<p>I am just getting ready for the upcoming Fall MT auditions for my son and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on how they kept all the information organized. After reading these threads and the school's web-sites there is so much info about dates for application, auditions, types of programs..etc. Any suggestions about it worked for you?
Thanks!</p>
<p>I know there is a spreadsheet that was created by one of our members that has been circulated around that was very helpful, I’m sure someone will weigh in with that. I being low tech just took a large desk/blotter type calendar and pinned the months up on my kitchen wall. I used different colored pens for different areas like blue for college audition dates, orange for school functions, green for admin stuff like applications. It really helped to see all at once what was going on and helped me to not double schedule. Good luck, it is tricky, one bite at a time.</p>
<p>Have your son get started early with applications and keep track of everything. We actually kept a folder on each school with one main calendar – before everything started we created an itinerary with what was needed for each audition as well as addresses and phone #'s. Even with a lot of planning, we still had a mishap. I would suggest following up with each school to make sure they had everything. We did that with some schools, and most said, don’t worry, we let you know if your file is incomplete. However, we didn’t do that with Syracuse and wondered why my daughter hadn’t heard anything from them. When we called, they said they had everything – but her application! They said we could resubmit it, but by that time, she had already been accepted to NYU and had had enough of the process. </p>
<p>Good luck with it and enjoy this time with your son.</p>
<p>We did two things that I think helped a lot:
- We created a spiral notebook with 3 or 4 pages for each school. We wrote down all the pertinent info regarding requirements (audition, non-audition, common ap, suppliments, etc.) as well as dates things were required. More importantly, my daughter took this notebook everywhere she went and wrote down her opinions and feelings about each school. Facts and coments she heard during tours and opening remarks were written down, anything that might distinguish one school from another. While you think you can keep them all separate they do start melding together especially in the beginning when you’re just looking at them all and trying to decide where you will apply. Sometimes my husband and I wrote in info as well. We referred to this book constantly.</p>
<p>2) I bought towers from the Container Store where each “drawer” was actually a closed Rubbermaid type container. Everytime something came in from a school it went into it’s appropriate drawer. We even put in copies of her application, teacher and other recommendations, anything that was pertinent to each school. In the end we even put in the rejection letters so that when she is successful she can look at them and laugh! </p>
<p>I really kept us on track as to where we were going when, what was needed for every school, and our feelings both emotionally and factually about each school. She hasn’t decided yet so our notebook and the schools PR materials are still being looked at to help her make a decision.</p>
<p>All great suggestions. We did the folder for each school and a main calendar. But that was after we had chosen which schools we’d be applying to/auditioning for. Before that I created a questionairre that we used for each school that answered questions such as (i) school application deadline, (ii) application cost; (iii) whether they needed transcripts and ACT/SAT, (iv) how many letters and from who, (v) academic admission requirements, (vi) audition requirements. (vii) where and when auditions were held, (viii) how to schedule the audition, (ix) full university/liberal arts college/conservatory, (x) degrees offerred, (xi) location, (xii) enrollment numbers, etc.</p>
<p>I found this list of answers very helpful for assisting in choosing which schools would be a good fit for my D; then, when we chose which schools to apply to/audition for, we already had answers to a lot of our procedural questions.</p>
<p>After deciding which schools my son was applying to, we bought an accordion file with a pocket for each school. We made up a check off list for each school that included all application information and then “checked off” as each component was completed. We also made up audition requirements lists for each school. These lists and all correspondence from schools were kept in the accordion file. We also had a big calendar with all due dates listed and audition times for on-campus and Unifieds. We would hear from various schools when application files were complete. If we were not notified, we followed up on our own. Since my son has a very common name, we also followed up that the correct ACT scores, application payments, etc. were put to the proper account. There were a few mixups along the way. We also had one folder that we had original copies of all recommendation letters written so we could make copies as necessary. Different schools required different referrals. </p>
<p>Good luck and have fun!! My son is now finishing up his first year as a BFA acting student (MT minor). The application/audition time will forever be a time I treasure!!</p>
<p>Another tip: once you know what schools you will audition for and you compile the audition requirements, go through all the requirements carefully and see what overlaps and what doesn’t. My daughter was able to pick two songs and two monologues that fit each school’s requirements. She then picked two extra songs and two extra monologues. This way she was prepared for pretty much anything - and believe me, there were some interesting requests in the auditions. After her first audition she decided one of her “first choice” songs was not the right choice and she switched to another that she was prepared with and used it for all the remaining auditions. In short - be prepared for anything! Good luck and have fun.</p>
