<p>Hope to tap into the incredible brain trust on this board once again! Apparently, some MT applicants in our area believe they need their own website to assist in their college applications. I gather the websites include their resumes as well as various performance clips, MP3s, reviews of performances, etc., and the students include the website link on their resumes when auditioning. I believe these sites are the exception rather than the rule but welcome anyone's thoughts, especially from coaches or college MT department faculty. Are these sites becoming more common? Are they helpful? Harmful? Does anyone even look at them other than the applicants' friends and family? Thanks.</p>
<p>That’s very interesting. I don’t know of anyone who has done it so far, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes more commonplace. That being said, I question whether college faculty would even have the time to look at websites. They already spend a great deal of time on the audition process. A personal website might actually be more valuable for actors who are already working professionally. My gut reaction is that it’s unnecessary for college applicants. There are some college faculty members on this board --it will be interesting to hear their take on your question.</p>
<p>I can only speak for us, but we would not look at the website of an applicant. We do not look at supplemental materials (ie. dvds of performances, etc.) that students bring with them to the audition either. We want to make decisions considering all students on the same set of criteria.</p>
<p>We will accept DVD audition submissions for students who are not able to attend the on campus auditions. We have very specific guidelines for those submissions (in terms of what to include), but I suppose that if someone wanted to direct us to a website instead of sending the DVD in the mail that would work. That is the only instance I could think of where we would look at an applicants website.</p>
<p>Many professional actors do have website. This is a useful tool, particularly in terms of the submission process.</p>
<p>Just my opinion. :)</p>
<p>My D just went through the college audition process. She does not have a website. She does not have videos of her performing posted on youtube or facebook. She brought only what was requested by the schools to the auditions and always had extra headshots and resumes. She was fortunate to be accepted into 7 of the 10 programs for which she auditioned. Who knows what the future will hold, but for today schools are not expecting websites.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your prompt responses. While perhaps appropriate for a working actor, I thought a website in the context of college admissions was over the top. I hadn’t even focused on the obvious (now that I think about it) ethical questions raised by viewing of outside submissions of some applicants but not all. As always, thanks to each of you for sharing your wealth of experience, and special congratulations to Xatty!</p>
<p>Anne, it’s really not a case of it being “over the top”, it’s more a case of it being a waste of time and effort. As Kat said, colleges make it very clear that they will not look at supplemental materials. Do you know why it is that some of these kids believe that a personal website is necessary at this point? Someone is giving them bad advice.</p>
<p>The kids I’ve heard of who have established websites also have the same agent. (Children with agents is an entirely different topic!) I’m not sure if this “bad advice” is coming from that agent or just more from parents with too much time and disposable income on their hands. Thanks for confirming KatMT’s post regarding college considerations of supplemental materials.</p>
<p>I’m sorry . . . I don’t understand that phrase “disposable income.” Can you explain that to me? ; )</p>
<p>Well, thank goodness this is not ANOTHER thing DS has to worry about!</p>
<p>There is always someone pushing the envelope in any situation, hoping that will give him or her the “edge” on college acceptances. Many years ago when our first child was applying to schools (not drama) the “in” thing was to send a DVD, or have your application delivered with a bouquet of balloons, etc. Admissions departments hated this for all the obvious reasons and today most schools warn against trying to use gimmicks in the admissions process. </p>
<p>Although a website may be necessary and desirable for a working actor, creating one to further “strut their stuff” for serious drama programs is more than a little declasse.</p>