<p>I've had several people tell me that colleges fall into a couple of categories --- was wondering if you had any insight. As far as the auditions that include a lot of meetings for parents, etc, how does it work? That is, I know one of our colleges has a reception in the morning. Some of my relatives who've done this (a long time ago) said they were served all sorts of goodies to eat and drink and it was very relaxed, etc. Some of my friends said their schools receptions were all business and meetings about financial aid.
At our regional audition for one school, they didn't really have any set agenda or any meetings, info other than hey here's a bottle of water or coffee, now go practice, mom sit here and be quiet! lol
I don't really care either way, but my practical daughter said, hmmmmm, mom if they have food you don't need to eat breakfast! lol
Mostly she and I just always work better when we know what to expect. If the admin. expects me to bop around campus for financial aid meetings, etc, I'd like to Google map and street view and get an idea of what's ahead.</p>
<p>I think every school does it differently. There was no detailed schedule given to me before hand, so I just went with the flow. I would say eat breakfast and bring some snacks, it can be a long say. I have seen big food spreads and small snacks. Come prepared to just sit, or listen to financial or walk the campus with current students. None of the parent stuff is mandatory, they just have meetings and tours if you are interested. Don’t forget some schools will have placement tests as well as auditions so you may have several hours to kill without seeing your child. I don’t think there is a one size fits all way to plan.</p>
<p>The schedules vary from school to school and from year to year. I’ve been to places which lay out really nice spreads- after a mercifully brief general meeting- and others which hold mass gatherings lasting 2 hours (while the kids are sent off after the initial greeting) until parents are faint from hunger and caffeine deprivation. Some schools include lunch vouchers in the student materials envelope but I would make a point of eating breakfast and taking some coffee along.</p>
<p>Don’t count on anything is the best advice I can give you, as this example from last year will illustrate:
Arriving at the School of Music at a major university at 8AM, I handed over $5 to the attendant to be allowed to park the lot. It was snowing heavily so the space lines were obscured and that probably cut the amount of room by 1/3- we were told that if we left during the day for any reason, we would not be guaranteed a spot upon return. Everyone, undergrad, grads and parents, were stuffed into a small lobby area to pick up the student envelopes- it was amazing how many of those kids knew each other from one place or another- and then it was up to us to find a place somewhere in the building in which to “set up camp”. Coffee and tea were put out around 11AM but they ran out of those within 2 hours.
My D will not usually eat close to the time that she is to sing but since her scheduled warm up was for 10:30AM she figured that she’d be finished by noon. That was not the case because the adjudicators took time out for a fine repast, and the time line unraveled-D wasn’t called to audition until about 4:30! That is NOT good for a voice and was inexcusable. There were no restaurants within walking distance and no one was around to suggest a place on campus. We did find a rogue banana on a table and split that, but in my mind there is no excuse for schools to create these “Lord of the Flies” set-ups where folks are left to contemplate what kind of sustenance might be in someone’s backpack or coat pocket! By the time D and I made it to a Five Guys at 5:30PM, I would have cheerfully eaten a chair!</p>
<p>Go prepared!</p>
<p>Thanks guys. Scubachick, thanks for telling me the parent stuff is not mandatory. I wasn’t sure and I was kind of dreading it.
Mezzo’sMama, are you a writer? You have me so laughing at the rogue banana!! And I knew I liked you, but Five Guys!!! That won me over!! We love it. I will have to google to see if there’s one there. I do know there is a CICi’s pizza. Ours closed so the kids want to go.
I will eat some breakfast, but I highly doubt the boy will. He doesn’t like to eat much before he plays. I’ll try to make him.
Thanks a lot guys!!!</p>
<p>Boy, I missed out. My son auditioned at 8 schools and I only remember one having refreshments available–some pastries and fruit if I recall. The other 7…not a thing. I’d suggest bringing along snacks and water to hold you both over as needed. As far as parent sessions go, I always attended everything since I wanted to get as much as information as possible about the school, financial aid, scholarships, etc. I always learned more from those meetings than I was able to find out on their website or in publications. But again the quality or informativeness of the sessions may vary between schools just as the food offerings might. I’d be curious to find out who provides the best food spreads, for future reference. :)</p>
<p>Thanks, shellybean! Hunger does strange things to people; “Hangry”(my D’s new favorite description, the anger produced by anger!) singers are a scary species, so beware.
