My Audition Experience: UCLA

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

<p>Today, I had my UCLA BA Acting audition at the UCLA campus. I'm going to describe the basics of the audition process for those of you who are auditioning, just so you can have the basic idea of what's going to happen at your audition. But, I auditioned in LA, so not all that I'm about to say may apply if you're auditioning off-campus.</p>

<p>First, all auditioners were given a number badge, (I was #56), and we and our parents were led into a theatre and were shown an information slideshow about the UCLA program and how it probably won't be the right choice for most people. Basically, the UCLA program is a "hybrid" of BA and BFA programs, which means that you have the workload of a BA AND a BFA student, while not having some of the BFA program perks, like showcases and performance opportunities. Some people left after the presentation, probably because they didn't feel UCLA was right for them. Personally, I was beginning to think that UCLA wasn't right for me either, but I stayed to audition. </p>

<p>Then, the parents left and all the auditioners were led into a holding room. This is where the endless chain of waiting rooms began... UCLA freshmen who were helping out at the auditions called us out of the holding room by numerical order, so I had a bit of free time until 56 was called. There were no practice rooms to rehearse in, but everybody was very friendly and willing to have a conversation. We even played some ninja-based theatre games. </p>

<p>About an hour-and-a-half later, numbers 53-57 were called and me and four other auditioners were led into a second waiting area... </p>

<p>Ten-ish minutes later, my number was FINALLY called and I entered the audition room to see that one of my worst college audition fears had come true... There was ONE auditor. ONE. If she didn't like what I did, it was pretty much over. I tried to not let that effect me too much, and I started my Eric Bogosian monologue. She stopped me halfway through and wanted me to do my Shakespeare. I obliged, and, fortunately, made it all the way through. She asked me to do my Shakespeare again, but taking some bizarre direction. I, again, obliged. She then asked me to leave. </p>

<p>I thought upon exiting, "Well, that sucked." A UCLA freshman led me upstairs to YET ANOTHER waiting room so I could have my interview. After about 10-15 minutes of waiting, I had a pleasant interview with a nice lady who I wish was the one who watched my monologues. The questions asked were quick and painless. After that was over, I went home.</p>

<p>My overall impression: I didn't like the process at all and I HOPE that my 5 remaining auditions are nothing like it. Although the information process turned me off of UCLA a little bit, I'm glad I went through the audition anyway, as it was a good experience.</p>

<p>If anybody reading this had their UCLA audition already, I'd love to hear your take on everything!</p>

<p>Next up: NYU in NYC, Thursday, January 21st...</p>

2

<p>^ I hate to mention it, but I feel I should warn you that unless they’ve changed it from last year, NYU only has one auditor too :(</p>

<p>Good for you for sticking it out! And you never know, you may not have liked it, but they might have loved that you took direction so easily and without complaint on such short of notice! So congrats on completing the audition and good luck with the rest!</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the story. It is so useful to know what to expect. Of course, we can’t anticipate the interviewer (my daughter is applying for design, not acting, so no audition). But it is helpful to know about the waiting, the single interviewer, and the info session. I hope your other auditions are much, much better. Keep us posted.</p>

4

<p>Go back earlier in this forum and read chrissyblu’s "My hopes for you as you audition… " thread, started on 11/17/2009. Appropriate reading for UCLA auditions!</p>

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<p>who was the lady who auditioned you? was she the african american lady?</p>

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<p>No, it was the small blonde lady.</p>

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<p>oh i auditioned yesterday too lol. number 47. i got the african american lady. i dont know what to think of my audition cuz she never stopped me but just told me i did a great job and then when i performed my shakespeare she asked if i ever played the role of romeo before and i told her no and the she said “well you had a very good take on it” and that was it. :/</p>

8

<p>That’s another thing that I didn’t like about the auditions: that they had multiple rooms with different auditors. From what I’ve heard, the lady you had was much, MUCH nicer than the one I had…</p>

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<p>oh she was great and so nice! but never stopped me or gave me direction so its driving me nuts! your lady worked more hands on with the actors. i had the lady interviewer and she was great!</p>

