Update 2/5: Another Acceptance What Is Life
Holy crap. Remember how I had the greatest audition ever for Cornish and I want the auditor to adopt me? Just got in there. I submitted my application literally yesterday. Holy crap. The email was from a real guy who I had talked to about auditioning before Unifieds, which was funny because I was just thinking about how much I would like feedback from people who were in the room. He was like "nice play" which was chill because no one except my mom (and you all when I make this public, RIGHT?? PSA click the link on the sidebar) has ever read it. I am tempted to post it but since it's personal that might be weird. They said a letter with an "initial scholarship offer" is coming in the mail.
IS THIS REAL?!?!? I am the girl who has never had a lead in a musical, who passed 1 of 7 MT prescreens, who still can't mix. The process could not have thrown me a bigger curve ball. Really. I'm dying. Help. I am actually leaving here next year. I don't have to prepare for the worst anymore. I'm so happy. I don't deserve this, but also I really really deserve this. Wow. I am going to have to make an actual DECISION one of these days. That's terrifying. How did I become one of those kids with multiple acceptances?!?!?!?
Holy crap. Remember how I had the greatest audition ever for Cornish and I want the auditor to adopt me? Just got in there. I submitted my application literally yesterday. Holy crap. The email was from a real guy who I had talked to about auditioning before Unifieds, which was funny because I was just thinking about how much I would like feedback from people who were in the room. He was like "nice play" which was chill because no one except my mom (and you all when I make this public, RIGHT?? PSA click the link on the sidebar) has ever read it. I am tempted to post it but since it's personal that might be weird. They said a letter with an "initial scholarship offer" is coming in the mail.
IS THIS REAL?!?!? I am the girl who has never had a lead in a musical, who passed 1 of 7 MT prescreens, who still can't mix. The process could not have thrown me a bigger curve ball. Really. I'm dying. Help. I am actually leaving here next year. I don't have to prepare for the worst anymore. I'm so happy. I don't deserve this, but also I really really deserve this. Wow. I am going to have to make an actual DECISION one of these days. That's terrifying. How did I become one of those kids with multiple acceptances?!?!?!?
IS THIS REAL?!?!? I am the girl who has never had a lead in a musical, who passed 1 of 7 MT prescreens, who still can't mix. The process could not have thrown me a bigger curve ball. Really. I'm dying. Help. I am actually leaving here next year. I don't have to prepare for the worst anymore. I'm so happy. I don't deserve this, but also I really really deserve this. Wow. I am going to have to make an actual DECISION one of these days. That's terrifying. How did I become one of those kids with multiple acceptances?!?!?!?
Update 2/3
I was feeling sick again today and barely made it through AP English. I came home and was watching Jane the Virgin with Layla (my little sister in case you didn't know) on the couch when about 15 minutes ago, my dad walked in and threw these 3 giant packages on the couch. It was very jarring. I was like, ugh, must you? I'm feeling sick! I wasn't going to open them but Layla handed me the packages. They were all from colleges. First I noticed that SCAD sent me an entire BOOK. There was also a medium sized but thick envelope from IU and a huge one from UArts. I logically opened the UArts one first because it was most likely to contain a decision (I already got into IU and haven't applied to SCAD) and I was confused because it was so BIG. But I ripped it open and inside was this big folder...and in the folder was an ACCEPTANCE. For musical theatre. Also a $16000 academic scholarship.
I got up, went into my mom's studio where she was practicing, and said "here. This just came and I think it's a mistake." And I shoved it in front of her face.
In retrospect, I'm pretty sure it's real.
I mean, I had a good audition although I though it was weird that they didn't ask me to dance. And the faculty was brilliant and basically I am so, so thrilled. I didn't think my first acceptance would come this early. I didn't think my first acceptance would come. You remember that UArts was the only prescreen I passed, after all.
I recently made a vow to myself that I wouldn't talk to any more students or do any more research until I was accepted somewhere. So. I'm off to find some current students to talk to.
Oh. And all of my advice is officially valid now so you can start taking this blog way more seriously now. ABBY OUT.
*drops mic*
*picks up mic*
*sings Everything's Coming Up Roses*
Edit: I also got into the IU Honors College!
I was feeling sick again today and barely made it through AP English. I came home and was watching Jane the Virgin with Layla (my little sister in case you didn't know) on the couch when about 15 minutes ago, my dad walked in and threw these 3 giant packages on the couch. It was very jarring. I was like, ugh, must you? I'm feeling sick! I wasn't going to open them but Layla handed me the packages. They were all from colleges. First I noticed that SCAD sent me an entire BOOK. There was also a medium sized but thick envelope from IU and a huge one from UArts. I logically opened the UArts one first because it was most likely to contain a decision (I already got into IU and haven't applied to SCAD) and I was confused because it was so BIG. But I ripped it open and inside was this big folder...and in the folder was an ACCEPTANCE. For musical theatre. Also a $16000 academic scholarship.
I got up, went into my mom's studio where she was practicing, and said "here. This just came and I think it's a mistake." And I shoved it in front of her face.
In retrospect, I'm pretty sure it's real.
I mean, I had a good audition although I though it was weird that they didn't ask me to dance. And the faculty was brilliant and basically I am so, so thrilled. I didn't think my first acceptance would come this early. I didn't think my first acceptance would come. You remember that UArts was the only prescreen I passed, after all.
I recently made a vow to myself that I wouldn't talk to any more students or do any more research until I was accepted somewhere. So. I'm off to find some current students to talk to.
Oh. And all of my advice is officially valid now so you can start taking this blog way more seriously now. ABBY OUT.
*drops mic*
*picks up mic*
*sings Everything's Coming Up Roses*
I got up, went into my mom's studio where she was practicing, and said "here. This just came and I think it's a mistake." And I shoved it in front of her face.
In retrospect, I'm pretty sure it's real.
I mean, I had a good audition although I though it was weird that they didn't ask me to dance. And the faculty was brilliant and basically I am so, so thrilled. I didn't think my first acceptance would come this early. I didn't think my first acceptance would come. You remember that UArts was the only prescreen I passed, after all.
