The “Final Acting Decisions” thread has veered off into discussions that should be on a different thread. Do we have a CC pro who can re-direct?
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
I guess that would be me. Let’s keep to the purpose of the thread. XX vs. YY conversations should be on its own thread. Thanks.
@Atreuh I flagged your comment and It looks like you’ve been answered! 
@thespis1 - reason your question on the thread called: BFA Acting Class of 2023: preparation, prescreens, auditions, questions and support
I meant re-ask. Darn auto correct
Hi. I am still trying to figure out navigating CC. Someone’s college list sparked some questions. Everyone has been so helpful. I appreciate it! And yes, questions have been answered!
Hi. Just finished helping D officially accept/commit to ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY for a BFA in Acting, and decline her offer of admission to Elon University for the BFA in Acting, as well as her remaining B.A -Theater option. Feeling a huge weight lifted off my/our respective shoulders. So looking forward to the fun part now (although the first installment payment in June seems to be incredibly soon).
Programs Applied to: 12 (alphabetically)
Boston University (BFA-Acting)
Denison University (BA-Theater)
DePaul University (BFA-Acting)
Elon University (BFA-Acting)
Illinois Wesleyan University (BFA-Acting)
Illinois (University of - Urbana/Champaign) (BFA-Acting)
Ithaca College (BFA-Acting)
Michigan (University of -Ann Arbor) (BFA -Acting/Performance)
Minnesota/Guthrie (University of -Twin Cities) (BFA-Acting)
Northwestern University (BA-Theater)
NYU-Tisch (BFA-Acting)
Rollins College (BA-Theater w/Musical Theater Concentration)
Note: WITHDREW FROM schools and Chicago Unified Auditions set up for schools she had ranked 7-12 in late January 2018. D’s Rationale and Timing:
Rationale:
Elon (at the time) was a top 3 choice artistically (next to DePaul and Michigan) and offered her admission on 12/15/17. Illinois Wesleyan University, her #4 choice artistically, and her # 1 choice academically, offered her a large talent/academic award for 4 years that made this school immediately viable financially; and Rollins College (where her sister attends and which she loves because her sister loves it) also admitted her with almost a full-ride for tuition for all 4 years. Her thinking was that she wanted to focus on preparation for Unified Auditions at her remaining top 4 artistic choices and withdraw from other choices that were no longer competitive (for her) with the choices she had already.
Timing:
AFTER early admission to TWO (2) BFA-Acting Programs in her Top 6 (in December 2017) AND receipt of financial aid and scholarship offers in mid-January 2018 from 2 of top 6 choices (one BFA and one BA);
BEFORE Chicago Unified Auditions during first and second week of February (note: we live in the Chicago area so we did not have to cancel flight or hotel reservations for her to make this last minute decision; we also had our FAFSA and CSS Profile completed (although apparently not correctly) and submitted to all schools by January 15, 2018.
Prescreens: 5 (alphabetically)
- DEPAUL UNIVERSITY: Not Passed Timing = [Submitted mid-October; (Not passed notification with 1 week by text while sitting at the DePaul Theater Open House)] Type = [2-60 second monologues (1 Classic - Juliet from Romeo & Juliet, ; 1 Contemporary - An Intervention by Mike Bartlett ) + 1 Personal Statement]
- ELON UNIVERSITY: Passed, Invited to CAMPUS Audition (only campus auditions; no unified auditions) Timing = prescreens submitted late August; notification within 1 week of earliest audition date on 10/21/17) Type = 2-90 second monologues (2 Contemporary (classic not preferred but allowed) + Personal Statement): Contemporary 1 -Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl (Eurydice's love letter to Orpheus); Contemporary 2 - An Intervention by Mike Bartlett (Character A)
- ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY: Passed, Invited to CAMPUS Audition (only campus auditions; no unified auditions -- request for early, private audition on 10/27 granted; provided entire day of classes and activities) Timing = prescreens submitted late August, notification within 1 week. Type = 2-90 second monologues (same as Elon submission). Submitted Personal Statement as well.
- ITHACA COLLEGE: Passed. (submitted mid-October; received invitation to audition immediately after ddl for submissions). Scheduled Chicago Unified Audition.
- MINNESOTA/GUTHRIE: (not really a prescreen, because it does not really require "passing" but needs to be uploaded to be invited to audition; and applicant MUST audition with the same pieces submitted at Unified Auditions) Timing = mid-October Type = 90-seconds -- 1 Classic (Juliet-Romeo & Juliet); 1 Contemporary (Character A-An Intervention); 1 "stretch" monologue (a character one would not be cast as but always wanted to play) (Algernon Moncrieff) ***INVITED TO AUDITION; scheduled Chicago Unified Audition.
