@MTdreamin and @vvnstar Thank you both so much for the info. That helps a lot and makes sense (especially about expending the time and money). @MTdreamin good luck to your D!
@MTdreamin - My D only auditioned at the LA Unified weekend so we don’t have any comparison but everyone was lovely and other than one very odd audition with The New School the auditors seemed completely “on” and interested, despite the fact that for many it was the end of a long process. A friend’s D went to ALL 3 Unifieds and she said if they were to do it again, they’d keep NY and LA and skip Chicago - too big, too cold and too hard to navigate. I know other folks really like Chicago Unifieds, so YMMV. Her D had several options for schools, my D’s acceptance came from LA Unifieds weekend (NYU) and I know actors who got into BU and CalArts from the same weekend of auditions. That said - my D didn’t audition at any of the “real” Unifieds schools - the U’s listed on the National Unifieds website. She did Pace, CMU, BU, Rutgers, NYU and The New School.
@vvnstar I have heard that exact same thing : that they are serious about finding talent at every recruitment location
At least in LA you will probably get good weather! In 2014 there was a huge storm on the last day of Chicago unifieds, and I know a number of schools left early.
Yes. Went through process last year. Only school that refunded fees was Indiana. These colleges are making serious bank on all the fees for prescreens, applying, audition fees, flights, hotels. It adds up. We spent about 5k on Audition process overall.
We are West Coast and we did 5 on-campus and the rest at Chicago Unifieds. If I did it again, I think NY and LA would have been my choice but it didn’t work for the required on-campus visits we needed. Chicago was great, but I think got difficult to do walk ins…and I recommend trying one per day, especially if you only have 2 scheduled per day. I heard LA had more walks ins available, but I know a lot of schools don’t go there. If your student is a dancer, check if they are doing a dance call at all locations. My daughter wanted to make sure she had that opportunity if possible, and it’s not consistent for each school at each location.
Chicago is long…After three days you are exhausted.
@vnstar- thank you for the reassurance! @CaliMTdreams good luck to your daughter as well! Hope to meet you in LA!
Well, after a good start we got the first prescreen rejection. I’m laughing at myself a little bit for how fast the switch flips from “of course, we’re going to get some rejections” to “how dare they reject my kid, do they even have ears??.” Just that kind of gut defensive reaction to wanting to protect your kid, even when logically I understand that she’s not going to be a fit for every school. I also work in an industry with a ton of rejection, and have learned to shrug it off and get back to work, which was exactly d’s reaction to this setback. I totally believe it’s all about fit, that each no allows you to get closer to that yes, and it only takes one yes, and yet when it’s your kid hearing the no… ugh. It’s going to be a long year.
@collegeboundSam, I sent you a private message. Since you don’t have 15 messages yet, I’m not sure you can reply yet.
My son didn’t submit by the early Penn State date so he won’t know until December.
@RainbowRiot Ha! I have a feeling I will feel that initial mama bear defensive response when when D gets her first rejection even though I know it’s part of the process and fit and more go into decisions. I can guarantee you I won’t take it as well as she will depending on the school. It will be a long winter, but looking forward to bonding time with my DD and can’t wait to see where she lands! Where is that time machine so I can flash forward for a glimpse at results???
I think we’ve got 15-17 schools on S’s list, and he’s been academically accepted to his safety with a nice scholarship, so he is feeling at least OK going into auditions. (still anxious, excited, etc. but in the back of his mind knows that he is going to college to study MT). We keep thinking of adding more, but I figure with going to MARCAS and Combines, perhaps that counts as ‘more’, and may highlight schools not currently on radar screeen.
So the other side of me says…if he’s applying to say 15, plus doing the other two open auditions…does that mean he’s potentially applying to 35+ schools?! Ha! :-? 
I’m trying to keep an even keel with the prescreen rejections and I think D is doing better than me - but mom is upset, ranging from wondering if D should’ve done more dance or done a different song to that school wasn’t good enough for her anyway. Thank goodness she isn’t letting DD see her own roller coaster.
My D just got her first prescreen no after 3 yesses. Now, just waiting on 1 more prescreen result, along with waiting to schedule auditions with the other schools. Now, I’m thinking should we add another school? Maybe Point Park? Does anyone have any feedback on Point Park’s BFA Acting program?
Has anyone heard from Otterbein prescreens yet?
@love2share My D is auditioning for Point Park MT. Not sure about acting program, but they just opened a beautiful new playhouse. https://www.pointpark.edu/news-copa/New-Pittsburgh-Playhouse-Opens-in-Downtown-Pittsburgh
@BrennaK - not yet from Otterbein
@afterp89 Thank you! As everyone can agree, the waiting is agony!
@afterp89 Thank you! I did see Point Park’s beautiful new playhouse. Do you know if all performing arts programs will get to use that space? Do you know if the acting program will get to use that space, as well as MT?
Does anyone know how long it takes for NYU Tisch to send a link so you can registrar for an audition? D got an email over a week ago confirming her Application and another email with her NYU # so she can go on the NYU page but nothing from Tisch.
@love2share sure looks like it - “The new Pittsburgh Playhouse was designed to be a learning laboratory for all Point Park students, not just those enrolled in the University’s prestigious Conservatory of Performing Arts. Students from across the academic community will have experiential learning opportunities that include aspects of producing, marketing, management, ticketing and programming. In addition, the Playhouse will collaborate with the University’s Rowland School of Business and Center for Media Innovation on events, lectures and related programming.”
@MTMom2019 - check your spam