nate --
I really can't remember, I'm sorry!! I know Hartt takes a little whlie to get their app to the current year on their website. I'd say just call the schools and ask them when the earliest date is that you can call. The biggest thing I learned in the whole process is that the best answer to most questions is to call each school and ask because they almost always have different answers.
Can I list a few Unified tips?
-- TEST YOUR CD PLAYER BEFORE YOU GET THERE!! I saw people taking CD players out of wrapping and one of them didn't work and the girl didn't know what to do. Be familiar with how that particular one works. And bring multiple copies of your CD.
--HAVE EXTRA PIECES ON YOUR ACCOMP. CD!! I am classically trained and was asked by a few different schools if I had any opera on my accomp. CD that I could sing for them. I didn't, but I happened to know the stating note and had a pitchpipe in my audition bag so they let me sing a capella. I would say if you ARE classically trained to have an extra classical piece and an extra MT -- if you're not classical don't worry about that, just have an extra MT.
--DONT GET INVOLVED WITH THE DRAMA!! There is a lot of stuff going on at Unifieds, and a lot of people trying to one-up each other about stuff that they've done, etc. It will totally distract you from what you're there for and it really has nothing to do with what's going on. I would really suggest just focusing on yourself.
--TALK TO THE STUDENTS!! Each school will probably have a theatre student there to talk to kids. If it's a school you're really interested in, ask them questions! It's what they're there for and I learned A LOT I didn't know about some schools.
--BRING EXTRA HEADSHOTS!! There will be schools there that you're not signed up for, and some of them will have open spaces for auditions. Why not audition and see what happens? Bring some extra headshots/resumes and you'll be ready for whoever has walk-ins available.
"grace, you're stuffed in a box getting rid of ass plaque. let's face it, this evening is a bust."