What I Knew, What I Learned, and What I Wish I Had Known.
While preparing for the college audition process, theres undoubtedly a lot of information out there about how to choose your schools, your repertoire, and your audition outfit. However, I found that there were a lot of unanswered questions about the bells and whistles of the process. For example, do I need new headshots? Do I need fancy character heels for dance calls? Should I pay attention to the parents in the Facebook groups? I had my reservations, but as I enter my final week of auditions, there are a few things I can confidently say and advise you to (or not to) do.
1. Pre-College Programs
Many kids wonder: Do I need to do a summer program in order to succeed in the college audition process? Oftentimes, summer programs can be remarkably helpful in preparing for the year to come. For example, this past summer I participated in the Summer University Theater Experience, in which I was able to run my tentative repertoire and work with visiting representatives from various prestigious theater colleges. Additionally, I did the British American Drama Academy's month-long Shakespeare intensive at Oxford, which revealed to me a newfound love and understanding of the Bard and other heightened texts. I have had friends do any number of the top summer programs, ranging from the Juilliard acting intensive to Artsbridge to Stagedoor, and the one thing I can say is that above all else, the programs are good for networking. I will not lie and say that they did not help me tremendously with my pieces, because they most certainly did-having access to a well of knowledge from professionals and college audition veterans really helped to get me in shape for the Fall of my senior year. However, my biggest takeaway from this program has always been the people. As I approach Chicago and LA Unifieds, I find myself not worrying about whether or not an instructor will like the improvements I've made on a monologue I did over the summer. Instead, I find myself giddy with excitement to see the friends that I haven't seen in months. Other high schoolers from all over the world who, for a few months, understand more than anyone else what I am going through. If doing a multi-week, on-campus intensive summer program is something that interests you and is financially feasible, then by all means, go for it! However, you should never feel like you are required to pay and audition for programs before you are ready, or potentially at the expense of being able to apply to real programs later on in the year. Furthermore, the one thing none of these summer programs advertise is that they do not actually guarantee you a better shot at being accepted to the program (the only exception to this is NYU Tisch, who notoriously has a soft spot for people who partake in the summer program). When it comes down to it, the networking is not about the program-it's about the people. The best advice I can give is to remember the people you meet in your classes, on your informational Zooms, and in audition spaces. Those kids are just like you, and they may just turn out to be your saving grace during audition season.
If you do feel inclined to audition for summer pre-college programs, you may consider taking a look at this link!
My friends and I at the Musical Theater Actors Intensive at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, 2021
2. Walk-In Auditions
Walk-in auditions are rarely talked about in the beginning stages of the audition and application process, although they are an important event to be aware of. Following the initial application process via Common App and GetAcceptd, you will be notified whether or not you have been invited to audition for a school. However, at Unifieds, many schools will offer opportunities for students to audition in unfilled time slots; this includes schools that you did not initially apply for. Early in the morning at Unifieds, you may want to consider going room-to-room and seeing which programs are offering walk-in times later in the day. This is a great way to cast a wider net, and gain more audition experience prior to your 'bigger' auditions. Furthermore, a lot of programs like MTCA (Musical Theater College Auditions) offers virtual walk-in audition opportunities. I was able to audition for 2 schools virtually that I didn't originally apply to, and the experience really helped me to get comfortable with my materials and audition technique prior to my auditions in Chicago and LA. If you are planning on doing walk-ins, be prepared to leave a couple of slots empty on your common application. Then, if you audition for and end up really loving a school that you walk in to, then you can simply add the school to your Common App and apply quickly and easily.
"Take every opportunity to perform and work on your pieces."
