<p>My child (a rising Senior) was planning to audition on-campus for 5 ‘top choice’ BFA programs, intending to combine the BFA audition with a campus visit at each school. The plan was for my child to audition at Unifieds for for the remaining 5 or 6 schools on her list … that is, until we realized that airfare from our hometown to each of the ‘top choice’ schools has more than QUADRUPLED in recent weeks, as has the airfare from our hometown to the Unifieds in both NYC and Chicago … I’m glad that we visited a number of schools during Junior year when airfares were lower (and gas prices were too), but I’m afraid that travel costs related to the upcoming audition season are going to be prohibitive this year, and it has me really worried … </p>
<p>I’m not looking for solutions, I just wanted to vent because the increased airfares are unbelievable no matter what parts of the country you are traveling to and from, and there appears to be no end in sight …</p>
<p>As a travel agent, I can tell you that prices DO sometimes go down, so don’t give up yet. It’s true that with the ridiculous fuel prices, we don’t see the incredibly low prices too often. But you can track the prices on a travel website, and grab the tickets when they fluctuate. PM me if you want a suggestion for a good one!</p>
<p>BrownEyes, I have no doubt that increased travel costs will negatively affect the ability of some families to travel for auditions. Well, it will affect everyone’s, naturally, but it undoubtedly will prevent some kids from being able to make those campus visits. I’ve always been a fan of doing as many on campus auditions as is possible because I think the visits to the schools are very important. We were fortunate to be able to start our college visits (many moons ago) when my D was just a sophomore in h/s. In reality, we started years before, because whenever we’d take a family vacation or go to visit family or friends in different states, we’d always include a visit to the college campuses which were nearby. So, by the time she was applying, she had visited each of the schools on her list. I realize that not everyone can do this but it does provide for an advantage in assembling a list of schools where you can imagine you will be a good fit. </p>
<p>Many people recommend that you wait until you receive decisions in April and then just visit the schools to which you’ve been accepted. Personally, I have never found this to be the best solution. Timing is often a challenge; arranging flights with little notice is often more expensive; spring tends to be a busy time in senior year so several trips can be difficult to fit in; some colleges are not good about sending out decisions by April 1 and when you have to reply with a decision by May 1, it can be tricky!</p>
<p>BrownEyes, I know this doesn’t apply directly to you since your D is a rising senior but it may help others who are earlier in the process. 
The airfares may fluctuate but the days of the very inexpensive air travel, I am afraid, are probably over. This may be another issue that prospective applicants and their families need to address, not only for auditions but for attending schools which require lengthy travel and expensive flights for four years.</p>
<p>I would not be surprised if the upshot of all this is that the Unifieds will be even busier for 2009. The importance of an early and efficient start to the application/audition process may be magnified this year, because the number of slots at the Unifieds is finite.</p>