Final Tally

College Majors Musical Theater Major
41

<p>To the Class of 2009 and beyond - </p>

<p>I hope in reading these posts that you keep this in mind:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Some of these kids were VERY talented, lucky, or whatever. If you count on getting into 50% of your auditions or even 25% of your auditions, you could be very disappointed. </p></li>
<li><p>Probably the most important thing to note - although these students were successful (success is getting into even one program) - they had 4 or 6 or maybe even more rejections plus waitlists. And there is no predictability where admittance will come and where it won't. If they didn't do a BA backup or only auditioned at the 6 auditions that rejected them, there wouldn't be any acceptance. So if you only audition at your top 4 or 6 or maybe even 8 programs, you cannot count on getting in. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>I think that is the real point and illustration of this thread - how many auditions it takes to get a good yield.</p>

42

<p>^^^Those are all good points to take note of!</p>

<p>Remember, you also can't get a handle on what it would be like for YOU as compared to someone else because each person's qualifications (both academically and artistically), as well as ability to audition well, and then type all differ dramatically. All candidates are not equal. So, viewing such results has some value and this DISCUSSION on the thread has a LOT of value, but you gotta remember this important point in that your experience may differ widely depending on YOUR academic and artisitic skills, type, and audition ability and also YOUR list of schools. The results being noted are not, in other words, all equal candidates going into this process. As well, each person's list is quite different.</p>

43

<p>I know I had complained about this thread, but perhaps that helped people add info to their posts; MANY of the pointers have been invaluable and I really appreciate them!!!</p>

<p>:)</p>

44

<p>I'll share as well- I hope it helps.</p>

<p>Applied/Auditioned: BoCo, Emerson, Marymount Manhattan, Muhlenberg, NYU, Pace, UArts</p>

<p>Rejected: BoCo, Emerson, NYU, UArts
Rejected from the program but not the school: Marymount, Pace</p>

<p>Accepted: Muhlenberg (obv. that's my final choice!)</p>

<p>Just as a background: I've never had acting training (but that was what I was complimented on always- even when I called BoCo, they had no criticisms for my acting), have only been singing since sophomore year, and am mostly hopeless at dancing. I'm talented (not saying this to be concieted) but I just haven't had as much training or experience as many other people. (Also, at four of my auditions I swear that 50% of the girls were crazy short brunettes- just like me! Haha. You blonde sopranos think you have it bad...)</p>

45

<p>My d had a very long road so here we go.
2007-She applied to Purchase, Ithaca, Emerson, CMU, Juilliard, Manhattanville, Drew, College of Santa Fe
Accepted:College of Santa Fe, Drew, Manhattanville, Ithaca(nonBFA)
Decision-Drew</p>

<p>2008-Applied as transfer to CMU, NYU Tisch, DePaul, Roosevelt
Accepted at :DePaul, NYU</p>

<p>my advice-don't give up!</p>

46

<p>Your D is a good example of making a come back from a setback to her goals and perservering! Yippee! </p>

<p>So....let us know what she decides! </p>

<p>Very exciting news!</p>

47

<p>D's background: Performing arts high school, theatre major
3.8 GPA
lukewarm SAT score - 1220, reading and math
5'7" slender brunette soprano, classical training 5 yrs.
dance training - 6 years
NFAA youngARTS finalist, musical theatre category
some professional credits on resume</p>

<p>Applied to 8 programs: Syracuse, UMich, CCM, Ithaca, CMU, Pace, NYU, FSU
All BFA MT</p>

<p>Chicago Unifieds: CMU, Ithaca
On campus auditions: UMich, CCM, Pace, NYU (CAP21 or bust), FSU
NYC audition: Syracuse</p>

<p>Rejected: UMich, CCM, Ithaca, CMU, NYU, FSU
Accepted: Syracuse, Pace</p>

<p>Final decision: Pace University, BFA MT, accepted into the Honors College
with academic scholarship</p>

48

<p>This is such an interesting thread...thanks to everyone who has posted for sharing. </p>

<p>Our daughter attends and lives at an academically challenging boarding school about 1.25 hours from our home. She goes to school six days a week, so college auditions and visits were tough. She has taken voice lessons for 2 years and appeared in every play or musical available to her in her high school. She is a tall, blonde, soprano. Dance training consisted of a three month ballet class. Her one real MT training opportunity was attending Circle in the Square Musical Theatre Summer Intensive course last summer. She was hooked!</p>

<p>As a hopeful novice, just a few months ago, I wanted to believe that by some miracle, my daughter would be offered a space in a program which would be "the perfect fit". I was sure that if she just auditioned at enough schools, someone would recognize her talent and that would be the end of that! Well, seven months later, I feel like a hardened old-timer who was slapped in the face with a dose of reality! </p>

