YoungArts Applications open today everyone!!! 
@Shakuton @FlameAlchemist @StreenaSkywalker @wistfulwords @nobodycansaveme Hereās a fresh chat for YoungArts Guys
woohoo!
@MangoLover11223 @Aerlyn @palinoia
These guys were also in the last chat so I canāt exclude them xD
YESSS SO EXCITED!!
Iām so pumped! Go YoungArts!
Thinking of applying for Classical Piano and Writing. I would apply for Clarinet as well but it doesnāt seem available. Kinda new so I guess Iāll shoot my shot :/.
@wontonandrice Thatās amazing! I fantasize about applying for Violin since Iāve been playing it for awhile but I noticed that Iām not necessarily as advanced as people who audition so Iām like ehhhh. So thatās why Iām just doing Writinf because I know thatās what Iām truly good at I guess? ;D
@skipper99 @geometry1761 I think they said they were also joining YoungArts
Iām doing Writing, and possibly Filmmaking. Iām also considering doing Acting, but that almost certainly wonāt happen.
Is it really difficult to get in? Iām kinda worried to be honest Iām a beginner writer. Iām fairly experienced in piano and can definitely perform the requisites but Iām not sure what criteria they really have.
@wontonandrice Iām actually not sure because Iāve never done YoungArts before, itās my first time but after looking into it and doing some research, getting chosen, especially as a Finalist is quite difficult because of how cut throat it is. I donāt think you should beat yourself up, because I think that even so you have a fair chance of winning just like everyone else! Even if you donāt you can still learn and submit again! You have nothing to lose and I think itās worth giving it a shot! 
@wontonandrice Itās my first time as well, so take this with a grain of salt. Iāve heard that YoungArts is harder than Scholastic, but thatās more due to how subjective it is. Apparently, it can be even more random than Scholastic, what with works that are not good being chosen over amazing ones. Anyhow, itās really impossible to know until we try! Itāll be hard, but Iām sure that even if we donāt make it, the fact that we had the courage to try will be worthwhile in the end!
@wontonandrice To add onto Flameās statement, donāt be afraid to take risks with your story. Donāt play it safe as tempting is it may be or jumping from idea to idea within a story. I have those temptations myself but YoungArts tend to be the most attractive to stories that actually hold elements of risks whether theyāre about serious issues or not.
Does YoungArts tend towards the political like Scholastic does?
@StreenaSkywalker From watching a lot of Short Stories read during Finalist Week, a lot of them werenāt as political. I mean some were but surprisingly not as much as Scholastic. Most were touching, mature like narratives and relatable, real life experiences that were presented in another view, unique and nuanced. Thatās what Iāve observed through my eyes.
Jumping off of the comment @Lunarlitgend posted, Iām assuming you all have been watching YoungArts videos on YouTube. Just out of curiosity, do any of you have a personal favorite auditionāthat is, one you just really enjoy watching from the category youāre applying for? At the moment, Iām really loving Rachel St. Oursā short story audition. I thought it sounded really cool and poeticāhonestly, it was super inspiring. I also loved Stephen Boyerās cinematic arts short film. It was a really well-done piece of art. On the downside, however, how good all of these are is really stressing me out!
Also, @StreenaSkywalker , from what Iāve seen, YoungArts does tend a bit towards the political. But there are still a lot of stories that arenāt related to politics. At any rate, I wouldnāt worry too much about it. Doing something political might give you a slight edge, but then again, it might not. As long as you can create something really good, then youāll reach the top in no time!
@FlameAlchemist Yes she has a good story, but my top favorite stories are the ones by Oriana Tang, Rachel Page, and Hannah Knowles. Their stories are so nuanced and beautiful. I was a little narrow-minded when watching the videos, however, because I mainly watched the videos that were similar in style, structure, figurative language, etc to the stories that I was writing. I found that it benefited me more.
BTW I agree with you Flame, I am just as nervous. Unlike Scholastic, YoungArts is ugh. And I actually find that YoungArts isnāt as Political as Scholastic. I agree I have definitely run into stories involving real-life issues but again not as much as Scholastic. But itās probably because I only watched a few rather than all.
@FlameAlchemist I mean I love Timothee Chalametās acting performance; heās one of the most talented in the acting discipline ā must be why he was nominated for an Oscar this year. And Lianah Sta. Ana does a brilliant rendition of āBreatheā from In The Heights (Iām a big LMM nerd if only I could sing and act). I actually know some people who have won in dancing, voice, and spoken word from local private schools and art magnets but no one in non-performance writing disciplines which is just my luck.
And yeah, I donāt think thereās much difference about writing political vs non political as long as itās well written. If youāre writing about a social issue and you write well kudos to you but I donāt think thereās a substantial difference.
@wistfulwords I definitely agree with you. Whether or not a piece is political should not be the determining factor to getting chosen. Even if it does give an edge it is probably a slight one that doesnāt give it so much of an impact that itās instantly considered and chosen (hopefully thatās the case and should be the case). If the piece fits the requirement listed such as technique, a strong, clear, artistic and sophisticated point of view and a depth of thinking and performance, (I looked at it so many times itās drilled in my head xD), and itās a well-written piece, unique/original, and presented in a new way that hasnāt been seen before whether itās through the style or a plot, or both, youāre already given a fair chance of winning Merit, Honorable Mention or even Finalist.