I recently made a vow to myself that I wouldn't talk to any more students or do any more research until I was accepted somewhere. So. I'm off to find some current students to talk to.
Oh. And all of my advice is officially valid now so you can start taking this blog way more seriously now. ABBY OUT.
*drops mic*
*picks up mic*
*sings Everything's Coming Up Roses*
Edit: I also got into the IU Honors College!
Update 1/31
I must interrupt my Unified recap to update you on things!
I am auditioning for BU today! When Ithaca decided not to come to NYC for theatre management I scheduled my interview for 2/21 and moved BU up.
I got my first live audition rejection from Hartt the day I returned from Unifieds. No surprise there. Remember how I said I could feel them stop considering me in the room? Yeah. It was still a lovely experience though and I'm glad I did it.
For American, I think I'm going to cancel my audition. It's just impossible to get to DC and costs a fortune. Plus, I planned to double major so I could just make it a theatre minor. Or audition in as a freshman. If you count Unifieds, it is still 10 auditions. Too bad because I'm having a blast! But you can only do so much.
Remember how I was sick at Emerson, and then still at Unifieds? Yep, that didn't go away. I missed two more days of school last week. I think I'm on the mend now though. Fingers crossed.
I am auditioning for BU today! When Ithaca decided not to come to NYC for theatre management I scheduled my interview for 2/21 and moved BU up.
I got my first live audition rejection from Hartt the day I returned from Unifieds. No surprise there. Remember how I said I could feel them stop considering me in the room? Yeah. It was still a lovely experience though and I'm glad I did it.
For American, I think I'm going to cancel my audition. It's just impossible to get to DC and costs a fortune. Plus, I planned to double major so I could just make it a theatre minor. Or audition in as a freshman. If you count Unifieds, it is still 10 auditions. Too bad because I'm having a blast! But you can only do so much.
Remember how I was sick at Emerson, and then still at Unifieds? Yep, that didn't go away. I missed two more days of school last week. I think I'm on the mend now though. Fingers crossed.
Update 1/13: Subject to Change
SSSSTTTTTRRRRRREEEEESSSSSSS.
It's midterm week. SO I'm writing a blog that has nothing to do with my AP Music Theory and English midterms tomorrow. Woo.
Oh, so the title is not saying this POST is subject to change, it's saying my LIFE is subject to change. This PROCESS is subject to change.Yeah.
Here's what happened with my applications that were due 12/1:
I wrote my BU essay in approximately 20 minutes and decided to audition on February 21st. As it turns out, the Theatre Arts program is really exactly what I'm looking for, and I already have 2-minute contemporary monologues I'm using for Emerson. And it's only 4 hours from my house. So it's day trip material. I can practically get home in time for work at 4.
Submitted to Northwestern (favorite supplemental essay I've written so far except maybe the Emerson one which asked what the title of your life story would be!).
Submitted to Brandeis (terrible supplement--it had good moments but I ran out of words so my concluding sentence was dumb as heck).
Submitted to NYU (pretty OK supplement...I got really really really excited about NYU as I was writing it and shook and cried with longing). And then a week later they e-mailed me to schedule my audition and the dates were less than convenient. See, they do weekdays. They really do weekdays at NYU. So, book really really early. I mean, it's understandable because they audition people from all over the country and do their Artistic Review Tour thing and end up taking a lot of people because studios. But yeah. The only audition date I could get was...dun dun dun dun....NEXT TUESDAY!!!
So I will be auditioning for Emerson in Boston on Sunday, taking the bus down to NYC, staying over at some place TBD (we have friends we are staying with next weekend during Unifieds but haven't talked to them about this weekend oop. Worst comes to worst I'll airbnb it), spending A WHOLE FREE DAY IN NYC (it's MLK day so I don't have school!) and auditioning for NYU Tuesday morning! This way I will only be missing one day of school, instead of auditioning the Friday before Unifieds or Monday after and missing two :) yayyy!
I technically don't even have to miss for Unifieds because--here's the subject to change part--Ithaca just e-mailed me saying they can't get the theatre management people down there so I have to come to campus! YAYYYYYY. This means the first audition I will have is UArts at 3 on Saturday. So yeah, we can easily leave Friday night.
Here's what else has changed: my intended major at American University. Here's what happened: Webster e-mailed me about a full-tuition scholarship opportunity when they accepted me. It involves writing an essay so I was like "nah." But my mom made me do it. Only if you get into the next round of people (30 from which they pick 5), you have to go to campus to interview. On the only audition date for AU. So if I get that I will also interview for their Theatre Studies & Dramaturgy major that weekend, and plan to major in Business and Entertainment with a minor in theatre at American.
Whew. There was a lot of stress surrounding that scholarship app because it was kinda due today and I kinda decided to do it today. I wrote the second-fastest essay of my life (BU being the fastest) and submitted A MINUTE before the deadline. I doubt I'll get the interview but we'll see. (That of course would mean flying to St. Louis...where they have an audition for MT the day before...but I'm auditioning at Unifieds...it's so complicated AGH,)
Here's what else has changed: I got into Indiana University academically! Yay! It's in, you know, Indiana, so I'm not sure how I feel but I did plan to go for the BA there originally so it's pretty cool. Somehow it is the first one that feels like a real acceptance. Which makes zero sense because it's not that hard to get into but oh well. I have options. I've felt like I have options pretty much since I got my SAT scores back in November. I'm very very lucky in that regard.
It's midterm week. SO I'm writing a blog that has nothing to do with my AP Music Theory and English midterms tomorrow. Woo.
Oh, so the title is not saying this POST is subject to change, it's saying my LIFE is subject to change. This PROCESS is subject to change.Yeah.
Here's what happened with my applications that were due 12/1:
I wrote my BU essay in approximately 20 minutes and decided to audition on February 21st. As it turns out, the Theatre Arts program is really exactly what I'm looking for, and I already have 2-minute contemporary monologues I'm using for Emerson. And it's only 4 hours from my house. So it's day trip material. I can practically get home in time for work at 4.
Submitted to Northwestern (favorite supplemental essay I've written so far except maybe the Emerson one which asked what the title of your life story would be!).
