College Auditions

[mrflaytoe]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 11:20pm

I am 17 and in the summer before senior year. I have a couple colleges in mind, but my question is, "How do I prepare?" My number one college is Tisch School for the Arts and I want to know how I can make it. Please help me out. I am bored and need to prepare.

[tcb122]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 11:37pm

I second everything CapnHook says. Updated On: 7/10/05 at 11:37 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 11:47pm

mrflaytoe,

Preparation for college depends where you are now.

Can you dance? sing? act? How well in each?

Any BASICS you can learn before college would be SMART. I wouldn't say to do too much. Learn what you're already good and focus at that in college.

For example, if you've already experience in acting, don't focus on that until college. They will mold you, if you're willing to be clay. Acting will be the main focus, so learn basics of singing and dance.

Vocal training, tap, ballet, jazz, ballroom, hip-hop, etc. Learn the basics pre-college so you'll be able to get to advanced levels in college.

The more you know pre-college will potentially get you more parts in college, and thus more experience. An advantage over others, if you will.

...

What your asking is a large question. "How do I prepare?"

TONS of advice to give. Simply put: learn your weaknesses, work on them. Learn basics.

- - -

And another thing I wish I did before college:

Make yourself a monologue book, and a song book. Have monologues of any length, and then audition monologues. Have a song book of "performance" songs and "audition" songs.

MONOLOGUES: Include 1 minute, 2 minute, and 3 minute. Include comedia, dramatic, and shakespeare. And for each monologue you include, ESPECIALLY audition monologues, MAKE SURE YOU READ THE ENTIRE PLAY IT IS FROM. In your book, include an "in the moment" summary written by yourself and the title of the play (and include author) so that you remember what the monologue is about. Include who you are talking to and what lead to the moment.

SONGS: Include 16-bar selections for auditions. Include comedic and dramatic. Include classical and contemporary. Include different styles and different songwriters.

[briarbrad]

Posted: 7/9/05 at 11:53pm

Well...you didn't say what your focus is...Musical theatre or acting? Also, what other schools will you be applying to?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:15am

What state are you in? Willing to go out of state? Is money an issue?

[stagebeauty]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:56am

mrflaytoe, im in the same boat you're in!

i'm looking at either Tisch, Marymount Manhattan, Ithaca, or UArts... look at my post on the student board "what not to do when auditioning for college"... people gave some good pointers.

hope to hear from u!

[Aigoo]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 6:05pm

Also, if you plan on going to Tisch, keep in mind you must be accepted into NYU, as well. So keep that GPA up and don't blow off your standardized tests.

[mrflaytoe]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 10:34pm

OK, here is my story. I was born in NYC, but now live in Pennsylvania. I want to be in Manhatten because I feel there is much opportunity there. I am going for musical theatre. Is money an issue? Yes it is, but my grandmother lives in NYC and is quote "willing to help me out." What that means exactly I have no idea.

The colleges that I am looking at/interested in are:
Tisch, Fordham, Marymount Manhatten, Muhlenburg, UArts, and American Academy of the Dramatic Arts.
ANY INPUT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Training: Acting: I have all my life. Enjoy it. Consider myself good at it, I don't know.
Singing: Professional Soloist at a local church, regional choirs, i love it and consider myself good at it.
Dancing: Not really any training, but if you teach me dance steps I learn them fast and do them well.

I have a manager located in NJ that sends me into NYC for auditions frequently. Being in Manhatten would be great for auditions. I did recently hear that some of these colleges won't let you do auditions, which is kind of scary. Some people are recommending me a 2 year school or something.

I have the song book, but I don't know which contemporary song or ballad I should do. Any tips.

Monologues. I HAVE NOTHING. I have been looking forever and can't find anything really. I know that sounds dumb, but its true.

I consider myself a character actor. I love musical COMEDY. Thats me.

Scared and unprepared for college,

Nick from Pennsylvania

[briarbrad]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:09pm

It seems you have a choice to make. It's true that at most of the top conservatory drama programs, you aren't allowed (because there is no TIME) to work/audition outside of school. So I guess you need to decide what is more important: training for 4 years to prepare to go audition, or skipping that intense/advanced training and jumping in right now. At NYU, there won't be time to work outside of the school (you're in studio MWF and at Tisch/NYU taking other classes TTH); I think this would also be the case at UArts, though I'm not sure. I think that working outside of school is much more realistic at Fordham and MMC since they aren't conservatory programs (although good theatre programs, from what I've heard). AADA is probably also too time-consuming, but it's only a 2 yr program. So in a sense, your list is very diverse; I guess my biggest piece of advice is to decide what is more important (conservatory or working) and I can help you with more school suggestions.

[mrflaytoe]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:44pm

My big goal is to make Tisch and get the training, before I audition for things because I know it will get me far. The big problem is that now I am depressed because all I have been reading on here is how difficult it is to make it. I am top 10 percent of my class but my SAT scores are not that great, decent. 1160! I think that will kill my chances for CAP21 so yay for me. I also have no audition material whatsoever, I know all of you have lives but any idea would be amazing.

