UT Austin Audition Experience

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
1

Today I had my audition with the University of Texas at Austin for their BFA acting program. It’s a relatively new program that’s still got a great reputation, and there’s not too much about it on CC, so I thought I’d share what went down for future reference.

I auditioned at the school, in the Winship building. I checked in at a table and waited to be called (they call you up in the order that you check in). Since it was a Sunday, it was a really small group–there were maybe six of us. I know on Saturday they had about 25. Anyway, I was SUPER nervous because it was my first ever college audition, but the students running the thing really helped to put me at ease.

When I was called up, I went into what looked like a movement room with three faculty members. I did my slate, and then did my two pieces. They then asked me to sit for what turned out to be a really short interview. I was expecting them to workshop my pieces, and I know they do that for some auditions, but I guess I was lucky? Or unlucky? We’ll see. They were VERY nice and actually really complimentary, which threw me off. I was totally expecting to be asked just about what my plans were and what they thought I could improve on, so to be told that they actually liked what I did was a really pleasant surprise. They asked me why I wanted a degree in acting, what I want out of the program, and where I hope to see myself in four years. They were friendly and attentive and it was not tense or scary at all. In the end, the audition itself probably took less than 10 minutes.

After the interview, we met in the lobby of the Winship building and went on a quick tour around the school. The only other school I’ve toured up until now had been DePaul University, so I had been acquainted with their very new and very nice Theatre School. The UT facility is more rustic, but it’s got plenty of class space, and the performance spaces are awesome.

Mostly, I was really impressed with how un-pretentious the whole thing was. The students aren’t looking down at you, and the faculty don’t look at you as someone who would be “lucky” to have them. Everyone genuinely wants you to do well and to be comfortable.

Ask me if you have any other questions–hopefully I can answer them!

2

Hey, I just recently auditioned as well at UT Austin! I found out about 3 days afterwards that I was one of the selected 16 students for the program! I’m still waiting to hear back from a couple of more schools and my Texas state callback next weekend before I commit anywhere! Have you committed to a school yet? I also auditioned Sunday so we might’ve auditioned the same day!

3

And I completely agree to your post about the audition. I just wished the whole audition and interview process was much longer. I don’t understand how you can sum up a person’s talent and personality in a 10 minute session. I’m very humbled to be chosen but it makes me wonder if they took into account other things like resume and accomplishments. The facilities in comparison to Texas state are a tad bit outdated.

4

I got in! I received an email last Tuesday saying that the College of Fine Arts had nominated me as a finalist for the Forty Acres Scholars Program, so after the initial shock and gratitude, I realized it was probably a good indication that I was accepted into both the school and the program…and two days later I got an email saying I was accepted to the university and the BFA Acting major!

5

AAWWWWW! CONGRATULATIONS!

6

Did you have your UT acceptance before they told you that you were accepted to the program?

7

@Geekytheatregeek You get the acceptances at the same time–I got an email saying I was accepted into the degree program and the university.

8

Awesome. I’m a transfer student applying for BFA Theatre Studies so I won’t find out if I am accepted to the school until June.

9

Did your GPA/SAT have a lot of impact on your acceptance? Also, what should you bring with you to the audition?

10

@Aevious I have no way of knowing. All you can do is apply and audition and do your best and then hope.

I will say this though. For the class of 2015, to have automatic acceptance into UT, you had to be in the top 7% of your graduating class. A huge chunk of UT’s admitted students come from this automatic acceptance. My acting class is comprised of 14 kids, and as far as I know, none of us had automatic acceptance. Since we auditioned in person at UT, we got to be right in front of people who had a HUGE say in our acceptance into the university and into the acting program.

For some frame of reference: I was in the top 21% of my class, I had a good SAT score, and I didn’t take the ACT. One of my friends in my acting class was in the top 33%, not sure about his SAT or ACT. My grades were far from abysmal, and I had a large graduating class of about 1300 students, but I was also far from automatic acceptance, and if I had applied for a major that didn’t have an audition where I got to be in front of faculty who got to see me perform and interview me, I don’t think I would have been accepted. The audition really helps.

According to http://admissions.utexas.edu/apply/decisions, this year, automatic acceptance to UT requires being in the top 8%. UT is a pretty selective school, especially because they have to take those with automatic acceptance. But I personally think the audition matters just as much as your GPA/SAT, possibly a little more? I don’t work here so that’s not a promise, but I do believe the audition really helps.

