Resume vs. Audition for MT Programs

<p>snoggie, every school handles auditions differently. However, at many of them, after you sing/act, the auditors may ask you some questions. At several of my D's schools, they did. It is not a full fledged interview like a regular college interview would be but some schools do chat with the student for a little bit after they sing/act. Some handle it differently. And yes, they have the resume in front of them and sometimes they may ask something that is probed from reading the resume.</p>

<p>snoggie, as I said, each of the kids in her 'block' of time (I think it was 8 kids, if I'm remembering correctly) had 15-20 minutes with the auditors after their audition. I know this because she was last to go, even though we'd been the first to sign up for that block. We agreed to go last because some of the others had not planned well and had to get to the airport for flights home. We had been told to plan for 3-4 hours there that afternoon with the combination of the information session and Q & A for parents and kids, then the auditions themselves, and that's certainly the way it worked out. This is how Tisch handled it in 2002 so I don't know if it's still that way now.</p>

<p>Hm, at most of the auditions my D did this past fall, all the auditors asked her questions, except for Marymount Manhattan, where everyone is in the room with you when you sing your songs, and do your monologues. </p>

<p>She first auditioned at Elon where they had her do her songs and monologues, and followed up with several resume related questions afterwards; the same happened at Point Park, and at Carnegie Mellon, where the auditors took their time. At Pace University they also interviewed her in depth, but she auditioned outside of the posted audition slots, and so may be they simply had more time. Her audition at CCM in her mind more or less resembled the "cattle type call" snoggie may be referring to. They did ask her some questions, but she was in and out in a heartbeat. She felt that at Tisch the auditor took the most time, one on one that is, I'd say almost 30 minutes worth. She canceled her other auditions after she was accepted at Tisch, and so those are all the schools I have information about. </p>

<p>Overall, D felt that each school seemed fairly thorough and made an effort to get to know her, except for MMC (where she was also accepted however), and CCM (rejected), where it felt they were merely going through the motions.</p>

<p>I think most of the schools to which my S applied/auditioned asked questions, except Rutgers. He learned a lot about the schools by listening to the questions and learning what they wanted to know about him. In fact, in one case, it was the interview that really turned him off, and he left feeling like he would never attend that school! (Note that the "interview" was relatively brief in most cases.)</p>

<p>Chiming in here to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how many auditors at various schools took the time to talk with my daughter and ask her questions/chat, including those at UArts, Ithaca (where she was asked a number of questions, including some hypothetical ones, and where she ended up telling the auditor a joke!), CMU, Fordham, Univ. of Minnesota's Guthrie, Penn State, Muhlenberg and (especially) NYU. Of all of these, she spent the most time with NYU's auditor.</p>

<p>We had a mixed bag of experiences, and my S and his closest friend, both of whom applied to 5 schools with 3 overlaps, had a wide variety of interview experiences. </p>

<p>For those looking at this for next year:
1. Marymount Manhattan: though it was a group setting, my S ended up auditioning his pieces, discussing them, and being "interviewed" for about 20 minutes in front of the whole group. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Cal Arts: S had a 10 minute talk with the auditors, as well as his performance. Friend made some silly answer to first question, and then ended up just doing his pieces, being thanked and excused.</p></li>
<li><p>Julliard: S did his pieces and that was that. Friend had a 20 minute first audition with questions, answers, discussion, was called back twice, and GOT IN.</p></li>
<li><p>Fordham: Friend did his pieces and that was that. Rejected.</p></li>
<li><p>SUNY Purchase: Friend did his pieces, a couple of perfunctory questions and that was that. Rejected. S did his pieces, spend 15 minutes talking, was video-ed.</p></li>
<li><p>NC School of Arts: Friend did his pieces and was done. Rejected.</p></li>
<li><p>AADA: Both boys: Auditions, interview, tour, the works. Accepted.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>So my conclusion is if they are interested in you, they will spend some time talking to you. In each instance that proved to be the case. It doesn't mean you will get in, (S didn't get into Cal Arts) but you are probably being considered a lot more if you are being talked to. </p>

<p>Obviously, sometimes the chemistry or the energy is just wrong, even if you are very talented. (See above, Friend getting into Julliard, and not getting the time of day at a couple of other schools... or S being interviewed, and the interviewer picking up on the fact that this school may be the very wrong setting for this guy, despite talent...)</p>

<p>And of course, there are other experiences that will be different, but those are the experiences of two guys. They each also applied to 2 schools that did not ask for auditions, and were accepted. So go figure.</p>

<p>My D auditioned at about 5 schools and I think all 5 asked her a couple of questions and then asked her if SHE had any questions for THEM. I think this was one of the most important parts of the audition. Before going to the audition, my D thought about possible questions (she tried to think of something a little "unusual"...not something they might cover in a meeting with students or parents before the audition; and not something readily available on their website). Her questions weren't especially creative or anything, but I think it opened the door to dialog...it gave her an opportunity for them to see her personality. Sometimes they ended up having a fun conversation, and she walked out of the audition feeling great. </p>

<p>At one audition (when warming up with the accompanist), he even TOLD her to be sure to ask a question when they talked to her. It also gives the student an opportunity to get to know the staff a little as well.</p>