<p>Divamama, we took the same approach (with all 3 kids) and wouldn’t change a thing. Visit esrly and more than once if possible! Obviously you have to do what you can afford, but to end up at a bad fit is an expensive mistake, and as a h,s, teacher, I talk every year with former students who withdraw from college in their first year because it wasn’t what they expected. Even a drive-through when you’re on vacation and can swing by a potential school can be helpful. Visit days for accepted students do not give a realistic view of the school culture–go when there’s no dog-and-pony show! And re: visiting after you’re accepted, I heard from or read on CC about quite a few families last year who couldn’t do those last-minute visits because of expense, because they didn’t have a financial aid offer yet, or because they had an acceptance off the wait list. If possible, it’s worth it to get a sense early on of what schools are a good fit rather than relying on reputation (or on websites designed to sell).</p>
<p>we couldn’t do all the visits to where she applied but starting in my D’s sophmore year we visited a handful of schools. We made sure that they vaired in type of school. We hit urban campuses, a large campus, a middle of nowhere campus, etc. This way when she looked at the schools websites she could at least see if the type of school would be a possible fit or not. I did notice over the pre-screen to audition 6 month period that what she wanted in a campus and program changed a little. As she went through the audition process she learned even more of what she wanted and what she did not like. Her schools flucuated in favorite order during the process and she took notes after the audtions of what she liked and didn’t like, along with a general impression. We found it imperative to visit schools after acceptances and sit in on classes in order for her to make a decision </p>
<p>We did something similar - visited different types of schools - all schools potentially on her list. Eliminated one because of the visit - and then when scheduling auditions - I tried to schedule places we’d already visited at Unifieds (or those at a much greater distance - with a plan to visit those if accepted.) and schedule on-campus auditions for places we hadn’t been yet. Leaves us with just a handful of schools that she auditioned for that we have not already at least been on the campus once. I would have had us visit a few more Junior year - but she asked to stop until auditions.</p>
<p>We are visiting a few in this junior year… a small variety of campus types, primarily in our (Midwest) area. We won’t be flying anywhere, but S wants to have an idea of what these places are really like, rather than dealing in the abstract. 
Plus, it makes the process much more ‘real’ for him if he can picture himself there…</p>
<p>MTmom2015 - I agree about taking something from the abstract and making it real. My son is pretty oblivious to his surroundings (you should see his bedroom!!), but I think he will be in for a surprise wherever he ends up if it is out of state. Don’t know if he will have choices or not, but I’ll be interested to see his reaction to the south and the midwest schools.</p>
<p>Starting summer after D’s freshman year we started visiting campuses of schools that happened to be near where we were. So if we took a driving vacation, we would drive through campuses even if they did not have an MT program just to give her a feel for big schools vs small schools, urban vs suburban or rural, state schools, liberal arts schools and conservatories. If we had time we would take an organized tour. But often we would park and walk thru campuses on our own talking to students and faculty we encountered. These visits were mostly for her to see all the different types of schools there are out there. She also attended summer programs at 2 very different schools, OCU and Michigan. This was helpful in figuring out the type of school and program she might like. It also helped her to see what it was like to study MT 24/7. So if you are considering an on campus summer program I would highly recommend it. The other thing to think about is whether your child will audition best on campus or at a Unified audition. Our daughter actually felt drained at on campus auditions because they often sat in on classes, took a walking tour on campus, etc…before the actual audition. she preferred and was energized by the pace of Unifieds. But I know others who prefer on campus auditions. So you might think about which suits your child best. In any case, whether you visit before, during or after auditioning, I would definitely visit a school in person if at all possible prior to accepting your spot as nothing can beat seeing these schools firsthand… Also - our D also was concerned about falling in love with a school she visited and then not getting accepted. So something else to think about. I will have to say there are many beautiful campuses out there and it made me want to go back to college!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the comments on the campus visit issue – I think everyone is just a little different in their perspective and for my D the feel or the vibe is so important. I think we will make it to 13 of the 16 that she is planning on applying to. 3 in California – that is easy that’s where we’re from. 5 in the midwest last summer (eliminated Northwestern from her list) and 6 in the Midwest, Northeast this coming summer. It is a fun and fascinating process and just hope the stars align and she gets into a handful of programs that would work for her.</p>
