This is the first of a series of posts where TAP campers share their experience with the college audition process. If you have a story you’d like to share, let us know.
Coy is one of the TAP campers, prepping for his last year with us and his first year at college. He will going to Millikin University this fall as a BFA Musical Theatre Major. Congrats, Coy! Fabulous photo courtesy of Coy’s Facebook profile.
Auditioning for colleges can feel terrifying. It’s easy, as I found out, to become overwhelmed and feel like you won’t succeed. But the actual process is incredibly fun. The representatives from each college want you to do well, they’re looking for potential students for their program!
While I feel you shouldn’t see college auditions as daunting, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to try. You really have to focus on your monologue and song selection. It’s a bit difficult because you need to watch each program’s audition requirements (although they’re all pretty standard). The feeling you get from a successful audition is worth all the effort you put in to make it happen.
The biggest part is pushing through your fears. I’m not a dancer necessarily and it’s easy for me to feel discouraged in dance calls, but colleges aren’t looking for Broadway stars. They’re looking for young talent to nurture and grow. Rather than showing simply how talented you are, show your willingness to try and to learn. In my audition for CCM, we had a dance call to a song from Thoroughly Modern Millie. I walked in literally shaking, feeling incompetent to the others surrounding me (in my mind they radiated a dancer vibe) but I told myself to shut up and just. Do. It. It ended up being my best audition. Although I wasn’t accepted to the program, I left without regrets and still have none.
College auditions are great — it makes the idea of college even more appealing. After my experience, I can’t wait to make the transition and start building the base for my future.