As far as what to bring–ALWAYS have a multiple copies of your headshot and resume with you. You usually don’t need anything else.

11

Thank you so much for answering my questions. The website is kind of brief. I guess since it’s a new program and it’s so small it’s really hard to find people that have auditioned or are enrolled in the program. Since your in the program, if I may ask, how is it? Do you feel like you’re really getting something out of the program? For me I guess, I’ve been acting since I was five, and I have always shied away from going to college and majoring in Acting. I love acting more than anything, but I always found that fellow actors I knew weren’t going anywhere with their degrees. Also, is there any reoccurring trait you see in the people who got accepted? I had two friends who auditioned last year and didn’t get in, and they’re actors with years of experience. And lastly, is the class split 7 males, 7 females, or does it depend purely on whoever is favored? Once again, thank you for your answers.

12

And on the website it says to prepare two monologues from published theatre plays. Is this an enforced rule? I have several monologues at hand, but most are from screenplays, or they were pieces made purely for monologues - if that makes sense

13

@Aevious When a school says to prepare monologues from published theatre plays, that is exactly what they want. Part of the audition is following instructions, and that is the first instruction. I wouldn’t deviate into screenplay or monologue book territory.

14

@Aevious You should know that @2019theatremom is absolutely right. Since “theatre plays” are what UT specifies, that is what you should prepare–not just for UT, but any school. Monologues from screenplays have the actor who delivered it on camera attached to the work, and no matter how good you are, you’re not going to disentangle yourself from that recorded performance. Monologues from books, or from online, that are standalone pieces aren’t written with a script, so there’s no character complexity, no given circumstances, no superobjective, nothing that the the department would want to work with you on in an audition, class, or show. I cannot stress it enough: monologues from screenplays and from monologue books, or any medium that produces stand-alone monologues, are poor choices for theatre auditions.

Okay, getting to your questions:

How is it? I love it. I love that it is so small–it’s very easy to have a close relationship with the faculty, and there’s lots of integration between all the different majors, including the grad students.

Do you feel like you’re really getting something out of the program? I’m learning new acting techniques I had not even known about before, and I can honestly say I can feel myself getting better. I’ve been cast in the mainstage production of Twelfth Night for the next semester, so it really is rewarding if you work hard. All of our faculty are working artists who have great connections. It’s downright stupid for anyone to say that any program offers an “easy-in” to the business, no matter the “distinguished alumni,” but I can say with confidence that UT will prepare you excellently. What happens after UT is a result of hard work and luck. That’s just the reality.

Is there any recurring trait you see in the people who got accepted? There’s nobody I can think of that has that pretentious, snooty Theatre Artist attitude that makes them a nightmare to be around, which is really a relief, let me tell you.

Is the class split 7 males, 7 females, or does it depend purely on whoever is favored? I think what they try to aim for actually is 8 males and 8 females. Our class had two women decide to enroll elsewhere, and I guess the staff chose not to dip into the waitlist, so my class is ended up being comprised of 8 males and 6 females. I think they really do try to aim for an even split so they don’t run the risk of the department getting lopsided, which would make casting difficult.

Hope those answers help, and please feel free to ask me anything else you want to know.

15

I guess I’d have more questions if I got admitted into the program, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself, being that the chances are slim. There’s only one more thing I’m unsure about. I’ve recently gotten into film more heavily the last few years. It’s kind of grown into what I’m more passionate about. Don’t get me wrong, I love theatre, but I was wondering if there were equal opportunities in film and television. On their website, it seems like the majority of any film-related work is in the final semesters, with the possibility of study abroad in LA?

16

@Aevious Most of the class film work happens later, yes, as far as I know. However, the Radio/Television/Film majors ALWAYS need actors. Like, always. They send out at least one casting call pretty much every week. So while it’s not intensive, it’s work in front of the camera and in front of people who want a career in that.

17

Hi, on the website it says to prepare two monologues totaling in 2 minutes, does this mean each monologue can be 2 minutes or that each one has to be one minute.
Thank you!

18

@Kaypin555 Both monologues should add up to two minutes, so having them both be about one minute isn’t a bad idea.

19

Thank you, @Decomfortable for sharing your experiences! My daughter is auditioning there this weekend. :slight_smile: