5 Things I Wish Everyone Would Know About College Auditions
At Aspire, we believe some of the best insight into the college audition process comes from students who've just lived it. This week, we're handing it over to Annika Jonker, who spent this past summer with us as our social media intern — and who just graduated with her BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).
Annika is only a few years removed from sitting exactly where you are now: building a school list, choosing material, and walking into audition rooms not knowing what to expect. Below, she shares the five things she wishes everyone would know about navigating MT college auditions — real insight from someone who just recently completed this journey! Enjoy! 💛 Julie
As a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with my BFA in Musical Theatre, there are many things I have reflected on over the years about the college audition experience. There really is nothing quite like auditioning yourself for schools. So, I made a list of the top 5 things I wish everyone would know about the college audition experience to help ease some of the stress and anxiety about this big chapter coming up!
Pick material that speaks to you. Not material that is showy.
In a world where everyone wants to sing the highest note possible or perform a riff that is so intricate and complex, sometimes the strongest material for a college audition is something that you know you can do well consistently and that speaks to you. In my opinion, do not shy away from songs that are deemed “overdone”. Colleges do not care if they have heard that song 20 times in one day; they care about you and your unique take on the piece. This goes for monologues too! Make sure that the monologue feels like words you could say and believe. It’s easier to do material repeatedly if you love to do it.
Find and apply to schools you can truly see yourself attending.
It is tempting to want to only apply to top schools because of the whole notion that you need to go to a top 10 to succeed in this business. That is not true. What is much more important is finding a school that gives you the education that you want and gives you the tools to refine your craft. I also HIGHLY suggest creating a balanced schools list where you have “reach”, “target”, and “safety” schools. A strategic list will be the best way to navigate auditions as you won’t be putting all your eggs in one basket. Getting into Musical Theatre or Acting school is harder than getting into Harvard!
Yes, the time limits on materials do matter!
The rumors are true, sometimes they will time you in the room. While I was a student in college, I had the opportunity to sit in on some auditions for the program and was tasked to sit there with my stopwatch out and cut off people if their monologues went over a minute. It isn’t anything personal, they just have a lot of people to see and only so much time to do it! To avoid getting cut off, I recommend cutting monologues just a few seconds under the time limit (ie if the time limit is one minute, maybe make your monologue 45-50 seconds) so that if you happen to take an extra beat to breath, you wont be worried about being too long. Songs too! Create interesting and appropriately timed cuts that show you off as much as possible while being respectful of time. Schools can, and sometimes will, ask you for another song or more material if they want to hear more!
You are auditioning the school too.
There is so much pressure riding on getting into a school in the first place, but it is totally okay to have an audition with a school and feel as if it isn’t right for you. Or when touring the school, if it does not feel like the right fit, you are not disappointing anyone or letting anyone down by saying no or choosing somewhere else. I remember leaving one of my auditions and immediately knowing that the school I auditioned for and I were not a good fit. It’s a gut feeling and you will know when you know (and you will know when something is right too!!). It’s easy to feel as though you HAVE to go to a school just because you get in, but you don’t. Committing to a school means time and money. Do not waste them if you aren’t fully certain about if a school is the right place for you.
Know when to listen to the noise and when to tune it out.
Yes, I am talking about the Facebook groups and the Chat Forums and all of those platforms. It is so tempting to want to check and see when people hear back or what schools other people applied for. I promise you, this process is stressful enough as it is, and it is much easier when you are focusing on you and your work. Your school list is created just for you, and whether you are accepted, waitlisted, or rejected, you will eventually hear back from your schools. It is nice to go through the process with friends offline and/or personally, but I urge you to stay away from the groups. All the support you need will come from your coaches, mentors, family, and friends.
This process is nerve-wracking! It is okay to admit that! Do not let that fear overtake you. Turn the nerves into excitement, prepare material that you love, and soak it all in. You will end up where you are meant to.
How Aspire Can Help
And we couldn’t agree more – this process is a rollercoaster, but it’s about finding a school that will value your worth and allow you to thrive. The journey may look different than expected, but you will end up where you are meant to be.
And Aspire is here to help you along that journey. From building a balanced school list to choosing material that shows off your strongest, most authentic self, our coaches work with students one-on-one to take the guesswork out of every stage of the audition process. We help you walk into that room — or hit record on that video— knowing you're ready.
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Remember, you're not alone in this journey. With the right team by your side, even the toughest process becomes manageable — and, dare we say, enjoyable. 💛