<p>Hello tl all those parents out there( and your very talented kids). While I am not a parent, I am a senior in high school this year and am starting to prepare for musical theater auditions. Being a native New yorker, I really want to get out(at least for college) so most of my choices are in the midwest. I'm working with an acting coach to choose monolouge and working on trying to choose some songs. I am also trying to catch up on the years of dancing I missed after I quit at 8. I am also trying to get together my entry for NFAA as it is quite a good oppurtunity.I will also try to audition for Little Red in Into the Woods at a community theater around me so i can have my little "theater fix" lol. Anyway I hope I get to meet many of you and your kids on this musical theater audition trek, and best of luck to everyone.
I will be auditioning at Elon,OCU,Otterbein,Baldwin Wallace,FSU,Michigan,Webster, and College of Santa Fe. Also, does anyone know of any BA schools that (either audition or not) would be good backups?</p>
<p>Hi folks!
I am a long time reader and rare poster. My son is a senior who wants to go to a BFA program. For anyone new to this site I recommend reading through all of the threads. This is a huge project and it took me months. It is one of the reasons that I rarely post! I am sensitive to the folks who are reading all this. There are many folks much wiser and more experienced than I am so I stay quiet. Do not read through the threads passively. From the beginning start categorizing. If you see a comment on a school you are considering make a folder for it. If you see advice on auditioning put it in your audition file. I have Word type docs for each category. I edit them to retain only the essential information.</p>
<p>In your file for a specific school have information from the program's web site as well as the comments from this site. Write down the audition dates and contact information for the school. As you get closer to audition time you can print out all the information for that school as well as your hotel reservations etc, and have it all in one folder.</p>
<p>I have created about a dozen tracking documents for use in comparing schools and in tracking my son's progress on applications, essays, etc.</p>
<p>I have read about four books on auditioning just so I know what he has to go through. I also read Making it on Broadway so I know something about what he has "to look forward to".</p>
<p>My wife, son and I will try to remember that we need to keep loving one another through the exciting and challenging year ahead. I wish the same for all of you.</p>
<p>Bill (Beriglour)</p>
<p>Welcome beriglour from an old-timer. You and your family really will get through the year, and next year this time, he'll be happily settled somewhere.</p>
<p>Bill,</p>
<p>I have been teased about making spread sheets so I really like your folder Ideas. We have used folders for each school but only regarding applications/auditions. I was not as forward looking as you when reading through the entire threads. </p>
<p>I thought the forum frowned on using your real identity, maybe I am wrong but if they make you change your forum name remind us that your the guy with the master folder organizing plan:)</p>
<p>I have to say that this application process is lame! Not hard, just lame, and I am not doing the bulk of it. Its been said before but why does it have to be so hard to navigate through these schools web sites and online applications? </p>
<p>In addition to each school file we have a general file that contains various things including the master Calendar with all the pertinent dates and a “to do” list for each week. On the outside of each school file folder we have a running history</p>
<p>8/14 Emailed audition reservation request
8/15 Received response
8/19 Created account on admission online application
User name and password are..</p>
<p>And so on. </p>
<p>The first spread sheet I created is in the master folder and is titled “Application” and it has each school down the first column. The second column listed when the applications are available. Second column is wether or not you have to submit a school application in order to schedule an audition the next lists the application deadlines, next date we sent the application in and last column is confirmation that the school shows all application materials are in place. </p>
<p>The next spread sheet is titled “Audition”</p>
<p>Schools down the left first column, next column is do they participate in the unified’s next has an audtion been scheduled, next when, next has the audition been confirmed. </p>
<p>The last spread sheet is really a checklist in each school folder with the following items to be checked off:
Application Submitted
Application fee sent
Counselor form Submitted
Letters of recommendation sent
Test scores sent
Application Follow up
Audition scheduled
Audition Follow up</p>
<p>There is a little redundancy yet our system seems to be working so far. The notes have been key as there have already been times when we have mistaken something as associated with one school and it was another. The scary part is how much time has already been invested and how many things still need to be "checked off".</p>
<p>Feel free to critique, we could all use ideas to make this go a smoothly as possible</p>
<p>So which schools do not require the application in order to schedule an audition date? We are looking at staright drama programs, not MT</p>
<p>Dude! I give you the spread sheets for free and now you want me to fill them in for you? ;) </p>
<p>Thats on a different computer, based on memory, pretty sure she was able to schedule an audition with SMU without first applying. </p>
<p>The two lamest parts of this process is the back and forth between addmissions and the department and the fact that you spend hours applying to a program that you probably dont want to attend. The whole backups and safeties notion.</p>
<p>NY,</p>
<p>I am guessing my s and your d are not applying to the same schools or we have definately missed the boat somewhere. How do you have so many auditions already scheduled? We only have one and as far as we can tell the others are not scheduling yet. S is applying to NYU,CCM,CMU,Penn State,Julliard,UMich,FSU. Penn is the only audition we have scheduled. S has applications in to all schools but we think we are waiting on them to get back with us about his audition. PLEASE let us know if there is a shortcut to getting audition times besides waiting for admissions to get all your application stuff (recommendations,scores,transcripts). I would really appreciate any and ALL insight!!!!</p>
<p>THANK YOU!</p>
<p>mtboymom,
I think you're fine! FSU and Michigan I think you do just wait until you hear back from them after you apply and send in the audition request forms. CMU audition registration just came online today-I posted about that on the CMU thread. NYU won't be online until November 1, for regular decision. Penn State you've scheduled. I don't know anything about CCM or Julliard since D hasn't ever really investigated those programs. Sounds like you are in great shape to have all the applications in already! Good luck to your son!</p>
<p>Hi, my name is Taryn and I'm a senior! Oh, what a scary thought......Actually, I'm quite looking forward to college! I absolutely adore the idea of being a Musical Theatre major this time next year. Anyway, I just thought I'd "check in!" I'd love to get to know any of my peers who are going through the same nerve-wracking process.</p>
<p>Hi Taryn,</p>
<p>I'm also a senior, and I'm totally excited/ nervous for this whole process. I feel like I'm so far behind everyone on this site, I guess I need to get moving! What schools are you applying to?</p>
<p>What a joke - I know we all are! I am just taking a break from researching, filling out applications, printing out info, e-mailing colleges, organizing info, and making sure my dd is still at her project this weekend - essays. I started my process at 9:30 this morning (I should say re-started, as I finished my night last night by filling out the on-line app for BOCO!). It is now 2:45 and I am surrounded by what I have printed out, and just needed to vent! </p>
<p>I guess she is applying to 12 colleges (not entirely certain yet) and it is too much for her to do along with everything she is doing. The Common App Online seems to be a time saver - just filled that out a little while ago and saved it to add the essays that she will write. It looks like that will take care of 3 of the schools. We have I hope 4 auditions scheduled (some of the conservatory applications just went out yesterday, with photo and resume), and am just trying to decide about Unifieds. We are even considering going to NY and then flying to Chicago. I don't think so, though, because we are finding that enough schools do not attend Unifieds, plus trying to get some done in the fall/January, that NY will probably be enough. Difficult to decide how many to try to fit in per day, but more than 2 makes me nervous - we'll see. We will be tired and broke by March, and anxious for responses!</p>
<p>Hope the rest of you are maintaining your sanity, and that we will meet on the audition rounds! Cathy</p>
<p>My s is also filling out numerous apps, essays...it is a detailed process! I believe he is also applying to 12 schools.