<p>Since she really had no audition experience, (except for the audition to get into Circle, last summer), our goal was to try to give her as many audition opportunities as possible. We thought that the more auditions she did, the more comfortable she would become. Our home is close to NYC, so we scheduled as many auditions as possible in NYC, during her vacations, whether or not it was a good fit for her.</p>

<p>Auditioned in NYC:
Northwestern (VP)
CCM (MT)
Marymount Manhattan (MT)
CMU (MT)
Roosevelt (MT)
NYU Steinhardt (MT)
Pace (MT)
Juilliard (Acting)</p>

<p>Auditioned on Campus:
UArts (MT)
Westminster (MT)
Elon (MT)
Muhlenberg (BA)</p>

<p>Rejections: Northwestern, CCM, CMU, Roosevelt, NYU Steinhardt, Juilliard, UArts.</p>

<p>Accepted academically, but rejected artistically: Pace, Elon.</p>

<p>Accepted: Marymount Manhattan, Westminster, Muhlenberg.</p>

<p>She will be attending Muhlenberg next year, even though it's not located in NYC :) At this point, she wants to try again, next year...but maybe, she has found the perfect fit and just doesn't recognize it, yet. </p>

<p>I'm sure that her lack of real training impacted the decisions she received, however, I'm not sure that she's in such a bad position. Academically and socially, she is ready for college...this year will allow her time to re-examine her goals and if she really, really needs to...we'll be back...doing the whole thing over again, next year!</p>

<p>Good luck and thank you CC for being there when the College Office had no idea what to do with my daughter!</p>

49

<p>There was an interesting thread elsewhere that asked for a list of programs you would definetely re-audition for, maybe re-audition for, and not re-audition for. Just if we had to redo the entire thing!
Auditioning this year was an eye-opening experience. When everyone said to find the program that was the best fit, I shook that off and didn't really believe it. But after having visited and heard the directors of programs speak, and after having friends who were BFA MT's at numerous top and up-and-coming programs across the nation I realized what you all really meant about "best fit".</p>

<p>Accepted for MT: PACE (def reaudition), Syracuse (maybe reaudition), Point Park (not reaudition)
Accepted for acting: Fordham (def reaudition)</p>

<p>Waitlisted for MT: Ithaca (not reaudition)</p>

<p>Rejected: UMich (def NOT reaudition), CMU (def reaudition), CCM (def NOT reaudition), NYU ( maybe reaudition), Juilliard (def reaudition)</p>

<p>My final decision is PACE! I did not have a top choice until I heard Amy Rogers and Rob Meffe speak at my audition. It was my last audition and my best, so if anyone has questions about it next year...feel free to ask!</p>

50

<p>Riesen,
Your post reminded me of something worth mentioning. I don't know your D of course. And yes, more training and development of her skill set may have been needed. However, the other point worth knowing is that auditioning itself is a skill. It sounds like your D had very little experience auditioning. Yes, one needs to be able to sing, act, and dance. But even for those who have those skills, if they don't know how to audition, they may still not be admitted. A student must develop audition technique. Also, one way to get good at auditioning (not the only aspect of course) is that the more you do it, the better you get at it. As well, a person who has auditioned alot also achieves a level of confidence in an audition room. Someone can be a great singer or actor but if they can't sell themselves in an audition, it is not going to matter. The audition is all the auditors get to see (not how great they were in some show back home). </p>

<p>In my own child's case, she had auditioned countless times over the years....locally, regionally, state level, national, summer program casting, and even on Broadway. Being in an audition was not a new experience when she applied to college except as she was quick to say, this time way more was riding on the line. My D was just in a four hour callback the other day and told me that the "competition" was very stiff....full of top talent she has come to know. She said she really feels she knows HOW to audition. She got the part. She is not any more talented than the others. She is missing the semester at CAP21 on auditioning (she chose to focus instead on doing an acting studio to get more acting training as she cares about training) but said she doesn't feel she is missing anything as she feels she knows what you gotta do in an audition. But auditioning is a skill and it is developed through training in auditioning but also experience in auditioning. </p>

<p>My recommendation for those coming up for next year is that the more you can attend auditions for shows just to practice auditioning, the better prepared you will be for auditioning for college. As well, coaching on how you present your material is also important. Being able to sing a song is not enough.....the acting and performance of it is going to matter a lot in an audition.</p>

51

<p>This is really an interesting thread. I think it is going to benefit future auditionees because it proves there is not typically a set pattern of circumstances for selection by any school.</p>