Crying over the chances of making it into Tisch,

Nick in Pennsylvania

[briarbrad]

Posted: 7/10/05 at 11:58pm

The best people to give you advice on audition material is your vocal coach, choir teacher, drama teacher, even your agent maybe! They know you, and they know what you're good at!

Yes, grades and scores are fairly important at Tisch. But don't worry about that - keep your grades up next year but really work on your audition. Don't put all your cards in one basket, either. Since you said you don't mind not auditioning, there are plenty of other programs that are equal to, if not better than, Tisch outside of NYC. And most of them don't put as much emphasis on grades: Carnegie Mellon, CCM, BoCo are all probably 90% audition, 10% transcript.

OH and you have PLENTY of time - you probably won't audition until February! Don't procrastinate - but don't give yourself a heart attack either!

[Aigoo]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:10am

I'm really sorry to bring you down, but bring your SAT up. You MUST be accepted into the primary university as well as accepted based on your audition. Maybe colleges like CCM would be easy, but colleges such as UM and NYU are a bit more challenging. It's not that they glance at your SAT scores, but for Tisch, you must be accepted into NYU before they will let you into Tisch. Also, if you're sort of "tied" for a spot in the program, a better academic stance will tip the scales in your favor.

[mrflaytoe]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:22am

I do need to bring up my SATs I know. Whatever we will hope. I need to concentrate on the audition material. ANY IDEAS. I am a baritone and here are ideas for stuff I have so far:
Contemporary up-tempo: Purpose (Avenue Q), Something's Coming (West Side Story)<---i know everyone does it
Ballad: Soliloquy (Carousel)
Monologues: No idea...Christopher Durang
I have many adults locally I can turn to that has offered me help, so I think that is what I will do.

[mrflaytoe]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:26am

Also, one more question. I think I am doing Early Decision for Tisch. Will that help my chances of getting in at all? How many applications come in for that, anyone know? Also, SRY, I heard that there is a optional dance audition you can do for your audition at Tisch, is that true?

[briarbrad]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:27am

"You MUST be accepted into the primary university as well as accepted based on your audition."

That's not entirely true. There are NOT two rounds of admissions at NYU (unlike, say, UMichigan, where you have to pass an initial academic review after which, if you're deemed qualified, you will receive an invitation to audition). Your audition and academic review are weighed together. The person who will look at and review your transcripts is a TISCH admissions officer. This person (or group of people) reads all of the Tisch transcripts. This review is put alongside your artistic review, and based on the sum of the two parts, you are either accepted, denied, or waitlisted. They are each weighed equally, so a more impressive audition could outweigh a lackluster transcript and viceversa.
Updated On: 7/11/05 at 12:27 AM

[Aigoo]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:49am

Really? Hmm...I've been led to believe that NYU uses that same process that you described UM uses.


Also, to the original poster, if you know a song has been overdone, don't do it...Do a song that's not very common, but not so rare that the accompanist will have no clue how to play it.

Updated On: 7/11/05 at 12:49 AM

[briarbrad]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 12:28pm

No, NYU and UM do not use the same process. At UM, the two parts of the process are seperate. At NYU, they are weighed together, like at most BFA programs, except at NYU, the academic review is weighed more heavily than at the other top programs.

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:00pm

briarbrad... not audition until February? I plan to be done by then! lol My first audition is November 4th. I'm starting then with the schools I don't really want to go to, so I can get used to the audition process.

[briarbrad]

Posted: 7/11/05 at 2:09pm

I did all of my auditions in February (all but one at the Chicago unified audition, the last here where i live). Most of the top schools don't have auditions until then, but I understand that some of the smaller schools start earlier. And again, there are only a few BFA ED schools (NYU being one of them), however, I didn't apply ED/EA anywhere so I didn't have to start early. Also, because alot of the schools will have maybe one or two early auditions in the fall, and the rest in the winter, they are only seeing a few people before the winter break and most after. My take was that I'd rather be seen at the same time they were seeing everyone else, which is also closer to the time that they'll be making decisions. I thought it'd be safer than auditioning really early and risking the chance of being forgotten.

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 1:03am

mrflaytoe -

there is an optional dance audition for CAP21, but they say you shouldn't do it unless you've had AT LEAST 10 years of serious dance training. so, from what you've said, (no offense but...) don't try it.

admissions at NYU are pretty daunting. i got waitlisted for CAP21 and i was told that the deciding factor to waitlist instead of accept me was my age. (i auditioned and would have been entering at 16) so yeah, it's unpredictable.

it's tough...it's hard to tell whether or not you're even in the running. i was kind of the exact opposite of your situation academically, i was ranked 20th in my class (we had 18 people with 4.0's...it was ridiculous) and had a 1490 on my SATs. you never really know because it all has to do with economic standing, geographic location, and so many other factors.

but overall, i say go for it. i mean, CAP21 accepts about 20 guys every year, and who knows...maybe you're one of the 20 this year...but you won't know unless you actually try. and the worst thing that happens is you get rejected. well, if you want a life in performing..just consider it rejection practice.