:)</p>
<p>Wally World-I really appreciate your org skills-wow! My d is sending in her apps but boy the audition process gets complicated. Which do we do on campus, which do we do at the unifieds..and trying to schedule them is not easy. That's why I was asking where you could schedule without having the apps done. I figured at least we could get our hotel and flight reservations!</p>
<p>Quick note for DefyingGravity04-
You might want to add Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois to your list. My D is a sophomore BFA MT there, and it is definitely a great program. It is a competitive audition program, and although 30 began the program last year, only 11 were not "redirected" for this year. Millikin, like every other school, has its stars who are now appearing on Broadway, Film, etc. Check out their website at <a href="http://www.millikin.edu%5B/url%5D">www.millikin.edu</a>. It has become much more competitive than it was even a couple years ago. I guess word has gotten out.</p>
<p>My daughter, a junior, attends a satellite school (Marine Academy of Science & Technology, NJ) and there is no theater program. She is in the theater club however, and was the lead in Wizard of Oz.
She took singing lessens 2 years ago, but we really could no longer afford them. She also studied acting and dancing- on and off from age 3-13.
My question is this: What can she/should she do now to find a school and get in? Musical theater is her passion.
I have read so many posts from parents of students re auditions, majors, and decisions on schools... Does she follow her passion? Can she get in even though she doesnt have the resume that I am reading about these others having?
Ugh...I am at such a loss here...
I just want her to have the same chances to attend a great school as everyone else.
Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>This is a reply to D.Gravity about schools with BA in musical theatre</p>
<p>James Madison University, VA
Plymouth State University, NH
University of Northern Colorado, CO
DeSales University, PA
Muhlenberg, PA</p>
<p>However, I believe all of these schools require an audition to get into the Musical Theatre program. So, although they may or may not be as competitive as Syracuse, Boston Conservatory, U of Michigan, etc... they cannot really be considered safety schools. </p>
<p>If you go to the following link: <a href="http://www.geocities.com/musicaltheatercolleges/biglist.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.geocities.com/musicaltheatercolleges/biglist.html</a></p>
<p>You will see a list of schools broken down by BA/ BFA/ BM and whether or not you need to audition.</p>
<p>Kat MT, hopefully others can address the accuracy of the schools you listed, but as for Muhlenberg, it is a non-audition B.A. program through their theatre department. The audition is for talent scholarship, and the degree is in theatre, not musical theatre. However, the school provides classes/training in the other two disciplines - dance and voice, so that one can put together a musical theatre training regimen.</p>
<p>What we're hoping to learn about more in a couple of weeks when we visit, is the summer program they offer: <a href="http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/theatre/summer.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.muhlenberg.edu/depts/theatre/summer.htm</a>
It looks very intriguing. Also, Muhlenberg's academics are probably a bit more competitive than the other schools you listed.</p>
<p>Good information about Muhlenberg. You might want to forward your info to Dr. John and the Big List. <a href="http://www.geocities.com/musicaltheatercolleges/biglist.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.geocities.com/musicaltheatercolleges/biglist.html</a></p>
<p>The way Muhlenberg is listed there makes it appear that they do require an audition.</p>
<p>I know that JMU and Plymouth require an audition. I am not sure about Colorado or DeSales.</p>
<p>I don't know about the academic competitivness factor at any of these schools. I have heard that JMU is inconsistant in terms of academic competitivness.</p>
<p>Have a great visit to Muhlenberg.</p>
<p>Okay, most of the top schools are pretty upfront about the fact that everything rides on the audition. Since talent is what they are after, why not, thats okay with us. </p>
<p>What then do you guys think about the role of essays and letters of recommendation? If they say its all about the audition should you really sweat the other stuff? Are there programs that you really need to put a great effort into essays and letters? We are familiar with highly competitive programs with no audition requirement where the essays and letters are hugely important but what about this world?</p>
<p>WallyWorld--Considering how competitive most of these programs are, I think it is in your best interest to put your best foot forward in ALL aspects of the application/audition process. I would not want to give these schools ANY reason not to pick me just because my essay or letters of recommendation were not up to snuff! Good luck!</p>