MT Parents/Students HS Class of 2013: College Process Sharing/Discussion

<p>I sat down with my dad yesterday and picked out audition dates for 5 of my 6 US schools, and all of my Canadian schools. It’s crazy how real this process feels now that I’m nearly done my applications and dates are picked, I’m rehearsing rep, I have audition outfits, etc…I’ve been preparing for this whirlwind year since freshman year, but now it’s all no longer abstract. This is the first day the fear sets in :P</p>

<p>Good luck CDNMTgirl! I hope that you enjoy the experience, and end up with a program that fits you well!</p>

<p>Sent off four applications this week and seven requests for transcripts. I’m glad I’m only the secretary in all this… it’s still a lot of work!</p>

<p>DD made her first Unifieds audition appointment today! Yay!</p>

<p>My duaghter was busily working on essays yesterday for one application. Her plan is to have her 8 applications in by the end of September, and she has her first audition scheduled in November. Here we go!!</p>

<p>Hey again! Maybe there’s already been a discussion of this elsewhere, but I was wondering if anyone happens to know of any Los Angeles or Los Vegas auditions taking place before February? I’m hoping to audition for U of M on Feb. 1st, but I really don’t want that to be my first audition…</p>

<p>UCLA holds auditions on campus over one weekend in January.</p>

<p>yeah, but those on their website it says that those dates are for “all areas EXCEPT musical theatre”. Thanks though!</p>

<p>This year they were in mid-January but looks like they changed to February for 2013.</p>

<p>We live in a fairly small town in Kansas and Musical Theatre is my son’s passion. He has strong vocal (1 ratings at state vocal competition and participation in several audition based vocal groups) and theatre background (lead roles in most plays/musicals he’s been in, but probably lacks in the dance department. He has had to dance in several of his productions but has had NO training. He is interested in Oklahoma City University as a first choice but we would like some recommendations of other options as close to the midwest as possible. We are hoping he can secure both some academic and talent scholarships as we are most likely going to need to look out of state. </p>

<p>Any ideas would be appreciated…he’s a senior so time is creeping up on us…gotta get busy.</p>

<p>These MT programs are all located in the midwestern states and seem to be well-regarded (there are many more, you can look at the “Big List” to see a list by state <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/801037-big-list-mt-colleges.html[/url]):”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/801037-big-list-mt-colleges.html):</a></p>

<p>Northwestern University
Columbia College Chicago
University of Tulsa
Illinois Wesleyan University
Millikin University
Roosevelt University
Ball State University
Indiana University-Bloomington
Wichita State University
Central Michigan University
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Missouri State University
Stephens College
Webster University
University of North Dakota
Ohio Northern University
Otterbein College
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Wright State University-Main Campus
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Viterbo University
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Baldwin-Wallace College
University of Central Oklahoma</p>

<p>Make sure you understand that OKC is a BM- bachelor of Music MT which does focus a lot on theory, etc.</p>

<p>Not so much mid-west, as south, but you might look at Texas State also. Very well regarded program the last couple of years, and they offer scholarships for OOS that bring tuition down to very reasonable in-state rates.</p>

<p>Thanks theatremomma…the emphasis on music is actually what makes OKC my son’s first choice. </p>

<p>Thanks to all for the suggestions. This is helpful as we start scheduling visits/auditions. </p>

<p>Is there a downside to auditioning in the later audition dates (say February versus November)? Just not sure we can pull everything together by November, he’s in the middle of one of his Senior Musicals now and very overcommitted with other music activities this early fall.</p>

<p>I know this has probably been asked 10000 times but how many reaches, fits and safeties should be on your list for a nice balance? Right now I have 19 schools in total that I cut down from an initial 31 and they’re spread out between Canada, The US and England. I’m at 11 American schools with 1 reach, 6 fits and 4 non audition safeties. </p>

