<p>I wasn’t sure which forum to post this in, but I chose the MT forum because it is where I started</p>
<p>Last year I auditioned for 8 colleges hoping to major in musical theatre and I was rejected from every single one of them. As you can imagine, it was a heart breaking experience. I had gone through 3 vocal teachers, worked for months with an acting coach on my monologues, practiced every single day, filled out all the applications, traveled to various cities, and ended up with a pile of rejection letters…</p>
<p>Fortunately, I had applied to a few schools with BA programs, and I turned up enrolling at a large state school with a BA program that had a large emphasis on Musical Theatre. However, 2 Months into my freshman year I realized that the BA program was not right for me. I felt I wanted the rigor and intensity of BFA program, musical theatre or not. I just remember lying in bed one day, thinking about all the young actors my age going to conservatory programs who were acting every single day… while I was only taking 1 acting class 2 days a week because that was all that was available. I had also read Stanislavsky’s “An Actor Prepares” and I was very inspired to learn acting in a classic, conventional method. </p>
<p>It was at that point I decided that I had to go through the process again, this time going from BFA acting programs. However, I cannot say that at first I hesitated. My mom and I had gone through the huge application and audition process before and it was filled with tiresome hours, great anxiety, and many tears. But I couldn’t let my past bring me down, I had to give it a shot even if I were to be rejected again. So I filled out all of my applications once again, and headed off to Unifieds. </p>
<p>My first year going to college auditions, instead of focusing on the objectives of my character, I focused more on hoping that the auditors would like me. Obviously, that detracted from my ability to show off my true potential as an actor. I also had picked material that didn’t show off my strong points. But this year, things were going to be different. I picked monologues that really allowed me to show who I was, and I entered each audition not caring what the judges thought about me, but what my character wanted in each monologue. I didn’t do anything for the judges, I did it for myself, because acting is what I love to do. I didn’t allow auditions to become a whole arduous, awful, nerve-wracking process. I made them fun for myself. I even did 5 or 6 walk-ins just to keep myself in character and in practice. </p>
<p>And what do you know? A month or so later I learned that I had been accepted into my top 3 schools of UNCSA, UMiami, and UArts. Obviously, this caused my mother and I to cry with happiness, but of course, for a different reason this time around. Anyway, the reason I decided to post this was to let anyone who turns up in a place that they don’t think benefits them as much as another program would to not give up. In this business, and in life in general, you can never give up, or you will always regret not giving it another shot. I can now say that I have no regrets, because this September I will be attending University of North Carolina School of the Arts and I could not imagine a more perfect place for me. And although I can’t say my fairytale story will happen for all those who seek to transfer, I am living proof that perseverance and dedication can take you a very long way, and I strongly encourage anyone who is ever rejected in any situation to get back on their feet and keep fighting. Never give up.</p>
<p>To finish this amazingly long post, I would just like to thank all of you for the helpful information, and support, that who have given to me and my mom (Tranquil) over these past two years. The college audition and application process is very tolling, and this forum has made it so much easier. My mom really helped me through all of this, and I could never thank her enough for her love and support, and her refusal to give up on me. And I would just like to thank you for supporting her as she supported me. </p>
<p>Thank You.</p>