*Note: For other schools on application list WITHOUT prescreen requirements, learned the following:
Artistic Profiles (required to be invited to audition by theater schools)
- Boston University
- University of Michigan
- NYU
**Instead of prescreen fees, some schools require an “artistic profile” submission online (a resume and/or short theater based essays – apart from the academic admission essays) along with an ARTISTIC PROFILE FEE. See, e.g., Boston University; University of Michigan; NYU. Northwestern University provides the opportunity to submit a Musical Theater Artistic Profile with video footage.
SCHOOLS that required application to academic University BEFORE Artistic Profile could be submitted and/or Unified Audition could be scheduled:
All schools required applications to underlying academic institution before prescreens or artistic profiles or auditions EXCEPT:
Elon University (application to University could be made after prescreens and auditions, but before BFA decision could be made; admission to University not necessary before BFA decision made, but BFA admission contingent on academic admission. Note: Elon University has an Early Action (non-binding) alternative. BFA candidates CANNOT APPLY EARLY DECISION. Highly advised to pursue this course and schedule early auditions in the Fall.
Notes: We saw one student walk in to the BU unified audition in Chicago who had NOT applied to the University yet and apparently the school let him audition (despite huge crowds who were scheduled and long delays).
Learned: A) University of Illinois at U/C permits audition/video submissions if the applicant cannot travel to campus to audition (preferred) or attend live auditions in Chicago during Unified Audition week. See Accptd Website. Good idea to apply EARLY because merit scholarship deadlines are early for Illinois (late October I believe and University/Program highly recommends on-campus auditions – which my D did not do). If one is an Illinois resident, state-based need funding also runs out early (see these warnings on U of I and Northwestern websites).
Accepted to: (in order of admission)
- Illinois Wesleyan University (Academic and Artistic Acceptance to BFA-Acting Program with large talent/academic award 12/10)
- Elon University (Early Action Admission 12/15; BFA-Acting Admission 12/17)
- Rollins College (academic only admission early January, large merit award based on grades and test scores formula; see website)
- University of Minnesota (academic -early January 2018, but not artistic - immediate decision day of audition)
- Denison University (academic only/late January, withdrew immediately)
Rejected from: (based on auditions; prescreen rejection from DePaul University)
- University of Minnesota/Guthrie (within hours of audition)
- University of Michigan
- Boston University
Wait-listed at: (none)
Coach: (none) (but I did hire a professional videographer for prescreens – a friend)
Background/Training:
Acting: CYSE (Meisner, Viewpoints; Stanislavski); High School acting classes and musical theater workshops; and mostly just by doing it a fair amount of acting in high school plays and musicals
Musical Theater: Much more extensive training here (but she decided to go for a BFA in Acting because her voice, although beautiful and perfect pitch is not “strong enough” according to her own self-perception):
Summer Programs: 2017 Chicago Youth Shakespeare Ensemble (by audition only)
Final Decision: Illinois Wesleyan University, BFA-Acting Class of 2022
So glad for you and your D, @noreplays2018! Definitely a relief to put this stressful process behind you and look forward to her exciting college experience!
Congratulations to you and your D, @Noreplays2018!!! It sounds like you two made a very smart and positive decision together and I don’t think either of you will have any regrets.
@Noreplays2018 I am SOOOOOO Incredibly Happy this is Over for you!! I happen to love IWU as I’ve stated before Congratulations! I agree with @CaMom13 Very SMART MOVE!
@Noreplays2018 - Congratulations to you and your D! Your post was incredibly informative and I am sure future cc readers will be incredibly grateful!
Congrats to you and your D, @Noreplays2018 ! And thank you for the detailed report. I love these-so much to learn!
Congratulations! @Noreplays2018 This is so wonderful and what a sense of relief!! Wishing your D the very best!
Great post, @Noreplays2018! Congratulations to you and your D! I can hear you breathing again - all the way over here on the east coast!
Congratulations @Noreplays2018!!! Fantastic post - love all the details!
I love reading the final decisions! Congratulations! The post detail is great, for the future theater families gives helpful information. How did you store that in your head @Noreplays2018 ?
@DoinResearch My head is unfortunately filled with too much information. It is a gift and a curse, because as I age, I do lose pieces of critical information that matter, but don’t realize they are gone. The past year is teaching me not to hit “send” until I check all my facts now. I did that before I posted above. So, I guess I am just “DoinResearch” too.
@ginaf1102 LOL
@DoinResearch and others: And…dang it…I was WRONG about UMinn-Guthrie. NO PRESCREENS OR UPLOADS OF AUDITION PIECES FOR APPLICATION. I knew something felt off there; clearly a fact I didn’t check. So, yeh, not making this stuff up, however, others may want to “trust but verify.” Sorry. Trying to be helpful based on what I thought was useful to know.
@Noreplays2018 Since schools change from year to year, everyone had to do their homework anyway, even if we get it perfect. When I started, and hopefully soon I’ll be writing a final decision story, there were changes, I know the prescreen for DePaul was new.