Hello, I am an upcoming senior and I am preparing for my auditions this fall. I have noticed that many audition dates are early Winter 2020 but a few schools, such as Elon which is my dream school, have November audition dates. I am not sure if it is better to wait until I have more audition experience under my belt to audition for these schools or to audition early so that they don’t find someone like me before it is too late. If you audition for Elon in November they announce acceptances in December and I am worried if I audition later they will have already found someone who is my type or will have already found enough applicants. Any advice? Thank you so much!
Hey @Mads200227 - If Elon is your dream school, audition early. It shows you really want them and schools love that. Yes, you don’t want to go into the audition cold so see if you can connect with a group that does Mock auditions. I have heard they are the best thing you can do to help prepare. My D didn’t have time for one and her first audition was very rocky. Best of luck out there!
It’s also worth mentioning that later in the season the audition committees are TIRED. For the more competitive programs, they have 1-2 thousand students auditioning each year, and the audition calendar - generally Nov-Feb - is brutal for faculty who also have full teaching schedules, plays to direct, etc. Get in early and you’ll find fewer students in the audition room and faculty who are fresher and not exhausted. Better weather for the most part, too.
Audition early (Early Action) for your dream schools if you can.
Sorry if this is a silly question, but am I right in thinking that applying Early Action means you might not be offered as much in Merit money/scholarships as you might get if applying later, seeing as they know you’re super keen? Therefore, is it something best done with schools that you are prepared to attend, irregardless of COA?
Not a silly question at all! I can’t answer this directly but I will say a lot of merit money is for grades and scores, not necessarily artistic potential. All ED offers are contingent on financial aid - if you get into your dream school and you can’t afford it, you can legitimately tell them no. And many schools are EA - you get in early but you can wait until all offers are made before you decide. So early auditions really can’t hurt you, just choose an ED school wisely.
One caveat for MT (this is a Theatre forum but some students apply to both) last year several MT programs decided to go “rogue” and gave their MT aspirants an earlier decision deadline. I don’t know how that worked out for the program but it was stressful for the applicants. I would read the 2023 MT acceptances thread for more info. I would personally recommend not auditioning early for those schools unless they both affordable and a top choice for your MTer.
Thank you @CaMom13 for the informative reply. S is not applying for MT but will definitely read that thread, as I imagine it’s always a possibility it could spread to Acting programs, given that it seems like the stakes seem to be getting so high these days. I feel for both the people trying to fill their slots with the best “fits” for their program, as well as the kids trying so hard to be those fits. Seems like the first quarter of each year must be stressful for all!
@Mads200227 Apply Early Action. Elon Admissions and Performing Arts admissions are separate; however, Performing Arts admission is contingent on Elon Acceptance. Try to nail the prescreen; otherwise you won’t be able to schedule audition. Elon gives $$ for merit and talent. Not sure of your experience but my son said he was prepared for his college auditions because of his auditions at State & National auditions. He thought those were harder than college because they were strict on format.