Michigan Update

<p>Has anyone heard about the waitlist decision? I logged on to my account today and found this:</p>

<p>“Thank you for applying to the University of Michigan School of Music. A careful review of your application and all related materials has been completed. You will receive official written notification of our admission decision within the next 2 weeks.”</p>

<p>Is this a nice way of telling me to wait 2 weeks for my rejection letter, or do they actually just not want the applicants to know until June? Any response would be immensely appreciated! I’m dyin’ here!</p>

<p>Hey, yes I just called and and they told me before I saw that decision online that their freshmen class is now full. They told me that their admitted student return rate has been very high this year and ontop of that the University has instructed to admit less students this year. So I think they only took one person off the waitlist, no guys though. So yes unfortunatly I think that means we are just waiting for our "After careful review..." letter. But hey we are two of five of the waitlisters. YEAH haha</p>

<p>Hi I'm new here but I've been reading a lot about MT auditions and especially UM, and all of you on here are so helpful. You really know what you're talking about, and all the info I've already learned has been so useful. I'm going to be a senior this year and I want to major in MT (obviously) but I'm not exactly a seasoned actor or singer. I've done all types of dance for about 9 yrs. so I know I can nail that part of an audition, but Ive only been singing for about 6 months. I have a pretty good voice, and I know how to perform and "sell myself" on stage, but I haven't won any big awards or done a bunch of MT shows. I mean, I've been the lead in a ballet and I have dance awards from conventions, but not a real big list of roles. I realize my chances are slim, but I want to do this and I have the acadmics covered. So now that I gave my life story, my question is do you think a program like UM will even consider me if I can nail my audition, even if my MT history is pretty brief? It's just been pretty discouraging reading how experienced everyone is haha...oh I'm also taking an MT course at the community college nearby so does that count for something?Thanks so much anyone that can help, you all have major talent getting into all these great schools :)</p>

<p>Just nail your audition. I had only seriously been doing MT for a year when I auditioned. I didn't get in, but I did get into NYU, so I don't really think its a matter of how long you've been doing it, but how you do on your audition. </p>

<p>And I think potential is imporant, as they want to have something to work with. But that's just my two cents. Apply to lots of schools, just because you never know what's gonna happen, but good luck with UM. It is a great program. </p>

<p>Chris</p>

<p>B-way cowgirl - </p>

<p>Don't sell yourself short! You may have a GREAT chance - you should search for any posts from theatermom, a wonderful woman who used to post here - her daughter has a history that sounds somewhat similar to yours. She (the D) was a very accomplished dancer but didn't have a lot of MT experience when she auditioned at UM three years ago - the difference was that she had some pretty serious classical voice training, but I don't remember for how long prior to auditioning. (I know she had won some pretty big singing awards, but she definitely didn't really come to MT until pretty late.) Not only did she get in, she got huge Equity gigs both last summer (after her freshman year) and this summer (after her sophomore year). I have seen her perform many times and she's really great - but it all started with dance!</p>

<p>Even more similar to your situation - the young woman who played Laurey when UM did OKLAHOMA four years ago (she was a senior that year) apparently was an accomplished ballerina but a pretty novice singer. But UM recognized her undeveloped abilities, and she progressed to playing the lead in a classic MT show (BIG singing). I don't know her story as directly, so I apologize if any of the details of her singing experience are incorrect - but I saw the show and that's the story I heard. She was wonderful.</p>

<p>Hope this helps - now work your BUTT off with your voice teacher and get a great monologue coach. As my coaching partner always tells our students, BE A SPONGE all year, starting NOW - read theatre news online (playbill.com, broadway.com), see as much theatre as you can (local, regional, it doesn't matter! you can always learn something!!!!), and prepare prepare prepare!!! :)</p>

<p>Coach C</p>

<p>Thanks so much for your words of encouragement, it really made me feel better about my chances. Prepare is exactly what I plan to do; I'm def. willing to do the work and I'm reading some books about auditioning and such. Also, I have read a ton of postings from Theatremom and she really knows her stuff. :) I dont play piano but I'm reading about music theory now and I think I could manage to learn a very basic piano piece, is that acceptable to play something really basic? I mean I know UM's website says that it could be any level but is there a such thing as a piece that's too basic for a college audition?</p>

<p>Don't sweat the piano audition - it truly is just for placement into piano class if you are admitted. (The people who do this portion of the audition are piano grad students, not even MT faculty, and they simply assign each student a course number - Piano 110, 111, 112, or tested out.) Simple is fine - you will placed into 110, but so will many others! And if you played nothing at all, you would be placed into 110 - but I think it's better to learn some basics, as you are doing now, b/c you will use them no matter where you end up!</p>

<p>I goofed - just found out that you could also place into 111 if you don't play a prepared piece, if you are able to answer some theory questions they ask you, hunt and peck out a melody line on sight, and play several scales on request. So your music theory study will pay off, B-way cowgirl!!! :)</p>