<p>My D spent a week at the Open Jar Institute this summer. The director of the program, Jeff Whiting, told them to enact the 10 block rule after an audition. You never know who’s in the elevator or at the Starbucks down the street. Me personally I would always say wait until we get in the car. :)</p>
<p>This was a funny thread LOL I love the 10 block rule!</p>
<p>@mtjones1 I was at Open Jar this summer as well! Jeff and the other faculty all offered great advice for auditioning, whether it’s for schools and even for casting directors when starting your career.</p>
<p>For my boys, coming from CA, we opted to do a few campus visits junior year. (One of my sons also took part in a school-sponsored college tour sophomore year.) For us, it was a way to introduce them to the varieties of campuses and campus styles out East. Did they want urban/vertical versus more rural/traditional campus? Conservatory versus university setting? Large or small? Public or Private? The schools we visited were a mixture of types, so that even if they didn’t apply to each one, they could get a sense of the types of schools they wanted on their lists. Certainly, we could have gotten by without it, but it made for a fun family trip and it was eye-opening for all of us. If finances allow, I vote “go for it.” I agree, though, that visiting after acceptance – especially when narrowing down to the final one or two – is a whole different ball game. The schools really do treat the kids like part of the family and it is an important perspective in “seeing themselves at that school.”</p>
<p>I don’t see a problem with visiting schools especially if you don’t have to travel that far. I scheduled a college visit during my D’s Spring Break. It was a school she didn’t have on her radar but I thought would be a great fit. She went just to please me but wound up enjoying her visit and liking the school. </p>
<p>So, I dropped my S at the Master Class day at Wright State this morning… and as I’m looking over the lobby full of kids, I see this boy in full on Slytherin garb… wand in hand!!! I couldn’t believe it! And I thought to myself, “I hope he’s not singing from ‘A Very Potter Musical’…” and then I remembered that today is Halloween. I guess he gets a pass. Maybe. :)) </p>
<p>My S is a freshman at WSU. He said there were several current students dressed up today, some as Harry Potter characters. Any opportunity to be in costume. . . </p>
<p>Just as I sat enjoying getting to know and/or reconnect with a number of lovely mommas (some, self-proclaimed CC lurkers) towards the end of Moonifieds Weekend, I reflected that i would have nothing worthy of contributing to this thread. I should have known better than to tempt fate, for soon followed what another CC member (who is still laughing at me) referred to as the “train-wreck moment.” A mom I have never met before approached our seating group and engaged me (by reason of proximity, as I was sitting on the end) in casual conversation. She proceeded to loudly criticise an MT program dear to my D’s heart unwitting of my differing opinion, or the fact that the director of said program was standing not two feet away from us and could hear every syllable she uttered! After a moment of shock & horror (clearly displayed on my face, according to my still-laughing-CC-lurker-friend) I was able to not-so-discreetly (the woman was not sensitive to subtleties) point out said director. Did the woman stop talking? Well, yes, but only so she could dramatically cover her mouth with her hand and transition to giggling. It was all so absurd & mortifying that I began to giggle myself. Did it end there, you ask? No, it did not for said woman rolled over her own laughter with disparaging words about the MT program’s University. My unsuccessful attempts at withdrawing from the conversation or just walking away (she was blocking my only possible exit route) were a great source of amusement for my so-called-friends & new acquaintances. I shudder to think what was going through the mind of the school’s director… And I dearly hope I am not deemed guilty by association. I had never met that woman before in my life!</p>
<p>Oh my! How uncomfortable! But, clearly no reflection on you!!</p>
<p>You really have to wonder how many auditions these people have been on to behave like that. </p>
<p>evilqueen, it’s true, you do have to wonder but I’ve seen similar behavior from parents whose kids have been involved in theatre from a very young age, at professional auditions. I think that a lot of people lack common sense in these situations. They don’t know who is around and who is listening, or maybe they’re too arrogant (or stupid) to care. I don’t get it. </p>
<p>Yikes @addicted2mt. And that’s why earphones, Kindle and a coffee shop or park several blocks away were my best friends during my daughter’s audition year. Strongly suggest you don’t get trapped like that because you don’t want to run the risk of guilt by association. Tell the offender you don’t agree and are not comfortable with the discussion and wish her luck… then get the heck out of Dodge.</p>
<p>I think @halfokum is right, and I always tried to sit at least a few rooms away while my kid was auditioning, just so I wouldn’t screw it up somehow. (Though I blush to remember having a long animated conversation with the door monitor during his last audition, which was the one he eventually got into and now attends. I was tired. It had been a long week.) However, I think @addicted2mt is probably okay. For it to matter, the program head would have to both a) assume that you agreed and b) know who your kid is. And even then, I bet they accept lots of kids with difficult parents. </p>