@caralf1 I was a few people in front of the “paid person”. It was very funny. We knew the guy was to young to be a parent and kinda looked too old to be a student. He carried a metal chair to sit down. Very clever. She ordered the person on an app.
@DramaRama, @CaMom13, @actorparent1 thanks so much for your support and info. So, “we” will go igcognito until my D makes a decision. Good to know that’s permitted 
I can’t be the only one wondering how much it pays to be a line sitter in NYC.
D has a friend who makes some pretty good extra $$ that way - so much that he gave up his “survival job” at her place of employment…
$80. Worth every penny.
I cant recommend but here are some of the apps https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/placer-app-line-sitters-nyc/ or https://lineangel.com/ :)) it really was brilliant. My D made me get there at 6:30am
https://lineangel.com/apply/ $11 per hour
My son also gets frustrated at the comments about him having an advantage because he is a boy, some making it clear that they think the only reason he is getting offers is because he is a boy and totally discounting his talent and hard work. Comments like “of course he got in, he;s a boy”
Artsmomof4. At Pace, kids were split into 3 groups, one group danced, a second did monologues and a short interview, 3rd group did songs. 2nd and 3rd groups switched moving to songs if they had done monologues and vice-versa. Then dancers changed did monologue or song, and the groups that did monologues and songs first came together as a group to dance. Someone from admissions spent over one hour talking to the parents. There was a large room for us to wait in. Monologues and songs were in alphabetical order which left us almost last to leave at 6pm. Very long afternoon!
@onepercentmom - that’s totally unfair and your S has to know that. There are other boys auditioning for MT - like, a lot!!! But sometimes people need to make themselves feel better when they are disappointed and that’s where those comments are coming from.
Parents of boys-- these schools are extremely selective and won’t take anyone who doesn’t meet their standards. The hours of voice and dance lessons are essential as are the hours of time spent performing in shows – all while getting great grades. The difference, though, is that girls not only have to work as hard as your sons - but they still might not get accepted if there are too many brunettes (or blondes), or sopranos, etc. Girls need to also be lucky.
@MomofJ5 so are you saying that all talented boys will get into a program?
No one should be putting down anyone’s talents or efforts. All these kids work incredibly hard to be successful. However, there is a reason the national audition coaches tell boys they can apply to 10 schools and girls need at least 15. The talent and skill needed to get into a top 20 program is virtually the same because they will only accept the best of the best. The difference comes getting into the (slightly) less competitive schools because at that point it’s just basic math. If there are 500 talented boys and 1000 talented girls trying to get into one of the top 50 schools, most of the boys will get a spot - might not be their dream school but they will get an offer - there will be 500 girls that won’t. Those are the numbers and that is being generous because there are at least 3X as many girls. You can see this just by watching the kids going through this process. Thankfully there are more than 50 schools with MT degrees. That doesn’t take away the talent of the boys and maybe people should sympathize with a girl who has worked for many years only to have the rug pulled out from under her. Once they graduate the competition will be fierce for everyone so the boys should be happy they have the opportunity to get great training. And as far as the numbers go, they don’t get any better so the girls have to learn to deal with it or find a different path,
Does anyone know if Syracuse auditions in Chicago take place in the palmer house?
@MThopeful99 Syracuse is at the JW Marriott in Chicago
No need to get upset re the boy v girl issue. Not once have I read anyone say that the girls are superior in talent to the boys. It’s an issue of numbers. It’s as simple as that.
And it was so nice meeting all of the parents at Unifieds, putting faces of the parents and kids with their pseudonyms on CC. It was a really positive experience all around. A little crowded at times. A lot hot with all of the bodies in the hallways. The parents and kids were all so supportive of each other. It was a really wonderful experience. I am going to take a nap this afternoon, though!
Thank goodness for Unifieds. Visiting all the schools my D applied to would have been financially and logistically difficult. The ability to do walk-ins is really a plus. You just never know! That being said, I think it’s hard for the kids to be as focused in an audition at unifieds as when it’s on campus. There’s just so much going on and chances are your child is trying to keep more than one school’s requirements/qualities/program in their head. Knowing what I know now, if my D had a clear front-runner and it was feasible, I’d try to visit the school.
@Kristiern1 One thing I would tell your son is that if the comments bother him now, he should wait until after college - because it will get worse and stronger. Universities generally attempt to make the class half boys - but that’s definitely not the case out in the world. Not only are there fewer men competing for roles, there are far more roles for men - and there are primarily men in positions as director, producer, choreographer and men are usually the ones who decide what shows are going to get the funding to move forward. I think it is a fair criticism of the process - although I have no doubt your son has worked very hard and will earn whatever he gets.
https://www.thewrap.com/broadway-gender-gap-women-37-percent-principal-roles/
Question for those going to Chicago Unifieds - have you heard from Rider yet about specific timing? We have a date but no time, and I’m wondering if we somehow missed that email or if it hasn’t come yet.
@afterp89 thanks for scaring the crap out of me! 
but that is reality. My d’s backup dream is to be a choreographer which is probably just as difficult even though she is very good at it.