<p>My d has 11 schools on her list, 3 pre-screen DVD’s, most auditions at Unifieds otherwise. Our theory is it’s a competitive field, you have to throw a wide net and hope for the best. She calculated that at those 11 schools, there are 90 female spots. Some are the top programs but some are not, going after someone’s theory I believe on here. There are a few schools that “almost everyone” goes for and there are good programs that go more unnoticed. So we have both of those on the list.
She also has academic schools that don’t have MT programs for safeties. Of course they’re all reach type schools but she’ll have them to compare. Many of the MT schools are state U’s so she’ll get in there academically as well and that will stand for her safeties.</p>
<p>My take is that I believe students who go through the UNIFIEDS should try and take advantage of as many auditions as they can reasonably fit in. For some folks that is 6-8…for others it might be 12-14…this really depends on the person and what they are capable of handling. All that being said, I believe the most important step in this process is after the initial auditions. The fact is, after schools make selections and/or create waiting lists, students and parents really NEED to visit the schools if they can. From what I have been told by folks who have gone through this experience, it is the people/energy they encounter in the audition and the experience they have once they visit the individual campuses that make the biggest difference in their decision making process. OUTSTANDING musical theatre schools exist across the nation…the key is each individual student finding an environment and people that make them feel comfortable and confident…I believe that this is the biggest predictor of success.</p>
<p>Hope this helps and good luck!</p>
<p>Ball State Bill</p>
<p>Last year at Unifieds one of the girls from my D’s HS, after she did the auditions that she had preregistered for, had a blast doing as many walk-up auditions as she could. She even squeezed a last one in when the group’s flight home was delayed by two hours. The chaperones actually lost count of how many she did. This is not for everyone, but for some, it can work. She is now a legend in the Theatre Dept.</p>
<p>I know some kids thrive on the craziness at Unifieds but our experience was quite the opposite. One day my daughter had only one audition and when I suggested doing some walk-ins she refused saying it would be silly since she had no interest in attending any of those schools. Of course, she had a safety in hand which she considered to be better in terms of both academic and artistic merit. She is there now and loving it. I think it is advisable to give a lot of thought to choosing a safety school and may be pointless to just audition yourself into a frenzy for everyone who is willing to watch. There’s not much time between decisions and deadlines to do a whole lot of serious choosing if you are planning to decide between acceptances at programs you know virtually nothing about beyond that they gave you a look see at a hotel and thankfully said yes in April. You don’t get any points for the number of completed auditions and the only school that matters in the end is one you are attending. Pick wisely.</p>
<p>sassy, I agree with you. I completely understand kids who try to do a few walk-ins at Unifieds if the reason is that they don’t know exactly how much time to allot for the ones they’re registered for, end up having the time, and are happy to have the opportunity to add a few schools that they’ve researched and would genuinely be interested in. I don’t see the point, and I think it borders on irresponsible to doing as many as is humanly possible just for the heck of it.</p>
<p>When my D was searching two years ago, I made her research and only let her put schools on her list for a “good” reason. Sure there were many other schools that she could have selected, but her list ended up being well balanced and specific to her interests and passions. Urban location was a big plus for her, so most of her schools were in cities. The ones that weren’t had other strong plus factors. Nine schools were plenty (esp since I was paying the application/audition fees).</p>
<p>I agree that each school on the list should be there for a GOOD reason that the student can articulate. If they can’t say why they are interested specifically in a school, it ought not be on the list. Picking a place to spend four years, let alone a lot of money, takes a great deal of thought in terms of selection. I don’t think throwing darts and finding which stick as long as they offer a MT degree is a good approach. And truly, nobody needs more than a dozen schools. If they can’t get into any on their list, then their list was not appropriate to their qualifications in the first place. Granted people get rejected at schools where they are truly qualified, due to the very low acceptance rates, but to be shut out of every school on one’s list typically indicates that the list was either not appropriate or well balanced for that candidate. We knew the odds were very chancy and it was nerve wracking, but while I didn’t know where my kid would be accepted, I didn’t fear that she’d be entirely shut out as I think she had a list that was appropriate to her and in fact, her results represent what I am saying (though they were better than I thought given the odds at these programs). She had a list of eight schools.</p>