Submitted to Brandeis (terrible supplement--it had good moments but I ran out of words so my concluding sentence was dumb as heck).
Submitted to NYU (pretty OK supplement...I got really really really excited about NYU as I was writing it and shook and cried with longing). And then a week later they e-mailed me to schedule my audition and the dates were less than convenient. See, they do weekdays. They really do weekdays at NYU. So, book really really early. I mean, it's understandable because they audition people from all over the country and do their Artistic Review Tour thing and end up taking a lot of people because studios. But yeah. The only audition date I could get was...dun dun dun dun....NEXT TUESDAY!!!
So I will be auditioning for Emerson in Boston on Sunday, taking the bus down to NYC, staying over at some place TBD (we have friends we are staying with next weekend during Unifieds but haven't talked to them about this weekend oop. Worst comes to worst I'll airbnb it), spending A WHOLE FREE DAY IN NYC (it's MLK day so I don't have school!) and auditioning for NYU Tuesday morning! This way I will only be missing one day of school, instead of auditioning the Friday before Unifieds or Monday after and missing two :) yayyy!
I technically don't even have to miss for Unifieds because--here's the subject to change part--Ithaca just e-mailed me saying they can't get the theatre management people down there so I have to come to campus! YAYYYYYY. This means the first audition I will have is UArts at 3 on Saturday. So yeah, we can easily leave Friday night.
Here's what else has changed: my intended major at American University. Here's what happened: Webster e-mailed me about a full-tuition scholarship opportunity when they accepted me. It involves writing an essay so I was like "nah." But my mom made me do it. Only if you get into the next round of people (30 from which they pick 5), you have to go to campus to interview. On the only audition date for AU. So if I get that I will also interview for their Theatre Studies & Dramaturgy major that weekend, and plan to major in Business and Entertainment with a minor in theatre at American.
Whew. There was a lot of stress surrounding that scholarship app because it was kinda due today and I kinda decided to do it today. I wrote the second-fastest essay of my life (BU being the fastest) and submitted A MINUTE before the deadline. I doubt I'll get the interview but we'll see. (That of course would mean flying to St. Louis...where they have an audition for MT the day before...but I'm auditioning at Unifieds...it's so complicated AGH,)
Here's what else has changed: I got into Indiana University academically! Yay! It's in, you know, Indiana, so I'm not sure how I feel but I did plan to go for the BA there originally so it's pretty cool. Somehow it is the first one that feels like a real acceptance. Which makes zero sense because it's not that hard to get into but oh well. I have options. I've felt like I have options pretty much since I got my SAT scores back in November. I'm very very lucky in that regard.
Reflections Post!
So I would love to take this time to reflect on the first half of the audition season and what I did wrong/right. Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes, or whatever. I will update this as I think of things!
What I Did Right:
What I Did Right:
- Did it for fun! I really tried (and succeeded!) not to get attached to schools. It was actually amazing. No tears were shed except the first time I watched my videos :) :) :)
- Don't fucking visit. Especially prescreen schools. It's so unwise. I have a special love for the BFA process but don't visit. Just don't. It's stupid.
- Choreographing my own prescreen? It worked out like...okay. I am not a dancer or a choreographer by any means but it was pretty handy (and inexpensive) to do it myself.
- Honestly I fucking love my songs. I still do. I probably could have picked better ones vocally, but as far as age/gender/type, I think I rocked it. I never would have heard of either if I hadn't gone to Circle but still. I stand by my obscure material.
- Waited to send SAT scores. Best. Decision. Ever. I mean, if you don't pass whatever prescreen, you save yourself $11. No theatre department won't review your prescreen if you haven't sent scores. Seriously.
- Applied early! (Some places.) No but you get fee waivers! Hartt and UArts were free :) Wait, actually I had to pay a prescreen fee for UArts. But they were both free because I applied early.
- Did extensive research very very very too early. It saved me so much damn work junior and senior year. I have a friend who is busting his butt looking at schools right now and he's doing it so right.
- Used part of a long monologue as a short monologue. This is very specific but HIGHLY recommend. This way you don't have to learn another monologue a week before the audition because it was the only one that was like "2-3 minutes please" and yours is 1.5. Brills. Do this.
- Use songs/monologues you've already worked on/performed. This can be dangerous if you were in, say, Grease and were like "I'll just sing There Are Worse Things I Could Do since I know it already." But I have performed both my songs in cabarets before (and they're not from Grease. Lolololol) so when I went to audition I didn't have to start from scratch. This is helpful because you never know when the only time you'll be able to film prescreens is tomorrow because your video guy is super busy.
What I Did Wrong
- Had like no time to actually film. Some of the songs I only filmed once. So if my voice cracked or if I looked shitty, too bad. Not a wise idea.
- I thought hiring a videographer (wasn't CRAZY expensive) would be super worth it. It was not. Because we couldn't afford him for as much time as we needed. See above.
- Picked the wrong dance music. HAHA. I danced to Lady Gaga's Marry the Night. It was way too sexy for someone of my type. On the other hand, have someone choreograph for you.
- Act in your dance video. ACT IN YOUR DANCE VIDEO. I mean, yes, it was Marry the Night, but still. I could have at least smiled. I was deep deep deep in concentration and I have the grossest concentration face in history. I have literally been told this by dance teachers. We'll be doing chainees and my JLT (Jumps, Leaps & Turns--basically like, contemporary jazz) teacher is like "ABBY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SMILE NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THAT." I will make sure not to make that mistake in any of my auditions. (And at Hartt, a lot of people kind of did? I was surprised because at MTCA dance classes this summer they were all "act the song feel the music mean it mean it!" and I was like "YEAH!!!" but I knew literally half the kids in my dance call from there and none of them did it?)
- Act in your songs. Don't freak about mixing that awkward part. Change the damn key.
- Ummmmmmgetcoaching. I did this insane workshop with Cady Huffman the day after I filmed my vocal prescreens and it completely changed the way I thought about my song. I was pissed and thought seriously about refilming them.
- Hair. And. Make. Up. Do it. Well. I think I mentioned that I didn't brush my hair and it was the biggest mistake of my life.