Posted: 7/25/05 at 1:38am

sry, this is a REALLY stupid question... but...
my friend says she knows people who went to TISCH, and did all the Musical theatre classes, but that it was all TV and movie based. my friend really isnt that reliable, but can anyone reassure me that TISCH is one of the top places for musical theatre?

[kitkatgirl54]

Posted: 7/25/05 at 11:35am

jess- cap 21 is not all tv and movie based. maybe they switched studios while they were at nyu? there is an advanced studio at Tisch for actors called Stonestreet that is all film/tv.

mrflay- don't give up hope about Tisch. it was my reach school, along with Northwestern. I had very low SATs too and have definitely heard of people getting in with SATs like yours. It has definitely happened. However, if you want a better chance, I'd definitely take them again.

From the types I see at Tisch and from what my auditor liked about me at my audition: You have to make your own plan - don't just be the lead at your high school. Find your own work, get creative, and be a leader. Make it show in your resume, talk about it in your interview if possible.

The first day of orientation at Tisch they say that you will probably need to drop your agent/manager if you're going to be here. I know of a couple people who tried to balance both and they usually end up dropping their representation or dropping out. So make sure you're prepared for that if you definitely want to be here.

auditioning early decision will help your chances IMMENSELY. they take about 1/3 of their class from the early decision auditions, and not as many people audition BY FAR. that is very smart to do.

My last tip... never underestimate recc. letters! If you have any prominent people that you have worked with that Tisch may have heard of, make sure you get a letter from them.

good luck!

Updated On: 7/25/05 at 11:35 AM

[Soozie]

Posted: 7/27/05 at 12:09am

I thought it would be good to clarify after reading the above posts on Tisch/CAP21 regarding not being admitted due to age (sixteen) so as not to discourage another applicant who is sixteen....

My daughter is entering CAP21 in the fall and she is just sixteen and graduated high school early. Someone I know in CAP21 told me another girl in the program currently also graduated high school early and entered young. When we looked into early graduation, I called every BFA program on my daughter's list to inquire if they were willing to accept early graduates and all said yes, including Tisch. She got into five BFA's and waitlisted at one so I think they truly do take early graduates who are just sixteen years old. So, do not NOT apply if this is your situation. Each case is different and I am not even sure how you got an answer as to why you were waitlisted but usually it is not all one factor or black and white but it is also just very difficult odds of admission. I hope you did get in somewhere because schools do take early graduates. Did you earn a diploma? My child is sixteen but she did earn a diploma and most schools do not care your age if you did earn that diploma. I don't know your situation other than your age and wanted to not dissuade other students from applying who might choose to graduate high school early.

[Sporti2005]

Posted: 7/27/05 at 12:26am

soozie -
i'm not saying you're wrong, because obviously if your daughter got into 5 BFA programs at 16 you're not. i'm just saying that EVERYTHING is taken into consideration when looking at musical theatre programs simply because the nature of the major is so competitive.

after talking to several of my adjudicators AT my auditions, they said that absolutely, they take students who are younger than others. they do, however, look at them more closely in terms of vocal and physical maturity.

so of course, don't NOT audition if you're young, just understand that it is taken into consideration, as is everything else. basically what i was trying to say with that post was that it can be something completely out of your control that gets you in or out. but hey, that's the nature of theatre, isn't it?

(sorry for the mini thread-jack, but i thought this was useful information for everyone who might be auditioning early)

[Soozie]

Posted: 7/27/05 at 12:47am

Sporti, I definitely agree that when it comes to very selective college admissions and even in casting, that factors come into play beyond your control. There are definitely very talented people who are qualified who still do not get accepted and sometimes there is this element of luck that you fit a certain need in the grouping being made up for the incoming class.

Now that you wrote another post, you clarified that they did tell you that they are willing to accept students who are younger than a typical high school graduate. As in any school, often early graduates are looked at more closely with regards to admissions. I suppose it can be tougher. But ultimately, I was told that as long as you had a diploma, that they did not care that much your age. But I am sure they scrutinized the application to determine if an early graduate was "ready" in their view. My daughter included a one page statement with all her applications (on top of the various required essays) that explained her choice to graduate high school early and her readiness for college. She also asked her guidance counselor to touch on that issue in his recommendation. I think it is important to explain this because the question will arise in a panel's eyes about a student who has not taken the normal "path". Did you graduate early and did you earn a diploma? Are you going to college this fall? My daughter graduated a year early after three years of high school. She also entered K early and that is why she is only sixteen. Where we live, if going by her birthday, she normally would be entering 11th grade.

I hope you have some exciting plans for the coming year. I'm glad that your adjudicators were willing to provide you with feedback. Making the waitlist itself is an accomplishment. I did not know that Tisch had a waitlist. My daughter applied regular decision, did you?