3. The Facebook Groups...
We've all heard the lore. We've all anxiously waited for our accepted application to join The Search for Elle Woods or The Moo Crew. I remember getting notification after notification beginning essentially my freshman year of high school after joining the Facebook groups. My mom wasn't immune, either. She is an avid bystander in the MT Parents group, and she claims that the posts she's seen there have been more beneficial to her learning about this process than nearly anything else. I will be candid in saying that there is something both fascinating and informative about these groups. Sure, they tend to be chalk-full of people boasting their prescreen and program acceptances, while others berate the difficulty or "unfairness" of the process. You will most likely see more people reposting their new headshots than you will see posting advice or audition specifics. However, the voyeur in me loved to know the inside scoop. There is something comforting about suffering through the process with people my own age, and the bits and pieces of information I compile allow me to compare my process to the processes of others. I've found that the parent group can be incredibly helpful in sharing information (parents tend to be less timid about asking the questions that every kid wants to know: Have you heard from school A yet? Who passed school B's prescreen? What shoes and leotards are you buying for dance auditions? How many programs did your kid get into?) As infiltrating and overwhelming as these groups can be, sometimes they are fun (and, admittedly, helpful) to have around. The one piece of advice I could give, though? Know how to silence Facebook group notifications.
4. Headshots and Resumes
Financially, college auditions are a huge commitment. With the travel and audition fees building up, it can become difficult to center in on what is and is not worth the splurge. Needless to say, you do NOT need a Purmist or a pair of LaDucas in order to get into a good school. However, there is one thing that I would highly recommend investing in early in the year: headshots. Frankly, you don't even need to spend a large amount. If you know a photographer (I know Mr. Chu at school is wonderful, and does headshots for the drama students!) or someone with a quality camera who can help you take them, then you can easily get high quality photos that you can use for more than just college auditions. If you are looking for more professional photos, I'd highly suggest Amy Wenzel photography. Once you have an array of photos that you feel represent you, be sure to have them printed in 8x10 shots alongside your resume. A typical headshot and resume will look something like this:
You can easily print your headshots at sites like this, which I have personally had wonderful experiences with. if you are looking to update your resume as well, linked here is a template that you can surely use to create an impressive and well-organized document. Ultimately, your headshot and resume are your holy grails in the college audition process, and the theater industry at large. They represent who you are as a person and a performer, and having high quality versions of both will ensure both longevity and a wonderful first impression in the audition room!
5. Transparency
I am, at my core, a horrible communicator. I have a lot of difficulty asking for help, especially when it is what I need most. It is incredibly difficult to admit that you will not be there for everything you need to be there for; this process is full of sacrifice, and it is important to make your friends and teachers aware that you need to focus on your future. Obviously, this does not mean that you should shirk your responsibilities and blame the difficulty of the college process. However, it is incredibly important to communicate your needs and boundaries throughout senior year. Especially during the third quarter of senior year (January-March), you will likely be traveling a lot. And even if you aren't traveling, you will undoubtedly have a myriad of virtual auditions to attend. You have to communicate this fact to your teachers and directors as early as possible. Not only will this demonstrate responsibility and initiative, but it will make your life significantly easier having a plan to catch up and stay on top of your school work and social life. When you choose theater as your future, it has to become your priority; not only do you have to take care of your grades, but you have to take care of your physical and mental health, especially during audition season. Therefore, you have to be sure to tell your teachers when you will be out of school, set boundaries with your friends, and instill healthy habits that have you feeling audition ready. Through a combination of balance and initiative, the college process will become easier than you ever thought possible.
Break a leg!
The college process is scary. It's the thing that will indicate the next four years of your life, and it's the first taste you will have of the real professional world. The theater industry is rapidly changing, and so is the college programs associated with it. It can be daunting to think of yourself as a pioneer to the future of the theater industry, but that is simply what you have to be. There is something incredibly vulnerable about auditioning for college, because not only will the decision be based on your statistical credibility, but it will be based on you as a person and a performer. Sometimes it will feel like the walls are crumbling around you; you may not get called back to what you think is your dream school, you may not do as well in an audition as you'd like, you may see 10,000 other teenagers at Unifieds that seem to be exactly like you. But I promise, rejection is redirection, and you will end up where you are meant to be. There is not a single person in the world who does what you do the way you do it. In the materials you pick, the friends you make, and the art you put into the world, you simply need to be the best version of yourself, and everything will turn out fine. Get to work, and break a leg!