- Don't sing something you get nervous about singing. I just changed my ballad because I couldn't mix the middle as well and it was distracting.
- I want to say also you shouldn't sing something that shows NO range. My belt song shows zero range. It goes to a C, once, briefly. And I can belt an octave above that. But I chose it because I love it to freaking death and it is very comfortable, like I can even do it when I first wake up in the morning and that is saying a LOT. Find a middle ground on this one, I guess?
- Gotten too absorbed in The Process. Honestly, I love auditioning. I'm sure I've mentioned that before. And with the Whole BFA Thing, it is really really easy to get caught up in that love of suspense and challenge and everything working out OK in the end. I started out not tailoring schools to what I really wanted so much as what it would be like to audition for a lot--i.e., fun and exciting. And it IS! It's a blast! But don't get caught up in the blast and apply everywhere just BECAUSE it requires an audition. The blast is expensive. And might or might not be what you actually want for 4 years.
- Applied late to NYU. I was lucky to get an audition date that worked decently but if I had waited one more day it would have been so, so much worse. Basically I would be on a train right now and missing my midterms.
Update 12/31: Aca-demics
Pitch Perfect ftw.
Since the last time I posted literally anything, I auditioned for college (!), received my last prescreen rejection and FOUR academic acceptances: Marymount Manhattan, Webster, University of Hartford and Columbia College Chicago. I am going to college! Somewhere!
A recap of my Hartt audition will come soon I swear. Right now I'm totally busy trying to fine-tune all the supplemental essays that are due on the 1st--gulp!--tomorrow. Northwestern's is killing me. And, haha, I still haven't even DECIDED whether I'm applying to BU! I think I'm just going to work some copy/paste magic and go for it. I was going to apply for communications or something but.......why not just do theatre? It's a fantastic program that I have no chance of getting into, AGAIN, but what do I have to lose? Just money!!!!!
God, I am really feeling BAs lately. Or like liberal artsy BFAs. That's probably because I'm fixing up my nonaudition school essays right now. But still. Lord. College. Somehow I'm still pumped.
Since the last time I posted literally anything, I auditioned for college (!), received my last prescreen rejection and FOUR academic acceptances: Marymount Manhattan, Webster, University of Hartford and Columbia College Chicago. I am going to college! Somewhere!
A recap of my Hartt audition will come soon I swear. Right now I'm totally busy trying to fine-tune all the supplemental essays that are due on the 1st--gulp!--tomorrow. Northwestern's is killing me. And, haha, I still haven't even DECIDED whether I'm applying to BU! I think I'm just going to work some copy/paste magic and go for it. I was going to apply for communications or something but.......why not just do theatre? It's a fantastic program that I have no chance of getting into, AGAIN, but what do I have to lose? Just money!!!!!
God, I am really feeling BAs lately. Or like liberal artsy BFAs. That's probably because I'm fixing up my nonaudition school essays right now. But still. Lord. College. Somehow I'm still pumped.
12/8 upd8
I called UArts, and they had invited me to audition, so I was supposed to be in philly last weekend. But I rescheduled and now I'm auditioning at NY Unifieds. Thank god! I was not ready last week. This weekend I'm off to my first live audition at Hartt! I actually think I might be ready. Haha. Today I have another audition for a theatre near me that is putting on legally blonde and I'm pumped!
Update 12/1
OK OK. So i have been like pretty bad at prepping for auditions. I thought i would be super super driven and motivated at this time but...yeah. my first one is on the 13th for hartt. I have a workshop this friday, an audition for a local show monday, a college audition the next sat, and a cabaret i am performing in a week after that. And then break!
I ended up applying to Ithaca for theatre management, not MT. The more I think about it the more I realize I want to do all musical theatre performance all the time but for undergrad, it makes so much more sense to get a degree in something a bit more broad. I think theatre can be broad but I'm not sure many BFA MT programs are.
I withdrew from schools where I didn't pass prescreens and sent scores to all the rest. Plus all my auditions are scheduled. Now I just have a buttload of supplements to write for non audition schools. Woo.
Something weird happened today. I never got a prescreen decision from UArts so I just kind of let it go and assumed it wouldn't be happening. Then today I got an email reminding me of my audition this weekend?!?! It was from the school, not the theatre dept, so it is definitely possible they got their wires crossed or something. I have to call tomorrow and ask. Joy. I would still love to audition there, just...not this weekend. Oops.
Also, school is cray. I have an enormous ap English project due Wednesday and I am going to die. Plus tons of ap theory homework from over break that I only kinda did. Hahahah it is going to be a loooong night. Kill me now.
I ended up applying to Ithaca for theatre management, not MT. The more I think about it the more I realize I want to do all musical theatre performance all the time but for undergrad, it makes so much more sense to get a degree in something a bit more broad. I think theatre can be broad but I'm not sure many BFA MT programs are.
I withdrew from schools where I didn't pass prescreens and sent scores to all the rest. Plus all my auditions are scheduled. Now I just have a buttload of supplements to write for non audition schools. Woo.
Something weird happened today. I never got a prescreen decision from UArts so I just kind of let it go and assumed it wouldn't be happening. Then today I got an email reminding me of my audition this weekend?!?! It was from the school, not the theatre dept, so it is definitely possible they got their wires crossed or something. I have to call tomorrow and ask. Joy. I would still love to audition there, just...not this weekend. Oops.
Also, school is cray. I have an enormous ap English project due Wednesday and I am going to die. Plus tons of ap theory homework from over break that I only kinda did. Hahahah it is going to be a loooong night. Kill me now.
Extreme update!
Since I last posted, I received 4 more prescreen rejections. Plus I failed my driver's test, which was more painful than all of them. I am amazed at how little I care. When I tell people, they feel sooooo bad for me. It is odd. I'm not detached from everything, it's more like...I have a life to live. I am more inspired to actually be a person (like...not just a theatre person) than I have been in YEARS! I Am adding some schools, but not for MT. Academia WHAT. I have actually been avoiding all college stuff like the plague lately, so I suppose those prescreen rejections did affect me some. But I'm still totally feeling theatre. I'm not angry at it or angry at myself for not being good enough. I knew I wasn't. I'm just chilling, and you know what? I haven't done that in years. I do have a lot of college stuff to so now though. Apps are due in January even if you are a math major. I applied to Emerson tonight--I am still going to do all of my non prescreen school auditions, just for fun! I am still technically waiting to hear from 2 other places, but I don't think I will for a while. I have thought about getting a coach just for the rest of this audition season (plus I still might go for it again next year, depending on said coach's advice). I have a little money. I am 18 now. The possibilities are endless. Not driving is pretty prohibitive though.
