<p>Hi, it is good that you are thinking about college admissions NOW as a junior. Your post is full of several issues.</p>
<p>First, you say you want to live at home the first year. You don't say where you live (state?) and so that is VERY limiting as to which college you go to because not THAT many schools have BFA in Musical Theater programs. It is not like regular college where there may be a few in your area from which to pick. So, knowing where you live (general area) would help. As you may know, these programs are highly selective. If you are limited to just the ones where you live (and that is even IF there are BFA programs near you), you likely won't have many to audition at and the odds of admission will go way down. You will need back ups of other college plans in your area that may not be a BFA program if you were to live at home that first year. </p>
<p>Another issue is that you say you are not ready to move out on your own. I understand your concern. You may want to realize that this is almost TWO years away and you will grow and mature by that time. You don't need to be ready NOW, in other words. It is hard to say now how you will feel then. Have you ever been away from home? Do you have any opportunity to go to a summer program that is sleep away, maybe even just a three week one? This might be a good trial run to see what being away from home is like. Also, while it may seem daunting or scary to you, sometimes life involves taking that jump and once you are there, you likely will be just fine. Some kids do get wary or nervous about a new experience or going to college (though some do not) and that is OK! I am not sure what one more year will do to assuage that sense of nerves about being away from home or on your own. In any case, if you do your plan, you will be limited by school choices and might want to opt to do a GAP year where you don't go away to college that first year but instead do something worthwhile. Perhaps you can do some intensive MT training or an internship with a theater, teach theater to kids and just about anything is possible....and THEN audition for college the following year.</p>
<p>About preparing for auditions as a junior. I don't think you need to prepare NOW for the actual college auditions themselves. My own kid did not start her selection of audition material or preparation until fall of the year she applied (which for her was HER Junior year but equivalent to senior year in this process for anyone else, as she was an early graduate). Your post does not reveal your background, nor what training you already have had. But even without knowing too much about you, I would say that the years leading up to senior year, what you need to do to "prepare" is to get voice lessons, take dance (at least ballet but jazz and tap too would be great), and some acting training (class? coach? whatever you can find), and continue to audition and be in some theater productions. Training is important now, not selecting the college audition material. Also auditioning for shows where you live gives you important audition experience. </p>
<p>While my child did not go about selecting audition material for college in the year before auditions, she did acquire a wide repertoire of songs for her "book". In other words, she worked on many songs that she keeps as possibilities for auditions in general. It so happens that the songs she did for college auditions are not ones she worked on the previous year, it did not matter because basically she increased her repertoire of songs of all types that she has for the future that she can use. She only really selected any songs in the fall of the year she auditioned. If you work with a voice teacher, perhaps he/she can suggest songs for your voice and your strengths. My D's voice teacher rarely suggests songs (though does once in a while) and she finds them on her own. But she is VERY familiar with the body of musicals that exist and picks from her general knowledge of the musical theater repertoire but also buys some musical songbooks (both mixed selections and scores of various shows she likes) and listens to CDs and such to find songs she likes that fit her voice type. </p>
<p>With monologues, my D knew far less in her general knowledge base. One of her monologues she used for college was from a play she saw twice the summer before that she liked. But she also read plays and monologue books to look for material. As well, since she had never had acting lessons as they were not available where we live, nor do we have drama classes at school, she found an acting coach for fall of the audition year and that person helped with suggestions and with her presentation. </p>
<p>So, for now, you need to research songs and plays/monologues to increase your knowledge base and try many out to increase your repertoire but you do not need to actually be selecting audition material for colleges at this point. Ideally, you can work with a voice teacher and an acting teacher. If you do not have either, ask around your community. Approach teachers at school who may have resources or even be able to coach you individually. Perhaps look into a summer musical theater intensive away from home if your parents are willing. </p>
<p>Susan</p>