UNIFIED LA, NY, CHICAGO, TAPE
Oklahoma City University – Oklahoma City, OK – ON CAMPUS, TAPE
American University – Washington, D.C. – ON CAMPUS ONLY, OR AFTER ACCEPTANCE
University of Arizona – Tucson, AZ – LA, ON CAMPUS, TAPE
California State University Fullerton – Fullerton, CA – ON CAMPUS</p>

<p>I can send tapes to Syracuse University, the Hartt School, Oklahoma City University, and the University of Arizona.</p>

<p>My SAFE school is Fullerton, because EVEN if I am not accepted into the BFA program, because of my GPA and my location, I am already guaranteed acceptance to the general school. And it is affordable. That is why I do not have any other “non-audition” programs. I already know that I can go to Fullerton for their BA program, and I would be very happy there.</p>

<p>I am also unsure if I will actually apply to American, but if I did I am not sure that I would audition before. If I were to be accepted into the school, I would probably audition for the program AFTER acceptance.</p>

<p>Also, I can audition in LA for most of them.</p>

<p>The only ones where I would HAVE to travel are: University of Michigan, Elon, Baldwin-Wallace, and Indiana (if I make it past pre-screen)</p>

<p>I could PROBABLY combine BW and Michigan into one trip and Elon is separate, and I am not too sure if I actually WILL apply to IU. Without IU, that would make ONLY 2 trips (one to the Midwest and one to NC)</p>

<p>Does this plan sound alright to you? I know this is A LOT of INFO!! Haha, Thanks so much!</p>

5

<p>Just curious EJ- why are you guaranteed admission to Fullerton? We know several kids with good GPA’s and test scores who were not accepted this year. While they are in So. Cal., they are not from Orange County, so maybe that is the difference?</p>

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<p>Yes, since I am from Orange County, and I have completed my A - G course pattern. CSUF takes your GPA and multiplies it by 800, then they add your ACT or SAT score to that. If you are from OC and have at least 2900 total (with SAT) and 694 total (with ACT) you are guaranteed acceptance.</p>

<p>-E.J.</p>

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<p>EJ- we are also in the LA area, and my D did most of her auditions at the LA Unifieds. It was definitely more convenient for us and while money may not be an issue for you, it saved a lot. She actually did stay at the Unified Hotel Sat. nite - she and a couple of friends shared a room. She ended up going back down for a Carnegie Melon audition on Monday at a nearby hotel. All in all, it was very easy and she had great results. She also did the on-campus audition for UCLA which is close to us. It sounds like you have a good list of schools. Even if you could get a large portion of your schools done at the LA Unifirds, you still have quite a few that do on-campus auditions only. That gives you a lot of options for auditions in case you were to get sick or something. It sounds like you have a food plan to me. Have you thought about applying to UCI???- they are also a non-audition program and it might just be another back up. It is difficult to get in right now but it might be something to consider.</p>

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<p>Cross -posted. That is good to know- Fullerton is great to have in your pocket. We are in Ventura County so are not guaranteed admission.</p>

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<p>Also just in case you do end up with Fullerton, be sure to apply for housing when you send in your application as they do not guarantee freshman housing and it fills up before they notify you of acceptance. Of course, only if you are planning to live on campus. You would lose your deposit if you decide not to attend, but it’s better than not having a place to live!</p>

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<p>I am still a little unsure about my list right now, as applications are EXPENSIVE!!! 15 schools! YIKES! Well, I guess that’s why I have a job! I do know about the program at UCI, and while it is GREAT, I am not so sure that I would be very happy there. I currently take classes at UCI, and I live not too far from the campus. I have been used to the UCI area since I was literally 2, and I think that I would like something new for college! It is an option that I should still consider though! And while it is not cheap, it is MUCH more affordable than most of the other schools on my list! As flights are expensive, I would like to try and consolidate most of my auditions to LA. That is why I am not so sure about Indiana, but I still have a little bit of time to figure that all out! I think that it probably would be possible to combine Michigan and BW. Thus, I would only have 2 trips. One it the Midwest, and the other to NC for Elon. As I have friends that go to school at all 3, and I have family friends that live near all 3, I think that I am pretty well set with places to stay! Hopefully, that can help cut costs as well! It is great to get any other input! Thanks, takeitallin! (p.s. when I see your name it INSTANTLY think of, and don’t ask me WHY OR HOW, Legally Blonde The Musical where Elle sings “take a deep breath…take it all in…” Haha! Wow, I am such a geek!)</p>

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<p>I definitely understand the “housing crisis” at Fullerton. I have heard stories from many friends!!!</p>

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<p>Try out your material early on if you can at a school with rolling admissions that is not at the top of your list. If it goes well, you’re golden. If it doesn’t, you have time to regroup before you audition at your top schools. Most folks report getting better with each audition so it’s a good idea to start off with something slightly less competitive to get “broken in.”
Some of the schools do take videos but if any of them are at the top of your list, avoid the video route if you can. The MT admissions people we consulted when considering DVD submissions spoke with great urgency about not sending a video, but auditioning in person, instead. I almost wondered why they even bothered offering the option, they were so adament against it.</p>

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<p>Another way to do some early auditions is to attend the International Thespian Festival auditions in Nebraska in June. D got a lot of callbacks and a couple firm offers, including talent scholarships, which were nice to have heading in to the regular audition season.</p>

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<p>Does anybody have a list of which schools offer EA or ED for their MT programs, or offer rolling admission into MT program with early auditions?</p>

15

<p>Are these auditions open to anyone, or must your school have a chapter and must you be a member?</p>

<p>Also, I just checked their website and it looks like there are only about 10 schools holding auditions (at least that are listed) and a lot of them are straight acting programs, not MT. Does anyone know if there are other schools that just aren’t listed?</p>

16

<p>Kids who audition at International Thespians have to have a Thespian Card. These cards are earned through troupe activities and organized by their troupe leader, which in most cases, is a teacher at their HS.</p>

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<p>I don’t have an exact number, but D had nearly 20 callbacks as I recall, so I know there were considerably more than 10 schools in Nebraska last year. Maybe someone else kept a copy of the full list of schools, but I’m guessing D didn’t.</p>

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<p>From my D’s audition experience, I would recommend saving your top choice auditions for later. It’s a much better strategy to audition for those schools after you’ve had a few auditions under your belt. She did most of her auditions at L.A. Unifieds, and those went much better than her first few.</p>

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<p>Is it possible to get a Thespian Card if your high school doesn’t have a troupe?</p>

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<p>mompop - Not that I could determine. I was told by International Thespians that the only way to get a card is through a troupe. </p>

<p>We have tried for three years to get my D’s drama teacher to follow-through with the Thespians and never succeeded. The teacher is a nightmare to communicate with and work with with so we just let it go and are going a different route. </p>

<p>One thing that I read in the Thespian guideline book was that the troupe director didn’t have to be a teacher at the school. If you wanted to start a troupe at your kiddo’s school you would just have to talk to the principal. As a teacher myself, I would caution you a bit in doing that unless you had a co-sponsor who was a teacher . . . there’s so much liability involved with kids (especially taking them on a long trip to the International Thespians!), I would be a little nervous unless I had a more legal connection to the school. But, if you did all the work and the teacher co-sponsored, it might be a good thing.</p>