<p>Can someone please give me an overview of how the auditions are arranged? As in where you go to check in for a school, and do they call you in for each part of the audition or do you do everything in one big room. Also, is there a place to eat/rest/change?
My mom is planning to go with me, does she follow me into the school's designated audition area or does she like stay in the lobby of the hotel.</p>
<p>Also, schools like Penn State and UArts don't have a dance audition at unifieds, does that decrease my chances of getting in? I mean, doesn't that mean that they don't take the auditions at unifieds AS seriously, if they're not conducting the auditions equally among all applicants.
I've been taking private and group dance lessons, but I would still consider myself a beginner, but someone who can dance (pirouettes, turns, etc). Would a lack of a dance audition hurt me?</p>
<p>My son auditioned at the Unifieds in L.A. last year. Some of your questions are the same we had going into this thing. We were coming from farther away and opted to stay at the hotel where most of the auditions take place. I believe it was at the Hilton near LAX. If you can swing getting a room in the hotel you will be better off because you can change and rest between auditions. If not, I'm sure you could change in the public restrooms and rest in the lobby were there are plenty of chairs. There is a restaurant in the hotel and fast food within walking distance. As you arrive at the hotel there should be a sign with room assignments for each school. Each school has a separate conference room with their name taped outside the door. This is where the whole process takes place. The monologue and singing take place at the same time. Usually the dance call is scheduled for a group 2 or 3 times a day in the same conference room (it can get pretty tight). You check in with each individual school before your scheduled audition, that is why it's a good idea to find out where they are located well before your time. Some have tables with sign in sheets and information available, some do not. All the rooms are in the same area of the hotel, last year on the second floor just up from the lobby. Just take a cruise around the second floor conference rooms when you get there to orientate the locations of the schools. Some schools don't set up until just before appointment times or don't have their room assignments early enough to do a major set up. Remember to ask which schools take walk-ins and try to get appointments with them early. There are chairs outside of most of the rooms for your mom or other auditioners to wait but your mom will probably be on the floor a couple of times through the day. Also remember that some schools are located at another hotel just down the street. Make sure you know which hotel they will be in ahead of time. It is about a 10 minute walk from one hotel to the other. At least we don't have to worry about snow.</p>
<p>When you mention walk-ins.......I am thinking that those are schools that you do not have a pre-scheduled audition. So am I to assume that these are schools that you have not applied for? Do you then return home and send them an application? Do they at least tell you at the audition if there is a chance you might be admitted or is it possible that the auditioners have already crossed you off of their list and you are going to spend the time filling out an application and paying fees for not?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, unless you just blow them away with your talent, I don't think that the schools will let you know if you have been admitted or not. Some schools accept walk ins, but you have to fill out an application form and pay the application fee right then and there. Afterward you can send in the academic app.. Other schools say they accept walk ins but you had to have applied academically first. This is were it pays to do your homework on the schools that will be there and find out their policies. In the long run, walk ins are just another chance to show your stuff. You will already have your audition schedule set up, but if you have extra time between appointments and would be interested in attending that school why not give it a shot.</p>
<p>Just to add my 2 cents. My S was accepted to Penn State and BoCo from the LA Unifieds. PSU did not have a dance audition but BoCo did. If you are a dnacer and believe it to be one of your stronger talents, go to an audition that includes dance. Otherwise, save your money and go to Unifieds.</p>
<p>All of the LA Unified auditions will be at the Hilton this year. Just a reminder: our group rate is now available for families booking rooms at the LAX Hilton. Ask for the Family Rate with Unified Auditions when you call for reservations. The rate for those rooms will be $120.00 per night plus taxes and incidentals. This is the first and only hotel to offer perks for our families. (The same deal is not availble in New York and Chicago.)</p>
<p>That is great news about the Hilton and the rates. Good for them and the organizers of the Unifieds to simplify things for all parties involved. It was rather confusing for us at the other hotel last year as the schools were in completely separate parts of the hotel and there were no signs as to were they were located. The Hilton was much more organized and user friendly.</p>
<p>It is definitely worth attending Unified auditions with or without dance auditions. My son is not a strong dancer but was accepted to 3 schools from these auditions, some with dance aud. some not. If dance is a really important criteria for the schools, they would and could figure out a way to make them a part of the audition process at the L.A. Unified Auditions.</p>
<p>EnjoytheAdventur, you asked:
"When you mention walk-ins.......I am thinking that those are schools that you do not have a pre-scheduled audition. So am I to assume that these are schools that you have not applied for? Do you then return home and send them an application? Do they at least tell you at the audition if there is a chance you might be admitted or is it possible that the auditioners have already crossed you off of their list and you are going to spend the time filling out an application and paying fees for not?"</p>
<p>My answer: Yes, these are schools that you have not already applied for. Please note up front that you can't just literally "walk up" and be given an audition on the spot at most schools. Rather, you go to the table that they usually have out front and ask (very politely, of course) if they have any openings for walk ins. If they do, you sign up and then come back at that time. (Of course, on the off chance that they can see you right away, be prepared!) You then do the audition (bringing with you an extra resume and headshot) and go home and immediately fill out the application, pay the fee and send it in. You need also to quickly ask your high school guidance counselor to send the school transcripts and you must arrange for recommendations to be sent, the same way you did with all the other schools to which you applied. Don't forget to have your SAT scores sent, if the school requires the SAT. </p>
<p>And yes, you generally have to do all of that (fill out all that paperwork and so on) without knowing if your audition was successful or not. To my knowledge, very few schools' auditors will tell a kid on the spot that he or she is likely in, though I know it has happened. :) (Not necessarily with walk ins, but at auditions in general. Plus, to be fair, the school's admissions office may need to see your high school transcript/grades/scores, etc. in order to decide if you are a suitable candidate.</p>
<p>I can understandable that they can not "tell a kid on the spot that he or she is likely in" as they have not seen the other components of their app but it would be nice if they would tell you that you are likely out so that you don't spend the time filling in yet another app. But then again it would be nice if all my d's top choice mailed her acceptance letters this week. </p>
<p>Would someone share some stories with me on why they did a 'walk-in.' I just ask because my d has spent great deal of time on formulating her short list.</p>
<p>My D did a walk in at Penn State because she saw the opportunity to do so and had been very sorry that she did not keep Penn State on her "short list" of favorite programs when she sent out her applications. </p>
<p>To make a long story as short as possible, my D made the mistake of believing rumors that dance was <em>the</em> most important element for PSU MT admissions, and because of that, reluctantly removed it from her original list. She later had the good fortune to meet and talk at length with a recent grad who said "Please tell me you are auditioning for Penn State" and who disabused her of the notion that it is "all about dance at PSU." That grad encouraged her to try to do a walk in. So getting that walk in was practically "job one" when we arrived in New York for the Unifieds.</p>
<p>It was one of the best audition experiences she had last winter and she came very close to enrolling there but decided in favor of NYU.</p>