<p>I felt the same anxiety at the beginning of this process for my daughter this year. She too was a late starter, having very little acting and musical theatre experience compared to others. She has danced and taken voice lessons, but her resume was weak and she never had a lead role. When she was 16, I mentioned to a friend who is in the theatre business that she wanted to study MT. Her response was “Oh at 16? That’s almost too late. All of the kids who do this have been triple threats since they were little.” Lol. I don’t think there is any one formula, but I read a quote from and admissions officer that said “Are you someone we want to spend the next four years with?” I think a good approach in the audition and interview is to be honest and genuine, so they can get to know you a little in 15 minutes. I don’t think it’s about every detail being perfect. In my daughter’s first audition at Tisch, she sprained her ankle 5 minutes into the dance call and sat out while icing it. Next, she proceeded into the vocal audition in high heels barely able to walk, and the auditioner asked her to sing the song a second time, while moving around more. (Not knowing she was in severe pain) She told him what happened and he got her a chair and asked her to sing again more expressively from the chair. Next… the interview… she was dumbfounded when the he asked her “What Is Theatre?” and she responded with “Excuse me??” Lol. She thought she blew it at that point, but took a deep breath and rambled something ridiculous, according to her. I think being prepared and relaxed is the most important factor, aside from talent, in the audition. The good news…she was accepted ED. I agree with the raw talent theory. I don’t think they only want perfect, professionally trained kids with no room to grow. I know the idea of rejection is heartbreaking for us, but I would point out to your daughter that auditions are like casting calls, so if there are 10 brunette sopranos, and they only have a total of 15 spots open for everyone auditioning, they are not going to need all of them, or if 5 boys are auditioning for 1 spot, 4 are not getting in. It doesn’t mean they aren’t amazingly talented and gifted performers.</p>