Update 10/28
This might be a huge rant that I have to edit later.
I got my SAT scores back which was kind of enormous because I aced the critical reading section, which brings my superscore to a 2200! Holy crap. I can't believe it. I'm now having major existential doubt about the future and musical theatre and whether I'm wasting my brains (800 though!!!!!) going totally all-in for something I have no natural talent in. So, I think I'm going to add more non-audition schools because I'm 99% sure I'm not going to pass any prescreens. Of course, I have NO idea where to start or where they have halfway decent theatre.
I'm still dealing with MT stuff and I have 2 more prescreens I haven't submitted and I don't even know if I'm going to or if I should cancel my live auditions or what because if I don't pass any prescreens (and like I said, it's likely--I've already not passed 2 that aren't known to cut a significant amount of auditioners) I feel like that's a pretty good indicator that I'm just kidding myself. Or at least, that I need to talk to someone who knows what they're doing and what schools are actually looking for.
Honestly, I've started to worry about money. Professionally filming the prescreens was expensive. Applying is expensive. Prescreen fees add up. Plus if I reaudition I have to do this all over again, money included. I kind of had a giant shouting match with my mother over what I want to do with my life...like 10 minutes ago. I am just not feeling the whole college thing at the moment. Not being able to get trained in theatre is like......unthinkable for me. I'm in such a weird situation because I'm really educated on the process of it all but I don't have the technical skills everyone else does (especially vocally), and I don't look marketable which doesn't help. I'm not being down on myself, I KNOW I don't and decided to go for it anyway. And there actually aren't tons of schools I'd be excited about attending if I wasn't getting that training there. But at the same time, there is a part of me that doesn't even care and just wants to go /somewhere/. I'm so conflicted. I'm a mess of contradictions. And I haven't started the AP English essay that's due tomorrow.
I got my SAT scores back which was kind of enormous because I aced the critical reading section, which brings my superscore to a 2200! Holy crap. I can't believe it. I'm now having major existential doubt about the future and musical theatre and whether I'm wasting my brains (800 though!!!!!) going totally all-in for something I have no natural talent in. So, I think I'm going to add more non-audition schools because I'm 99% sure I'm not going to pass any prescreens. Of course, I have NO idea where to start or where they have halfway decent theatre.
I'm still dealing with MT stuff and I have 2 more prescreens I haven't submitted and I don't even know if I'm going to or if I should cancel my live auditions or what because if I don't pass any prescreens (and like I said, it's likely--I've already not passed 2 that aren't known to cut a significant amount of auditioners) I feel like that's a pretty good indicator that I'm just kidding myself. Or at least, that I need to talk to someone who knows what they're doing and what schools are actually looking for.
Honestly, I've started to worry about money. Professionally filming the prescreens was expensive. Applying is expensive. Prescreen fees add up. Plus if I reaudition I have to do this all over again, money included. I kind of had a giant shouting match with my mother over what I want to do with my life...like 10 minutes ago. I am just not feeling the whole college thing at the moment. Not being able to get trained in theatre is like......unthinkable for me. I'm in such a weird situation because I'm really educated on the process of it all but I don't have the technical skills everyone else does (especially vocally), and I don't look marketable which doesn't help. I'm not being down on myself, I KNOW I don't and decided to go for it anyway. And there actually aren't tons of schools I'd be excited about attending if I wasn't getting that training there. But at the same time, there is a part of me that doesn't even care and just wants to go /somewhere/. I'm so conflicted. I'm a mess of contradictions. And I haven't started the AP English essay that's due tomorrow.
Update 10/26
First prescreen rejection came Friday from Coastal Carolina (aka the school I accidentally applied to when I wasn't supposed to)! I wasn't at all upset--I haven't even let myself think that I might actually go to college one day, so I'm not really attached to any particular school--but it totally made this process real for me. It was like, "WOW, it is my turn, and schools are watching MY videos (!) and acknowledging that I exist, and maybe I do exist? (it was a very existential moment), and I am going to get more of these, possibly 8 more, and that's fine but like THISISHAPPENING."
Pace said a week so I was prepared for a rejection from them too but I just keep getting these e-mails listing audition requirements. I double and triple checked and I've done everything on the lists. They say to call if you haven't heard within two weeks.
To be honest though, not passing the vast majority of prescreens is a bit worse than just not getting accepted anywhere because obviously, schools take more kids through the prescreen than they do into their actual program. Like, you could be rejected from a /school/ but as long as you passed prescreens you at least knew you were decently close, or like in the top half of auditioners. Honestly, I doubt I am, though I think it's a lot about type, like I said in my last post. As you all know, I have a lot of regrets about my prescreens as it is (and I will list them at some point in the future so you can avoid making the mistakes I made! Maybe I will even post them?). But there is no point worrying about it now.
I love how I'm assuming I didn't pass ANY prescreens after hearing back from one. But I'm one of those people who assumes the worst, because if it doesn't happen (not if the best does, if the worst doesn't), you're pleasantly surprised, and if the worst DOES happen, that sucks but at least you get to be right about something. Oh yeah, this is how I get through everything in life.
Pace said a week so I was prepared for a rejection from them too but I just keep getting these e-mails listing audition requirements. I double and triple checked and I've done everything on the lists. They say to call if you haven't heard within two weeks.
To be honest though, not passing the vast majority of prescreens is a bit worse than just not getting accepted anywhere because obviously, schools take more kids through the prescreen than they do into their actual program. Like, you could be rejected from a /school/ but as long as you passed prescreens you at least knew you were decently close, or like in the top half of auditioners. Honestly, I doubt I am, though I think it's a lot about type, like I said in my last post. As you all know, I have a lot of regrets about my prescreens as it is (and I will list them at some point in the future so you can avoid making the mistakes I made! Maybe I will even post them?). But there is no point worrying about it now.
