@rickle1 agreed, we started w “training” in the fall of daughter’s junior year, feedback she got from CMU summer program led her to taking ballet at a local studio 2x/week. started prepping for the ACT/SAT- I feel like D’s junior year was a pseudo gap year, in some ways harder than senior/ audition year. Junior year is academically most challenging & we were training in all 3 disciplines all year, luckily daughter was willing to sacrifice alot of social opportunities and she is organized…she was playing with many pieces up till august/September of senior year even then she had mediocre pre screen results. starting prep early and spreading out the auditions starting in October are two things I would highly recommend. oh and get the testing and applications completely out of the way by 10/1 of senior year.
I have a student that I have directed before. She used someone else to help her with auditions. I just learned from her that she got no acceptances that she will consider and waitlist for a few places. My heart is breaking for her because I heard about the material she used and I know it wasn’t the right material to help her stand out. She falls into the most common group of auditioners for looks and type. And it is so hard to stand out from that unless you package yourself differently. It is now almost April and she – for the first time – is considering a gap year. I encouraged her to take it. But what @rickle1 said above is spot on. Find out what is working and what isn’t. You cannot rely on what you “like” or “love.” You need some objective opinions about where you fit and how people see you. Go to those mock auditions. Get some real critique. Not just from people who have worked with you for five years. Getting that real honest, authentic feedback pushed my two kids into rethinking their songs (and in one case, a monologue choice). Some of it was things I had already suggested, but they needed to hear it from someone else – a potential decision-maker. I know there are several mock college auditions around the country (like the College Audition Prep in DFW area in August). Sign up for one of these and use it to launch your audition season. And, be prepared to pivot HARD throughout the season if you realize something isn’t working! Don’t send out all your prescreens at one time. Send a few, get the feedback/response. If they didn’t prove successful, try something else. I think my students tweaked their prescreeens several times before they got the ones that truly worked for them.
Agree with Onette.
The good thing about starting early with finding material is that you then will HAVE TIME to tweek it or choose other material completely.
If it is near deadline time for prescreens or even auditions you will not have the time to find new material and “work it up” to the point it is ready to present. You may be forced to stick with material that may not be best for you. If you start this your Junior year (or gap year!) you have time to figure it out. Objective feedback is 100% key.
The other problem that you may run up against is asking too many people for opinions…everyone will have one. I know that it is common for your voice teacher who you have been with for years to object when a College Audition coach steps in and suggests differing material. This can be difficult for teens to naviagate and mom and dad have to “step” in and guide them on who to listen too.
I think that there will be a shift where MT kids will take a intended gap year and audition AFTER they graduate. There is too much $$$ and time at stake. It wouldn’t be the worse thing and would help decrease Gap Year #'s (double the $$/time!)
@NYYFanNowMTdad You just triggered PTSD with that last post!
Hi everyone! I snuck onto my mom’s account to provide a little insight into my audition process/first semester at school/re-auditioning/gap semester whirlwind of a story! Hopefully this can provide a different perspective coming from a student for anyone considering a gap year (but still listen to your parents too, they really do have more life experience than us, they aren’t lying to you!).
As my mom mentioned before, I did the whole audition process last year…Worked with MTCA (PHENOMENAL COMPANY- I recommend them so highly to anyone overwhelmed, underwhelmed, and medium-whelmed by this process!). I knew all of high school that this is what I wanted to do. I was always training intensely in dance, singing, acting, working hard at school, and joining every extracurricular I could squeeze into my schedule. In other words, I was doing what 99.999999999% of the population auditioning for MT was doing. I applied to a HUGE net of programs (30+, every tier, every location, every style), had my material seen by multitudes of different people, worked night and day on applications…And it didn’t work! WHAT? I got waitlisted at one program, and got deferred to a different program at that school on July 1st. Yay, an option!
I spent the end of a my senior year and summer after my senior year quite miserable. My friends were sporting their school gear, talking about their roommates, bragging about their #1 Dining Halls, and feeling so EXCITED for this next chapter in their lives. For some reason, this excitement was something I just couldn’t bring myself to feel. I was so reluctant to move into college. Almost a year later, I’m able to recognize that reluctance as disappointment. I was heading off to a school I wasn’t thrilled about, for a program I didn’t want.
My program was an acting program, so I took the advice of everyone in my life and tried my best to piece together supplementing! I was taking voice lessons nearby and dance classes at local studios. Eventually, this became a huge expense (I had to take the train/uber to and from dance, pay for the dance, pay for the voice) in addition to the already daunting expenses of just going to college. Supplementing IS possible, and I applaud anyone taking that route, you are a warrior! However, I was really struggling with this. I spent my acting classes listening to the Junior MTs sing next door, and the Senior MTs tap upstairs, and a lot of time thinking…Man! That’s really where I want to be!
