D decided to do a few walk-ins in LA after all and said it was a great experience and even found a few programs she would consider if she was accepted, so I guess we’ll see. I think she felt empowered by being able to choose to audition on the spot outside of the “enormous spreadsheet of college audition planning.” She said it was easier auditioning for walk-ins because she hadn’t emotionally invested in those schools yet and found a gem or two she would really consider!
For anyone who might be truly financially constrained but can make it to a Unifieds audition with only 1-2 scheduled auditions, I would really consider the walk-in approach. None of the schools she sought out charged a fee (although I told her if she found one that did have a fee that we would pay if she thought she was really interested). One could just show up at a Unifieds event and find themselves at a really great school. As a “planner” that makes me nervous, but I can see how that approach could certainly work in a student’s favor.