I love how I'm assuming I didn't pass ANY prescreens after hearing back from one. But I'm one of those people who assumes the worst, because if it doesn't happen (not if the best does, if the worst doesn't), you're pleasantly surprised, and if the worst DOES happen, that sucks but at least you get to be right about something. Oh yeah, this is how I get through everything in life.
Update 10/21: 7 down, 2 to go...!
Except Ithaca, for the reason I mentioned. I'm just going to use the monologue videos from the other day that I don't like as much. Sigh. Also, Shenandoah.
BUT HAPPINESS! I feel like I can almost sort of breathe now that I've submitted to Indiana, Baldwin Wallace and Texas State.
WHEW. I'M READY TO BE REJECTED NOW.
Real talk: I'm not going to pass all my prescreens. If I pass half, I'll be like, ok, cool, I must be really talented after all. It's largely (no pun intended) a type thing. To start, I look absolutely horrible in my monologues and intros--partially due to bad lighting and not having brushed my hair that day, but honestly, I'm never going to be a good looking or thin person, which for an actor, well, sucks. But facts are facts and I think my personality might be weird enough to match my type. NOT of course that I would blame all rejection on what I look like! There are so many reasons not to pass a prescreen. This is just one applies to me more than other people. And I'm not being "down on myself," I'm being realistic. I am not marketable looking. I do not have my weight listed on my resume for obvious reasons (though I've actually been told it's better not to, regardless). I am not even really insecure about these things. If you saw my headshot, which I will put on here somewhere, you would be like "what?! You're not ugly!" And it's not that my headshot doesn't LOOK like me, it's just....a really really good angle. Whereas my monologue prescreens are the opposite extreme. To put things in perspective, there is not a single double chinless moment.
But you know what? There's nothing I can do about that (EXCEPT BRUSH MY GODDAMN HAIR IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT). I'm just going to roll with it and hope some school thinks I'm interesting enough to be see in person. If none does, their loss.
BUT HAPPINESS! I feel like I can almost sort of breathe now that I've submitted to Indiana, Baldwin Wallace and Texas State.
WHEW. I'M READY TO BE REJECTED NOW.
Real talk: I'm not going to pass all my prescreens. If I pass half, I'll be like, ok, cool, I must be really talented after all. It's largely (no pun intended) a type thing. To start, I look absolutely horrible in my monologues and intros--partially due to bad lighting and not having brushed my hair that day, but honestly, I'm never going to be a good looking or thin person, which for an actor, well, sucks. But facts are facts and I think my personality might be weird enough to match my type. NOT of course that I would blame all rejection on what I look like! There are so many reasons not to pass a prescreen. This is just one applies to me more than other people. And I'm not being "down on myself," I'm being realistic. I am not marketable looking. I do not have my weight listed on my resume for obvious reasons (though I've actually been told it's better not to, regardless). I am not even really insecure about these things. If you saw my headshot, which I will put on here somewhere, you would be like "what?! You're not ugly!" And it's not that my headshot doesn't LOOK like me, it's just....a really really good angle. Whereas my monologue prescreens are the opposite extreme. To put things in perspective, there is not a single double chinless moment.
But you know what? There's nothing I can do about that (EXCEPT BRUSH MY GODDAMN HAIR IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT). I'm just going to roll with it and hope some school thinks I'm interesting enough to be see in person. If none does, their loss.
Update 10/18 and 4 PRESCREENS SUBMITTED!
It's been kind of a while! Things have been pretty slow re college apps. That's mostly my fault for trying to have a life. But acceptd has been pretty stupid as well. Prescreens have not gone as smoothly as they possibly could have. Nevertheless, I submitted my first four today, plus the Texas State app. Five to go! And I will start hearing in 5 days..........ackkkkk. I'm not expecting to pass any. I'm not expecting anything. I am not nervous. I am nothing. I am blank.
Getacceptd.com is a blessing and a curse. As I mentioned, technology hates me. When I first uploaded videos to acceptd, they would take literally overnight. As in, 8 hours. Then they stopped working altogether in Google Chrome. I had to use Internet Explorer! THEN, the videos wouldn't upload after about 5 pm. Don't ask me why. My mom's theory was server overload. Maybe because my dad's computer is on when he gets home from work? I have no idea. Anyway, it took literally weeks but FINALLY all the videos are on there except one. GRAHHHH. And I have to upload my transcript (for the same school). WHEW. That's why I have been so behind, partially.
The other problem was with the new intro to my monologue. The poor videographer misunderstood and put my /full/ introduction onto the introless monologue, including songs. And Ithaca specifically asks for introduction of each piece...so...it's gonna be weird.
My voice teacher and I have been going over what to put in my book/"have in my back pocket" if I'm asked for something else. It's pretty much going to be songs I've worked on and/or performed before that I'm revisiting. I love them all and I missed them and I'm pumped to sing them again!
I retook the SATs because I'm an idiot who wanted to increase her math score 30 points without studying. I am positive I did not. For the record (I'm revealing everything here, that's the point), my grades and scores are like pretty good. I don't have a 4.0, I WISH (I have a 3.9 if you round up from 3.86???? still a fine GPA, I'm not embarrassed or anything, it could be way worse). A lot of theatre people DO have 4.0s though! Which intimidates me so much. OH WELL!!! It's all going to work out even if I have to take a gap year. I'm starting to be into the whole gap year thing. Like, yeah, I might get to do this whole process over again but with an actual clue what I'm doing! Awesome!
I'm sorry this is so boring right now. It's just the part of the process I'm at. I promise things will be a tad more exciting come December. :)
Getacceptd.com is a blessing and a curse. As I mentioned, technology hates me. When I first uploaded videos to acceptd, they would take literally overnight. As in, 8 hours. Then they stopped working altogether in Google Chrome. I had to use Internet Explorer! THEN, the videos wouldn't upload after about 5 pm. Don't ask me why. My mom's theory was server overload. Maybe because my dad's computer is on when he gets home from work? I have no idea. Anyway, it took literally weeks but FINALLY all the videos are on there except one. GRAHHHH. And I have to upload my transcript (for the same school). WHEW. That's why I have been so behind, partially.