In the middle of October, I visited a friend at a local state school and really realized what I was missing out on. There was a certain feeling on that campus that I didn’t get at my school. The way my friend spoke about their school was a language I didn’t understand. I quickly realized I wasn’t at the right place for me. It was a nationally ranked program, at a nationally ranked school, but it just was not my fit! So, yes, mid-October, I gave my mom that frightful call after my bus ride home from visiting my friend…“Mom…I think I want to re-audition.” Oh, boy! I began working with an audition coach closer to home so that I could do in-person lessons more often. This made SUCH a big difference in my performance, and if its possible for you, I highly recommend trying to make in-person coaching work.
The biggest advantage to re-auditioning is your experience. Yes, it totally sucks that things didn’t work out for you the first time. But think about what you know now that the Seniors don’t (sorry Seniors, you are great too!). You know the vibes you got from the audition rooms, you will have the time to go visit friends on their campuses to see what types of schools you REALLY jive with (not the ones you WANT to jive with because you’re supposed to because they put a lot of kids on Broadway), you know what to pack for auditions, you know what the rooms at unifieds look like, you know just how badly you want to do this, you have time to check out programs that weren’t on your radar last year but are now because you saw them on the boards at unifieds, you know what questions they ask in the room, you know how dance calls run, etc, etc, etc!!!
My biggest message to all my gap-year-considerees, is that there is most likely very little you could have done to change your results. Because as much as you probably don’t believe it right now: You sounded AMAZING in those audition rooms. Your audition material was PERFECT for you. Your legs WACKED your face in those dance calls. Your interview responses were SO intelligent. But for some reason, things just did not go your way. And heck no! It’s not fair, and you don’t deserve it, and you can absolutely be devastated when you see girls/guys with 10 schools under their names on the Acceptances thread while you don’t even have 1. This time in your life stinks, and it’s supposed to be really happy! Not to mention you are stuck in quarantine! Seriously, Universe?!?!?!
But you have a secret weapon most other people don’t: a big old chip on your shoulder. You have a reason to get back up, go to therapy (parents, please encourage this, and Seniors, please listen to your parents on this one), learn about yourself, think about what you want to tell the auditors about yourself when you walk into the room, and really delve into what makes you special and what you have to offer these programs, because you can offer a whole lot!
You did everything right the first time, I promise. But now you have a chance to do everything even right-er!
Well, this turned into a book! But I wish I had someone writing a book for me about this last year. My heart really is breaking for everyone who is struggling right now, but I know the pendulum will swing back your way eventually, even if it takes some time. This time last year, I never would have thought I’d have the options I do now. If any parents/students ever want to talk to me, just PM my Momma and she’ll get us in touch!
@MAmum1234 Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! I’m so, so happy that things worked out and you have options that you love! Best of luck at whichever new school you choose.
@MAmum1234 Wow, what an awesome testament to your persistence and drive. Wishing you nothing but the best with your decision. You will undoubtedly kill it!
@MAmum1234 - Thank you for sharing - I am so glad you didn’t settle! Best of luck to you on your new school!
@MAmum1234 you literally had me weeping while reading. You are an amazing young person and I wish you amazing success in life!
@MAmum1234 Wow! Thank you for sharing from your heart. I’ll pass this on to my D who is likely feeling as you did last year. Your parents must be so proud of you – your tenacity, honesty, humanity, and of course, your talent. Wishing you a lifetime of BALs.
@MAmum1234 Thank you so much for your post! I am so happy for you that you have great options this year! I wish you all the best. My daughter is feeling very similar to what you were feeling last year at this time. She did MTCA and did all the things you wrote about. The 30+ schools, training, mock auditions, etc., etc. After all is said and done she has two yeses - American BA MT, and Muhlenberg. She is waitlisted at Molloy/CAP21 and Wagner. She is still waiting on OCU.
So, we are really working with two options: American vs Muhlenberg. Currently, she plans to attend one of them in the fall and go through the whole audition process again. ?.
We would greatly appreciate any advice you have to pass on so that she can have a more successful outcome next year. What did you do differently? What would be your number one recommendation you would give to someone attempting to do this process ALL OVER again?
If any one has feedback on the programs at American or Muhlenberg, we would love to hear it. She is leaning towards American because it is audition based. But, we have heard and read very good things about Muhlenberg, as well.
I would also like to thank all of you for your heartfelt posts over the last few months. You all have been a great source of advice and comfort! Wishing you and your children all the best in their future endeavors!