<p>For future drama queens and mt dreamers.....
Type:tall, thin, tan, long curley haired (whatever that means to anyone!) mezzo suprano, big belt. 8 yrs exp incl: 22 stage productions (mt and straight) Performing arts high school; 2 yrs private vocal coach some opera; 4 yrs dance (mostly ballet); film/TV credits; lots of master classes; piano, guitar.....
All that said...
Auditioned for: Ithaca(top choice), Roosevelt, NYU(top choice), CCM, CMU, Penn State, Point Park, Santa Fe, Marymount M, Webster, (all MT)
Accepted: Ithaca, Roosevelt, NYU(Cap21), Point Park, Santa Fe, Marymount M, Webster (all MT)
Rejected: CCM, CMU, Penn State
All that experience and she was totally thrown as to what audition material to use. Worked on 3 different belt songs...changed 3 diff times. The last songs she used for unifieds were chosen by a new vocal coach in Jan. She didn't have much practice time, trouble with both songs; Monologues also changed in the last month. New vocal coach did not know her well, the songs were wrong for her. My D was told that if she over sang the last notes in one of the songs it would be O.K. because the auditioners would realize that and look beyond that. (haha)</p>

<p>moral of the story:
1.Preparation, Preparation, Preparation! 2. Know yourself, don't let others choose your material unless they know you. 3. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. 4. Get rest and take EXCELLENT care of yourself mentally and physically. 5. Put your best foot forward, don't be afraid if you aren't experienced, don't be afraid to let them know you want THIS! 6.MANY PEOPLE ARE REJECTED IN MANY FIELDS IN LIFE AND GO ON TO PHENOMENAL SUCCESS..NEVER LET GO OF YOUR DREAM!</p>

52

<p>I was thinking about some other aspects of the admission process that haven't been addressed much, and I'd like to stress the importance of the essays that are submitted. I now believe that essays may play a more important part in all of this than I originally thought. Making sure your essays stand out from all the rest could be just as beneficial as making sure your audition sets you apart from all the rest. As competitive as this whole process is, leave no stone unturned in your efforts to present yourself as a desireable candidate for these programs.
Also, make sure to do an in-depth study of the programs you're considering. My D was turned off at one particular program's orientation when she found out there was no cross-over between MT and Acting. The prospect of not having the opportunity to do any straight plays had her (mentally) crossing that school off her list. Had she (we) asked this critical question in advance, we could have saved a considerable amount of money by not applying/auditioning there.
Additionally, make sure your safety school is TRULY a safety. My D viewed her safety as her in-state possibility, strictly based on that criteria. Come to find out that program was not only the most selective by audition, (8 accepted, combined BM and MT) it was also the most selective academically of all my D's choices. It was most definitely a reach school for her! SO much money could have been saved had she NOT auditioned there!
Research, research, research...will save you time, money, and stress!
One more thought...My D unexpectedly fell in love with Pace (her final choice). Leave yourself open to that experience, by not having one particular school that you feel you MUST attend. It was such a lovely, pleasant surprise to see my D have that unexpected reaction. I would wish that experience on everyone who is now beginning this process!</p>

53

<p>Might also help...
We know one girl who had no dance exp, no acting classes, some coaching this year, 3 plays (mt) to her credit, about 7 or so years pop vocal, was chosen as NFAA finalist MT. Accepted at top schools. She did not fit the typical MT mold physically. Some of the schools were def looking for her type this year.
She has had great success w/almost no MT experience, no dance, acting, again...I hope this helps hopefuls to never never give up and don't try to figure out why you are or aren't chosen....Just go with it and make the most of your next step! Your own instincts will probably help more than anything. As one of my D's mt teachers told her "be honest with yourself".
Also, reading books on auditioning might be helpful...will post a few when I get the names from my d.</p>

54

<p>As people are entering the "audition cycle", like Michael says, there are a lot of tips readily available. I will refrain from "turning into a parrot" :D, but do want to urge everyone to read up on all those tips and suggestions, because they will prove invaluable. </p>

<p>My D, like some other posters above, went into this process having 12 "Number One" schools. She would have been perfectly content attending any one of the schools on her list. That said, when my daughter went into her audition process, after years of reading on CC, I will admit that there are still factors that are difficult to anticipate. </p>

<p>Living on the west coast we did not have money set aside to visit every single school D was applying to in advance, but opted to have her audition on site where possible to get a feel for the campus/faculty/program. This led to some interesting findings. For example, being a dancer who also loves to act and sing, she thought that CCM would be a great fit for her (after researching the program, and talking to alumnae), but when she got to the campus, she just could not picture herself going to school there. On the other hand, when she visited Elon, in spite of her strong preference for a more urban environment, she fell completely head over heels in love with the school. </p>

