<p>So I am sure I am not the first to ask these questions, but it is too difficult to find the answers I am looking for on the MANY pages of threads for this topic.</p>
<p>Any help/explanations/details/answers regarding the following questions would be greatly appreciated! :)</p>
<p>1) What exactly ARE the "Unifieds"? I understand the concept that many different schools attend, hence the students have the opportunity to audition for several institutions on the same day and in the same place. But, does the auditioner perform only one audition, and that one audition gets seen by multiple colleges? Or does the auditioner have to audition separately for each institution, but it is simply more convenient due to the common location/date?</p>
<p>2) How does one go about signing up for the Unifieds? Is it on an individual, school-by-school basis?</p>
<p>3) When should/can one sign up?</p>
<p>4) Any other tips, details, stories, or important info?</p>
<ol>
<li>
[quote]
Or does the auditioner have to audition separately for each institution, but it is simply more convenient due to the common location/date?
[/quote]
Yes</li>
<li>
[quote]
How does one go about signing up for the Unifieds? Is it on an individual, school-by-school basis?
[/quote]
Yes</li>
<li>
[quote]
When should/can one sign up?
[/quote]
I'd advise as soon as the schools allow it, to get maximum time flexibility. Check with each school - they all have their own dates/procedures.</li>
</ol>
<p>I bumped the main thread devoted to unifieds...it is very detailed and has a link to the unifed website. It also discusses dates for next year, and I believe a couple of changes. To use the search function, click on search at the top of the main MT page, and enter a word to search for, such as "unfied".</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who has replied! People on this thread truly are helpful. :)</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the unified audition website only has the information from LAST year's auditions, and doesn't really tell us anything about this upcoming year yet (but then it is still pretty early).</p>
<p>I wanted to recommend staying at the Crowne Plaza-Times Square if planning to go to the NY Unifieds. The AMA is housed in the basement of that hotel, and so it is truly convenient, plus they have access to the athletic club for hotel guests. We were also able to walk to the other regional auditions, and walk to the Broadway shows at night, and line up early for the lotteries!
My D "forgets" things, so it was easy to go find her shoe, etc. when it was just an elelvator ride (lol). It just made everything alot easier, plus it was a fun place to be.
I was also able to score very reasonable room rates by reserving two months in advance. The week of Unifieds was also fashion week in NYC, and the same room would probably have quadrupled if I had waited! Btw, Ask for a room higher up to be sure to be away from the noise, and you can choose the TS side or the 8th Ave side for brightness....(we went w/8th Ave)</p>
<p>You're welcome! Also take note that if younare travelling to colleges with a HS jr-sr, Amtrak has a 2 for 1 deal if you book a week ahead! I can't find the link at the moment, but it's well worth it. They also raise their rates as the date approaches.</p>
<p>If you are going to Chicago Unifieds, reserve a room at The Palmer House now. Last May I booked The Palmer House in Chicago even though they did not have a price for the Unified Block then. Request the Tower floors, floors 20-23 I think, as they offer "eats" pretty much 24/7, snacks , breakfast, appetizers and such.. It is definitely worth paying a little more for that b/c there are fruit and water and bagels out the entire time. Breakfast is ok and the appetizers really tide you over throughout the day. Ask the hotel to make a note on your reservation that you are coming to the Unifieds, and then if that pricce is lower they will grant it to you. At least they did me. I made a reservation for the entire time and then modified it by a day when we got our audition schedule there- they did not mind and we kept our Towers room! Good luck.</p>
<p>Would anyone happen to know when they are going to post the 2008 audition dates? I just checked the site and the audition dates from this year are still up.</p>