@katiebean How many songs and monologues did you do for CMU and what made the experience stand out? Does anyone have feedback on the UM and PSU auditions? Glad to hear about ccm @parachuteboy!
@claire74 , I know how you’re feeling–this is an emotional time that is heady with nostalgia and smacking with the reality of upcoming changes and the unknown in them --but you have definitely not outlived your purpose! D (a freshman) still tells me all of her news, consults me about things, and even asks me to watch audition pieces via video. Your son may not do the same (and maybe he will), but you will always be his biggest support–and I bet he knows that!
@mtgirl225 Just two songs and two monologues! And I only did my two monologues for Barbara. They were very complimentary in a genuine way and Barbara made me feel like I had talent no matter where I end up, which was a nice contrast from those schools that have the air that they know their kids are the most talented and that we must be “up to their standard” to get accepted. She had a realistic conversation with me about the process of applying and auditioning for schools and some of my other auditions and talked about my monologues a bit. Gary really enjoyed my song choices and voiced that they had nice contrast. He was a lot of fun, dancing along to my song and laughing at the end. Overall I just felt like they treated me as a human and individual artist, helping me along in my process instead of judging me, which made all the difference in the world.
did PSU time everyone?
I have now read and heard about schools who were at other hotels during unifieds. I had no idea!! Where was the information posted on who was where outside of the PH?
I don’t think the Palmer house advertises other schools at “official” unifieds. It’s something you needed to look for with those individual schools. My D had 3 schools on her list that were not part of unifieds- but were in Chicago at same time.
The Palmer House had a list of all schools that rented space in the hotel-unified and non unified schools but as @toowonderful you would have to check the websites of the individual school you’re interested in to find out if they’ll be in Chicago at the same time as Unifieds.
anyone ever wonder how on earth they track all these kids?
Only about 25 schools are actually officially a Unified Audition school. Everyone else (including CMU) is coincidentally there at the same time 
Excel spreadsheets. Dozens of them. At least in my time.
Question about CMU - I had heard that if they are interested they will have you act for Barbara but at Chicago it seemed totally random - whoever opened the door went into that room next. My d didn’t see anyone pulled to go an extra time - anyone know?
@mtmamma2020 From what I can tell it is actually random. I think many kids are passed between rooms (or have been in the past years) - but I also read someplace on here that current students said some of them were not passed b/w rooms and others went to 3 or 4 rooms. So - random. Just adds to the “excitement” (anxiety) with waiting!
Rumor is (and I have never seen anyone in all my years here dispute this) that if you don’t get put before Barbara, by either random selection or by being passed over to her, it’s Over. Would love if someone dispelled this myth, but as far as I know, no one has.
Now what’s the rumor on if you start with Barbara but don’t get passed after seeing her?
I think as long as you’ve been seen by Barbara, you’re good. 
Does most everyone get to audition with Barbara in New York and Chicago? Does she always hear both monologues?
We were in NYC and either Don or Barbara saw you. I think most people did two monologues and some were asked for a third. We saw one boy be sent to the other adjudicator but nobody else (for straight drama that is. – many MT kids seemed to be passed around more than drama applicants).
And Barbara isn’t head of acting anymore. Don is. Not sure if that makes a difference.
Thanks! I heard that Barbara was seeing the acting in Chicago but I’m not sure if there were others too.
So the rumor appears to be true! Oh well, that seems to be the powerball of schools particularly since there is no prescreen and they see so many. It was a lovely audition my d thoroughly enjoyed it so props for that.