<p>I remember this time last year....ugh.....There was so much to do. My daughter had applications, essays, SATs, supplemental applications, headshots, resumes, many monologues to prepare (as well as the 16 bars), auditions to schedule, auditions to prepare for, auditions to attend (as well as the attendent travel plans).... It was enough to make one crazy.</p>
<p>Now, I know many of you are gearing up for all that.
So, for those of you who are organization masters, lets not make these poor kids hunt through all the endless pages of advice previously posted.</p>
<p>Let's put that advice right here... How do you keep it together? What kept you organized? How did you apply to 10 to 12 audition schools and not drive yourselves and your parents crazy?</p>
<p>Someone on the MT forum suggested using Google web page to keep things organized and I’e found that helpful. Its free and easy to set up and both my D and I can go there to track things. I have a page with a chart that shows each school and all the things that need to be done, and dates they are completed. Another page I put links to each school and their audition requirements. I also have email folders for each school, so every bit of correspondence or email confirmations are stashed there. Then I have one paper folder with any paper records we receive. Since most things are electronic, I haven’t needed separate paper folders. </p>
<p>This has helped tracking things so far. I’ll be interested in hearing other approaches and tips.</p>
<p>oh yeah. i have an admissions chart, an audition chart, a college counselor due date chart, a seperate folder for all college stuff on my computer, a college binder, a college app folder on my email, a college audition folder on my email, a college registration app on my email, etc.</p>
<p>it’s hard to listen to my friends whine about their three colleges which they will be completely applied to and accepted/denied by january.</p>
<p>it takes so much organization and time!! and for many of us, we won’t get results for quite a few months. </p>
<p>i can’t wait to hear how anyone else is tackling this monster! i’ll have to check out the google webpage!</p>
<p>May I also suggest checking each college’s audition requirements web page on several occasions prior to your audition. </p>
<p>CASE IN POINT: One student I know was auditioning for a particular school. When he checked their web site in the fall it stated to bring sheet music or a recorded accompanyment so this is what he noted in his organizational files. He did not check the site again and showed up to his February audition with a CD. Much to his surprize they had modified the website and only stated to bring sheet music. They spoke with the admissions coordinator at the audition and the school had no problems letting him use his CD, however it did shake him up a bit which is something to avoid in the already stressful auditions.</p>
<p>CHARTS CHARTS CHARTS! I had one for auditions (school, dance requirement, voice requirement, acting requirement, date, location) and one for due dates (with checklists)</p>
<p>Another INCREDIBLY helpful tip I got from my college counselor is: Make a word document with every essay that you need to write organized by school. That way you can keep track of which ones still need to be written and you can also compare topics to see which ones are similar enough to use the same essay.</p>
<p>wow! I like the idea of a google webpage - we used a simple excel spreadsheet by school and dates etc and then I had a file folder for each school. (only 8 for DD) </p>
<p>It made it simple when we were leaving for auditions to grab one folder and know I had copies of most things and dates etc in one place. </p>
<p>I also recommend keeping some sort of record when everything gets sent to each school - helpful if things get lost!</p>
<p>We weren’t that technically gifted, I must confess. We had a huge calendar, month by month, with the due dates for everything written on them, plus auditions dates plugged in. My D created a chart on her computer for all her schools with what they wanted. Based on that, she then inserted which monologues she would do for which schools, and then started preparing them. There were some overlaps, but she had to figure that out first. </p>
<p>We had a desk sorter with a folder for each school, including all admissions documents and anything we read, saw or got from the university. Once she rejected a university (or they her) she tossed everything.</p>
<p>SRED: Can you tell me more about the Google page - where, what is it officially called - I have a folder for each school - but would like to organize it so that I can see it all at one glance - thanks for the wonderful idea -</p>
<p>If you google, “google web site” it will direct you to a google site that can walk you through the process. You have to sign up for a google acct (which is free). Its fairly straightforward, but like many things can take up some time. The main advantage is having everything in one online place (including links to schools) and having a place where your kid can go to update or track application status from their computer. you can set up a google calendar that both of you can access and edit (and generate reminders). </p>
<p>As for most of these kinds of things, paper works just as well. this is just another tool that if you like this kind of thing, can be a good way to track info.</p>