<p>Agree it’s important to prepare more than the minimum as you could be asked on the spot to sing or act something else beyond the requirements.</p>
<p>we did what xatty did in post 5 to help narrow down and keep things straight. I put this info on a spreadsheet (not off the computer since I’m not that savy) to easily access and look at numerous schools at once. Xatty mentioned enrollment, and we put how many they usually accept/yield. Getting organized now will make you feel so much more confident in your process.</p>
<p>I agree with all of the other suggestions. I found it helpful during audition “season” to keep a single bag with all of my miscellaneous audition stuff (dance attire, extra tights, makeup, medicine, etc). As soon as I finished using something, it would go straight back into my duffle. That way, I would never be frantically running around looking for things the day before an audition.</p>
<p>And I agree wholeheartedly with the suggestion to have spare audition-ready material. I was taken completely off guard this year when a school asked for a 3rd song, as they repeated told auditioners that we probably wouldn’t get to our 2nd song, let alone be asked for another. Moral of the story- better safe than sorry!</p>
<p>Spreadsheets, lots of spreadsheets to organize comparative information and to track each phase of the process for all schools. A large binder containing info on all schools of interest. Smaller separate school binders containing applications, other materials sent to the school, audition info, headshots and audition music/monologues to be taken to each school for auditions/interviews.</p>
<p>I’d suggest keeping some kind of a log for each school where you write down each and every “event” concerning them, along with the date…phone calls to them, application element submitted, audition fee sent, etc, etc. </p>
<p>There are so many little details, and when you are talking about 6 - 10 schools that all have different ways of doing things, it can get unbelievably overwhelming.</p>
<p>You think you will remember, and/or you think you can trust yourself to have kept on top of all the elements, and then you get a few weeks or months down the line and think “Yikes!! I DID do x…or y…or z…didn’t I??” </p>
<p>Like, if you send a money order instead of a check because the processing is faster, and you misplace the money order stub…a few weeks later, you might start wondering if you actually sent the payment!! </p>
<p>In addition, find out - very early on - which schools are going to want theatre/performance recommendations in sealed envelopes. It can get tricky.</p>
<p>Keeping records of application dates, requirements, things you’ve done (visits, calls) and notes in spreadsheets (where you can re-sort the information to keep the schools you actually apply to and move the ones you rule out over time) is the way to go. Hard copy information can be stored in folders but try to keep everything that can go into electronic form in the spreadsheet and only print when you’re going to visit that school or go for his audition. It really does keep the organization of lots of information over quite a few months manageable! It also allows you to compare the different schools across things like tests required, GPA, number of units required for general ed vs. departmental major requirements, showcase in NY, etc. You will otherwise find yourself going through lots of material many times to find the information for comparison among programs.</p>
<p>Wondering if that great spreadsheet is available anywhere. I remember hearing about it when my D was just about done with the process - so I never got it. (She actually didn’t audition - went BA Theater and is very happy with that decision as she finishes year number 2 of college).<br>
Younger S is now a junior and is looking at music production/music technology/music industry programs - some of which require audition, some portfolio, some a plethora of additional info beyond the common app. I was thinking of putting together a spreadsheet of some sort to help with organizing things - but I’d love to have something to work off of. If anyone has it and is willing to send it to me - send me a PM and I’ll get you my email address.
Thanks and good luck to all!</p>
<p>Here’s what we did. First, we did not keep anything in our D’s room. We got this advice from a friend. This process is stressful enough as it is. So, you don’t want any of the college application crud going into your kid’s room and making the stress ooze into your son’s sanctuary. Find a neutral place… maybe a corner of the family room, a study. Set up a table with a lap top and a large calendar. Come August, they sell 18 month huge desk top calendars. You will log all deadlines, audition dates, etc. on this calendar. </p>
<p>We had a folder for each school, and a stackable tray for putting things on, like the folders, headshots, etc. </p>
<p>My daughter just carefully, and methodically, went through each school’s web page and looked for the criteria. She figured out what they wanted and created a sheet. Then she compared those and figured out how many of what she needed. Then we hired the coaches to help her get ready. Early. Several months in advance. This takes time. The coaches helped her figure out what pieces she wanted to do for each school to meet the criteria.</p>
<p>She got her applications in REALLY EARLY. For some schools, you can’t get the audition dates until you send in the applications. She was pounding out one a week at least in October and November. She started writing her essays during the summer.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>