<p>At the end of the day, once your S or D has received some acceptances, where they feel most "at home" is going to play as important a role as anything else. Aside from of course pulling things together financially.</p>

<p>And now here goes, in case this info is helpful to anyone:</p>

<p>My D applied to the following BFA's: NYU, Elon, Point Park, Pace, Webster, Marymount Manhattan, UMich, CMU, CCM, BoCo, Penn State, Syracuse & her "BA no-theatre" back up, Fordham (D attends a Jesuit HS & had the grades + EC's to have this qualify as her back up).</p>

<p>She auditioned (in the fall) at:
Elon, Point Park, CMU, Pace, Marymount Manhattan, NYU & CCM</p>

<p>Accepted by:
Elon, Point Park, Marymount Manhattan, Fordham & NYU</p>

<p>Rejected by:
CCM (fate has a funny way of wagging its tail :))</p>

<p>She canceled her remaining auditions and pulled her applications once accepted at NYU (ED). Even though she dilligently worked on keeping an open mind (hence the top 12 first choices), we did know that NYU was her dream school. Since she felt it might be an academic reach for her, and very competitive artistically on top of that, she decided to "go for it" and applied ED. It worked out, and she continues to count her blessings every day.</p>

<p>Type:
Petite blonde ingenue soprano, who belts & loves to act
Attends a non perf arts rigorous college prep HS
Dance training: 12 years
Voice training: 5 years (classical & contemporary)
Acting: 5 years</p>

55

<p>Bettyboop-thanks for posting and congratulations to your D for her success. What was her final decision?</p>

56

<p>Drum roll....
Ithaca BFA, MT... It was initially her first choice.</p>

57

<p>Good reads...</p>

<p>Audition (don't know author) and
On Singing Onstage by David Craig</p>

58

<p>The book, "Audition" is by Michael Shurtleff. </p>

<p>btw, there is a thread stickied to the top of the MT forum for books/resources.</p>

59

<p>My D auditioned at DeSales, UArts, Pace, Point Park(Unifieds), Penn State(Unifieds), and Marymount Manhattan, West Chester (non-audition)</p>

<p>Accepted: DeSales(MT), Point Park(MT), Marymount Manhattan(MT), West Chester(non-audition)</p>

<p>Waitlisted: PennState(MT)</p>

<p>Rejected: UArts, Pace(MT)</p>

<p>Accepted academically only- Pace </p>

<p>She also sent in Pre-screening CDs for vocal performance to Julliard, Manhattan School of Music and Curtis Intitute. Manhattan School of Music and Curtis invited her to audition- however, she was not accepted to either school. (She felt good about passing the pre-screening though!)</p>

<p>It's meant a lot to have the support of this board over the past year. We couldn't have gotton thru with out all the great advice. Hope we can give some good advice for next year's seniors.</p>

<p>We also really enjoyed the audition process- really nice kids and parents waiting in all those hallways! I was worried it might be a very cutthoat atmosphere- but not at all- the kids are all encouraging of each other</p>

60

<p>We were typically uneducated at the beginning of the process. My son goes to an academically challenging IB program in high school. He has had no dance training, no formal acting training, and about 6 private voice lessons. He has been in all the shows his high school has put on, with the leads in all shows the last two years. He has a solid B+ average in school, and 660/730 reading/math SAT, along with 200 hours of community service. He did a one month summer pre college program at U Arts last summer, and this is what convinced him that he wanted to be a MT major in college.</p>

<p>Auditions: at U Tampa (at state conference),Florida State, University of
Florida (sick that weekend), Indiana
Chicago Unifieds - Penn State, U Mich, Point Park, U Miami, U Arts,<br>
and Hartt
Decided to cancel Elon and Ball State after some other
acceptances (he didn't want to miss any more school/rehearsal)</p>

<p>Accepted: U Tampa, Point Park, U Arts, U Miami, Hartt for MT,
accepted academically at all schools except wait list at Elon
Final: U Miami</p>

<p>My son is very talented but didn't really know how to sell himself at auditions, he got better as he went along. Three of four acceptances were the last three auditions he did. If we did it again, I would have counselled him to go to his most desirable schools last. He probably would have benefitted with some local practice auditions which he probably could have arranged with teachers at other high schools theater programs that could have given more input. I think that some of the input from his teachers was probably not unbiased. It's unfortunate that the people doing the auditions can't really see what the students are like for more than five minutes.</p>