@MTquest24 I feel the same way sometimes; too many, not enough…My S applied to 11 plus a “safety” non audition school, which seems light compared to a lot of others, but I just keep telling myself it will work out somehow - he has 8 auditions so far and waiting on the last 3!
Hi all.
Thinking of you as you go through this process.
I am a class of 23 mom and my daughter went through this last year.
She applied to MT and theatre schools and wound up choosing JMU for theatre. She is loving the school and wanted to help with tours yesterday, but she, unfortunately, had a conflict.
I see a few of you auditioned yesterday. If anyone wants to PM me, I’d be happy to answer questions as a parent.
In terms of acceptances, there are 2 levels of acceptance at JMU: academic and artistic. If you apply early action, you will know about your academic acceptance in January. I am not sure when the artistic acceptances are typically announced, but last year, my daughter auditioned in February and found out her status in early March. Her friend auditioned in November and was admitted into the theatre program in January, but didn’t find out about MT until March. I am not sure whether her knowing early about the theatre acceptance was typical or not and whether or not this will change in future years 
Anyway, if I can offer any advice, it would be to relax and enjoy the process as much as possible. While stressful. for our family, it was an amazing year for growth and discovery.
@Melanie97, @theatrekidmom Wow!!! It is so nice to not feel alone on this!! 29???Wowza!! I can’t help but think there has got to be a better way? But since it is what it is… do you end up trying to do every single prescreen audition acceptance? Do you pare it down? There is no way to get that all done at unifieds and there are only so many days in January and February for visits… and they are still training and in school… I am so concerned about running them into the ground health wise. We only applied to 22…she has gotten back 11 passes and 2 No. scheduling all of this feels like a logistical nightmare. Especially waiting on 9 responses… I mean as parents we have to work too! Lol ? This travel planning feels like a full time job! I am not complaining it’s just the reality of it all. I am not sure when to start booking flights … did you all wait until you got almost every back? I am so grateful to have found this thread!! Also ( last question) does the pass on prescreen mean they were accepted academically? Non have specifically said that… I mean could we end up doing all this travel and then they not get in academically? She is a good student but … Haha I may be freaking out here!! I mean I know she has been very fortunate getting quite a few passes, but I was reading through CC past years and see kids totally miss out … this is not for the faint at heart !!! Glad for this community!
@SingerDancerMom and @Melanie97 Happy to hear your children had a good day at JMU yesterday!
In terms of notification time line…
If a student applied and is admitted (or denied) academically EA, and auditions in the fall, they may also receive their program admission status in their portal at the same time as the EA admissions decision. Because the November 9 audition is the first of 4 on-campus and 3 off-campus audition days, we wait to make final decisions on many we see at the fall auditions. So, even if admitted academically EA, the program decision may take until the end of February.
If a student applied academically RD (or is deferred academically from EA to RD), they will find out their program admission decision at the same time as their academic admission decision.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any additional questions. 
I booked flights on Southwest (can reuse with no change fees) or using frequent flyer points (can redeposit if plans change)
@MTquest24 D had 28 to start but 17 of those required Pre-screens so we felt the number would widdle down…prescreens have been a mixed bag and we currently have 19 auditions scheduled still waiting on 4 pre screens. not looking for a battle with anyone but the numbers suggest the girls definitely need a wider net. past years threads have the fear factor pretty high so we anticipate doing walk ins at unifieds as needed/ desired too
Last year we booked all flights on southwest. Had to change one - no fee on southwest and I got a southwest rewards card and frequent flyer account. It paid for my son’s Thanksgiving trip home this year
Luckily a lot of ours are within driving distance. Already booked to Chicago, but have auditions lined up there for all days so it wasn’t an issue. We are honestly hoping if she gets any kind of offer early on that this may help to whittle down the number by eliminating linear schools. We are in Virginia and so there are only a few in state options - well, 2 maybe… just hoping to keep things moving along ! So far, we have actually really enjoyed the process !
Having done this once before with our older daughter, our approach is different this time. Trying to ignore the hype of more, more, more… just to get SOMEWHERE. Our older daughter got 9 acceptances after 23 applications and 17 auditions (some she cancelled, some just didn’t work out logistically, one pre-screen not passed) but in the end out of those 9 there were only 2 where she would have truly been happy. So, our list this time is much shorter- about 12-14, and only schools where daughter number 2 will actually be happy. It is varied, from a couple of the most famous programs on down to the “hidden gem”, lesser known programs. She says that if she gets no offers, she’ll take a gap year and we’re totally okay with that. In our opinion, after all of this work, that’s better than going someplace she really doesn’t want to go.
@KatMT can we ask how many students does JMU typically admit to the MT program? I am sure it varies - but in general ~ trying to guess odds I guess : )
@MTquest24 For us we already started auditioning - we have had 4 so far and have two in December and two in January - then the bulk is February - and a few in March. If my D gets into a school before then, then I think it is likely she will cancel some. She will likely be admitted to 29 schools - and then hope for artistic acceptances to a handful out of those 29. Again, it would be easier to be a doctor!
@Melanie97 thank you so much just sitting at my computer trying to figure out flights my goodness this is crazy!
@MTquest24 for the tuition exchange program (a benefit for employees of colleges), the maximum schools you can apply to is 9 so that is all we did. 5 auditions set so far and waiting for prescreen results from the other 4. Talk about pressure!!! I am praying hard that things will work out!
@theatrekidmom When my D applied last year, I was clueless to the entire process. She only applied to 4 audition based schools and she was not interested in the 2 “safety” schools she applied to after the fact. It was way after that I found CC and started to panic when people said you should audition to at least 15 schools. She told me not to worry and that everything was going to be ok. In the end she got 4 yeses, 1 waitlist and 1 no. The best part in that she got into her dream school and she is loving every minute! Wishing the best for your S and that everything works out for him as well.
@nomeansnext wow now that’s stress!!! BOL!!!
My D applied to 13 schools last year for Acting, 11 of which were auditioned. She got into the school she thought she wanted EA but of course changed her mind between Dec and March. In the end it worked out beautifully for us both program-wise and financially. So expect that they will grow a lot in these short months and expect the unexpected in the best way possible. BALs!
@Davale22 Thanks for the encouraging words!! The moments of panic came long ago when his coach kept recommending more schools because of the competitive nature of the programs…but it subsided when I saw how confident he felt in his choices…of course it is back again now that prescreen results are rolling in and auditions are getting scheduled!! So grateful for this community!! So fantastic that it all came together for your D and she is happy!!
Having chats with my S, as we discuss where we were this time last year…although this process is crazy stressful, and had both highs & lows, and the waiting…ugh…looking back, he says he really loved it all! He loved the excitement of the auditions, the meeting and making friends and fellow MT students and auditioners at the various schools…so try to take those happy moments to get you through the disappointing ones, and enjoy this roller coaster ride!
@nomeansnext wow now that’s stress! BAL!
Can someone explain walk in’s at unifieds?
- Can you just audition even if you have not applied to the school?
-if you didn’t pass a prescreen for a school can you just do a walk in live for the heck of it?