10

<p>Hi,all. My D is at UCLA right now, so let me give you some insight. The slideshow you saw was intended to make you disinterested or go in with your eyes wide open. UCLA gets 1200 applicants for 65 spots. I think that they want to eliminate some of those people just so they don’t have people get into the program and then say “Oh…” They want you to know what you are getting into… that its an academic program. But don’t entirely believe it all. If you are admitted, you will go to the admitted students program and then you will really find out what the deal is. (Examples…the “informal” showcase, studying abroad, etc…)</p>

<p>Yes. They have one auditor. But that is not uncommon. My D had one auditor at CMU, NYU, Emerson, UCLA, and CCM. So, you will have to get used to that. </p>

<p>My D also had a negative reaction to her UCLA audition. She was absolutely convinced after her audition she would (a) never get in and (b) not want to go there. She got in. She loves it there. Funny how things work out. So, don’t judge based upon the audition. Wait and see.</p>

<p>Good luck to all of you and don’t worry so much about what did or did not happen at your auditions. </p>

<p>Be glad one is down. Focus on the next ones.
You will find the school that is right for you.</p>

11

<p>OH NO!!! Don’t tell IanJoesph (I believe that’s his name.)</p>

<p>Seriously though, OperationGold7 (and all those who are auditioning): Just do the best you can. Don’t perform for the auditor, you’re there for you, to do the best that you can do. And you never know what the auditor is thinking and what the school is looking for in a student. You’ll meet mostly rejection as you move up, this is the reality check. But if you are satisfied with your work because you prepared throughly and delivered the best product that you could…you’re doing fine and you’ll do better.</p>

12

<p>D had audition 3 days ago for UCLA, and the professor who gave the informational session answered a direct question from one of the students: “How many apply? And how many audition?” He said that the number of applicants ranges from 1000-1500 over the years, and this year there are 1200. Every year, about 1/2 to 2/3 of the applicants actually audition. So for this year, if you auditioned for UCLA, you are up against 600-800 others. He did not specify this year’s exact number of auditioners.</p>

<p>His talk was really informative and we learned a lot. The staff was very organized. The students all seemed to reach out to each other, comparing their backgrounds, impressions of the UCLA program, and in general just chatting and enjoying themselves as they waited. My D really enjoyed meeting the other students. </p>

<p>Best wishes to all of you who auditioned.</p>

13

<p>Don’t tell me…?
I agree, it is a brutal process and you just have no idea of how the auditors are reacting or what impression you are really making.
Good luck to all.</p>

14

<p>I really disliked the UCLA audition process. </p>

<p>They had the Freshmen students take us from the holding tank to the audition rooms where the students then proceeded to gossip and talk about the parties they had gone to the night before. It made it extremely hard for a nervous prospective to get in a zen mode. I had a man with a beard for my auditor and he didn’t really comment much on the monologues but asked me what role I would like to play if I had to choose just one. I also had a very cold interviewer. Overall, their process turned me off from the school; snobby cattle call.</p>

15

<p>My son is auditioning this month at UCLA and USC. Could you please let us know more about the interview? What questions did they ask you? Also, how long were your monologues and songs? How did you prepare and present your sheet music for the audition pianist? Thank you for any advice!</p>

16

<p>does ucla base acceptance on your audtition or more on your grades and things like that</p>

17

<p>This was asked in another thread. The answer seems to be that if your audition is really, really, really good, UCLA has sometimes accepted someone with a high school GPA as low as 2.0.</p>

<p>Why are you particularly interested in UCLA? Could there be another school that would fit you better?</p>

<p>KEVP</p>

18

<p>The original thread is two years old. Perhaps some students could chime in who auditioned after 2010.</p>

19

<p>I attended auditions last year and at the info session I got the feeling that the program is very much a BA, and not anything like a BFA lots of emphasis on academics and acting students have no opportunity to work with the film department.</p>

20

<p>My D is graduating this year from UCLA and has done countless films for the film department and is currently in Westwood Girl, a web series produced and directed by former TFT film students. You can do as much or as little films as you want. The audition notices are up for all to see. She was active in seeking out the roles, and got them. And she made lots of friends in the film school because she did.</p>