Help? I audition next year and I'm terrified.

College Majors Musical Theater Major
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<p>I hope I put this in the right place. I'm new, but I want to major in musical theater when I go to college. I'm currently a junior in high school, and am pretty desperate to go to Carnegie Mellon. Yes I know it's a long shot, because the program is so selective (only 15 get in). I think I could get in grade wise I haven't taken the SAT yet but the tutor says I'm bound to score high.
Little info about me (I'm not trying to sound cocky, but I think you need the info):
-I've been singing since I could talk, lessons since I was ten. I'm a soprano by the way.
-I am also a pretty good actress. But I get cast as the lead male because I go to an all girls school.
-I have not been in a musical in 2 years because my school doesn't do them and I can't fit more theater into my schedule between the school play and everything else on top of it.
-I have done alot of theater camps the past few summers
-I have never really been enrolled in a dance class, we can't afford that and singing, and I'd rather sing.</p>

<p>Here's my problem: I was reading the website and it says you have to dance both ballet and jazz. I think a faculty member will teach us.</p>

<p>Big problem! I can dance, like if you teach me how to do it I can kinda do it. But I am certainly not a ballerina. I learned a whole show in two days once, and was able to put it up the next day. Yes it was rough around the edges, but what else do you expect. However I am really concerned that this could jeopardize my shot at my number one school. What do I do? I am so sorry this is so long.</p>

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<p>Sorry to be blunt, but a lack of dance skills could jeopardize your shot at ANY selective BFA school, let alone CMU, which is considered one of the top schools in the country. Girls in particular are expected to have some background in dance. And most schools, like CMU, will have a dance audition which includes at least a ballet combination and probably a jazz combination as well.</p>

<p>I strongly suggest that you find a way to improve your dance skills between now and next year. If you are still doing summer theater camps, I would imagine they offer some kind of dance training that you can take advantage of. </p>

<p>I know this is difficult, but try not to pin all your hopes on any one school. Your chances of actually being accepted are very small – not because you aren’t talented, but because so many OTHER talented students are applying for so few positions. Focus instead on improving your skills, and putting together a well-balanced list of schools to apply to, in addition to CMU. Good luck.</p>

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<p>For most of the selective MT programs, admission is based primarily on the audition. If your grades are good and your SAT tutor thinks you will score well, why don’t you drop the SAT tutor and take dance instead? You don’t have much time to get dance under your belt given that you will be auditioning in 7 to 10 months, but something is better than nothing. Maybe you could barter at a dance studio…free or reduced price lessons in exchange for working there? There are a ton of really talented girls out there, and many of them have several years, if not a decade or more, of dance. It would help if you got some basics down before your audition. I also agree with onstage that you should apply to a number of schools, including some that don’t require dance in the audition, in order to maximize your chances of getting in somewhere. Good luck!</p>

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<p>Agreed with every post above…take some dance classes over the summer if you can’t fit them in during the school year, and please don’t put all your eggs in the Carnegie Mellon basket! That would be a very silly thing to do…not saying you could not get in, because none of us know you…but you want to increase your chances of getting into a BFA (if that is what you are shooting for) by auditioning for a variety of schools. And you say they are so selective … “only 15 get in”… That is the reality at EVERY BFA auditioned school… only 10-15 are accepted (and 1/2 of those are guys)…so the bottom line is you will be auditioning against 500+ for those few spots at schools like CM, CMU, UMich, etc…OR…you will be auditioning ONLY against 300-500 at some other schools for those same few spots. Either way, it is quite competitive and getting much more so every year. I do not mean to scare you or make you think twice about “going for it”, but just want to suggest you have quite a few schools on your list. Good luck in preparing for this journey!</p>

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<p>My D tells me at many of the auditions, the dance director (or his/her assistant) taught the audition dance using lots of dance vocabulary, rather than demonstrating very much. It will help A LOT if you know your basic ballet terms.</p>

<p>Great SAT scores will help get scholarships at many schools which is terrific, but it’s the audition that gets you in the door. Great academics without a great audition won’t get you into an audition school.</p>

<p>My “Triple Threat” D has a really nice resume and a number of pro folks told her she must go to CMU but you know, somehow CMU didn’t get the message!! :wink: But there ARE other great schools out there. Research like crazy. </p>

<p>(CMU seems to put extra weight on the acting part of the audition, so you need to be working on those monologues, too.)</p>

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<p>As an indication of how hard it is to get into CMU for MT, if you look at the list of acceptances posted this year, you will see lots and lots acceptances including all of the top schools, EXCEPT for CMU. There is only one “Waitlist” posted:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1255165-mt-acceptances-hs-class-2012-college-name-21.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1255165-mt-acceptances-hs-class-2012-college-name-21.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>CMU is arguably the most difficult MT program in the country to get into.</p>

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<p>The tricky thing about this whole process is that you have to be solid in EVERYTHING - not just acting, singing and dancing, but academics and SAT scores and interviewing too (And I don’t mean rehearsed interviews, just comfort in showing your true self in a very short period of time). </p>

<p>BTW, Carnegie places emphasis on audition over grades/scores. Prospective BFA-ers are not scrutinized academically the same way as applicants to other majors.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t drop the SAT tutor until you actually take the test and get your results unless paying for college is not a worry in your family. Great SAT/ACT scores can net you great scholarships. </p>