You can’t go by the type of school either because I have been starved and stuffed at both public universiities and top conservatories. Carry water,soft granola bars and a few apples, just in case…
Come here and we’ll go to Five Guys- those peanuts alone are worth the trip, but add in the 500 flavors of Coke and the burgers and fries and all sanity goes out the window!</p>
<p>My H is taking DS to his audition as I’ve visited the school and he hasn’t. I read him excepts of Mezzo’sMama’s post, and he commented, “Hmmm, a music school…disorganized…who would think…!”</p>
<p>The most disorienting audition my daughter had was at Peabody because their conservatory consists of several connected buildings with reiterative numbering systems. So my daughter ended up at a locked, empty office for her scheduled ear-training exam instead of at the same-numbered room in a connected building. On the other hand, we had lunch afterwards with a friend of my daughter’s who was a current student at a terrific nearby pizza place. </p>
<p>Yes, bring food and water! You’d <em>think</em> these items would be available on a college campus, but weirdly you cannot count on it.</p>
<p>If I’m remembering correctly we were served a really nice lunch at CIM, prepared by a great group of people who are part of a sort of support organization for CIM students 
At UM there were some snacks and drinks, there is nothing much close to the music bldg there on campus for purchase. Across the street from North campus at UM there is a “Great Plains Burger” restaurant that has awesome burgers and milkshakes!
I think we also were served lunch at Northwestern and had the opportunity to chat with some students, it was very hard to get time in a warmup room there, very limited space and sort of a crapshoot. My H went to the other auditions, so don’t know about any others.
Good luck to everyone auditioning this year!</p>
<p>Don’t expect anything from MSM or NEC. My son’s regional audition for Oberlin was in a Steinway store…I just dropped him off and picked him up. NYU had a parents reception/meeting to learn about the program. We skipped it choosing instead to go to one of our favorite NYC restaurants for lunch. Another parent took my son to Eastman. Apparently they kept the parents and students engaged all day. You can call them and they will let you know what the program is.</p>
<p>Still chuckling over “rogue banana.” Paints a funny picture in my head…</p>
<p>Eastman was that school with the lengthy morning meeting, followed by an activity fair with everyone crammed into a limited area. I still have one of the “stress balls” (those squishy things that you squeeze to keep you from committing assault in those tough situations!) that they were handing out- it got plenty of use! There is a great coffee place just down the street and several other places just across East Avenue but since the schedule is so packed, finding free time is difficult. It’s also a school where the student is told to remain available until late in the evening, so you may be missing dinner too!
The weather in audition season can make walking to find a place to eat a challenge- picture Dr Zhivago’s hike after deserting the Red Army. Not advisable. When you arrive at your hotel, scope out the neighborhood and pick up some bottled water, fruit, granola bars, etc; grab some snacks from your hotel’s breakfast buffet. If you’re staying at a B&B, ask in advance if they can pack a lunch for you and your student- if you’re driving, take it all with you.
Go prepared and then you can be pleasantly surprised if the school treats you like a valued human being instead of a hand that signs the checks!</p>
<p>We had a peculiar problem at CIM at the generally-wonderful Glidden House in which they ran out of silverware and plates just prior to the morning rush before auditions. There was lots of delicious food but no way to eat it. So bring a set of silverware and some plates. (Just kidding…but you never know what crazy thing could go wrong.)</p>
<p>Across the street (Huntington Avenue) at NEC and down the side street there is a coffee house called Pavement that has good bagels, sandwiches, cookies, comfy chairs and WIFI. </p>
<p>If you walk over to Newbury Street from Boylston when you are at Berklee there is a Bookstore cafe that also serves decent food.</p>
<p>Anyone familiar with places to eat within walking distance from Thornton School of Music at Rice? My son has about two hours between his theory test and his audition and needs to grab a bite to eat. Since he arrives the night before and the exam begins at 9 am, I doubt he’ll even get a chance to grab any snacks.</p>
<p>You mean Thornton USC? Or Shepherd Rice? Or possibly where to get rice at Thornton ;)</p>
<p>Oh, gosh, LOL! I must be really tired–glad it’s Friday! Yes, Shepherd Rice, silly me. Rice at Shepherd would be okay too. :)</p>
<p>[Rice</a> Village](<a href=“http://www.ricevillageonline.com/]Rice”>http://www.ricevillageonline.com/) Rice Village is in walking distance if he wants to explore off campus. One of our favorite places is Ruggles. If he wants to stay on campus there is a nice all glass coffee cafe/lounge in the middle of campus with light fare. Great place to sit and watch campus activity.</p>
<p>Anyone have audition day experience at UT Butler? We currently only have a date, not a time or a schedule. What can we expect as far as the length of the day? We have previously visited for a lesson and a intro session at the Fine Arts School and tour of the music building. And we have been for football game day!</p>
<p>Well if anyone is interested, Lawrence feeds you. Nice little town surrounds the school. Lot’s of cute shops and restaurants. There is a day of programing. Almost identical to Oberlin. The campus even looks the same but the town is much, much bigger than Oberlin.</p>