<p>I really appreciate all of the PM’s and responses to this thread. It is giving us a lot to think about. Your responses have been perfect and just what we needed. I am confident that we will be able to get a few off the list and end up with approximately 12-14 schools. I feel better already :)</p>
<p>My D auditioned in '10. After she made her initial list and applied, there were a couple of schools that she regretted not applying to, including Carnegie Melon and Penn State. She was able to do walk-ins at both (CM ended up staying late because of travel delays so they had time to take her, kind of like what you mentioned EmsDad). She ended up loving the Penn State audition, came home and submitted her application the next day, and that is where she is now. She decided not to apply to CM after the audition even though she felt the audition went well. Her original first choice was UCLA and she was really set on going there, to the extent that I felt she had not included enough schools on her audition list. I was glad that she was able to do the walk-ins so that she would have more options. While she did eventually get in to UCLA, she ended up being swayed by Penn State while she was waiting to hear. She absolutely loves it so it all worked out.</p>
<p>My D is one of those who thrived on Unifieds- she loved the energy, the excitement, and the rush of it all. It definitely is not for everyone, and there were some kids there who looked completely intimidated. Really think about the type of atmosphere in which you do well before deciding where to audition. I agree with Soozievt that if your list is well balanced, 8-12 schools should be more than enough!</p>
<p>My d has applied to 12 schoolsl it was 11 until someone confinced her to apply to Pace which I really haven’t heard great things about. My question is this. Last year after a visit a visit to Oberlin-- my D is really strong vocally but theater is her passion. She is a student at an performing academdy in Ct which she attends part time. I can see that her acting/dancing skills are not as techical as her voice (she has had lessons for ever). After Oblerin we visited Carnegie Mellon and she absolutley fell in love with her. She obviously knows the admissions is slim but her advisor at her performer arts school told her that she was being unrealistic and that nobody from the academy had been accepted at the ccm or cincinnati She was in tears. Does any one have advice for me to deal with this daughter ==my other daughters are in math/science. She is devasted by her counselor’s words telling her she was unrealistic. I have to tell you that vocally she is one of 6 selected from our state to receive full scholarship for voice, piano and vocal coaching so obviously vocally talented. Others have mentioned once she is on stage she goes to goes to another place. Why would a counselor say this and before auditions. Her ccm audition in November 3rd. I quess what I am asking is how to turn these comments into power for her to succeed. She is alrealy knows the odds are slim. She is a classically pretty blonde girl which she feels works against her. thoughts are most welcome.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If you have an audition slot, you always have a chance. Its never over until the pretty blonde girl sings.</p></li>
<li><p>I have never found discouraging words from the uninvolved to be of any particular value in something that was important to me. The only opinions that matter in this case are those of the audition panel.</p></li>
<li><p>According to legend, the comments on Fred Astaire’s first screen test were, “Can’t act. Can’t sing. Dances a little.” Worked out OK in the end for Fred. By the way, Fred also said, “I suppose I made it look easy, but gee whiz, did I work and worry.”</p></li>
</ol>
<p>On its face, it sounds like a very unsupportive and undermining thing for her counselor to say! All that matters is the opinion of the audition panel. Sure both schools are very selective and statistically CMU is slim odds for every applicant, but students are going to be accepted to those schools, so why couldn’t it be your daughter. Her odds are no worse than anyone else’s. What’s little unclear, though, is whether the counselor was commenting just on your daughter’s aspiration to attend CMU or was the counselor making a comment about your daughter’s list in general?</p>
<p>What’s also important is that she have a realistic understanding of the statistical challenge of admissions to any audition based program. That’s why it’s important to have a well thought through diversified and balanced list of schools that in the aggregate present good odds of at least one acceptance. That’s also why every school on her list be one that your daughter would be pleased to attend and is a good match for what she wants out of her college experience. It’s fine to have a favorite or first choice as long as a student doesn’t feel like he or she would be “settling” for a “consolation prize” if the first choice doesn’t pan out. Anything you can do to help her have this type of mindset as opposed to feeling that CCM or CMU are the “only” schools for her will help her immensely to get through the audition season with less stress and to perform her best.</p>
<p>Make sure she is a good fit academically at the schools where she intends to audition. Some schools are more particular about grades and test scores. She is clearly talented based on the scholarship she received!</p>