@Lilybird4 a few thoughts for you, feel free to disregard:
-
if you enroll at either school scholarship $$ available will be MUCH less as a transfer. food for thought
-
we loved Muhlenberg & my D walked away from there thinking if she got in nowhere else she could definitely be happy there. we cant contrast with American as we didnt apply there,
-
OCU has had a ton of email issues this year starting from November many many people found decisions in spam & if not they contact OCU for the results. I thought ive heard of results from the march audition already but not 100% positive but do recall that everyone from the November audition got an email on the same day ( some of us just couldn’t find it)
-
I dont know where you are on the WL for Molloy/cap21 or wagner both programs have great reputations and they both do typically have WL movement…I think this years schools will have more WL activity for many factors but thats purely conjecture on my part…
I think w most schools pushing off till June 1 we need to be patient & possibly deposit knowing we could get a waitlist opening in June/ July…
Hang in there!
@NYYFanNowMTdad Do you think I should email OCU if my D hasn’t heard yet? We were a video audition.
@NYYFanNowMTdad thank you so much for your response. Your posts have been a big source of our comfort and comradery during these past few months. I agree with everything you have pointed out. It is good to hear that your talented D was also enthusiastic about Muhlenberg! When we were there, my D loved it!
She has been in touch with OCU and her admissions counselor there is checking in with the theater program to find out when she will hear. It was a video audition in the beginning of March.
As for Molloy and Wagner- she very hopeful to get off the waitlist at Wagner, and sat in on a class today to show interest. She has emailed a few times with Molloy, as well. I am also hoping that there will be more movement with WL this year ??
This is a VERY LONG process, and not one that I want to repeat!! Lol
Stay safe everyone!
If you haven’t heard from a college with a decision by April 1, yes, I do think your student should inquire!
@Lilybird4 I’m sorry your D’s outcome is not as hoped. That said, she has two very good options already in hand! And two very good waitlists that you can’t count on, but could happen. It sounds like she might enroll in American or Muhlenberg, already planning a possible transfer. In my view, if she enrolls and attends one of these schools, she should do so with the intent on going all four years, though obviously if unhappy (which I hope doesn’t happen) there, could consider a transfer. I would not advise starting any college with the intent to eventually transfer (unless it were community college). She ought to give the college a fair shake. These are two great schools for pursuing MT! Further, the odds for transfer admissions into a BFA in MT are even worse odds than a freshman applicant and so it will be tougher for her next year. As well, it will be hard to do all this while attending college too. Plus more money to pay for the whole process again. Further, less financial aid tends to go to transfer applicants.
My advice is to EITHER take a gap year, or embrace these wonderful options and attend one going full throttle ahead without a thought of planning to transfer, unless it truly does not work out. I have had students in MT who were very happy at Muhlenberg and at American.
@Lilybird4 My D got off the CAP 21 and Wagner waitlists last year, but it wasn’t until the last 2 weeks of April. I would think this year it might be even later, so keep showing interest (as you have been) and HANG IN THERE! Sending good vibes your way!
I would definitely ask if all decisions have gone out for OCU. Everyone there has been wonderful to work with. They did have problems with their email system. If you were receiving emails about academic admittance, deadlines and possible merit scholarships but did not receive a decision by the time they said it would be sent out then reach out to them and ask. I don’t think they will tell you what the decision is on the phone (and I wouldn’t ask them for that either) but they will work with you to get that decision to you via email.
@soozievt thank you for your response. That was very helpful advice! We will definitely keep all that in mind. It is my hope that she will get excited about American or Muhlenberg as we further investigate both schools and programs.
@MTdreamin thank you! It would be so awesome if my D gets off the waitlists too! Thank you for the positive vibes ?
@Lilybird4 - Just to back up everything @soozievt said, the two kids I knew that took a gap year were very busy - so I don’t know that there is time to start college and re-audition properly.
As far as what they did differently - one boy put himself in front of a lot more people with professional workshops - which is hard to do this year. He also chose material he identified with - songs that moved him. Both had cast a very small net the first time - not applying to a lot of schools and only top-top schools - but you mentioned your d applied to 30 schools which is a lot.
I think others have said this in the past, but at the end of the day don’t get too hung up on name brands - it appears your daughter has two very nice options in the bag and two more possibilities. I would spend some time thinking about what you would do differently - were there some major mistakes in material? What would change? If you can’t come up some substantial mistakes you made - I would try to fall in love with either of the options you have. I know people who love Muhlenberg - one of my d’s friends ED’d there!
Has your d joined an accepted students group (on FB) at either of these schools? I actually think that Muhlenberg is a very strong choice! I am just not familiar with American - that may be great too.
I think she is doing the right thing with Wagner and Malloy - keep at them - they do have WL movement - show interest. But I wouldn’t start a school with the hopes of leaving - that’s just my 2 cents…