If we opt to do some online auditions instead of traveling to all the schools, is my kid going to be at a huge disadvantage versus kids who showed up in person? I just don’t see how we can do live auditions to more than 3 schools. His instrument requires an additional ticket on top of everything. Nothing is driving distance.
How do families afford this?
No, you should not be at a disadvantage. Schools know that it is expensive.
Others can comment on how they have handled this more recently. Back in the day, my D made sure that she was communicating with the school (and a teacher if possible) about her sincere interest in the school…but lack of funds to travel to all. It’s OK to let the school know that you can’t travel due to cost/time. My D was accepted without visiting or auditioning live at a school.
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It does seem that especially since the pandemic, programs have honed their remote audition processes. From having followed the thread of the past few classes of music majors here on CC, applicants with remote auditions seemed to do well. And I do feel that schools are very aware of the cost and understand that remote auditions promote equity which is important. In my opinion, do what you can afford and logistically make happen without over stressing your kid or your bank account.
My son auditioned several years ago on what I would call the super low budget whirlwind audition tour of 6 schools. He did all of them in person. 5 of the 6 were not in driving distance. These strategies may not work for everyone, my kid is incredibly frugal and quite resourceful. (Great qualities for a budding musician, by the way)
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Mine went by himself to all of his auditions. This saved one round trip parent fare and also lodging much of the time. (See number 2)
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My son had friends at several of the schools who graduated HS the year or two before him. He slept on a few dorm floors, or crashed someone’s apartment. It was also a great way to get a feel for the program from a peer student perspective. This was right before the pandemic lockdowns, so I am not sure of the policies currently.
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If you have options to put two programs together in a weekend or 3 day period, this helps on airfare and lodging. Super stressful, so weigh the financial stress versus kid burnout.
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If you get the chance for an early audition and offer, you may be able to cancel some later programs on your projected list. If I recall correctly, my son had an acceptance with financial offer at a school he would have been happy to attend by the end of February, so he was able to cancel one he was less interested in. It does seem that more recently, early offers are more scarce at least from what I see anecdotally here on CC.
While it all seemed so overwhelming at the time (and still crazy in retrospect) the path became clearer as he went along. And I am in awe of how poised and responsible our young musicians are. The audition gauntlet was stressful but such a great opportunity for growth for my kid. They seem to absolutely rise to the occasion!
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This is so helpful. Thank you.
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You are welcome. Now if only I could suggest a way to shrink a large instrument to fit in an overhead bin and magically return it to it’s size upon exiting the airplane…
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We have now spent more on transporting that instrument than it’s worth. 
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We drove really long distances! But online options are more of a thing now.
Mine made sure he was in-person at his top choices. But a guitar travels well. But also as anotheroboemom said above, he was able to cancel two because he made sure to pick the earlier auditions and EA for his top programs. As she also said…he work and travel he put in for his pre-college programs and auditions really paid off. An amazing growth opportunity. I’ve seen such a difference in him over the past two years (he will start year 2 in August). Good Luck
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I wonder how many families would encourage choosing an instrument that fits in the overhead luggage compartment, if they could read this first!
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I just had a thought. We are flying Frontier across the country (West Coast to East). We bought their ”premier” seats which has the middle seat left empty between the aisle and window. These were cheaper than the more mainstream airlines. I wonder if they would let you put an instrument in that middle seat??
Ask the airline. In our experience, most required payment for that second seat regardless of where it was.
Our kids travelled with several valuable instruments each. For auditions, fortunately kid one didn’t have to fly anywhere…and kid two had an instrument case that easily fit in the overhead bins (and computer bag went below the seat in front of her…had to check anything else).
Maybe you will hit it lucky and a couple of auditions will be close in date! That happened with a couple for our kid.
We constantly praise the kids for choosing flute for just this reason
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He is flying with Frontier across the country as well. We bought a seat. 
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Also an instrument always needs to be in the window seat and strapped, so in case of emergency it doesn’t prevent anybody from disembarking and doesn’t fly around the cabin.
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That makes sense. We’ve only flown with a guitar. So it’s been overhead bin, first class closet or gate check (last resort 
) for us.
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Never in a million years I would have thought this kid would be auditioning for music schools. I would have insisted on violin and I known this ahead of time.
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Actually…I sat next to a cello. I was on the aisle seat and the cello was in the middle seat of the bulkhead row. Oddly, the owner was seated in the row behind me. He asked me if I would watch over his instrument. Um…no. I didn’t want that responsibility, but I did offer to switch seats with him. He declined🤷🏻♀️
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Oh wow! We were told window only! It’s more expensive and makes sense because if somebody is sitting in the window seat, I way they can exit with a massive cello in the middle. So strange.
For Jet Blue anyway, there is a place to indicate instrument (different from extra seat).
Same cost thought, right?