The other problem was with the new intro to my monologue. The poor videographer misunderstood and put my /full/ introduction onto the introless monologue, including songs. And Ithaca specifically asks for introduction of each piece...so...it's gonna be weird.
My voice teacher and I have been going over what to put in my book/"have in my back pocket" if I'm asked for something else. It's pretty much going to be songs I've worked on and/or performed before that I'm revisiting. I love them all and I missed them and I'm pumped to sing them again!
I retook the SATs because I'm an idiot who wanted to increase her math score 30 points without studying. I am positive I did not. For the record (I'm revealing everything here, that's the point), my grades and scores are like pretty good. I don't have a 4.0, I WISH (I have a 3.9 if you round up from 3.86???? still a fine GPA, I'm not embarrassed or anything, it could be way worse). A lot of theatre people DO have 4.0s though! Which intimidates me so much. OH WELL!!! It's all going to work out even if I have to take a gap year. I'm starting to be into the whole gap year thing. Like, yeah, I might get to do this whole process over again but with an actual clue what I'm doing! Awesome!
I'm sorry this is so boring right now. It's just the part of the process I'm at. I promise things will be a tad more exciting come December. :)
Update 10/7
I promise I will make some actual informative posts soon but I really want to keep track of the process as I go through it. This is exactly the kind of thing I needed when I was learning about the audition process! I mean I am still learning...even now I would love to see a blog like this, just based on personal experience.
I got my first audition day schedule today, from Hartt. I was in advisory and I squealed like I had just been accepted! HAH YAY. I have to be there at 7:45 on December 13th, and my individual audition is at 10:40...should be interesting, considering how much my voice despises the morning. Ah well. I will get up at 5 to warm up. They also sent a campus map and a parking permit. And they cced my mom which she was very into. So I am super excited for that!
I am in the process of uploading prescreens to acceptd. It takes FOREVER. you basically have to upload 3 at a time and walk away or go to bed or whatever. But that is a-ok because I still have to get my intros sorted out with the videographer. I have time I have time I have time I have no official deadlines until December 1. This is happening. I am saying affirmations and probably failing AP English lit.
I got my first audition day schedule today, from Hartt. I was in advisory and I squealed like I had just been accepted! HAH YAY. I have to be there at 7:45 on December 13th, and my individual audition is at 10:40...should be interesting, considering how much my voice despises the morning. Ah well. I will get up at 5 to warm up. They also sent a campus map and a parking permit. And they cced my mom which she was very into. So I am super excited for that!
I am in the process of uploading prescreens to acceptd. It takes FOREVER. you basically have to upload 3 at a time and walk away or go to bed or whatever. But that is a-ok because I still have to get my intros sorted out with the videographer. I have time I have time I have time I have no official deadlines until December 1. This is happening. I am saying affirmations and probably failing AP English lit.
Update and a rant!
I am just going to rant about prescreens for a sec.
So I had this one great take of my monologue and I was like "damn so honest and true. I'm unstoppable" but then I went to submit prescreens and realized I HAD NOT INTRODUCED IT. so now I either have to film it again or use the other take where I messed up a couple of words. Gawd. It looks like I might not be ready to submit prescreens after all!
On the plus side I applied to 4 schools today: Ithaca, pace, Shenandoah and Baldwin Wallace!
So I had this one great take of my monologue and I was like "damn so honest and true. I'm unstoppable" but then I went to submit prescreens and realized I HAD NOT INTRODUCED IT. so now I either have to film it again or use the other take where I messed up a couple of words. Gawd. It looks like I might not be ready to submit prescreens after all!
On the plus side I applied to 4 schools today: Ithaca, pace, Shenandoah and Baldwin Wallace!
Update 10/2
It's technically 10/3, but oh well!
Yesterday (technically the day before) I applied to Hartt/U of Hartford and Columbia College Chicago. And I got my first audition date confirmed at American! February 14th! YAYYYYY! Also Hartt waives the audition fee if you audition on December 13th, which I plan to.
I also sent a form to Indiana University letting them know how to contact and what my preferred audition date would be if I pass the prescreen.
I really really have to submit prescreens and get my transcripts sent and blah blah blah. At least I'm mostly done apps.
But so far this is a lot less difficult than I expected???? Is that bad?
Tomorrow is Yom Kippur so I get a break from thinking about anything but my sins from the past year and how hungry I am ayyyyyyy
Yesterday (technically the day before) I applied to Hartt/U of Hartford and Columbia College Chicago. And I got my first audition date confirmed at American! February 14th! YAYYYYY! Also Hartt waives the audition fee if you audition on December 13th, which I plan to.
I also sent a form to Indiana University letting them know how to contact and what my preferred audition date would be if I pass the prescreen.
I really really have to submit prescreens and get my transcripts sent and blah blah blah. At least I'm mostly done apps.
But so far this is a lot less difficult than I expected???? Is that bad?
Tomorrow is Yom Kippur so I get a break from thinking about anything but my sins from the past year and how hungry I am ayyyyyyy
Update 9/29
Today I finished filming my prescreens! I did dance at the studio on Saturday, along with one take of each monologue. My songs were filmed with my voice teacher a week before. We (I say we because my mom paid) hired a videographer (someone I work with) because no one in my family knows anything about editing or has decent equipment (like, the best equipment we have is my 5 MP phone camera). I may post videos of my prescreens later, but they are definitely flawed. Ah well! I am a flawed human!
I am not a dancer-dancer, and anything beyond a double pirouette is pretty much beyond me, so I have no idea how I choreographed my own dance prescreen. It is a little over a minute and I am only submitting it to two schools (for the rest it is optional). I watched the video today and while I was satisfied with how most of the actual dance looked, I was terribly disappointed by my lack of a facial expression during the entire thing! Ugh. I can't refilm it now so I'm just going to thank God it's only for two schools.
The monologues went really well today but personal statements and intros were honestly hellish! I said "um" a LOT and I kept forgetting important points I was planning to make. Blehhhh.
