My d may have to audition at one of her top choices at the end of the process due to scheduling issues. Is this a bad idea? This is definitely one of the more competitive programs and I am wondering if they will have most of their kids picked by that point. Thanks for any insight!
No, it is not too late! Many schools do not pick their class until all auditions are complete.
When my D applied to BFA in MT programs, she was accepted to several on what was their final audition dates in late Feb. and early March. These were highly competitive programs.
That is so helpful and will give her some comfort! This is a real puzzle 
@ringoandlyra in 2015 my son didn’t have his first audition until Chicago Unifieds in early February. He auditioned until the last weekend in February. It did not have any influence on his acceptances. As stated above, some programs do not make decisions until all auditions are completed.
Yes I know Wagner doesn’t audition until the end of February. So not too late.
Maybe you could find out how the audition process and selection is done. It would make sense that the school would wait until ALL auditions are completed to make a final selection. But finding out about the selection process just in case this school makes a determination on the spot.
For many schools that should be fine. However, if the school makes early offers or rolling admissions that would be something to weigh. I still think February should work. But make sure you understand when they make decisions
Thanks everyone. Still trying to figure it out but these answers are very helpful!
@ringoandlyra we also have a late February audition at a competitive school. It’s the only date we could get there because of school shows so hoping the school still has room or why would they audition then? If they had already chosen their class wouldn’t they just cancel the last date people? Why would you waste everyone’s time ?
I’m thinking they must wait to make some decisions until they see everyone…
I really, really hate to point this out, but, the theatre department head at d’s PAHS, who has decades of experience placing students in highly competitive college theatre programs, recommends auditioning early (if possible) for highly competitive schools with rolling admissions (CCM, for instance). Schools with rolling admissions do fill some slots along the way, beginning the fall, and, hence, the odds of admission are possibly (but not necessarily) less in the spring - it all depends on what offers were extended and whether or not students accepted those offers quickly. This does not mean that a petite, blonde, blue-eyed ingenue has “no chance” at the final audition date in the spring if two students of that same type have already been extended offers and have accepted, but it may mean that odds are pretty low and someone of that type is going to have to really “wow” them at that final audition in order to be offered a slot. They don’t cancel any auditions even though they may be basically “full” of certain types because you never know when the next Kristin Chenowith may walk through the audition door (this is a quote directly from a theatre department head that I discussed this with at regional auditions). This same faculty also explained that, “our bar is high enough and our audition pool is deep enough that we are pretty confident that we will always get the class that we want using a rolling admissions process.”
I think that many/most of the schools that do rolling admissions offer a “deferred” status to students that may possibly make the cut after they have seen everyone later in the process (for example, Texas State has their famous, or infamous, “Priority Hold” status).
With Rolling Admissions schools, all of what EmsDad says is true. But many programs are not rolling and in those cases, it is not true. So, as someone already mentioned, find out if the school is rolling or not. Schools that notify EVERYONE AFTER ALL AUDITIONS are over, should be fine to audition on the final audition dates. As I mentioned, my own kid was accepted to several schools that are considered highly competitive to get into, and auditioned on their final audition day. But if Rolling, then there are advantages to applying and auditioning on the earlier side.
This is one of those headgames that can make you crazy. We had a friend with an opposite theory (for schools w/o rolling admissions) that being at the last audition might give an edge b/c then you were fresh in the head when it was time for them to make final decisions… (irony- They ended up attending the 1st school they auditioned for- their “practice” school from the fall - you never can tell…)
In the end- I don’t think there is a way to schedule “perfectly”… there are too many uncontrollable factors. Schedule what works for YOU, the rest is in the hand of the universe
We have so little wiggle room that it will be what it will be. Wish we had all of the flexibility in the world but we definitely do not.
Hate to stir another pot but what does everyone think of Unified auditions for a favorite school vs. and on-campus audition?Do competitive programs favor on-campus?
Mid January - March. 11 audition schools. Missed one because of weather. All on campus. 7 weeks. I don’t think there’s an advantage to doing unifieds or on campus. I’ve heard for every 7 schools you have a shot of one admit.
@ringoandlyra - kids get admitted from both unified and on campus auditions. No difference really.
Some may do callbacks during on campus auditions but not at Unifieds. Most schools have same process at both. In terms of acceptances - shouldn’t make a difference
Agree with this. We scheduled auditions based on what would work in making up a schedule for the audition season. There was no strategizing. The only exception is that I think it is advisable to not audition at your favorite school as your very first audition.
Agree with others that in terms of admissions chances, there is no difference in attending auditions either at Unifieds or on campus. There are otter differences to consider but not in terms of your odds of acceptance.
@EmsDad With regard to Texas State’s priority hold status, it is just a tool to let you know you are still in the running. Kaitlin Hopkins just believes that if they see you and know they will not make an offer it is best to let the student know immediately. Therefore, if you are not one of the ones they say no to pretty soon after your audition you are put on priority hold until all the auditions are complete and the offers made. At that point you go from priority to to either an offer, the waitlist or no thank you.
And to address the question about the location of your audition, it doesn’t matter, in my experience. My kid got offers from doing both and his classmates did too.