<p>For us, getting advice and coaching with folks who really understand the college audition process helped us know my daughter’s strengths and weaknesses through an experienced lens. This helped us move forward with focus for auditions. Going with MTCA was the first best decision we made in this entire process.</p>

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<p>I can’t stress enough how important it was psychologically to NOT have a top school - at all!! Not only does it help with the almost certainty of some degree of disappointment - I think it also keeps one grounded during the auditions - which is very important. When my D was asked what her top school was - she either said she had a top 5, or that her top school will be the best school that chooses her and that she’ll analyze at that point! Besides being as prepared as possible, I think one of the most important things is that you are able through your audition materials and your interview to show them who you are as an artist and a person - if in the back of your head you’re just thinking “I need to get in here, I need to get in here” - I don’t think it helps.</p>

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<p>Thanks for all the input I think I’ll be taking on some dance classes this summer at BDC if I can. I know not to put all my eggs in one basket especially since the acceptance number is insane I know there are a ton of great schools out there thats just my top if I get in thats where I’m going. Has anyone done the audition? I know @classicalbk’s D did was it incredibly hard especially for someone like me who will probably not know what she’s doing. Would I be better off auditioning for the acting program? I’m so lost on this whole thing.</p>

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<p>bklynBridge95,</p>

<p>Your job over the next few months is to research A LOT of schools that offer musical theatre majors, learn about the differences in a BFA or BA or BM program, look at their audition requirements, courses offered, costs, and life on X college campus in general. Start making a list – include some really challenging schools like CMU, also some others that have a slightly higher admissions ratio, and some that are non-audition. Be sure you have the academic credentials/requirements each school requires as well. Although some programs are much more audition-based, others put a higher weight on academics (and schools are under pressure to accept kids that will finish, so having the academic creds matters…it can also make for some scholarship opportunities.) MAKE SURE YOU WOULD BE HAPPY AT ANY OF THE SCHOOLS ON YOUR LIST. I cannot stress that fact enough. There are many, many good schools out there, and you only need one acceptance. However, especially for a girl, it’s dang hard to get accepted…so choose your schools wisely. Many people suggest 8-10 schools, some have done even more.</p>

<p>Next, you’re doing a good thing in planning to get those dance classes. That is really important, as is working with your voice teacher or another trusted person on your audition material. Remember the first paragraph where I mentioned working on your list NOW? That’s really important, as each school will have different audition requirements, some will require to you do a video prescreen before being invited to campus, and all will require the “usual” application, letters of recommendation, etc. </p>

<p>Spend a lot of time reading and learning. There’s good information here on CC about the schools and audition experiences. Also, go to the schools’ websites, and get yourself on their mailing lists. Start looking at those requirements, and think about what you are looking for in a college experience. Do you want to be in a city, in a dedicated, arts-heavy program? Do you want more academic experience as well? Do you want sports and sorority? What sort of performing opportunities would you receive? Training? </p>

<p>It’s okay to feel lost right now…this is your time to start making your own roadmap. Sure, CMU is a good school, and someone (a very few) has to be accepted. But there are many, many more schools out there. Right now it’s your turn. “Audition” the schools – figure out what you want, and how you’re going to get to that goal…and start making your list. </p>

<p>We are glad you are here. Now start making that list of schools Yes, schools PLURAL, you would love to be invited to attend. (And your list will change…that’s okay…but start digging in!)</p>

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<p>Here is a list of threads that may help you get started (in some of the posts you will find more links to more helpful threads):</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/477658-preparing-apply-information-h-s-juniors-seniors.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/477658-preparing-apply-information-h-s-juniors-seniors.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1321647-preparing-mt-program.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1321647-preparing-mt-program.html&lt;/a&gt; (this recent thread contains some posts on dance at auditions)</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1320197-important-discussions-juniors.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1320197-important-discussions-juniors.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/102726-books-other-resources-mt-students.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/102726-books-other-resources-mt-students.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thank you @mommafrog this really helps.</p>

<p>Thank you @EmsDad I’m going to look into those threads right now.</p>

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<p>Here are a couple more:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1304880-final-decisions-background-class-2016-a.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1304880-final-decisions-background-class-2016-a.html&lt;/a&gt; (this is a great thread that shows how the process has worked over the past couple of years for many applicants)</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/866128-mt-rejections.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/866128-mt-rejections.html&lt;/a&gt;
(reading through the Rejections thread will give you some insight into the importance of developing a balanced list with programs that fit your abilities, approach, ambitions, etc.).</p>

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<p>Ahem. To clarify. I may have said the audition process is incredibly hard, especially for girls - I didn’t mean anything to sound like it was going to be just hard for Ms. Bklynbridge95! It’s tough for all girls - and not having dance and not having much performing experience will make it even harder. Lots of girls with all of that have still not been accepted into CMU - that place is Mt Olympus for theatre folks (and for good reason - we saw Sweeney Todd. Wow). My D found the CMU dance audition NOT to be hard. She didn’t find any of the dance auditions to be hard, because she’s very fit and has been dancing since preschool; however, if you (meaning anybody) aren’t fit and you (meaning anybody) don’t know your dance vocabulary, it’s going to be challenging at most of the dance auditions.</p>

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<p>Woo I was in that Sweeney Todd. Glad you enjoyed it!!</p>

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<p>CarnegieMT, I saw Sweeney too. Great job.</p>