<p>Not really sure if 11 is enough right now but they’re all schools that don’t need me doing SAT’s and that’s a big plus for me since I never felt comfortable with the idea of taking them. Anyways any suggestions are welcome as I’m not in school this year and will have the time to put into this.</p>

<p>KStheatremom - your son might also be interested in Baldwin Wallace which is also a BM. Also consider Western Michigan and Oakland University - not so sure about Central Michigan.</p>

<p>TheatreG14 - </p>

<p>Are you Canadian? Do you prefer to attend school in Canada, England or the U.S.? Are you applying as a Freshman or a Transfer?</p>

<p>I am wondering how you determined that 6 audition programs in the U.S. are fits. Are you referring to the likelihood of academic admittance? All audition programs have a low percentage of admittance, so are considered reaches. You are wise to have safeties, but if you are looking to cut back, you can cut down to just 1 or 2 safeties if they are real safeties.</p>

<p>How are you going to get to all those auditions? Are you attending Unifieds?</p>

<p>I would echo some of shaun’s concerns, theatreg14. Nineteen schools is a lot, even in these competitive times! Fit can certainly be identified with particular programs in terms of what you want in a program but, as mentioned, any audition program is likely better considered a reach, simply because of the low acceptance numbers. I’m a little surprised that you’ve found 11 U.S. schools that you like which do not require the SAT. That definitely is not common.</p>

<p>Perhaps you’ve already asked for suggestions for schools to have on your list? If not, and you want input there, it’s probably a good idea to provide your list of current schools under consideration so that people may make appropriate recommendations. You’re wise to firm up your list very soon, though, as it’s almost October and you should be focussing on your audition material by now, which is more difficult to do if you don’t know for sure where you’ll be auditioning.</p>

<p>One last comment about safeties. In addition to them being academic safeties, be sure that they will be financial safeties for you. Canadian students are at a disadvantage when it comes to financial aid at many/most U.S. colleges, and because schools in the U.S. are so much more expensive than they are in Canada, this could be a major concern. No one studying theatre should put themselves in a position to be graduating with a lot of student loans/debt.</p>

<p>I’ve determined the type of school by actually using the big list of programs from this forum and in all honesty I’m looking to attend a school outside my country. Like I said though time is no real issue for me. I am not in school right now and plan to be in New York February 2013 for unifieds and then stay a few more days to get in more auditions, i’ll be staying with family so as I said it’s no real issue for me. As for the rest i’ll be going to Toronto for most of my Canadian schools and the Euro ones and i’ll again be staying with family so having already contacted some school officials and using my personal knowledge from last year’s auditions I’ve made a rough calendar and 1 week in NYC and 5 days in Toronto will pretty much give me the time to go through all my schools.</p>

<p>Just to add a bit I know it might seem like a hectic number but this year without the stress of graduating all of this is my sole focus and also this is my 2nd time going through the process so I’m a lot calmer as I know all the steps to go through and I’m not going along unprepared like last time.</p>

<p>@TheatreG14 while your goal of applying to 19 schools would seem high to some or most CCers (although there are some on this forum who have done more than 20, if memory serves), in terms of USA schools, your plan of 7 audition-based programs is actually on the mid-to-low side, looking at your list from just a USA perspective, which I think you were asking about. Some people would be very comfortable with this number, some would do more. A thread that deals with this topic is: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1243010-how-many-programs-should-you-audition-freakonomics-approach.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1243010-how-many-programs-should-you-audition-freakonomics-approach.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you are the type that thrives at auditions, you can always attempt walk-up auditions are Unifieds if the opportunity presents itself. Some advocate against this type of approach, some advocate for it. Since this is an opportunity-based business based on auditioning, I would advocate for considering this as a way to increase your odds, as long as it would not impinge on your preferred school auditions by wearing you out, stressing you out, etc.</p>

<p>From what I understand, four non-audition safety schools in the USA is a relatively large number, if they are schools for which you have a relatively high probability of acceptance (true “safeties”). I think most people who want to get into audition-based programs typically do 1-2 non-audition safeties.</p>