If I am remembering correctly - CMU admitted both Foster and Groban- and neither stayed. Perhaps Michigan got the feeling that neither of these performers was looking for 4 years of training. Isn’t that why it is generally advisable NOT to put agent etc (if you have one) on college app- b/c the university may see it as a sign you aren’t committed to the idea of education. Just a thought
I think most of the MT programs get such a plethora of talented and motivated applicants that they don’t actually need to work that hard to get a great class. They can be as whimsical and arbitrary as they want and still end up narrowing down to a select group much larger than the number they can admit. I am grateful to the programs that take the time to get to know the applicants - even for 5 minutes. I don’t know if they can tell that much about character in that time - some 17 year olds don’t interview well and some do - but I think it makes the kids feel less like slabs of meat up for inspection. And with all the effort and emotion the students invest into their applications, they deserve that measure of respect.
Yes @CaMom13 ^^^this! Im ok with my kid being treated like a slab of meat during a “job “ audition when she is older etc lol but not for college admissions for MT. It’s an educational audition bottom line, not a job audition. You are auditioning for an education. It’s not like they’re paying YOU. Last time i checked there was tuition involved.
Just for the record - the school/program that I was referencing in my OP gave a great audition day to the students. 
With college auditions and job interviews the same principle is in play—supply and demand. Because demand far exceeds supply, the price goes up; the price in terms of tuition and in acceptance at the college of YOUR choice or DESIRED job salary (i.e. an employer can pay less to the successful job applicant if there are more where that came from). I would hope that our children, and job applicants are not treated like a commodity, but that is increasingly the sad reality I think.
When my kid auditioned for BFA in MT programs, several of the programs did talk to her in the audition and ask questions, etc.
In terms of knowing more about an applicant, beyond singing, dancing, and acting, such as “work ethic” and “personality” mentioned in other posts on this thread, there is the entire application…grades and rigor of classes taken (this speaks to work ethic), letters of recommendation, essays, resume, etc.
certainly college auditors have more info available to them about an applicant than a professional audition ever will - after all, professional auditions won’t be asking you to write an essay for them 
Well I was under the impression that for college MT at most programs they don’t really give a hoot about grades if that indicates work ethic (or so everyone keeps saying) and did they read that essay that went to the admissions dept? Somehow I doubt that they all read the essay…
Maybe not all but the MT department at Michigan reads the essay…
@theaterwork - I think, like almost everything else in the process, it depends on the school. My D had several schools ask about things in various essays that she had written - it was obvious they had read them. Now, that may be because she focused on schools with strong academic requirements, who knows.
At more than one school this year, the auditor had D’s essay in hand (or on the computer) while she auditioned. At Texas State, Kaitlin asked her to expand on something she wrote. I thought that was awesome. It was obvious she was trying to get a sense for who my D was in very short order.
S applied to a variety of schools, and many BFA/BM programs required specific info in addition to the regular university app guidelines. Some even had separate essay requirements for those programs. About 70-80% asked questions during the audition process which stemmed from the info he provided within the context of his applications.
You have to remember that many schools do not interview students at all. Admissions never sets eyes on them. Applicants are defined by their paperwork only. The main reason MT departments go through this process is to see them perform. Period. My D who was an art major only sent her portfolio of pieces to colleges digitally. And that was the main basis for admissions for most programs. No chance to discuss her work or process. So while it would be great to truly interview all applicants to get to know them, that is not the purpose of auditions.
@uskoolfish your point is so valid. Most schools never meet their applicants aside from visit days.
Many schools asked for additional arts supplement in 2015 and they did reference that material in their few words they said to my S. Again, I don’t think this process is perfect, but I don’t think it is as cold and callous as it is being depicted by some here. Some schools do better than others as someone said upthread, but there is no way to predict how an individual auditor will react to each person. We approached this with the reality that they owed us nothing but that 5 minute or whatever window we scheduled, so neither of us ever felt disappointed by what didn’t happen and appreciated what did.
What one needs to remember is that your college audition is not just the few minute you’re in the room singing and doing your monologue. It starts when you arrive on campus (or the hotel for unifieds) and ends when you leave. Programs are watching you to see how you interact with the people checking you in, the other auditionees, how nice you are to the accompanist, and so on. Most programs have current students around hosting, and they are providing input to the faculty on how well they see individuals fitting into the program.
So if you don’t have a long conversation in the room, part of it is the limited time to do so when you have so many kids to hear. But part of it might be they already know you won’t be a good fit for their program based on the interactions you’ve had the entire day, or that they see you as a good fit.
Just to add to the comments by @jeffandann . This is a story I’ve told in previous similar discussions here:
As to the interview, when my D auditioned at Tisch many years ago, they did interview the students. Hers was between 20-30 minutes. Does Tisch no longer do that?
The MT audition is the interview. Last year my daughter spent quite a bit of time talking to panels. She discussed people she has worked with, material she selected, plays that she has read, etc. She had great conversations and found people to positive and interested in what she had to say. I think they are evaluating you - in terms of how you carry yourself, what you read and think about, are you comfortable around adults, if you make a mistake can you correct it. Overall these are trained professionals who do this every year - they know what they are looking for. Trying to figure it out is just a diversion - all you can do is do your best!! BAL
^^^I was attending a musical a week or so ago and behind us, a girl and her mother were discussing (VERY loudly) the program most of the actors were attending. Apparently, the girl had just auditioned for the program and was really carrying on about how she would NEVER even CONSIDER going to the program. Her mother was trying to quiet her down but she was carrying on. I’m sure she didn’t realize that she was sitting among those actors’ fellow students, parents and professors. She probably won’t need to worry about turning the program down…
@jeffandann - I can speak to a personal experience on this. My S had a myriad of things happen exactly prior to Unifieds in CHI (several illnesses including flu, travel delays and re-routes due to weather, and more). In the end, he was left with 1 day to audition, and it was a bit of orchestration to get it done. A school that all consider “tip top” worked with us to get his audition squeezed into a very narrow time slot. Late that afternoon, I emailed the program/audition coordinator (not faculty) to express my gratitude. She sent me a brief reply noting a few very kind words about my S that had everything to do with his demeanor in the waiting area and his interactions, and nothing to do with his talent. They are watching, and what this particular school saw meant enough for them to mention it.
Ok ok I give in…gees sorry to have even brought any of this up. Obviously everyone else has had or are experiencing interviews , panel discussions and so forth. Other then maybe one program we did not experience that. Of course we experienced kind people and sweet students & helpful faculty. Not trying to say we didn’t. We were never treated rudely except a bit at one school. But nothing overt. I guess the thinking seems to be we all need to just be thankful for what we have / get. I am thankful my D is in a program . Just apparently one of the only parents who wish there were more to the process.