I was supposed to submit apps and prescreens before October 1st, and it might still happen but I haven't even turned in the form that my mom has to sign in order for my counselor to send my transcripts...oops!
We also went over the possible audition schedule today which was interesting. It seems like 15 schools could actually work. But it probably won't end up that many, seeing as that includes 9 prescreen schools. I e-mailed Indiana and American with the first bits of information so I can get a confirmed audition date (AU) and submit my prescreen (IU).
I also submitted to UArts yesterday! They are waiving the application fee through September 30th, so I went for it! The app was super easy to fill out. I have been pleasantly surprised but a lot of non common app schools. They are not very difficult or time-consuming, and with the exception of ApplyTexas, quite easy to use.
UGH, I want to do nothing but audition for/apply to college!!! I am having so much fun! I am loving this excuse to prepare/perform songs and monologues!
I am not a dancer-dancer, and anything beyond a double pirouette is pretty much beyond me, so I have no idea how I choreographed my own dance prescreen. It is a little over a minute and I am only submitting it to two schools (for the rest it is optional). I watched the video today and while I was satisfied with how most of the actual dance looked, I was terribly disappointed by my lack of a facial expression during the entire thing! Ugh. I can't refilm it now so I'm just going to thank God it's only for two schools.
The monologues went really well today but personal statements and intros were honestly hellish! I said "um" a LOT and I kept forgetting important points I was planning to make. Blehhhh.
I was supposed to submit apps and prescreens before October 1st, and it might still happen but I haven't even turned in the form that my mom has to sign in order for my counselor to send my transcripts...oops!
We also went over the possible audition schedule today which was interesting. It seems like 15 schools could actually work. But it probably won't end up that many, seeing as that includes 9 prescreen schools. I e-mailed Indiana and American with the first bits of information so I can get a confirmed audition date (AU) and submit my prescreen (IU).
I also submitted to UArts yesterday! They are waiving the application fee through September 30th, so I went for it! The app was super easy to fill out. I have been pleasantly surprised but a lot of non common app schools. They are not very difficult or time-consuming, and with the exception of ApplyTexas, quite easy to use.
UGH, I want to do nothing but audition for/apply to college!!! I am having so much fun! I am loving this excuse to prepare/perform songs and monologues!
Starting Here, Starting Now
I first heard of the college audition process at a workshop with my current voice teacher, just before he became my voice teacher. I took the city bus there; I was very committed (public transportation is TERRIBLE here). I asked if activities mattered (oh, the days when I cared!) and he said they helped because you had to apply to the school as well as the program. He gave an example of a swimmer who had gone to college for theatre. I was like, "what? I have to play a sport now? But I just want to perform!" Spoiler alert: I did not join a sports team. That is a stupid reason to join a sports team. Play sports if you like sports (and have no life because they are SO TIME-CONSUMING AT MY SCHOOL).
A year later I took /another/ workshop with a director I had worked with in the past. Her daughter had auditioned for college the year before (she is now an Ithaca MT) and all the information she gave changed my life. I started researching schools that week. I took like 30 pages of notes and I sleep with them sometimes. They are my Bible. Don't make fun of me, this dedication will make me a STAR!!!! ving artist.
Anyway, it began. I bought I Got In and that other purple one with the long title. I memorized them, pretty much. And sometime around there I discovered College Confidential and spent hours reading about everything. I wish I was exaggerating. This is actually really embarrassing. I'm going now.
HERE I AM
Hi, people of the future! As you know if you read the blog description, I will be spending this year applying to/auditioning for some musical theatre college programs. Before I start to talk about what has happened so far and is going to happen soon, here is a little bit about me.
(I assume you know a bit about musical theatre if you're reading this. If you don't...Google? I wouldn't know where to begin!)
SO. My name is Abigail Morris and I am a senior in high school from Vermont. My family is ridiculously musical so I have grown up around the arts. I could sing A before I could talk. I have been doing legit theatre since I was about 7, but before that I just made up my own! (I had LOTS of talented beanie babies.) I've only done local shows, but last summer I went to Circle in the Square Theatre School's summer intensive. I am an actor first, then singer and dancer. I think acting should always come first (more on this later for sure), and I've always been in singing and dance lessons /for/ musical theatre. If you were wondering I'm probably a soprano belter (???? labels) (it's complicated) and a character actor of some kind. I'm not a great dancer and I definitely don't look like one but I have a little training and can pick up choreography.
Nontheatre things (isn't everything a theatre thing though?): I work at a local pizza place (goodtimescafevt.com everyone), I went on a service trip to Africa, and I am a downhill skier. When I see those things on paper I am always a little surprised that they are not theatre related...but like I said, everything is. Theatre is about people. Art is about the world. I am a person. I live in the world. There you go.
I may or may not decide to make fun MT themed post titles so I picked an ambiguous one for this first post. It's a little bit introduction, a little bit Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
(I assume you know a bit about musical theatre if you're reading this. If you don't...Google? I wouldn't know where to begin!)
SO. My name is Abigail Morris and I am a senior in high school from Vermont. My family is ridiculously musical so I have grown up around the arts. I could sing A before I could talk. I have been doing legit theatre since I was about 7, but before that I just made up my own! (I had LOTS of talented beanie babies.) I've only done local shows, but last summer I went to Circle in the Square Theatre School's summer intensive. I am an actor first, then singer and dancer. I think acting should always come first (more on this later for sure), and I've always been in singing and dance lessons /for/ musical theatre. If you were wondering I'm probably a soprano belter (???? labels) (it's complicated) and a character actor of some kind. I'm not a great dancer and I definitely don't look like one but I have a little training and can pick up choreography.
Nontheatre things (isn't everything a theatre thing though?): I work at a local pizza place (goodtimescafevt.com everyone), I went on a service trip to Africa, and I am a downhill skier. When I see those things on paper I am always a little surprised that they are not theatre related...but like I said, everything is. Theatre is about people. Art is about the world. I am a person. I live in the world. There you go.
I may or may not decide to make fun MT themed post titles so I picked an ambiguous one for this first post. It's a little bit introduction, a little bit Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
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