New to these boards and have browsed through a lot of great information. I have an 8th grade D who is interested in pursuing a BFA. UofM is at the top of her list (and ours as it’s in-state). My question for you is what do you wish you’d known at this stage that would have prepared your child better? No one wants to be a crazy stage parent, and I’m well aware she could change her mind. However, what I have heard repeatedly from friends who started the process their child’s junior year is that it was “too late” to catch up.
For example, I had no idea until I started reading through audition threads that ballet was a component of dance auditions. So… adding ballet to her schedule. Tia!
@bfastudy Great question! It’s impossible to know what they are looking for each year, so all you can do is be as prepared as possible. Train in ballet, jazz, voice, acting, piano, acrobatics, etc. Train, and get good grades and good test scores.
After that, there’s not much that can be done, since you don’t know what they are looking for each year. From what I know you need to get a perfect score on your in-person audition to make the final cut. Then from that group of perfect scores, they pick the 20-25 kids for the class. They may pick the class based on what they need at that time…on type, hair color, height, race, who knows. The ones who don’t get picked are put on the waitlist. (Many kids DO come off the waitlist!) It’s hard to know what they look for other than talent so you just need to be as prepared as possible and hope for the best.
The kids I know in Mich MT are very well-rounded and have outside passions other than MT. So that’s something to keep in mind. A lot of them were child Broadway actors, many are YoungArts winners, one was on The Voice, some have their own companies, some are songwriters, playwriters, one started a newspaper, one started a production company, one had their own tutoring business.
And I don’t think it’s too late junior year to catch up - IF you are innately talented and have the look the school wants. I have a friend whose kid decided to pursue MT junior year and ended up in Syracuse MT. 
Since you are in-state it couldn’t hurt for you to bring her to audition weekend to witness the process. Just sit on the sidelines and watch! Also I’d definitely go to see as many shows there as possible. The spring musical is coming up in April! <3
@DrowsyChaperone, thanks so much! We will definitely come down for the April show. It feels a little crazy to go down this rabbit hole but honestly… I started my collage career as a theater major and I just had to get into the school, no audition! I had never heard of the Jimmy’s or YoungArts before these boards. I know it’s a major long shot, and it’s not like I can judge her talent because a. I’m her mom and b. She’s thirteen! I know how much these kids change from year to year.
@bfastudy Awesome! I will be there on the 16th. Maybe we can meet up! Get your tix asap, there were very few left the last time I checked.
We got tickets for Sunday… getting back from Spring break the previous Monday so can’t face a late night midweek 
We also booked a consult with Mary Anna to see where we are, which summer programs she recommends, etc.
Thanks so much, this has been invaluable.
@DrowsyChaperone ok trying not to read TOO much into it, but any idea how many kids are brought back in to the audition room for a second look? #mightbefreakingoutatthispoint lol
@collegegame2018 I don’t, sorry! They didn’t bring my daughter back in, but she was accepted. And I do know of a guy who was brought back in and was not accepted… So I guess it doesn’t really matter (if that helps)
@DrowsyChaperone Do you know how much the Acting and MT students interact? When MT students take acting classes, do they take them with Acting students?
Can both groups audition for everything - ie can MT students audition for straight plays, and Acting students audition for musicals? And is it very common for those to happen?
When students take their nontheatre electives, can they take anything? The website lists nonSMTD elective, but I can’t find if there are any requirements/restrictions like distributional requirements.
Thank you!!
@ctaylors6 Acting (Dept of Theatre and Drama) and MT (School of Music, Theatre and Dance) are two separate departments with separate faculties. I don’t think they interact much other than socially.
Acting cannot audition for MT shows and vice versa. And I don’t think that the Acting does musicals, but MT does do straight shows. They both can, however, audition for non-UProd opportunities like Basement Arts and Musket. That gives Acting majors who sing a chance to perform in musicals.
Yes I believe they can take any non-electives they’d like, if they can fit them into their schedules.
@DrowsyChaperone Thank you so much! that’s very helpful.