I agree with NyDanceMom (you know, you may be a parent just starting the process but you know plenty to be giving out lots of tips, don't underestimate now!
)....
Last year, I had a client do an audition in LA for PSU and then for his "callback", he had to go to PSU...to dance, and be seen by others, etc. I also communicatd online with a parent of a kid who did Unifieds in Chicago for PSU and same thing happened. There was LITTLE notice to have to travel to PSU (let alone the unexpected expense) and the way that school does it, I can't see applying in Chicago or LA because if you make it to call backs, you have to go to PSU anyway and on short notice (when you likely have auditions to the wazoo on your calendar) and have to pay when you didn't count on it. They do not hold dance auditions at those sites but they do want to see kids dance. So, those unified sites are practically like a screening the way they are doing it. If you audition on campus, you sing, dance and act and then there are callbacks, on the same day, a little later, after everyone has done round one. In my view, if they are going to hold the unifieds which is meant to make it more convenient for families and less money too, this procedure defeats the purpose. I mean it works for THEM insofar as they can screen and not bring them all to campus. All I know is that neither family I spoke with had any idea this process could happen when they went to LA or Chicago Unifieds so having to go to PSU was nothing they had remotely considered. One kid chose not to go to her callback, in fact. Just could not do it.
So, if it is like that this year, I would suggest auditioning at PSU or in NYC. I realize those are far and expensive for you but perhaps you can link that audition trip with other east coast auditions to make it worth the while. Also, then you would not have all the auditions at LA unifieds, which can be a good thing in case she gets sick or also just to spread them out some.
Susan